E-nough Is Enough!

In one of his best chapters, Hargrove lays out his "seven immutable laws of ePowerBranding" and then plots an action agenda that encourages readers to make the declarations that will lead to personal change. It is a terrifically fun performance -- a mix of entertainment, education, and inspiration.

In fact, Hargrove's book is a genuine hybrid that follows that tidy recipe. But the overall effect is oddly disconcerting. Part of the problem is that, to anyone who is familiar with the best business writing of the past five years, Hargrove's work reads like a very skillful cut-and-paste job. Seth Godin's books on permission marketing and idea viruses; Chris Argyris's work on double-loop learning; Fast Company's profiles of Avram Miller and David Siegel -- Hargrove has read them all, it seems. The result is a bit like an intellectual Easter-egg hunt. Each page holds the promise of another hidden treasure, deftly positioned by Hargrove in his collection of anecdotes, principles, and leadership techniques. But the book also suggests that the ultimate definition of an eLeader is, first and foremost, someone who is an avid eReader.