Of course Tom Peters doesn’t need an introduction. He wrote In Search of Excellence with Bob Waterman, a monumental book from 1982 reporting on the key characteristics of successful companies. I would summarize it as: well-run businesses don’t bullshit around.

In 2010, Tom Peters gathered his thoughts in 163 categorized topics in The Little BIG Things. I recently reread all the Things. It has been a fun read again, and here’s a list of the things I like so much about this book.

• It could be a set of laws. If you abide by these laws, you will become a good and happy citizen (I am avoiding the word successful here).
• The typography in the book is lovely and innovative.
• The book is a set of lists. Items are pretty elaborated, but a list. Love it.
• Humor is all over the place.
• Great stories to the topics.
• Self-mockery.
• Funny exclamations and subordinate sentences. (Yes, damn it, subordinate clauses!)
• Interesting twists and great ways of putting things

Talk with your matey about the ….. Commercial Effectiveness of Strategic Apology.

• Reading ahead or jumping through the book is allowed and recommended. Still a great read.

The book is completely quotable. You can take 10 notes on every page. Peters quotes others as well, so I will only close with Peters’ advice on reading.

Read!

Read Wide!

Surprise Yourself With Your Reading Picks!

Read Deep!

Read Often!

Out-READ the “Competition”!!!!!

Take Notes!

Summarize!

Share with Others What You Read!

(Not to impress them, but selfishly, because there’s no other way to embed what you’ve learned.)

Create/Join a Reading Salon!

Read!

Read!

Read!

(FYI. I am not a fast reader-a suprise to many.)