The Adventures of Johnny Bunko

by Daniel H. Pink (Goodreads author)

book data

195 ratings, 3.62 average rating, 77 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		16%
4		40%
3		30%
2		11%
1		0%

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published

April 1st 2008 by Riverhead Trade

binding

Paperback

isbn

1594482918 (isbn13: 9781594482915)

description

From a New York Times, BusinessWeek, and Washington Post bestselling author comes a first-of-its- kind career guidefor a new generation of job seeke...more

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01/01/09

Jaymi rated it:

bookshelves: 2008

Read in May, 2008

(Adapted from www.diyplanner.com)
Last month, I was reading an article about Daniel Pink and how he went to Japan to study the art and culture surrounding Japanese comics, otherwise known as manga. He was interested in the format's popularity; this was a book format that people of all ages enjoyed reading. He studied the culture and the form to see how it could be applied to other disciplines successfully. The Adventures of Johnny Bunko is the result of that study. This introductory guide on...more (Adapted from www.diyplanner.com)
Last month, I was reading an article about Daniel Pink and how he went to Japan to study the art and culture surrounding Japanese comics, otherwise known as manga. He was interested in the format's popularity; this was a book format that people of all ages enjoyed reading. He studied the culture and the form to see how it could be applied to other disciplines successfully. The Adventures of Johnny Bunko is the result of that study. This introductory guide on life design and career planning in today's modern workplace uses the manga format to weave a story about a man who learns more about life and work in six easy lessons. It's a fast read, filled with entertaining scenarios, and some short but powerful ideas on how to get ahead in your career.

The book tells the story of Johnny Bunko, "who is a lot like you and me." He's gone to school, graduated, and has a job in a company and department that he's not sure whether or not he wants anymore. While getting food for another late night of work, he has a run-in with a "fairy god-friend", named Diana. His world and workplace are never the same after meeting her. She's a whiz at helping people find their truth and teaches them what it means to live the life they want to have. Through the use of magical chopsticks and some helpful wisdom, Johnny Bunko learns how to transform his life and pursue the career he dreamt of having.

Pink distills Diana's wisdom down into six statements. These statements hold basic truths that anyone who works these days can tap into and relate to:

1. There is no plan.
2. Think strengths, not weaknesses.
3. It's not about you.
4. Persistence trumps talent.
5. Make excellent mistakes.
6. Leave an imprint.

While none of these lessons are mind shattering, (many are spoken time and time again by "the productivity gurus", like Covey and Allen), what makes these principles stick is in the presentation-- story and artwork. Pink's creative plot and Rob Ten Pas's manga artwork work together to illustrate (literally) how individuals can apply each statement into various working aspects of their lives. This format easily allows anyone at a modest reading level to read and understand what each statement means and how they can apply it to their working life. Johnny Bunko fumbles his way through each lesson to learn exactly what he needs to do to get his career to align with his dreams. This book gives readers permission to play the "what-if" game and think about how they can get from where they are to where they want to be in life.

I'm not an expert on critiquing manga art. But I will say that I enjoyed Rob Ten Pas's black-and-white pen line art. The lines are crisp and clean and the comic book format was not hard to follow at all. Each pane flows into one another smoothly. This marriage between written storytelling and comic/movie story-boarding works in the book's favor. In a world where the written word is becoming the "last minute pastime", the manga format helps to draw people back to books. When you read a manga, it's more like you are reading a movie. Many people are visual learners and I think that if more books were written in this style, it would help break down and drive complex ideas (such as life design and career planning) into visual ways that people can just see how to apply these concepts to their own situations.

The Adventures of Johnny Bunko is a great graduation gift for those entering the job force soon. It offers any graduate, from high school to college, the chance to read through, learn, and see how these statements actually do and can apply to their own lives. The first non-fiction book to be written in a comic format, I sure hope it's not the last. Johnny Bunko is highly entertaining and the artwork aids in retaining the information inside the book. While it's not really "the last career guide you will ever need" per se, it IS a good book to keep around and read over and over again when you want to remind yourself of: where you are in life and whether or not your work, values and hobbies align with your ultimate vision of who and what you want to be doing in this world. Visit the book's website to learn more about it and to see an excerpt.(less)

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05/15/09

Bob rated it:

Read in May, 2009

Reading the NY Times Magazine one Sunday, Amy asked over the breakfast table: "have you ever heard of Daniel Pink?" I had not. She insisted that I get his books and read them. The article she was reading (on early childhood education) cited Pink on the importance of creativity to our contemporary culture. The article addressed kids in particular (for instance, said the report: even if kids test high on academic achievement at age 5, this is no indicator of future academic success, ...more Reading the NY Times Magazine one Sunday, Amy asked over the breakfast table: "have you ever heard of Daniel Pink?" I had not. She insisted that I get his books and read them. The article she was reading (on early childhood education) cited Pink on the importance of creativity to our contemporary culture. The article addressed kids in particular (for instance, said the report: even if kids test high on academic achievement at age 5, this is no indicator of future academic success, and may even represent academic failure! Does this mean don't read to your kids? No... but, suggested the article, and by extension, Pink: kids need to be able to play and use their imagination.)

At any rate, the subject of the relative importance of the right brain in society is a bull's-eye issue for me and Amy was right, I needed to find out what Mr. Pink had to say about it. I ordered a bunch of Pink books from Amazon. It seems he uses his particular lens not just on society as a whole, but on personal enrichment and career advice.

This book--Johnny Bunko--is a short manga story about a guy who finds a genie who gives him career advice in six lessons.

I have numerous objections: one, from my grandfather, who surely WANTED to play golf and create a career from his personal passion... but doggone it, there was that pesky SURVIVAL to worry about. Somehow the digging ditches, homelessness, and factory work kept getting in the way. (Pop-pop won out, though, not by following his bliss but by following his need to eat. He worked like a dog, married Grandmom, bought a house, started his own insurance company, and got to play golf after food was on the table.) Pink doesn't really talk about the "starving" part of "starving artist."

Second objection: the book is totally lightweight: it takes platitudes and spins them into smart-sounding, impractical advice: "There is no plan" says Pink. My mom says, "A goal without a plan is just a wish."

Thirdly: There's no critical justification. Malcolm Gladwell or Stephen Levitt back up their often-surprising theories with data. In this book, Pink sounds a lot more like John Brinkley (cf: Charlatan!) than a creditable social theorist.

On the other hand: this is a Manga short story. It took a serious topic and addressed it in comic-book form. (So he's just like Art Spiegelman, right? Hah!) It took a shorter time to read than it took to write this review. The advice, extrapolated from its aphoristic form, is not all bad. It introduced me painlessly to this Daniel Pink. I enjoyed the new topic and a new thinker.

I also have begun another book by Pink, which shows more intellectual rigor.

Daniel Pink, you get 2.5 stars, and since it's sunny today, I round up.

WHY I READ THIS BOOK: Asked and answered!(less)

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04/28/09

Serri rated it:

bookshelves: business

Read in April, 2009

This book was recommended by my colleague's father, who is a college professor, and was particularly interesting to me on two levels.

First, Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind, made a point of identifying six important skills sets that individuals will need to be successful in the future (Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play, and Meaning--have to read the book to get the full understanding of each, but I highly recommend it). From a 30,000-foot view, Pink applied his own Whol...more

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01/02/09

Becky rated it:

bookshelves: business, self-help

Read in December, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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01/15/09

Maya rated it:

Read in June, 2008

For what this is- this book is brilliant.

What it is? It's a self-help career guide. Mr. Pink, a former White House speech writer, elected to use the Manga storytelling style to reach his specified audience in a unique way. His justification- Why we read a book if you can do a google search?

In 6 deliberately fast reading segments, Pink discusses the following principles:
1. There is no plan
2. Think strengths- not weaknesses
3. It's not about you
4. Pe...more

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03/22/09

Madeofmeat (Andy) rated it:

Read in August, 2008

I read this entire book in the aisle at Powell's and still shelled out $15 for it. Seriously. This is an excellent little career guide, delivered as a narrative in manga form. At the end of each chapter, a new point is distilled and made clear, and summed up with the existing points from previous chapters. They're clear and simple and the narrative is enjoyable to read. Best example point? "Fail excellently." Meaning, you should definitely take risks, but they should be risks wh...more

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02/16/09

Megan M. rated it:

Read in January, 2009

recommended to Megan by: Becky "Bunko" Blanton
recommends it for: Recent graduates. Cube-farmhands. Corporate drones.

This is an excellent book. By the time I got to it, I was past most of the information in it -- but as a starter "text", this would have been rockin' to receive right out of school. (In fact, I suggest you hand it to the next person you see walking out of a big educational institution or corporate cube-farm.)

Incidentally, I had something to do with the proposed Lesson Seven. You can read about it here. (We won, by the way!)

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10/05/08

Christine rated it:

bookshelves: read-fiction

Read in September, 2008

recommends it for: Type A people who feel strangely unfulfilled at work

I'm ALWAYS having some sort of career crisis or another. This is a career guide that distinguishes itself mainly by the Manga (Japanese comic) format. 20% of all printed material in Japan is manga so it's not too unusual that they would have career guides the same way.

From a culture (both Japanese and American) that puts heavy meaning into academia, career, and success it takes a lot to take a step back and really examine the job one is in currently and the goals that one wants t...more

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09/07/08

Adam rated it:

bookshelves: career

Read in June, 2009

recommends it for: japan obsessed college kids w/ little to no direction in life

not so bad. basic lessons for approaching career life. stuff i'd heard before from various sources. SUCH AS : recognize your strengths (or something like that), and um... well can't recall what else, but most likely from talking to "old" people in careerage. OH YES! and Colin Powell's Lessons in Leadership. too bits and pieces of Art of War. Another book what was it, more of an artsy tilt, but good impact AND one of the "lessons" in that book I ACTUALLY USE something along th...more

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08/18/08

Nicholas rated it:

bookshelves: business

Read in August, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Short, sweet, and to the point.

"1. There is no plan.
2. Think strengths, not weaknesses.
3. It's not about you.
4. Persistence trumps talent.
5. Make excellent mistakes.
6. Leave an imprint."

"The dirty little secret is that instrumental reasons usually don't work. Things are too complicated, to unpredictable. You never know what's going tho happen. So you end up stuck. The mots successful people - not all of the time, but most of th...more Short, sweet, and to the point.

"1. There is no plan.
2. Think strengths, not weaknesses.
3. It's not about you.
4. Persistence trumps talent.
5. Make excellent mistakes.
6. Leave an imprint."

"The dirty little secret is that instrumental reasons usually don't work. Things are too complicated, to unpredictable. You never know what's going tho happen. So you end up stuck. The mots successful people - not all of the time, but most of the time - make decisions for the fundamental reasons. They take a job or join a company because it will let them do interesting work in a cool place - even if they don;t know exactly where it will lead."

"What do you do consistently well? What gives you energy rather than drains it? What sorts of activities create 'flow' for you?"

"The most successful people improve their own lives by improving others' lives. They help their customer solve its problem, they five their client something it didn't know it was missing, that's where they focus their energy, talent, and brainpower."

"I mean there are massive returns to doggedness. The people who achieve the most are often the ones who stick with it when others don't...They show up, they practice and practice and practice some more. That's why they do so well in whatever career they choose - even if it's not sports or music."

"Of course it is. But the world is littered with talented people who didn't persist, who didn't put in the hours, who gave up too early, who thought they could ride on talent alone. Meanwhile, people who might have less talent pass them by...That's why intrinsic motivation is so important. Doing things not to get an external reward like money or a promotion byt because you simply like doing it. The more intrinsic motivation you have, the more likely you are to persist. The more you persist, the more likely you are to succeed."

"Too many people spend their time avoiding mistakes. They're so concerned about being wrong, about messing up, that they never try anything - which means that they never do anything. Their focus is avoiding failure. But that's actually a crummy way to achieve success. The most successful people make spectacular mistakes - huge, honking screwups! Why? They're trying to do something big. But each time they make a mistake, they get a little better and move a little closer to excellence."

(less)

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12/29/08

Woodge rated it:

bookshelves: non-fiction, required-reading

Read in December, 2008

recommends it for: clueless people, you, everyone, the homeless

Dad gave me this one for Christmas. I read it on the train. It's business book in the form of a graphic novel. Johnny Bunko's in a dead-end job, bored out of his mind, when he's visited by a sassy elfin sprite named Diana who teaches him six business rules to live by. They're all good but the one that sticks with me is #4: Persistence trumps talent.

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03/23/09

Jimtincher rated it:

Read in March, 2009

A very quick read - but an approachable way to give good advice on your career. Pink brings in the learnings of a few other authors, and makes an interesting story about a young person who follows advice too much, ending up in a boring job. His path to his strengths is an enjoyable read - although it takes less than an hour to complete!

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11/25/08

Kaye rated it:

bookshelves: graphicnovels, professional-development

As a graphic novel, Johnny Bunko isn't so exciting, but as career advice, it's a good book. If you are floundering, or don't really like your job, it's worth a read. Even if you are fulfilled (relatively, anyway), it's still worth looking at to see if the principles line up with your career path.

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12/20/08

Heather rated it:

bookshelves: all-ages

Read in December, 2008

recommends it for: anyone who will have to work for a living

This is a good career guide, either for young people looking for advice for starting their adult lives, or for adults who aren't content with their work. Simple, solid, sound advice. And, of course, a magical manga girl. What, don't all career guides have magic manga girls?

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04/03/09

Donna rated it:

bookshelves: graphic, nonfiction, teen

This is an entertaining career guide in manga-form that gives great advice. Johnny is a new grad at his first job and he hates it! He doesn't know how to better his situation until the mysterious Diana shows up and helps him out whenever he needs it most.

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03/23/09

Sally rated it:

Read in January, 2008

This is a career guide that is written like a graphic novel. It is interesting and funny but most of all has some great truths about loving your work and success. I recommend it to all who are re-thinking their career.

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06/03/09

MB rated it:

bookshelves: graphic-novels-and-comics, occasional-non-fiction

recommended to MB by: Library Journal?
recommends it for: New college grads, young job seekers, career counselors

Very valuable advice for new entrants to the working world--and in manga format!

Seriously...I wish I would have found this book "back when". The six principles are pretty important to learn, I think.

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02/15/09

Jeff rated it:

Read in February, 2009

Couldn't be easier to read and quick too. So quick in fact that I think I'll give it a couple of days on the shelf and reread it before sending it back. Obtained via the Phx-Pub-Lib

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12/14/08

Somewhatfrank rated it:

Read in December, 2008

A quick read with six rules that todays creative and inspired people should understand. This comic-book style book offers an easy way to digest some of life's lessons in the working world.

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06/01/09

Verbera rated it:

bookshelves: non-fiction

Read in March, 2008

Saw Daniel Pink speak at SXSW Interactive in 2008 and he gave out this book. Great talk... fun book. Really want to give it a 3.8 but can't get that specific on here.

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