Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us

by Seth Godin

book data

477 ratings, 3.85 average rating, 164 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		29%
4		36%
3		25%
2		7%
1		1%

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published

October 21st 2008 by Portfolio Hardcover

binding

Hardcover, 160 pages

isbn

1591842336 (isbn13: 9781591842330)

description

If you're looking at this page this far ahead of publication, you're probably a member of Seth Godin's tribe. And if so, you already know what this bo...more

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10/01/08

Ron rated it:

bookshelves: blogs, business, career, leadership, mindblowing, motivational, nonfiction, radical

Read in October, 2008

This book will make you want to go out and change the world.

It's a powerful reminder that what we call "marketing" is really just doing something that you believe in passionately and then sharing that passion with other people, getting them to believe in you as well. There are all sorts of ideas and causes around which we might organize--but in order to do it, we need to be out there, making things happen because we refuse to live with the fear that we can't.

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10/10/08

Molly rated it:

Read in October, 2008

recommended to Molly by: Seth's blog
recommends it for: anyone striving for change

Seth Godin is an inspiration to an entire generation of people, many of which spend a large portion of their day in front of a computer for both fun AND profit.

This book Tribes, is the best book on leadership, social change and creating a movement that I have read.

A book that SCREAMS to be highlighted and written in and talked about.

Extremely short chapters that pack a punch, this is a must read for anyone with a burning desire for change who just needs th...more

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10/31/08

Carol Howard rated it:

This was an interesting mix of self-help/motivational leadership stuff with a bit of insight about how tribes are now forming. I liked it best when Godin talked about the nature of how tribes interact,especially when he explained the difference between how things used to be and how they are now.

The motivational cheerleading seemed a bit inauthentic. I mean, he would write things like "you should be leading..." and I would just think, How do you know? You don't know me.

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11/18/08

Marianne rated it:

Read in November, 2008

recommended to Marianne by: JSW

So far, not too impressed. The author stays just on the surface and hasn't said anything new or thought-provoking (so far). It would be a better book if it were more focused and had depth, but it seems to be just a repackaging of what's already out there and trendy in the business/marketing world.

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11/22/08

Scott Radtke rated it:

While the book is small and in some ways lightweight, it also manages to be deeply engaging. In essence it's a rant to get you off your ass and do what you love to do and inspire others to follow. It's about true leadership, not about being a boss or a manager, but a leader.

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02/01/09

Todd rated it:

Read in February, 2009

I'll tell you right up front that this is a book you'll dismiss or embrace. I'm fairly certain there is no middle ground here. What it comes down to is your willingness to believe you can lead and your acceptance that most folks are sheepwalking.

Seth takes us through a perspective on what constitutes a leader and what leaders do. He explains from his point of view why companies large and small and the individuals within fight to maintain the status quo. But more than that, there are h...more

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01/05/09

Micah Elliott rated it:

Read in November, 2008

In the classic Godin style, more than anything this book is motivational, with an expected emphasis on embracing change and overcoming the F-word (Fear). But this time there's more to it (hence the multitude of tags) -- leadership! We have to assemble and lead a tribe, and "managing" isn't going to work. We must start movements, via motivation and connectivity. "The barriers to leadership have fallen," as the necessary tools are now readily available: blogs, search, RSS, soci...more In the classic Godin style, more than anything this book is motivational, with an expected emphasis on embracing change and overcoming the F-word (Fear). But this time there's more to it (hence the multitude of tags) -- leadership! We have to assemble and lead a tribe, and "managing" isn't going to work. We must start movements, via motivation and connectivity. "The barriers to leadership have fallen," as the necessary tools are now readily available: blogs, search, RSS, social networks, GTD, progress trackers, etc.

Short and sweet at 127 unstructured, linear entries, it's an assortment of advice, admonitions, case studies, experiments, quotations, and anecdotal stories, including a revision to the Peter Principle(!). I was compelled to compile my own glossary to aid in remembering all the rich metaphors. It includes: authentic generosity, balloon factories (and unicorns), charisma, criticism, curiosity (vs fundamentalism), heresy (vs status quo), faith (vs religion), remarkability (vs fear), leadership/empowerment (vs sheepwalking, vs participation, vs management), micromovement, passion (vs bureaucracy), reinvention (vs perfection), thermostat (vs thermometer), tribe (vs factory), yes/no (vs not yet) -- words which will now have a refreshed home in my vocabulary.

Paraphrasing some of the most resonant excerpts:

- Capitalize on a non-obvious moment/opportunity; get there first.
- Recipe for starting a micromovement: manifesto, connectablity, money is not the point, track progress.
- Persuasion: don't start with opposition, seek the uncommitted passionates.
- Help your tribe sing, whatever form that song takes.
- Elements of leadership: challenge status quo, create culture, be charismatic, communicate vision, connect.
- "I started a newsletter..."

I appreciate that Seth's content is not simply borrowed or extended from his blog, but enters fresh in his books. I should also mention that Seth's is about the only blog among my 200 subscriptions whose entries I will never skim over.

Purple Cow and The Big Moo motivated me to quit my programming factory day job some months ago and pursue my dream of ending corporate life and starting my own business. Now Tribes has given me what I believe will be the perspective to lead a people, as Seth does. In fact, because I'm in Seth's exclusive tribe (exclusion is a key component of tribes), he sent me (and other members) a surprise free, advanced copy of the book. And now he'll sit back while his members write rave reviews about it and sneeze over the importance of tribes and leadership. That is remarkable.(less)

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12/24/08

Ryan rated it:

Read in December, 2008

Business books are usually so vapid and market driven that they rarely deserve a five star rating. Make no mistake, like other books in the genre this too is a small and silly book. What Tribes lacks in sophistication and documentation it makes up for with anecdotes and elegance. The book is filled with rarely articulated common sense observations. Godin's exploration of 21 Century leadership takes the time to make connections between school and lack of leadership. On page 97...

...more

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12/02/08

Robert rated it:

Godin's books and blog provide a wealth of information, observations, opinions, and (especially) challenges that can help others to overcome what James O'Toole so aptly characterizes as "the ideology of comfort and the tyranny of custom." In this, his most recent book, he urges his reader to consider and then take full advantage of unprecedented opportunities to become a leader. He cites five different but related reasons: "everyone in an organization - not just the boss - is expe...more Godin's books and blog provide a wealth of information, observations, opinions, and (especially) challenges that can help others to overcome what James O'Toole so aptly characterizes as "the ideology of comfort and the tyranny of custom." In this, his most recent book, he urges his reader to consider and then take full advantage of unprecedented opportunities to become a leader. He cites five different but related reasons: "everyone in an organization - not just the boss - is expected to lead," in today's workplace "it's easier than ever before to change things [and] individuals have more leverage than ever before," those and their organizations that "change things and create remarkable products and services" are rewarded in the marketplace, change initiatives are "engaging, thrilling, profitable and fun," and most of all, there is a "tribe" of other people waiting for a leader "to connect them to one another and lead them where they want to go."

Godin asserts that great leaders "create movements by empowering the tribe [i.e. those with a shared interest] to communicate. They establish the foundation for people to make connections, as opposed to commanding people to follow." The communication to which he refers is between and among the leader and members of a tribe who are connected by a shared interest, a common cause (i.e. "a passionate goal"), and a determination to create things that did not exist before, to achieve something that could happen but hasn't yet. Godin stresses the need for leaders with imagination. In the words of George Bernard Shaw, those who "dream things that never were and say why not."

I agree with Godin that leaders "make a ruckus." So did Alcibiades' drunken seamen who, while ashore and roaming the streets of Athens late one night, smashed sacred icons. But they were vandals, not leaders. They comprised a mob. It is important to keep in mind that Godin's "tribe" is not a mob, nor is it a crowd. "A crowd is a tribe without a leader. A crowd is a tribe without communication." It is easy to collect a crowd. The objective, Godin, suggests, is to create a tribe. Will it be easy? Of course not. That requires more time and effort to motivate, connect, and leverage its members. Also, it is necessary for leaders to overcome fear, not of failure but of blame. "We chose not to be remarkable because we're worried about criticism."

In my opinion, this is Seth Godin's most important book thus far because he challenges his reader to accept full responsibility for becoming a tribal leader of principled and productive agents of positive change. "No one gives you permission or approval or a permit to lead, You can just do it. The only one who can say no is you." But he doesn't stop there. He also challenges his reader to share his book with others. "Ask them to read it. Beg them to make a choice about leadership. We need them. We need you. Spread the word. Thanks." (less)

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11/28/08

Joe rated it:

bookshelves: community, ministry

Read in December, 2008

recommends it for: anybody willing to be a heretic

First off, don't approach this book expecting something that is well written. To be honest, the book reads like a few hundred blog posts that, for the most part, link together in some coherent fashion ... although there are times you'll wonder how one thought prompted the next.

Now, with that work of warning out of the way, this book is filled with wisdom about how to lead people. Seth might be a marketing guy to the core, but he's written an amazing book on leadership that aims more ...more

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10/11/08

Andreas rated it:

bookshelves: leadership, management, marketing, non-fiction, small-group-behavior

Read in October, 2008

Tribes in a Sea of Change

To Seth Godin we are living in a new world. A world where success does not depend on doing things the way they were done in the past. A world where playing it safe actually means betting the house. A world where the best way to success is to break with everything that seemed true yesterday and to do exactly the opposite today. In this world only through embracing the chance of failure one can achieve success.

This is the background for the new book...more

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02/08/09

Iamthird rated it:

Read in February, 2009

Great leaders create movements by empowering the tribe to communicate. Tribes are about connections : the story, the connection, the possibilities. Don't manage, lead. You have everything you need to build something far bigger than yourself. They are ready to follow if you're ready to lead. Tribes reward innovation...innovators are happier, what's missing is the will to make the ideas happen. In a battle between two ideas, the best one doesn't necessarily win. The idea that wins is the one with ...more

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03/09/09

Susan rated it:

bookshelves: nonfiction--business-

Read in October, 2008

This book reads almost like a big pep talk. Go, lead! Your people await! It was a quick read, but one that has stuck with me. It is saying take what you're passionate about, and build your community. This may not be a concept I will take on right this second, but it will fuel future decisions. After reading it, my blog and other online presences have taken a more purposeful tack, and reveal some deeper thinking from me -- not just what I'm having for dinner tonight!!

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01/02/09

Becky rated it:

bookshelves: business

Read in October, 2008

Seth Godin has quite a following, and with good reason - he's brilliant. I've read ALL his books since I learned about him in June or July 2008. But this is his best one yet. I'm looking forward to another - perhaps on social media or leadership.

This is not a take-your-hand how-to book. It's a sweeping overview of what Tribes are, why they're important, how they're going to change and are already changing the business world as we know it. Seth uses dozens of examples from every walk...more

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11/11/08

Andreas rated it:

Read in November, 2008

Part motivational pep, part story-telling, all marketing.

A very easy read, I was well entertained. Godin does well to point out some very basic truths about how to change the status quo. But the quality of these insights were tempered by my annoyance at Godin's "that only you can save mankind" self-help-book style of writing.

Maybe that's just because I hate to think that I can't feel just enthusiasm for the positive message, and that I continue have my own doub...more

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02/05/09

Jeff Leitner rated it:

bookshelves: business-like

Read in October, 2008

I really like Seth Godin. I think he is the clearest writer I've ever read on the weird and imprecise world of marketing. But every now and then, he stretches an interesting little point into a giant premise and it doesn't hold up. I felt that way about this. And besides, we're way early in the movement he writes about and we really don't know what's going to work, what won't work and how it will change us. It's too early for Seth to hold himself out as an anthropologist.

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12/04/08

AM rated it:

Read in January, 2008

recommends it for: everyone

I've listened to several of Godin's books on audio and the man is a passionate speaker. Listening to his books makes wonderful ideas bounce around inside my head. I feel energized to do something (if I only knew what that was). Mostly it makes me ready to write about something anything as long as I'm getting something out there. My friends have used the word tribe before to describe the camaraderie between us esp online. This book uses that version of tribe with marketing in mind, community buil...more

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11/27/08

Tomlinton rated it:

Read in November, 2008

I've been reading Seth's blog
for a month now
wondering if I should
buy and download his new book
Tribes
to my Kindle
Today's blog on Thanksgiving
http://tinyurl.com/Seth-Godin-Thanksgivi...
Left me no doubt

Finished book
which was rather short
but that's what I've been
shouting 'bout
An important concept
like tribes and their leaders
should not be extended out
for 500 pages
Far more important
to c...more

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10/20/08

Ken Schafer rated it:

Read in October, 2008

I have to say that I was very disappointed in this outing by Seth Godin. I've read most of his work since Permission Marketing and found this to be one of the weakest.

The book is primarily a call to arms for those in larger organizations who fear taking the lead within those organizations. Very little of it is truly about "Tribes" and how they impact business which is what I thought I was getting.

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01/11/09

Romulo rated it:

(review of isbn 1423374096)

bookshelves: digital, social-webs, sociology

Read in January, 2008

Seth Godin é um escritor bastante pragmático. Ele escreve para que você faça alguma coisa imediatamente depois que voce terminar de ler um dos dos seus livros.

Seus livros também não são profundos, acho que nem ele tem a pretenção de que sejam. Ele capta uma tendência de mudança no mundo do marketing, especialmente o mundo digital, mas também na chamada economia tradicional, e rapidamente escreve um novo livro.

Com este livro não foi diferente. Seth Godin est...more Seth Godin é um escritor bastante pragmático. Ele escreve para que você faça alguma coisa imediatamente depois que voce terminar de ler um dos dos seus livros.

Seus livros também não são profundos, acho que nem ele tem a pretenção de que sejam. Ele capta uma tendência de mudança no mundo do marketing, especialmente o mundo digital, mas também na chamada economia tradicional, e rapidamente escreve um novo livro.

Com este livro não foi diferente. Seth Godin está seguindo o rastro deixado pelo boon das redes sociais na Internet. A explosão das redes e comunidades na Internet acabam trazendo uma série de reflexões. Vários livros foram lançados discutindo as transformações no mundo digital.

Mas Seth Godin quer que você lidere essa mudança. Não apenas faça parte de uma rede, mas que se apresente como um guia, uma inspiração, um líder, para tanta gente que interage nessas redes virtuais.

O livro, na verdade eu ouvi uma versão em áudio, é uma mistura de várias disciplinas como sociologia, liderança, política e marketing. No final das contas, não importam as fontes. a mensagem é repetida capítulo após capítulo: alguém precisa liderar e inspirar a todos esses. Todos estão em busca de uma "causa" e se você tem uma mensagem, útil e relevante, para mostrar, faça isso.

Quando você ler "se você tem uma mensagem" leia-se, um produto ou um serviço que traga uma mensagem, que seja útil, que seja transformador. Godin é um carrasco com a propaganda chamada por ele de intrusiva. Aquela que só apela para sua atenção justamente quando você não gostaria de estar sendo incomodado. Á propósito, acabaram com os momentos trailers de filmes nos cinemas para colocar mais propaganda. Completamente intrusiva.

Então, o livro ou o áudio, de Seth Godin, é um livro de consumo rápido, inspirador e que vai te fazer ficar com formigas nos pés ( eu ia dizer em outra parte do corpo) para sair da cadeira e fazer alguma coisa. Agora!(less)

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