Title: Turnaround: A 180 in Six Months, or A Six-Month Plan for Change
Author: Dr. Charles S. Ricks
Publisher: Seagull Publishers
ISBN: 978-0983588351
Pages: 95, Hardcover/Kindle
Genre: Business
Reviewed by: Brandon Nolta, Pacific Book Review
Book Review
Change is constant, but never easy; that’s the mantra that many people learn in navigating everyday life, particularly in the business world. Figuring out how to manage change, to direct and focus one’s efforts toward making it beneficial, is the subject of many a self-help book, and to those multitudes, executive and dentist Charles S. Ricks has added his own effort. Unlike many others, however, Ricks has a few tricks up his sleeve to make his work more immediately useful.For one thing, Ricks isn’t out to milk what he has to say for maximum effect (and page count). He gets right to the point, and covers his subjects succinctly and well. Using a handful of principles, he offers concrete examples from his own experience to illustrate the actions and concepts under discussion. Using a handful of sturdy metaphors, specifically golf in the early chapters, he discusses each stage in his overall approach and explains how readers can apply these concepts in daily life.
As an additional benefit, Ricks’ patient and warm tone makes the reading light and easy to absorb, providing an excellent example of his mentoring approach on every page. By the end of the book, which ran to a slim 43 pages in the form this reviewer received, Ricks establishes an authoritative and friendly voice that engenders a trust and reliability in the work. Whether you agree with Ricks’ assertions or not, he comes off well on a professional and personal level, and since much of the work for this kind of book depends on the personality of the author on the page, Ricks scores highly in this regard.
While the material Ricks covers isn’t exactly revolutionary – most, if not all, of the principles Ricks refers to are common sense – it is presented in a logical, easily absorbed fashion, which would be of great benefit for people pressed for time, a demographic with which Ricks demonstrates great comfort and understanding. Anyone looking for a straightforward, avuncular take on bringing positive change to their life could do worse than turning to Ricks’ clear thinking and lucid prose.
