Reviews for The Trousers of Reality- find balance and satisfaction in life, work and play: Why things like Agile, Lean, NLP, Systems Thinking & Theory of Constraints are essential for effective project management

1. Highly timely, there is nothing else like it

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, April 12rd, 2010

   A fantastic and urgently needed book that examines the deeper principles underlying the most successful software delivery methodologies today. It covers topics including linguistics, systems thinking, lean delivery and complex systems whilst most impressively always managing to remain practical and pragmatic.
   
   If you are looking for a recipe book to apply blindly under the pretext of "being agile", this isn't for you. If you are looking for set of tools that will show you how to evaluate any new situation, adapt to its particular unique characteristics and maximise your effectiveness and likelihood of success (both at work or elsewhere in your life) then you will find it absolutely invaluable.

2. Crackin' read - can't wait for next volume!

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, January 12nd, 2010

   Barry is an inspirational friend - the way he links apparently diverse fields of study can make things clear and accessible. This book defies being 'pigeon-holed' as a text book, a hand book or a novel - it is so much more. The reader is encouraged by the sprinkling of familiar models and frameworks, and yet stretched to compare, contrast and incorporate new perspectives throughout. What absolutely makes this a 'page-turner' though, is not the erudite and persuasive content; but his rich and humorous writing style, full of recognisable analogies and personal anecdotes. As this is Volume One; I can hardly wait for Volume Two....hurry up finishing it Barry!! Highly recommended.

3. Sound advice from software's Mr Miyagi

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, December 12th, 2009

   I worked with Barry a while ago in a frenetic new media environment. At the time I was pretty new to agile, attracted by its promise but short on experience.
   
   Barry worked almost invisibly across the whole organisation, addressing misunderstandings here, correcting the course there, sprinkling new approaches; so that by the end of his tenure the place fairly hummed.
   
   That same deep understanding and sleight of hand is present in this book. Wilfully starting at right angles to everything you might expect, you will find a mixture of practical tools you can use straight away alongside many esoteric ideas simply scattered like seeds.
   
   I can imagine that engineers looking for a textbook (Fowler's patterns, Schwaber's pragmatism or Beck's tutorials) will be disappointed - but if you are excited by ideas and constantly looking to broaden your reference points then Trousers will set you thinking.
   

4. A spring clean for the brain

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, September 12th, 2009

   This book made me open up the windows in my head to let in some fresh air on daily activities I thought I knew well - planning, communicating, prioritising - helping to blow away the accumulated cruft, leaving the essential lessons bare and showing mew ways to grow and improve.
   
   The style is personal and engaging, drawing on the authors experience of coaching and software development and centuries of work from thinkers around the world to reveal a deeper perspective on the reasons that projects succeed and fail.
   
   Looking forward to volume II.

5. Wide-ranging and stimulating advice from a real master

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, July 12nd, 2009

   This book contains so much common sense it should really be classified as a self-help book for bewildered software engineers and others. Written in an engaging and personal style it is very easy to read and at the same time contains real gems of advice for making a difference in dynamic work situations. It includes important lessons and messages that everyone who struggles to keep up with the evolving practices in the IT industry should benefit from. In fact, although Barry Evans works in the software industry and uses IT for much of the groundwork and examples, there are also references to science, art and literature that mean an understanding of IT is not necessary to gain a lot from reading the book. Personally I found the sections on NLP and TOC to be most informative. The Trousers of the title refers to a comment from the author's brother taking the wrong direction on the road to somewhere, by reading this book it may help you choose the right leg more often than the wrong trousers completely. The book has extensive references to further reading and study and I look forward to further volumes in the series.