It’s with great humor and humility that Jim Edwards teaches us not only how to be effective managers, but good business people. He walks us through all the emotions, the pitfalls, the lessons and the successes of being a boss. From expressing gratitude to admitting mistakes to reveling in each achievement, this is a perfect step-by-step guide for anyone just beginning their career in management. And it’s a must-read for experienced managers who could use a swift kick in the pants. Everyone will come away with renewed energy and the skills to do their best.

One of the big problems with leadership is that it’s never taught. You do well as a contributor and then, if you’re really good, you get promoted—as Jim did—to the confounding, uncomfortable and totally unfamiliar role of managing people. For those of us who’ve had that experience or ever hope to, Say Thank You for Everything is the manual we’ve been looking for. It’s honest, approachable, free of jargon and full of practical advice. As I read it, I kept nodding in recognition. Jim knows how the leadership game is played and, better yet, he knows how to coach his readers to play it as well.

Say Thank You For Everything is a deeply entertaining and educational look at leadership. The anecdotes gleaned from Edwards’s 30-year career in media will make you laugh and gasp in horror, but at its heart this is a book about breaking the cycle of bad leadership. It’s also an antidote to the ‘cult of personality’ model of being a boss; out with eccentric buffoonery, in with tangible takeaways to make you and your team better.

We’ve all had bad managers. Some of them horrible. We’ve all had good managers. Some of them we love as if they were family. (And honestly we might prefer them.) But what truly separates the good from the bad, the beloved from the atrocious? Never has a book answered that very question — until now. With his signature wisdom and wit, Jim Edwards has created the ultimate instruction manual for how to manage, lead, and inspire a team — and how not to fuck it up along the way. This is officially now required reading for all current or aspiring bosses.

Gossipy, fun, insightful and simple – Say Thank You For Everything is the management book that works on great anecdotes, not tenuous metaphors. Enjoy these memorable examples of how to get it right at work and in life – as well as how to get it spectacularly wrong. So, Jim, as everyone is probably saying, thank you.

As the original recipient of Jim’s email that inspired this book, I can tell you first hand that his management advice is truly timeless. It has helped me time and again throughout my career. And true to Jim’s own management style, this book is equal parts smart, funny, blunt and helpful.

Most management advice books are incredibly boring. This one most definitely isn’t. It’s a great read for new managers.