Pig Wrestling

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book. But once I got started I was gripped. An unusual but memorable way to encourage you to look at a problem from a different perspective. I am definitely going to read it again as I think I will pick up something different next time.

I’m a big fan of personal development books so when I came across PIG WRESTING by Pete Lindsay and Mark Bawden, I was intrigued to say the least. Described as a “simple story with a powerful message”, I wasn’t really sure what to expect when reading the synopsis but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Presented in a short, easy-to-read format, PIG WRESTLING promises to help you tackle any type of sticky situation in work or in under an hour. The authors steer away from extensive chapters about their background and research, diving straight into the key principles and strategy (hurrah) which you can use pretty much straight away.

What makes PIG WRESTLING different from other ‘change’ inspiring books on the market is the way in which it is presented. It reads like a short story in which a stressed Young Manager, whose teams are at each other’s throats, shares his frustrations with his local barista. Throughout the course of the book, the Manager is taught how to reframe his particular problem, allowing him to see it from a different perspective and therefore consider different solutions.

In the introduction, the authors claim that by presenting the framework in this way, you are more likely to recall and remember the key elements and I can confirm this is true. By the end of the book, I was able to name the key elements involved in the process and have even found myself thinking about how I could use the tools to inspire change in different parts of my life.

If you are reading the book to try and resolve a particular complex or messy problem, I would suggest making notes as you go along (just like the Young Manager did in the story) to ensure you fully understand the principles and can apply them to your own scenario as you go along. This is also one of those books that you can read time and time again as you’ll pick up something different every time.

The ideas and concepts were portrayed brilliantly in this short and inspiring book.
The use of a fable (with a few anecdotes included) and mnemonics made for an enjoyable read where the inherent knowledge was shared through an engaging cause of discovery.

Having read the kindly edition I’ll definitely try and get a graphic I can print out and use for future reference. It would also be enjoyable re-reading the book within the context of my own problem I might be struggling with.

Anyway, great read!

This book is great - a “quick read” (1-2hrs) that packs a real punch in its pages and delivers a few lightbulb moments along the way. Short & snappy, in the vain of “Who Moved My Cheese” and books like that.
I love how the authors have brought the principles of Pig Wrestling to life with this well written, easy to remember parable.
The story is based on a Young Manager’s struggle with a work issue, but the framework and skills you learn through the story can be applied to changes or issues in either work or personal life.
There are handy summaries throughout the book to consolidate your learning and the characters stick with you so much better than if the same information was simply presented as dry facts.
I’ve personally taken a lot from reading the book - “none of us have unlimited time or energy, so what matters is how wisely we put to use the time and energy that we do have” & “the questions that we ask define our reality” were key takeaways.
I actually want to see this story filmed and shown in my company meeting (!) and am recommending the book to my sister and good friend, both of whom are managers in fast moving industries.
Thank you authors for giving me the skills to clean my dirty thinking - I’m looking forward to life outside the pig pen!

I really enjoyed reading this book, it was very inspiring and will be a useful future reference book for problem solving. I particularly like the way it was written in the way of a story where a young manager who is experiencing issues in his teams goes on a journey, meeting various people. His journey starts with an old barista who introduces him to the concept of pig wrestling and there is much to be learnt in the processes explained. It's a short read and all the more powerful for it. I think it would make a great present for anyone in management though the problem solving concept can indeed be applied to any issue! Highly recommended!!

Really enjoyed reading this- I did dip in and out of it. It’s a book that youas a reader will take so much from.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK for my eARC of this book. This is in exchange for my honest unbiased review

Thoroughly enjoyed this very readable coaching manual. Told as a fable, the problem solving methodology is both clear and practical.

Don't be fooled by the fact that this is a quick and easy read. Crammed into these pages is a powerful problem solving tool that will help you across all aspects of your life, whether you're like the protagonist and struggling with difficult employees or you have other problems you need to deal with, like annoying neighbours.

Told in fable form, I found the writing style to be a little pretentious and self conscious instead of relaxing and letting the story flow. However, that didn't take away from the important message contained therein - if you find yourself wrestling pigs, you're dealing with the wrong problem, so you need to step back and figure out what exactly you should be focusing on instead.

One of those books you'll need to read a few times to glean all the wisdom from - and then read and reread again just to remind yourself of how simple things can really be if you only approach them in the right manner.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

Excellent business fable. Great thinking/decision-making framework. A pleasant surprise! The only downside is the protagonist that felt a little too clueless to be real. Otherwise - a really worthwhile read.

I loved the format of this book, as a short fable. So many books on subjects such as this are long, dry and theoretical, making it difficult to engage with the material and apply it to your life. Whilst I read this as a means to helping me at work, I can think of a lot of personal situations I can apply it to. Highly recommend.

This was a departure from the book genres I usually read but I'm pleased to say that it was a very enjoyable read. The process and the principles were explained clearly and I was able to read it in one evening. As the authors recomend, it may need another read - at least of the summaries - to recall the steps when faced with a real situation but the images described will help (think about pigs in picture frames, crystal ball, bungee cords, etc!)

An interesting and quick read, presenting a fresh framework for tackling tricky problems.
Using the power of story-telling to make the method stick, the book introduces a well thought-out structured approach to addressing intractable situations.
Although I’m not a massive fan of parable-type illustrations usually, I really enjoyed this book. It was well written, nicely light in tone, clear and succinct and much more memorable than your usual management book. And the method can be used for problems anywhere, not just in the office. I’m looking forward to using the ideas contained in it.
Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a copy in return for a fair and honest review.

Pig Wrestling provides an all-encompassing framework for looking at your problems in a new light and finding a solution to the problem you actually have rather then the one you thought you did. It's engagingly written, vividly easy to remember and immensely practical.

Nicely written book, more an adventure than a normal management preach. Enjoyable way of absorbing the ideas presented, would recommend to many work colleagues