Total Competition

What it is : Built like a dialog between Alan Parr and Ross Brawn around topics of strategy/management/leadership across his F1 experience. What I get out of it : Ross Brawn personal experience and thinking process on how he managed teams at the highest level. The observations summary Part 3 of the book condense valuable insights that can be transposed to any managerial projects. What I like : Ross is very straightforward and has a winner mindset, also recognized his mistakes. I don’t know if there will be an official autobiography from him, but that’s the closest as of today. What I dislike : Art of war analogies are bit much and does not resonate to motorsport to me. The dialogue format leads to some of the interactions that could have been cut off/unnecessary.

Names of Ross Brawn and Adam Parr make this a must read for any F1 fan but when you turn the last page and think about how you liked it, the best thing is to adjust your expectations. This is NOT a book of best kept secrets of F1. This book revolves around how Brawn and Parr think about/apply strategy and give real world examples from F1. Definitely an enjoyable read, especially parts about events leading to Brawn's departure from Mercedes. I'm just saying know what to expect when buying this book

Fantastic book. It's written like an interview between Parr and Brawn. Parr states in the introduction that he kept the dialogue raw, which seems to be true. That can make some parts a little slow to read, but it adds to the overall feeling of the book. Brawn reflects on his career and lessons learned. Brawn and Parr discuss the strategy that Brawn employed which led him to so much success in racing. He is never boastful, tempering what he says with humility. He often points out that luck and hard work have contributed more to his success then innate ability has. It's not an academic book by any means, but I considered it to be a case study of sorts. As a racing fan and a student of leadership (I have a Master's of Arts in Leadership), I find this personally and professionally valuable.

This is Adam Parr trying to make a book about competition and performance Not limited to racing, using Sun Tzu's Art of War as a framework for a discussion with Ross Brawn as exemplar. Parr wants F1 to be able to teach us more generally inasmuch as it such an epic crucible. But I think the book comes up short of his vision for it, and the anecdotes and experience Brawn shares don't quite make up for it. Did I come away with anything that useful going forward? Not really. And that disappoints me. But their discourse, as thoughtful and modest as it is, just isn't what I can only term in context as "championship winning". That said, it does have redeeming features...both men admit and discuss their failures, something I always value and respect. The discussion necessarily addresses what readers of Autosport and Motorsport will expect about the difficulty of integrating such large engineering and manufacturing enterprises as F1 teams have become. You'd get the impression from this book that Brawns exemplary success at this is as much due to his adherence to straightforwardness and decency as to a sophisticated managerial regime - the value of personal skills figure prominently in the story of his success, and the limits of their value in the story of his failure and departure from Merc. It's not an expensive book and you can get thru it pretty fast. I recommend it if you enjoy the higher level politics of F1 and tales of the personalities involved at the team principal and technical director level. If you think this might be a good read on management and strategy you might want to look elsewhere for better.

First rate. Insightful. Much enjoyed the dialogue format, letting RB speak for himself. The Parr contribution was most interesting and informed and his subject lends itself well to F1. I wonder what RB's role will be in F1's future? It needs him. I was gripped. At last, that's how RB does what he does so sublimely. A book with high levels of aerodynamic and mechanical grip. A must read not just for fans but I can think of a number of managers who could glean some tips from RB's way of doing things.

There are three angles that keep you engaged in reading this book. 1. How F1 is no different from other businesses, taking apart the glamour surrounding it. 2. Lots of recent F1 history anecdotes that if you like the sport we have been witnesses. 3. The connection with War, what are the dots you need to interconnect to achieve the ultimate goal....winning.

Author is well equipped to provide a great view of the inside of F-1 from the design of the cars, company politics, team dynamics, FIA fiddling , honor, betrayal and drivers. A great read and deserving of a place on the bookshelf of any serious follower of the sport. Also a great read in management and leadership

This book was very in-depth, and extremely well written! It shows all aspects of Formula one, from the on-track battles, behind the scene tactics, and much more! It also gives the readers insights to how Sun Tsu’s “Art of War” can apply to Motorsports!

Ottimo insight nel mondo della formula 1

What does it take to win in Formula 1? What sets apart teams who struggle and those that are hard to beat? The best person to answer that is the one who has achieved the most success. Looks like this is what Adam Parr tried to do with this book. The book is a dialogue between Adam Parr and Ross Brawn. They talk about Formula 1, examples of successes and failures. From Ferrari and Mercedes dominance to Toyota, who spent more money than anyone else yet failed to bring home a single victory. Ross Brawn shares his career story and his experience of with working with Formula 1's most prominent people of his time, like Michael Schumacher, Jean Todt, Bernie Ecclestone, Flavio Briatore and others. Ross Brawn talks about his perspective on creating success in Formula 1 team or any other venture, the underlying principles and process, that create a strategy. Adam Parr tried to frame the dialogue through a prism of ideas of Sun Tsu's "The Art of War". Although I find it to be an interesting perspective and application of military strategy in sport and business, I don't think that you need to be familiar or interested in "The Art of War" to enjoy the book. I think this book will be a very interesting for any Formula 1 fan who wants to know more about how teams work from the inside and see the aspects of motor racing that are not seen through TV broadcast. I think the book would be pretty hard to follow for people not familiar with F1. Also, it is not about race strategy and pit stops.

Libro de lectura fácil, recomendable para conocer un poco más del mundo de la fórmula 1 , desde los inicios de Ross brawn. Si también se conoce la historia de Williams o Ferrari, tienes una visión más amplia de todo. Totalmente recomendable

It gives great insights to the functioning and running of Formula 1 and the management lessons it offers. Great buy

Reading the introduction of the book I thought "oh, this is going to be so bad". But luckily, the thing took another direction. Adam Parr tries to create an environment mixing lessons in strategy from the book "Art of War" (not the real title though) and Formula 1. Luckily, they do not go to deep into that stuff. Brawn definitely saves the book with all the stories that only a guy with so many years and experience in F1 can bring us. It is impossible to know that, but I do believe he was very sincere in all his opinions. I do recommend it for F1 fans - if you are looking for this book to learn about strategy in the business world, I do not think this is a great choice.