The Back of the Napkin (Book Review of the Week-ish)

Ever have trouble getting people to, well, get it? Struggle communicating an idea? Dan Roam may have a solution for you. His new book, The Back of the Napkin, shows how anyone, using simple drawing tools, can deliver even the most complex or abstract messages in pictures, to anyone. And he delivers an engaging, well-presented view of how visuals help tell your story. Even if you (think you) can’t draw.

While the early chapters read a bit like testimonials (“I didn’t think I could do it!”), the book finds its stride in later chapters, where Roam demonstrates a simple framework for choosing the right kind of picture for needed data. Easily worth the price of admission right there. Fortunately, Roam admits as much, and encourages readers to skip ahead when they’re ready.

In a world cluttered with communication (or is that, “with cluttered communication”), Roam offers a simple solution. Clear, concise (you’ll read it in an evening or two), and coherent, Roam’s book will make a welcome addition to your business bookshelf.