Michele Cox: Growing Tall Poppies

Reviewed by MARGIE THOMSON

Cox, herself a high-achiever who's a former New Zealand soccer rep, notes that in recent decades our culture has focused on participation rather than winning.

We even, she notes, criticise those who achieve high standards and strive for excellence. She, however, believes we have much to learn from those high-achievers, and she's interviewed 21 of them — not all well known, but stand-outs in their chosen fields — to find out the secrets of their success.

As Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin says, excellence is "simply the achievement of potential", although we thought Halberg Trust executive director Dave Currie's "it isn't the end result, it is a way of doing things" was more helpful.

Excellent book? Contains some gems, but sadly duller than it promised.

Exisle, $29.95