And we're back. It's amazing what a lung full of chlorine vapors can do for reading time. Here's a travel tip, before we get started:

When staying at a hotel, ask for a room other than the one directly above the pool, such that ceiling of pool = floor of room. If this is not possible, at least know the date and time when the chlorine supplier arrives to dump another barrel of that deadly stuff in the water, and be somewhere else at that time. Failing that, plan for a few days to cough out your lungs, and prepare some good books to read.

Ergo, on my reading list lately:

Toyota Talent by Jeffrey Liker and David Meier
There's a lot to like in this book. A review is coming soon to this blog. Mark Graban at the Lean blog gave it a detailed treatment recently.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to Lean by Jamie Flinchbaugh and Andy Carlino
This is the best book on lean leadership I have ever read. Five stars. This book should change how you think about Lean. I didn't find it on any of SME's Lean certification book lists. Why? Maybe they plan to roll out a platinum level certification, with this book included. This book is now in my top five, and merits further reflection. But I didn't understand the title...

Getting the Right Things Done by Pascal Dennis
Definitely worth having on the shelf for anyone interested in hoshin kanri. The fold-out A3 reports are a nice way to follow the storyline. Time spent reviewing PDCA will be useful for most management teams. This is the only book so far with any mention (though passing) and offer a sketch of the elusive kamishibai board. Does not address strategy (how to identify "what are the right things?") but does an excellent job of addressing deployment (how do we get these things done?)
Corrections: Japanese is not a metaphorical language. Hoshin does not mean shining needle, shiny metal, compass or ships passing each other.

You can't believe everything you see online, in a PPT or in a book, but you can learn something worthwhile about Lean from each of these titles.