Among the many mundane tasks I am assigned to muddle through each day  is the duty to open and distribute all of the department's mail. On a slow day, (which is nearly every day) I will thumb through one or more of the magazines that come through for one staff member or another.

While opening the office mail one recent afternoon, I came across an ad for a book titled "Trying Hard is Not Good Enough." Its subtitle indicated reading the book would show government officials "How to Produce Measurable Improvements for Customers and Communities."

As a low-level government employee, everything about the title of this book...and its accompanying ad, infuriates me.

I understand that it is not wise to judge a book by its cover. However, I am human and I just can't help it. The ad announces the book has seven questions every manager should ask every month. If my manager asked the same seven questions every month, I would suggest he either get his brain scanned for a tumor, or believe he doesn't have enough work to do if he his able to bring up the same seven stupid questions every month.

From the time we are old enough to walk we are told to try our best. Personally, I know my parents, spouse and friends would still be proud of me if I tried something new and failed..as long as I tried my best. I suppose that is why the title "Trying Hard is Not Good Enough" seems, not only stupid, but offensive. It basically means that you are screwed from the get-go no matter how much effort you put out. We are set up for failure no matter what we do or no matter how hard we try.

In fact, my stomach turned when I saw the bottom of the ad that claimed the book contained "common sense methods used by government agencies in over 40 states and 10 countries." No wonder our economy is falling apart. No wonder why so many of my co-workers and I feel like "going postal" on any given day. If this is the type of literature our government leaders are basing their management skills on we are all doomed.

So I ask you...read any good books lately? Are there ANY "management" books out there that actually give good advice, or are they all enormously offensive like this one is? How about any other BAD books out there? List them in response to this blog. OR...let's just make some shit up. I'd love to put your creative mind to work. Let's see who can come up with the worst title for a management book. I'll start —

"How to Get the Milk for Free When Your Employees are as Stupid as Cows."