I was in the audience at CBA Live when you answered this question, and I immediately identified with your response (I think most of the audience was trying to remember what this book was about). When I resigned my commission as an officer in the Marines in 1988, I realized I needed to learn about the business world to which I would be transitioning. The first book I read was, In Search of Excellence. All of the points you make still apply today for the businesses that we run. The day after CBA Live, I was back in my office packing my bookshelf in preparation for our move to new offices for our growing company. On that shelf was the very copy of In Search for Excellence that I purchased in 1988. As I was putting it in the box, I related to one of my colleagues that Tom Brown also agrees this is one of the best ever business books, and I appreciate you posting the expanded version of why.