How to Suck as a Leader Book Review: The Anti-Leadership Guide You Didn’t Know You Needed
Are you a leader who’s ever felt like you’re fumbling in the dark, unsure if you’re doing it right? Or maybe you’re a new manager, business owner, or coach who’s desperate to avoid the pitfalls that make leaders crash and burn? If so, How to Suck as a Leader: The Top 15 Mistakes Leaders Make and How to Fix Them by Travis Dalrymple is the book you need to grab right now. Fresh off its launch, this book is already making waves for its no-nonsense, sarcastic, and incredibly practical approach to leadership. In this How to Suck as a Leader book review, I’ll break down why this book is a game-changer, what you’ll learn, and why it’s the ultimate guide to stop second-guessing yourself and start leading with confidence.
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Why How to Suck as a Leader Is the Book Every Leader Needs
Leadership isn’t a walk in the park—it’s messy, challenging, and often lonely. Most leadership books promise a shiny 10-step plan to greatness, but How to Suck as a Leader takes a radically different approach. Travis Dalrymple, a seasoned leader who’s been in the trenches of entrepreneurship, coaching, and corporate leadership, flips the script by showing you what not to do. As he puts it, “Leading people isn’t supposed to be easy—it’s supposed to be challenging.” And that’s exactly why this book resonates so deeply—it’s real, raw, and packed with insights that actually work.
Dalrymple draws from his 15+ years of experience, from scaling businesses to coaching executives and managing teams for Fortune 500 companies. His journey—from dropping out of college to becoming the CEO of Fighting Gravity, generating over $11.5 million from corporate events—proves he knows what it takes to lead under pressure. But what makes this book stand out is its focus on the mistakes leaders make and how to fix them, delivered with a healthy dose of sarcasm and humor. If you’re tired of fluffy leadership advice and ready for something that cuts through the noise, How to Suck as a Leader is your answer.
What You’ll Learn from How to Suck as a Leader
This book isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. Dalrymple distills his hard-earned lessons into a framework that’s as entertaining as it is actionable. Here’s a taste of what you’ll discover inside How to Suck as a Leader:
- Why leadership feels lonely (and what to do about it): Dalrymple gets real about the isolation leaders face, sharing how he felt overwhelmed while scaling his company, Fighting Gravity, and offering practical ways to cope.
- The real reason your team’s confused: Spoiler—it’s not them, it’s you. He highlights how unclear communication derails teams and provides a simple fix to get everyone on the same page.
- How to stop micromanaging and build trust: If you’re hovering over your team’s every move, you’re killing their potential. Dalrymple’s framework helps you let go while still staying in control.
- Why “perfect” is the enemy of progress: Trying to be a flawless leader is a recipe for burnout. This book shows you how to embrace your imperfections and lead authentically.
- A dead-simple feedback formula: Learn how to give constructive feedback without sounding like a jerk—because no one wants to be that boss.
- How to lead without burning out: Dalrymple shares how he juggled running a business, performing for Fortune 500 clients, and coaching executives without losing his mind, giving you strategies to lead sustainably.
The book is packed with real-world stories that make these lessons hit home. From his days as a CrossFit coach to leading a team averaging $8 million a year in revenue, Dalrymple’s experiences are both relatable and inspiring. He even shares how he scaled his online fitness business to $30,000 a month in just 90 days during the COVID-19 shutdown—a testament to his ability to adapt and lead through chaos.
A Fresh Take on Leadership: Why This Book Stands Out
What sets How to Suck as a Leader apart is its anti-leadership approach. Instead of preaching what makes a “great” leader, Dalrymple focuses on what makes a bad one—and trust me, it’s eye-opening. He writes, “Most folks don’t know what ‘good’ looks like, but identifying what ‘bad’ looks like is fairly easy.” By spotlighting the top 15 mistakes leaders make, he gives you a clear starting point to improve. It’s like having a mentor who’s been there, screwed up, and figured out how to fix it so you don’t have to.
The tone of the book is another reason it’s so addictive. Dalrymple’s casual, conversational style makes it feel like you’re chatting with a friend over a beer. He says, “I always hoped someone would write a book where it sounds like two people casually chatting over a beer (or whatever beverage you prefer).” This approach makes the lessons stick—because who wants to slog through another dry, corporate leadership seminar in book form? Not me, and probably not you either.
Real Stories, Real Lessons: A Peek Inside the Book
One of the most compelling parts of How to Suck as a Leader is Dalrymple’s storytelling. He doesn’t just tell you what to do—he shows you through his own experiences. For example, he recounts the panic he felt in 2022 when asked to give an hour-long presentation on leadership: “I was panicking: What the hell was I supposed to talk about for a full hour?” That moment led him to realize that many business owners struggle with leadership gaps, not business problems. This epiphany became the foundation of the book, as he set out to highlight the ways leaders “suck” and how to address them.
Another standout story is his transition from college student to business owner. At 24, he dropped out of Virginia Tech to focus on Fighting Gravity, a performance group that eventually landed on America’s Got Talent. He writes, “I couldn’t be both a full-time business owner and college student. Something had to give.” That decision paid off—he toured 25 cities, performed for millions, and built a company that thrived for over a decade. These stories aren’t just entertaining; they’re packed with lessons on resilience, adaptability, and the importance of focusing on what matters most.
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Who Should Read How to Suck as a Leader?
This book is for anyone who leads people—whether you’re a new manager, a seasoned business owner, a coach, or a team leader. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, second-guessed yourself, or wondered if you’re doing this leadership thing right, How to Suck as a Leader will be your lifeline. Dalrymple writes for “anyone in charge of actual humans,” and his advice applies whether you’ve been leading for five minutes or five years.
What I love most is how universal the lessons are. Whether you’re running a small business, managing a corporate team, or coaching a group of entrepreneurs, the mistakes Dalrymple highlights—like micromanaging, poor communication, and burnout—are ones we all risk making. And his fixes are practical, not theoretical. You won’t find vague platitudes here—just actionable strategies you can apply today.
Why You Should Buy How to Suck as a Leader Right Now
If you’re ready to stop feeling like an imposter and start leading with confidence, How to Suck as a Leader is the book you’ve been waiting for. It’s not just a book—it’s a roadmap to better leadership, minus the fluff. Dalrymple’s promise? “Read this book. So you don’t completely suck as a leader.” And after reading it, I can say he delivers on that promise in spades.
The book’s launch couldn’t have come at a better time. In 2025, with businesses navigating hybrid work, economic uncertainty, and evolving team dynamics, leaders need real, no-BS advice more than ever. How to Suck as a Leader gives you the tools to avoid common pitfalls, build trust with your team, and lead sustainably for the long haul. Plus, it’s a quick read—Dalrymple notes that his first draft was “fifteen years worth of information packed into thirty pages,” and the final version keeps that concise, impactful vibe.
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Final Thoughts: A Must-Read for Every Leader
In my How to Suck as a Leader book review, I can confidently say this is one of the most refreshing leadership books I’ve ever read. Travis Dalrymple has created something special—a book that’s equal parts hilarious, insightful, and actionable. It’s the anti-leadership book we all need, showing us how to be great by learning from the worst. Whether you’re a new leader or a seasoned pro, this book will change the way you lead, helping you avoid the mistakes that make leaders “suck” and giving you the confidence to thrive.
Don’t wait another day to level up your leadership game. Grab your copy of How to Suck as a Leader: The Top 15 Mistakes Leaders Make and How to Fix Them today and start leading like the badass you were meant to be. Your team (and your sanity) will thank you.
