BrainStyles

First, a confession: This reviewer has never watched so much as a single episode of either "Star Trek" or its follow-up series "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Not only that, this reviewer has never attempted to catch any of the--how many were there, anyway?--"Star Trek" films in movie theaters. Trekkies be not insulted, though: This confession is offered only to put this review of Make It So: Leadership Lessons From Star Trek: The Next Generation (Pocket Books, $12 paper) in perspective.

And, fortunately, this particular non-Trekkie thinks even sci-fi illiterate entrepreneurs will benefit from reading Make It So. "As I began work on this book, little did I realize just how rich `Star Trek: The Next Generation' is in illustrating the timeless leadership qualities that are as indispensable for those who lead today as they will be for those who lead tomorrow," writes author Wess Roberts (in collaboration with Bill Ross).

So prepare yourself to follow in the footsteps of Captain Picard of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Although a battle with the fiendish Borg may not be something you need worry about, Picard's handling of crew and crises alike makes for interesting case studies in leadership.

This article was originally published in the April 1997 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: BrainStyles.