Success Secrets of Sherlock Holmes

October 31, 2011
In this self-help book, Acord wants to help readers become better entrepreneurs and more savvy about their careers by following guidelines loosely drawn from Sherlock Holmes stories. However, this advice turns out to be generic: do what you love; maintain relationships across social strata; take credit for your work while not being egotistical; work hard to achieve your dreams; and avoid mental laziness. He draws parallels between these platitudes and behavior demonstrated by Holmes, and while it's noteworthy to apply strategies used by a 100-year old fictional character for modern-day success, that's not enough to carry this thinly-drawn book. Acord strains to make these connections, and often leaves readers wondering why they should be placing so much value in the Holmes connection in the first place. Moreover, he makes some few basic errors in his own inferences (the most notable being deliberately misreading the term "the game is afoot") that will leave readers leery of his other conclusions. Though he clearly enjoys his Sherlock Holmes, Acord's advice can be found in dozens of other books, and the Holmes-ian device becomes frustrating after a few pages.