Disrupting the Game

Being a huge Nintendo fan, when I saw Disrupting the Game by Reggie Fils-Aimé was up for request on NetGalley I clicked that request button as fast as I could. And I’d like to thank HarperCollins Leadership and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an eARC of the book.

As I said, I’ve been a huge fan of Nintendo since…well since the very start when the NES first hit in the states. Of course Reggie didn’t come along until much later, but when he popped up at E3 back in the early 2000’s I instantly became a fan of his as well. I mean he seemed like just a regular guy who really liked gaming and wanted to make sure fans had really fun experiences. I always enjoyed watching his presentations or interviews he did so I knew immediately I wanted to read his book. Of course I was hoping for a ton of behind the scenes stories about Nintendo. And don’t get me wrong, there are indeed Nintendo stories in here, in fact the first story he tells has Nintendo as its backdrop. But first and foremost the focus of this books is on business and leadership. Reggie uses stories from his life: from early childhood, through school/college, and then as he entered the business world (even touching on his divorce) to impart life lessons that helped him become the man (and businessman) he is today. And I have to say that I even though I’d have been happy with nothing but Nintendo stories, I found his non-Nintendo stories every bit as interesting as the Nintendo ones. I never knew Reggie had such a robust career. Over the year he worked with Procter & Gamble, Pizza Hut, and even VH1 to name a few of companies he worked with before joining the gaming giant. And he shares what he learned from his successes and from his failures.

Disrupting the Game is an interesting, entertaining, and a rather quick read, and while much of what Reggie imparts is business/leadership focused, many of his ‘lessons’ can be applied to all facets of your life.

As someone interested in the history of the video game industry, this is a fascinating read. It was great to see events that I experienced as a consumer from Reggie's point of view. Beginning the book by discussing the death of Mr. Iwata is a strong hook. Readers who are picking the book up specifically for the Nintendo history inside will immediately get a taste of what they're looking for.

The "So What" sections didn't really work for me. They ruined the flow of the story. In many cases, the lesson is being restated, and really doesn't have to be. In others, the text can remain as part of the chapter, but I don't think it needs to be formatted or labeled differently. While this book certainly has value as a business and leadership book, I imagine that its core audience is likely to be video game/Nintendo enthusiasts .

Disrupting the Game by Reggie Fils-Aimé is a must-read for anyone who is from an entrepreneur to a business person or working for a business to a student; everyone should read the book. I had read other's reviews and I wanted to make sure to underline that Reggie Fils-Aimé if you've read the book was never "placed" in any position nor was he "given" a title, this person has such a clear and effective idea of himself and his path that he takes us through the mental process of how he made the moves and decisions he has made. This is an impressive read because of how humble Reggie Fils-Aimé is, how he is teaching us not only his process but the lessons he has learned, and how we can learn from his experiences and his own lessons. I picked up this book because of my child's interest and love for Nintendo and when I see Reggie Fils-Aimé I can see my child. Visibility is a wonderful thing and when my child is older I will pass down this book for them to read.

Nintendo's former American chief executive turns in a combination business book and memoir that includes some interesting behind-the-scenes details about the inner workings of Nintendo, especially as regards Fils-Aime's relationship with Nintendo's late global president Satoru Iwata.

Before he gets to all that, though, Fils-Aime takes us through his business journey, with a stop along the way at Pizza Hut, where he created, then un-created, the notorious Bigfoot pizza. It's a small selection of key anecdotes, but each one has a lesson to be learned. Nintendo fans might be craving more detail, but the book is really for the general audience and not a deep dive into Nintendo lore for enthusiasts. Still very much worth a read for anyone who witnessed the rise of the Wii and wonders how that all happened.

Long time fan of Nintendo and Reggie, so when news of book being published came out, I was already looking to preorder it. I enjoyed going through this book and learning the history behind Nintendo. This book is filled with so many leadership lessons wrapped in a memorable stories that make it easy to remember. Its a fairly easy read so I can recommend it to even the most casual autobiography readers!