This is a business book in the form of a novel. A middle-manager at a plan manufacturing goods of unknown sort (never named widgets, but may as well be) finds himself on a journey to revolutionize plant management based on the guidance of a Mr. Miyagi-like academic. In doing so, he also saves his marriage and rises to corporate success.

Ultimately, it is a parable about Toyota's revolutionary manufacturing processes, and the appendix of the book breaks this down into a more concise fashion than the rambling novelization.

The underlying principles are sound, however, and the concept of breaking down manufacturing into simple core processes rather than abstract KPIs is sound.

An innovative way to present business principles, maybe, but not a page turner. Would likely be more interesting for business majors than experienced business people.