A few people mentioned the book Preparing CEOs For Success: What I Wish I Knew to me, and admittedly, I haven’t gotten around to it until now, months after its May pub date. What I didn’t realize I was missing, was more than just some expert’s opinion about the challenges and successes of being CEO. This book is a formal guide for understanding what it takes to be CEO of a company, from personality, to practice, to leadership, to how you are perceived by others. No criteria is missing.

Broken into color-coded sections, this is a reference guide for ladder-climbers and current CEOs, to quickly check tips and insight into the position in advance, or in the swing of things. For us non-CEOs, it reveals a few additional things: Is the CEO of my employer like this? Could I ever handle their job? How would I react to “x” situation? Do I have what it takes? It never hurts to dream.

For those that are CEOs, the book is filled with enough information and experience to address any similar instance. Drawing from CEO insight from the likes of Best Buy, Johnson & Johnson, AT&T, and many others, it’s jam-packed with leadership wisdom.

Worth picking up whether you’re looking to get to the top of the ladder, or are already there.