Coach, blogger and community catalyst Yves Hanoulle has published a weekly series called "Who is" containing profiles of Agile community leaders and influencers since June 2011.
They attracted such interest that he has turned them into a book, which is now available from Leanpub.
The selection of contributors to the series driven by the community. Yves chose the first group of contributors - starting with Lisa Crispin - and left the selection of the subsequent contributors to them. Each contributor suggested one or more further people to interview, and it cascaded from there.
The questions are designed to help understand the background and motivation of the people being interviewed, not to delve into their current work and position in the community. Questions he asks include:
- What is something people usually don’t know about you but has influenced you in who you are?
- If you would not have been in IT, what would have become of you?
- What is your biggest challenge and why is it a good thing for you?
- What drives you?
- What is your biggest achievement?
- What is the last book you have read?
- What question do you think I should also ask and what is the answer?
As at February 2012 there are 35 profiles published, and another 120+ waiting to be released, one per week.
The community response has been very positive, and Yves has published the series as a book on Leanpub. The book version has an additional question and answer from each contributor providing more insight and extra value.
According to Yves, the reason he chose to publish the book via Leanpub is because they have the ability to make later editions of the book freely available to customers have already purchased a copy, and he intends to release frequent updates. The book can be purchased here.
Yves has stated that if he makes lots of money from the book he will use it to invite the contributors to his upcoming wedding.
The book is already a best seller on the Leanpub website.
Full disclosure: This reporter is profiled in the latest release of the book
