This book is frankly mis-titled. It’s not addressed to mentors but to mentees. It’s a guide to mentees on how to guide their own development in a mentoring relationship. Despite the mis-titling, it’s really good. And in support of the title, the only way to become a great mentor is to become a great mentee – that is, a great learner of how to succeed at your position. So in a sense, it’s written to mentors, but it’s main focus is on menteeship.
Prospective readers should not let that get in their way, though. Menteeship is an often-neglected part of mentoring relationships, and good mentors must respect the craft of menteeship. It’s spot on about the best mentoring relationships evolve. It’s not about an all-knowing mentor. Indeed, all-knowing mentors often aren’t great mentors. Rather, it’s about the mentee learning how to propel themselves towards whatever goals they and their work empower them to do. Mentors simply co-create the situation, prevent the occasional misstep, and don’t hold the mentees back.
In this book, author Frankie Weinberg details the lifespan of a mentoring relationship, from initiation to sunset to possible re-initiation. With scholarly expertise mixed with penetrating examples, he talks about what mentees experience in all the different stages of a relationship and what tensions mentees need to overcome. To guide, the mentors need to have taken these steps themselves before dispensing advice. Again, candidates for the best mentors are great mentees.
I’d recommend this book for any ambitious mentee who wants to make the most of their mentoring relationship. I’d also recommend this book for ambitious mentors who want to make sure that they’re giving their mentees all they need. It can help mentors empathize with the mentees and prevent mentors from letting their personalities get in the way of mentee development. This book is not about running a program; it is about making the most of a relationship that can slingshot the mentee into making the most of sage guidance.
Mentorship: Empowering Mentees to Take the Lead and Co-Create Their Development
By Frankie J. Weinberg
Copyright (c) 2026
Rotman-UTP Publishing
ISBN13 9781049800639
Page Count: 330
Genre: Mentoring
www.amazon.com