“All of us who love our country but are looking for solutions to the compelling problem of how we must train, develop, and treat our workers need to put Wasted Talent on a must-read list. Sam Caucci has written a book that is not an academic argument—it’s a battle cry for a better future of work. This book is both bracing and hopeful.”

Senator Bob Kerrey, former U.S. senator, governor, and U.S. Navy SEAL

“Sam gets it. Identifying talent is only the first step. A person’s potential can only be fulfilled if they are put in the right environment for their unique blend of talents. There is no one-size-fits-all model. Wasted Talent is essential for those looking for a twenty-first-century approach to managing our most important resource—us!”

Joe Baker, PhD, author, The Tyranny of Talent, and professor, University of Toronto

“In his new book Wasted Talent, Sam Caucci lays out a compelling plan for transforming the working life. Work is, in fact, a scam, and we must build something better to replace the current system. With humor, candor, and personality, Caucci’s polemical style will both captivate readers and inspire change.”

Jamie McCallum, author, Essential: How the Pandemic Transformed the Long Fight for Worker Justice

“Sam writes with the clarity and compassion that this moment demands. Wasted Talent offers both a mirror and a map for leaders ready to do better by their people.”

—Julie Lythcott-Haims, New York Times bestselling author of How to Raise an Adult and former dean of freshmen and undergraduate advising at Stanford University

“Great teams aren’t built on talent alone—they’re built on systems that nurture that talent every day. This isn’t just a book—it’s a challenge to every coach, manager, and executive: are you developing your people, or just managing them?”

—Kirk Everist, two-time U.S. Olympian, five-time national champion, and head men’s water polo coach, University of California, Berkeley

“Wasted Talent is a great fountain of new ideas for any leader claiming to care about their people. Caucci explains outdated systems that hold employees back and offers new, alternative ideas born of his research, lived experiences, and expert input. Find out what’s not working, why, and what to do instead.”

—Jamie Madigan, gamer and expert on the psychology of video games, contributor to Washington Post, The Guardian, BBC, CNET, and more

“Who is in front of me, and how do we balance what they want and what they need in order to develop? That is the question we teach coaches to ask about developing athletes, and it is exactly how companies need to start thinking about their people. Get to know them, give them both the soft and hard skills to succeed, challenge them, and create an environment and time for them to thrive. That is the best way to not only identify and develop the talent that shouts, but the talent that whispers. This book will show you how it’s done.”

—John O’Sullivan, author, Every Moment Matters: How the World’s Best Coaches Inspire Their Athletes and Build Championship Teams, and founder, Changing the Game Project

“Work clearly isn’t working. In his new book Wasted Talent, Sam Caucci presents a clear, practical pathway to revolutionize work for everyone—employers and employees. Caucci draws on unparalleled experience and insight to reveal a refreshing win-win strategy for anyone who wants to succeed in modern business and leadership.”

—Fergus Connolly, author, 59 Lessons: Working with the World’s Elite Coaches, Athletes, and Special Forces

“Opportunity should be a gateway, not a barrier. In Wasted Talent, Sam Caucci charts a clear path forward through practical insights and innovative solutions, showing us how to build a future where talent can truly flourish—regardless of background. A vital blueprint for creating meaningful and developmental opportunities in today’s workplace.”

—Shadae McDaniel, SVP of Programs and Strategic Initiatives, All Stars Project

“Wasted Talent by Sam Caucci should be de rigueur reading for any management team. It is full of ideas, tips, and helpful comments that are revealing and enlightening.”

—Chef Ken Hom, internationally renowned chef, author, television show presenter for the BBC, and pioneer of modern Asian cuisine

“Sam Caucci reminds us what it means to be seen. He uplifts the workers who are too often invisible—those returning from prison, those in recovery, and those juggling multiple jobs to provide for themselves and their families. Wasted Talent gives voice to those voices and demands we do better as a community. I am proud to stand with Sam in that call.”

—Jim McGreevey, chairman of the board and executive director, New Jersey Reentry Corporation

“This book hits home. Talent alone doesn’t win championships in football, business, or life. Wasted Talent reveals how building the right systems and support structures unlocks real potential. It’s a playbook for developing people that’s been long overdue.”

—Glenn Cook, assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel, Cleveland Browns

“The current work environment is toxic and extremely inefficient at best. If you are looking for an authentic, common-sense solution that can and should be implemented right now, Sam Caucci in his book Wasted Talent has done the grunt work. It deserves a serious look.”

—Tom Sterner, author, The Practicing Mind, Fully Engaged, and It’s Just a Thought

“In the world of elite sports, the difference between good and great often comes down to coaching. After working with 160-plus championship teams, the best teams rise when leaders choose to coach—not control. Sam Caucci’s Wasted Talent delivers that same message to every workplace in America. If you care about building a team that performs at its highest level, this book is your playbook. It is a call to lead differently, to develop people fully, and to win with heart. Every CEO should read this.”

—Dr. Jerry Lynch, bestselling author and performance consultant to more than 160 NCAA and professional championship teams

“Champions aren’t born; they’re built. Wasted Talent is Sam Caucci’s game plan to stop wasting potential and start creating champions in the workforce.”

—Martin Rooney, internationally recognized trainer, speaker, author, and pioneer of strength and conditioning

“Wasted Talent is a must-read for every educator and executive shaping the future of work. As someone who prepares students for careers in sport and entertainment, I see firsthand how our systems overlook potential. This book is a powerful reminder—and road map—for building a world where every worker gets a real shot.”

—Michelle Harrolle, PhD, director, University of South Florida MBA in Sport and Entertainment Management—Vinik Sport & Entertainment Program

“Drawing from research into the science of learning, Sam Caucci is a leader in frontline training. Lean into this book.”

—Peter C. Brown, coauthor of Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning

“Whether you are in the classroom, boardroom, assembly line, in the office, or working from home, ‘one-and-done’ learning is often inefficient. In order to truly commit items to memory and to retrieve this information on command, you need to put in the work. As stated in the book Make It Stick, ‘Learning that is easy is like writing in the sand, here today and gone tomorrow.’ Sam Caucci in Wasted Talent shows how better learning and development can unlock talent and create real opportunities for every worker.”

—Patrice M. Bain, Ed.S., educator and author, Powerful Teaching

“Work is done by people. Sam exposes the short-term mindsets that have led us to underinvest in humanity’s most critical resource—people—and shows the path forward to create jobs that work for everyone.”

—Scott Young, Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Ultralearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career