The speaker initially underestimated the length of the book, expressing a preference for books around 200 to 250 pages. The book, in its third edition, is co-authored by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila He. The speaker's interest in the book stemmed from navigating difficult conversations in academia and the slow pace of change in such environments. Despite the book's length, both speakers found valuable insights within its content, feeling that it could have been more concise.