Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Despite the 3-star rating, I recommend the book for those new to management and those who wish to read a cogent primer on Western management concepts: the book is well written, easy to understand, and provides a decent overview of management/leadership ideas. Those who have given the book 4- and 5-star ratings have highlighted the strengths of the book.
I found it to be just an average intro because
a) Mr. Murray can't seem to make up his mind whether this is a book for any "knowledge worker," mid-level managers, or CEOs. Various chapters appear to be targeted at different audiences.
b) The book appears to be a paean to the Wall Street Journal. Many of the stories and anecdotes shared by the author are based on WSJ articles. The author could have found better examples and stories in a myriad of other journals, magazines, and newspapers to make his points (e.g, Fast Company is an excellent resource for great management/leadership ideas).
c) Despite the chapter on Globalization, the book is entirely focused on Western management thinking. It would have been strengthened by adding management ideas from any of the rising economic powers. (e.g., Nilekani's Imagining India)
d) Mr. Murray largely omits the impact of technology and social media on management.
e) And finally, the book focuses on a rather narrow list of management classics. Mr. Murray had a difficult task of distilling 50 years of management thinking into a couple of hundred pages, but the book would have been better if he had mentioned or suggested reading a broader array of management classics (e.g., any book by Peter Block).
So if you need a primer on management or a quick review of standard topics, this is not a bad book. If you are looking to take your management skills to a new level, best to look elsewhere.
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