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A Lapsed Anarchist's Approach to Being a Better Leader
This second book in the Zingerman's a Lapsed Anarchist's Approach" series looks at the leadership style that has helped make Zingerman's such a special place to work and to eat. The book includes essays on the energy crisis in the American workplace, servant leadership, stewardship, why everyone's a leader, Zingerman's entrepreneurial approach to management, and more.
369 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
27 people are currently reading
398 people want to read
About the author
Ari Weinzweig
21 books32 followersCO-FOUNDER, ZINGERMAN'S COMMUNITY OF BUSINESSES
In 1982, Ari Weinzweig, along with his partner Paul Saginaw, founded Zingerman’s Delicatessen with a $20,000 bank loan, a Russian History degree from the University of Michigan, 4 years of experience washing dishes, cooking and managing in restaurant kitchens and chutzpah from his hometown of Chicago. They opened the doors with 2 employees and a small selection of specialty foods and exceptional sandwiches.
Today, Zingerman’s Delicatessen is a nationally renowned food icon and the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses has grown to 10 businesses with over 750 employees and over $55 million in annual revenue. Aside from the Delicatessen, these businesses include Zingerman’s Bakehouse, Coffee Company, Creamery, Roadhouse, Mail Order, ZingTrain, Candy Manufactory, Cornman Farms and a Korean restaurant that is scheduled to open in 2016. No two businesses in the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses are alike but they all share the same Vision and Guiding Principles and deliver “The Zingerman’s Experience” with passion and commitment.
Besides being the Co-Founding Partner and being actively engaged in some aspect of the day-to-day operations and governance of nearly every business in the Zingerman’s Community, Ari Weinzweig is also a prolific writer. His most recent publications are the first 4 of his 6 book series Zingerman’s Guide to Good Leading Series: A Lapsed Anarchist’s Approach to Building a Great Business (Part 1), Being a Better Leader (Part 2), Managing Ourselves (Part 3) and the newly-released Part 4, The Power of Beliefs in Business. Earlier books include the Zingerman’s Guides to Giving Great Service, Better Bacon, Good Eating, Good Olive Oil, Good Vinegar and Good Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Ari regularly travels across the country (and world) on behalf of ZingTrain, teaching organizations and businesses about Zingerman’s approach to business. He is a sought-after Keynote speaker, having delivered keynotes for Inc. 500, Microsoft Expo Spring Conference, Great Game of Business Gathering of Games, Positive Business Conference at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, American Society for Quality (ASQ), and the American Cheese Society. Most recently, Ari and Paul Saginaw were invited to address an audience of 50,000 for the University of Michigan 2015 Spring Commencement.
In 1982, Ari Weinzweig, along with his partner Paul Saginaw, founded Zingerman’s Delicatessen with a $20,000 bank loan, a Russian History degree from the University of Michigan, 4 years of experience washing dishes, cooking and managing in restaurant kitchens and chutzpah from his hometown of Chicago. They opened the doors with 2 employees and a small selection of specialty foods and exceptional sandwiches.
Today, Zingerman’s Delicatessen is a nationally renowned food icon and the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses has grown to 10 businesses with over 750 employees and over $55 million in annual revenue. Aside from the Delicatessen, these businesses include Zingerman’s Bakehouse, Coffee Company, Creamery, Roadhouse, Mail Order, ZingTrain, Candy Manufactory, Cornman Farms and a Korean restaurant that is scheduled to open in 2016. No two businesses in the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses are alike but they all share the same Vision and Guiding Principles and deliver “The Zingerman’s Experience” with passion and commitment.
Besides being the Co-Founding Partner and being actively engaged in some aspect of the day-to-day operations and governance of nearly every business in the Zingerman’s Community, Ari Weinzweig is also a prolific writer. His most recent publications are the first 4 of his 6 book series Zingerman’s Guide to Good Leading Series: A Lapsed Anarchist’s Approach to Building a Great Business (Part 1), Being a Better Leader (Part 2), Managing Ourselves (Part 3) and the newly-released Part 4, The Power of Beliefs in Business. Earlier books include the Zingerman’s Guides to Giving Great Service, Better Bacon, Good Eating, Good Olive Oil, Good Vinegar and Good Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Ari regularly travels across the country (and world) on behalf of ZingTrain, teaching organizations and businesses about Zingerman’s approach to business. He is a sought-after Keynote speaker, having delivered keynotes for Inc. 500, Microsoft Expo Spring Conference, Great Game of Business Gathering of Games, Positive Business Conference at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, American Society for Quality (ASQ), and the American Cheese Society. Most recently, Ari and Paul Saginaw were invited to address an audience of 50,000 for the University of Michigan 2015 Spring Commencement.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 31, 2023
I don’t typically delve into business/leadership books, but I had read a number of Ari’s individual chapters and decided to read one of his longer pieces.
This book, although not a fast read, is filled with vigor, creativity, love, and a dash of anarchy. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it as it restored my hope in my core ideals of valuing the ideas and goals of not just my peers and bosses - but employees and mentees as well. I think Ari’s ideas of how to run a successful business are those that have always and will always stand the tests of time.
Having spent my undergrad years in Ann Arbor, I knew of Zingerman’s businesses and ideals long before I had ever ready any of Ari’s work. His ideas permeate through Ann Arbor and help it to retain its authenticity as a unique small city rather than solely a college town.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who works, engages with, or even talks to - well, anyone else.
This book, although not a fast read, is filled with vigor, creativity, love, and a dash of anarchy. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it as it restored my hope in my core ideals of valuing the ideas and goals of not just my peers and bosses - but employees and mentees as well. I think Ari’s ideas of how to run a successful business are those that have always and will always stand the tests of time.
Having spent my undergrad years in Ann Arbor, I knew of Zingerman’s businesses and ideals long before I had ever ready any of Ari’s work. His ideas permeate through Ann Arbor and help it to retain its authenticity as a unique small city rather than solely a college town.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who works, engages with, or even talks to - well, anyone else.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2020
Very densely written with personality and energy. The suggestions provided to improve your leadership are straightforward and plain. I’ll oversimplify here as “respect others”. Trust that people will act as you hope, give them the tools to do so, and encourage them at every step. I like the connection back to the author’s love of anarchist literature and beliefs.
July 2, 2019
Outstanding. Ari reminded me of much, and brought my motivation back around. Loved this.
July 17, 2020
Really enjoyed this !
June 7, 2024
Did not finish. Read up to page 101.
June 30, 2021
I'm not huge into leadership books but my boss lent this to me at a very slow time of the year for us which was great because it forced me to open up the cover and dive in. Overall, it's a part of a series of other leadership books that focus on leadership at a human scale. I really enjoyed the focus on how we can promote a healthy working culture through what he calls "supportive leadership". I'm not going to dive too deep into it - for that you have to read the book - but, if you need a POSITIVE book focused on POSITIVE leadership values, this is the one. It is all over the map, I will add, so I feel the best way to read it is a skimming/chapter here and there style.
November 14, 2013
Love his philosophy and what he does for the city he lives in.
From one of Ari's favorite books:
Why the Bee is Busy, and Other Rumanian Fairy Tales
by Idella Purnell and John Weatherwax
"Once upon a time what happened did happen, and if it had not happened, you would not be hearing this story."
Great quote: Good work, I would posit, is something we do to help develop ourselves, and something we do to help the world and those around us.
From one of Ari's favorite books:
Why the Bee is Busy, and Other Rumanian Fairy Tales
by Idella Purnell and John Weatherwax
"Once upon a time what happened did happen, and if it had not happened, you would not be hearing this story."
Great quote: Good work, I would posit, is something we do to help develop ourselves, and something we do to help the world and those around us.
June 12, 2016
Should be required reading for every manager, heck, every employee.
October 19, 2016
Some great wisdom and concepts - way too lengthy. Good info overall, a definite speed-read/skimmer.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews