Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Pursuit of Wow - Premium Edition

Rate this book
Once more the "unconventional" Peters stimulates corporate thought processes. Along with the best of his columns, Peters includes questions and rebuttals that come from readers and listeners, as well as his own candid responses. A "must" read for every business person.

Paperback

First published November 1, 1994

72 people are currently reading
2012 people want to read

About the author

Tom Peters

232 books310 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
357 (33%)
4 stars
396 (36%)
3 stars
215 (20%)
2 stars
80 (7%)
1 star
24 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Larry Hostetler.
399 reviews4 followers
July 3, 2018
I really appreciated the format of this book. Covering a couple hundred points, Peters shares everything from one short quote to a couple of group discussions (for which the content is the transcript or key points presented as such).

There were a number of points that, while made years ago (the book was written in 1994) are still applicable. Certainly his iconoclastic perspective is refreshing, even now. I found a number of useful ideas. He makes good use of references to various other authors, and even includes a list of recommended reading in several categories.

After copying some of the points for me, my wife even suggested the book to our son. As I dogeared the pages I thought would be useful to me I also noticed that the last 1/3 of the book was much less dogeared than the first half. Rather than getting increasingly better, the content seemed to wane.

But it was still a good read.
Profile Image for Charmin.
1,069 reviews136 followers
May 29, 2024
HIGHLIGHTS:
1. RESULTS:
- Tell people to buzz off from time to time, including your boss---process IS important, but you also gain power from results, which come from narrowly focusing on the outcome.

2. WRITE THANK YOU NOTES:
- Sentence or two, hand-written.

3. RECOGNITION:
—appreciation, applause, approval, respect.
- Badges, prizes, pic in newsletter, balloons, “you made my day” post-it notes/cards.
- Thoughtful gifts.

4. Give everyone credit.

5. SHOW UP!
- 3,000 miles to “do lunch”.

6. Passion is contagious!*

7. FOCUS & REJECT:
- switch off phone, email; problems to be available, to focus;
- Take a nap.
- Pause mindless interruptions
- don’t over-plan day.

8. Challenge is basis for growth.*

9. LEADERSHIP SKILL #1:
- the ability to develop others.

10. RANK ORDER:
- Employees are number one.
- Customers are #2.
Profile Image for Jordan Brown.
Author 1 book7 followers
July 11, 2021
I read this because Seth Godin recommended it so strongly, and I can see why. It seems to have inspired his own writing style.

But like I feel about some of Godin’s writing it’s either downright fantastic or a bit all over the place.

Still, this is a book worth reading. Although most of the examples are now dated, it will inspire dreamers to keep dreaming and innovating.
82 reviews
August 26, 2020
If you have a struggling small business and seek to have it stand out among others, this is a beneficial read. Author straight forward and unpretentious let's you know why you LOOK bad and how to improve your looks!
Profile Image for Gary.
276 reviews19 followers
January 28, 2017
Short and somewhat interesting book. The author, Tom peters, touched on multiple points however there is no clear thread that brings the book together into one theme. At times it feels like he had a writing deadline and just had to pound this book out for his publisher, since one case he spends an entire chapter summarizing another book contents. Thankfully the book is short so not a big waste of time if you do not find it enthralling. Also the book, originally published in 1994, uses many out dated examples -- one example being Motorola as an example of a company to emulate (sadly not true today as Motorola is now being sold off a piece at a time).
Profile Image for Rae.
3,937 reviews
August 6, 2008
Peters gives over 200 tactics and strategies to help businesses succeed. He stresses that individuals and organizations must stand out from the crowd of average look-alikes. He says, "Being average has never had much appeal. Better fail with flair in pursuit of something neat." I have no desire or ambition to be in the business field, but I do enjoy reading about companies and the people that run them. I think a lot can be learned about leadership and time management by following their examples.
Profile Image for Rahi.
28 reviews
April 6, 2017
A very disheveled book, with random thoughts and ideas jotted down here and there. This book needs a central idea.
Profile Image for PJ Wenzel.
341 reviews9 followers
January 8, 2020
A bit bizarre, but a few golden nuggets in there. I guess the main thing is this: Continuous renewal and reinvention. That means cultivating the fringe, getting new ideas injected from the outside or inside of your business, and being humble enough to scrap everything and start over on new ideas or things you need to do to make sure your business keeps going successfully. Some simple stuff, but very dangerous - not something that most people are willing to do. But he's not wrong. And, he makes the point that its actually harder for small businesses to do this than for larger ones who have more margin for error.
Profile Image for Gladys Lopez.
238 reviews1 follower
January 6, 2022
Written in 1994 has excellent classic advises that will never we outdated. Some others were kind of logic for me; however my rating is based on culture across cultures advises. Really good, but sometimes not culturally sensitive presented. I could deal with it, but it makes me think that I’m happy to live in an era where doesn’t sound good/correct anymore.
Profile Image for Joseph.
800 reviews
June 2, 2018
Some anecdotes are dated, but the essential tips and tricks are still applicable and focus on a win-win environment at the workplace where customers are honored and dazzled, employees are empowered and able to be creative, and managers reap be benefits of customer and employee satisfaction.
Profile Image for Tyler.
51 reviews
August 16, 2025
A collection of ideas and notions, conversations and quotes. It got me thinking about innovation and efficiency and diversity and how I'd run a company.

The structure made this an occasional read, rather than a binge read. In either case, it was a mostly good and often inspiring read.
Profile Image for Alina Malina.
26 reviews2 followers
March 2, 2018
Very basic book, I expected more from Tom Peters. Not bad, just nothing new for me
Profile Image for Cheri.
255 reviews17 followers
May 4, 2018
Way outdated and most was not relevant for my one-person business.
Profile Image for Rani St.Pucchi.
17 reviews2 followers
September 7, 2018
The times they are a-changing for sure! I liked the case studies, examples and illustrations. Easy to follow and quite interesting.
Profile Image for Brian Dale.
23 reviews1 follower
February 7, 2021
This one blew my mind when I read it. Thank you for writing this!
Profile Image for Russ.
56 reviews2 followers
September 10, 2008
Tom Peters is a guru (even though he would hate that word) of American business thinking. This book is a compendium of articles, essays and speeches he has given, along with two chapters of panel discussions. An easy read, the book provides practical, bite-size pieces of advice that allow you to improve your business performance while it entertains you with Peters' trademark bluntness.

Of particular note is Chapter 2, "Getting Things Done." I re-read Chapter 2 about once per year. Each piece of advice is a brief, 1-2 paragraph nugget of business action. Implementing half of them would put you in the upper echelon of business managers (or personal managers, too).
Profile Image for Joseph Anim Darko.
24 reviews
March 19, 2023
This is another incredible books I have come across by Tom Peters. He basically explained most of the ways companies can achieve and create exceptional values and "wow" their customers. Easy to understand and awesome in practice.
Profile Image for Dhruv.
112 reviews14 followers
June 30, 2022
A creative book, designed to get you thinking unconventionally. I enjoyed reading it and got a few great ideas out. But not deep enough to rate 5 stars.

Edit: Revising my rating up to 5 stars as somehow ideas from this book keep drifting back into my head, months after reading it and help solve problems.

Think of this book not as a deep philosophical treatise but as training for the mind. Once you learn how to see things this way, it subtly changes your approach for the better. Great book!
Profile Image for Yaaresse.
2,151 reviews16 followers
September 8, 2017
This was handed out as one of those "management book of the month club" fads, the kind of thing overpriced consultants convinced companies they need to do to "foster teamwork" and "establish rapport among individual contributors." It's a little ironic because it's the kind of empty gesture Peters warns against. Still, not a bad book. Dated, but he had some good thoughts. Too bad management never followed any of them.
Profile Image for Mia Elizardi.
26 reviews2 followers
February 9, 2016
I really enjoyed most of this book-fantastic ideas and brilliant philosophies about business, well life really. It was released in 1994, so a lot of the material is dated and made it hard to follow at times. The format of the writing was also a little on the random side-jumping from idea to idea. AND...I loved the flow of consciousness and free form thought process that it presented, another layer to the brilliance of this book and this author.
111 reviews6 followers
Read
June 17, 2009
Recommended by Seth Godin - "visionary book that described why the only products with a future were those created by passionate people. Too often big companies are scared companies, and they work to minimize any variation--including the good stuff that happens when people who care create something special."
Profile Image for Nina.
1,842 reviews10 followers
April 16, 2018
Why, if I was a corporate mogul this would be just the ticket. It's pretty good reading for anybody, actually. The main themes are valuing people, taking risks, taking the road less traveled, doing something crazy, but do what you have a passion for. Now if I could just find work to be passionate about....
Profile Image for DANILO ALBA.
16 reviews
March 18, 2022
i find it unethical to make a paid book out of this trivial 'copy and paste' of personal notes.
Fake and forced unsuccessful pseudo-humour.
Too easy to say 'go cheap' without considering who should pay for it.
It is nothing more than a big collection of blog post(s) that you read because the author is famous and not because it is valuable.
a complete waste of time.
4 reviews3 followers
January 26, 2013
I always like what Tom has to say and this was very insightful. Admittedly, his ideas can be a little over the top sometimes, but he makes wonderful points and he is truly gifted in his descriptive abilities. His enthusiasm and conviction are contagious.
Profile Image for Vaughn.
258 reviews
July 31, 2010
Read this book a couple of years ago. It's a quick read due to it being organized as bunch of short stories about companies, people and ideas that equate to "WOW" stuff.
Profile Image for Ryan.
1 review2 followers
October 19, 2011
While there is solid advice about how to engage in business practices and manage people, the structure of the book is so poor that it hinders the message Peters is trying to deliver.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.