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How to Lose Friends & Infuriate People: Leadership in the Networked World
A guide to leading with strength and a dominant personality challenges the cliches and "new paradigms" of modern business with a straightshooting, simple plan. 25,000 first printing.
357 pages, Hardcover
First published March 13, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 15, 2013
Originally picked up this one at a sale, expected several satirical laughs. Not so unfortunately I had missed the 'controversial book for thinkers part.' The reason I say not so unfortunately is that I did enjoy Nader's take on business and management.
Of course like all such books, there is a somewhat overdose of opinion and an under-nourishment of evidence. At least Nader has logic on his side (most of the time.)\
I suspect the losing friends may have more to do with Nader's experience than any advice in the book, although his discussion on politics may have a few scratching their scalps. Overall this is a relatively easy read, probably more recommended for those in the area but provides stimulation for all.
Of course like all such books, there is a somewhat overdose of opinion and an under-nourishment of evidence. At least Nader has logic on his side (most of the time.)\
I suspect the losing friends may have more to do with Nader's experience than any advice in the book, although his discussion on politics may have a few scratching their scalps. Overall this is a relatively easy read, probably more recommended for those in the area but provides stimulation for all.
May 7, 2013
There are some great concepts and sayings in this book. But as the author points out, he refused to 'submit' to the publication process that would see his work edited, for fear of losing control over the process, and that's such a pity; because what could have been a tightly written motivational book became a hefty and hard-to-read tome.
It's worth reading, definitely - but all you need to read to get the information is the side bars and quotes at the beginning of each chapter.
It's worth reading, definitely - but all you need to read to get the information is the side bars and quotes at the beginning of each chapter.
March 1, 2013
Controversially written book about owning your own life, your dreams, your passion. This isn't a book that is the same as other self-help books out there... but I highly recommend it.
December 29, 2019
Written in the 1990's this book (which I thought could become my bible) is a though-provoking piece (not in a good way) and certainly throws out some ideas from left field.
It is obviously dated, I nevertheless read it all the way through.
I expected it may contain some insights into general human behaviour, which in ways it does, but focused in organisations. The author has a deep seated obsession about the evils of matrix organisations which, in his experience, may be justified.
Expectations are created with critiques of this or that, but the real alternative solutions never quite make it out the other end.
It is apparent that the author does not like any of the conventional writings on organisations or management, which is his prerogative and is evident by his assiduous avoidance of any terms from that body of work.
Perhaps I should declare my formal qualifications and part of my direct employment has been as an organisational management consultant.
Management consists of two major elements, Control & Monitoring and all that derives there from.
How anyone can write a book about organisations and not use the term or extensive examples of "feedback"is beyond me.
Yep, lost a friend and infuriated me. It worked!
Not recommended reading.
It is obviously dated, I nevertheless read it all the way through.
I expected it may contain some insights into general human behaviour, which in ways it does, but focused in organisations. The author has a deep seated obsession about the evils of matrix organisations which, in his experience, may be justified.
Expectations are created with critiques of this or that, but the real alternative solutions never quite make it out the other end.
It is apparent that the author does not like any of the conventional writings on organisations or management, which is his prerogative and is evident by his assiduous avoidance of any terms from that body of work.
Perhaps I should declare my formal qualifications and part of my direct employment has been as an organisational management consultant.
Management consists of two major elements, Control & Monitoring and all that derives there from.
How anyone can write a book about organisations and not use the term or extensive examples of "feedback"is beyond me.
Yep, lost a friend and infuriated me. It worked!
Not recommended reading.
August 12, 2018
Summary:
Picked this book up at a book fair for a few dollars. It didn't resonate with me at all for some reason. Perhaps it was the writing style, the author spends a lot of energy on trying to make the book entertaining or make their writing style engaging to the point that I found actual content few and far between. The book was geared towards CEOs from what I can gather, so I may not be the target audience for this.
Bit of a grind to read with few lessons to learn, I recommend skipping this one.
The main message I took from this book is to defend your time and your boundaries, even at the cost of relationships.
Some notable points:
- Apart from sudden death, nature is generally fair.
- Don't let people waste your time, if you identify that someone is taking your time without adding value, make it stop.
- Challenge the norm and don't let majority rule. Right is right and wrong is wrong.
- Value the truth to speak out when it is overlooked. This won't make you popular, but it will make you right.
Picked this book up at a book fair for a few dollars. It didn't resonate with me at all for some reason. Perhaps it was the writing style, the author spends a lot of energy on trying to make the book entertaining or make their writing style engaging to the point that I found actual content few and far between. The book was geared towards CEOs from what I can gather, so I may not be the target audience for this.
Bit of a grind to read with few lessons to learn, I recommend skipping this one.
The main message I took from this book is to defend your time and your boundaries, even at the cost of relationships.
Some notable points:
- Apart from sudden death, nature is generally fair.
- Don't let people waste your time, if you identify that someone is taking your time without adding value, make it stop.
- Challenge the norm and don't let majority rule. Right is right and wrong is wrong.
- Value the truth to speak out when it is overlooked. This won't make you popular, but it will make you right.
December 29, 2014
Jonas is an iconoclast of the highest order - a visionary, a self proclaimed futurist and a man with some very interesting ideas about how CEOs should be running their companies to maximise all the good things in business life. Not being a CEO myself, I'm sure not the prime audience for this book, but there was still enough here to interest me and keep me reading to the end. Some of the ideas have me intrigued but without opportunity to implement, some ideas have me thinking hard about whether I should take the plunge and do something with them and others have me laughing at the naivete of this man!
All in all though this is a book that is a worthwhile read for anyone wanting a different take on company life and wants to shake things up.
It would be interesting to see a book with case studies of those brave enough to have implemented these ideas, just to see if they work. Now that'd be a book I'd enjoy!
All in all though this is a book that is a worthwhile read for anyone wanting a different take on company life and wants to shake things up.
It would be interesting to see a book with case studies of those brave enough to have implemented these ideas, just to see if they work. Now that'd be a book I'd enjoy!
April 27, 2008
This is the loners Bible, I suggest all great thinkers to read it
August 19, 2012
Definitely worth listening to again, some very important lessons for leaders and leadership.
Currently Reading
August 21, 2012still reading but have to say many valuable lessons revisited here.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews