BESTIARY FOR BUSINESS

by Erika Schelby, J.J. Grandville (Illustrator)

The BESTIARY FOR BUSINESS is a collection of fables that look at currenteconomic conditions in an irreverent way.Today, many of us are subjected to a flow of unpleasant news from Wall Street and the fianancial markets.And all of us are in business in one way or are the captives, participants, cheer leanders, anti-heroes, or the economically injured people in a national and global game. If one listens carefully, one will hear that much of the fun and fairness has gone from economic activities. So if these fifty fables produce some smiles or even relieffrom annoyance, that would be great.

88 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 29, 2011

About the author

Erika Schelby is a writer with much experience in business. She co-owned and team-built a small design-focused company, worked in management positions in Europe and the U.S., traveled widely, and holds a B. A. (Phi Beta Kappa) and a M.S. degree from American universities. She lives in New Mexico.

Ms. Schelby released BUSINESS FABLES FOR HUMANS WHO WORK FOR a LIVING in October 2022, published the the nonfiction book LOOKING FOR HUMBOLDT, the short-listed essay LIBERATING THE FUTURE, and she was one of 8 winners in the AMERICAN EXPRESS ANNUAL REVIEW OF TRAVEL international essay competition. The website for the Humboldt title with details, reviews, bio, and sample essays is here: https://lookingforhumboldt.com

Schelby's essays and articles are being published worldwide by the Independent Media Institute NYC, Salon, AlterNet, Pressenza International Press Agency, Asia Times, CounterPunch, History News Network, LA Progressive, NationofChange, Citizen Truth, NewsClick, and more.

Reviews

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received Bestiary for Business as a prize in a recent Goodreads First Reads giveaway. To sum things up for would-be readers, I'll share how my view of this book transformed from when I discovered it to when I finished reading my copy:

1) Upon discovering it among the giveaways on goodreads: "Ok, I'll read that for free; it sounds like it could be good."
2) When I received my copy and perused it a little: "This book sure deserves a place in my personal library or on my coffee table as much as the next -- what a worthwhile and timely project author Erika Schelby has taken on here."
3) Upon finishing: "This is a deeply ambitious and important work in the form of a simple coffee table book. How rare to find a book that speaks to matters of the highest import and most common significance so accessibly and so humbly. Somehow, the illustrated 77 page text doesn't undermine the scope or depth of the themes handled or ideas presented -- that is to say, it doesn't oversimplify or dumb things down. That's a fine line for Schelby to have maintained! What an achievement. There need to be more books of this kind published and read."

Now, I am not of the opinion that this will become a classic of American literature. Some fables are more clever and finely wrought than others. But Schelby's choice of form for examining her chosen topic -- various present-day economic realities -- is nothing short of brilliant. Nothing could speak more eloquently to the absurdity of what is familiar to us all than this humorous, accessible collection of fables. It raises questions in the reader's mind and makes her laugh simultaneously -- and both the questioning and laughing feel easy.

A critical mark of the seriousness of Schelby's purpose is her use of quotations to accompany each tale she presents; she features the words of such literary giants as Keats, William Blake, Byron, Shakespeare, and Stevie Nicks. Alexander Pope is a very frequent source. The quotations are frequently very apt and always adds meaning to the adjoining story. They serve to tie the humor to larger themes that have been contemplated throughout history while allowing the reader to draw his or her own conclusions about the connection and significance of the story. Schelby couldn't be less didactic or presumptuous. She offers readers food for thought, but she doesn't tell us what or how much to "eat" -- let alone what effect the meal should have.

It's tough to imagine someone disliking this book, and I think it's a worthwhile read for many, many people. Why not pick it up?

[Taylor Troncin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through a goodreads first read's contest. I didn't know what to expect when I entered the contest and now that I have read it - I'm still not sure what I read. There were some parts that I absolutely loved, but for the most part I felt like I was missing something. Maybe that's because I don't know much about the corporate world. I feel bad giving this book a not-so-good review, but I just did not find the book to be all that interesting.

My goal with these giveaways is to expand what I read. Perhaps if I read more about the corporate world, some more of these stories will make more sense to me.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is involved in the corporate world - there were some life lessons in there for them (well, for people in general really).

According to the goodreads rating system 2/5 means "it was ok" - which is exactly how I feel about the book, but that seems harsh, so I went with 3/5.

[Jennie Rosenblum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. This is a nice little book that gives a twist to business ideas and concepts. The angle of using Aesop's fables is entertaining. I think this would make a great gift for those entering the business world or those already there. Also made me wonder if animals controlling corporations might be a better way to go!

[Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review, but probably would have read it anyway.

Remember Aesop? Dude wrote about talking foxes and crows all trying to show how clever they were? Well those animals grew up, went to college and now work in offices. And they're pretty much all jerks, just like when they lived outside.

"Bestiary for Business" does a very good job of modernizing the fables that we read as children and making them relevant to the personality types you deal with as an adult on an almost daily basis. The short-sightedness of management or total jerkitude of type-a personalities is well illustrated through short parables that are easily relatable.

And by "short", I mean most stories are less than two pages on a small Kindle tablet. It's shorter than an Encyclopedia Brown mystery, plus you don't have to flip to the end to figure out what happened. If you can't sit still long enough to read 350 words, you probably don't read anyway. The book itself can easily be polished off in an evening, you will probably see at least one story that resonates with you.

This review is actually longer than a couple of the fables in the book. So there you go.

Recommended For: Office drones. Office drones who like to read books about business. Office drones who think they have no time to read anything. People who have ambitions of becoming an office drone.

Not Recommended For: Foxes. They're generally not portrayed favorably.

[Kelly Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the fables interesting and rarely if ever thought of them in the context of current business and politics. Still, I like the added quotes finding many of them enchanting.

[Theresa Wade · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not sure what I have just read. The book wasn't what I expected. The characters were all animals within the stories which provided some of the weirdness.

[Janette Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book to read and review by the writer. I read it in kindle version and found it a very entertaining and amusing book. If you have read Aesop,s fables you will see that these modern fables are of the same structure. It is easy to read and the short segments keep you reading more and more. There seem to be parallels to every business and indeed life situation told in a humorous and light-hearted way. This is not to say that the book does not have much substance, as there are many important and insightful points made. I loved the irreverent style.

There is also an abundance of quotations and poetry, from famous writers peppered throughout the book which are funny, satirical and well researched. Some of my favourites are;

' We should console ourselves for the lack of great talents the same way as we do for the lack of high office: our good nature would unfit us for either of them.'

— Vauvenargues

and,

'There are few ways in which a man can be more innocently employed than in getting money.'

— Samuel Johnson

also,

'Overwork: a dangerous disorder affecting High public officials who want to go fishing.'

— Ambrose Bierce

This is definitely a book that can be dipped into for some real gems, and read again and again. Well deserved five stars and very reasonably priced.

One small criticism; the front cover is not colourful enough to catch attention, although the artwork is good.