Thriving on Chaos: Handbook for a Management Revolution – The #1 New York Times Bestseller for an Upside-Down Economic World

by Tom Peters

The national bestseller that offers prescriptions for an economic world turned upside down. A New York Times bestseller for eleven months.

Genres: Business, Management, Leadership, Nonfiction, Business Strategy, Self Help, Personal Development

736 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Jack Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a casual business read. Rather this is for the serious business leader who can handle the challenges of dancing with traumatic changes in the way major companies do business-emerging markets, cheap foreign labor, trade deficits, niche markets. Tom Peters is a recognized guru on business excellence and management and the ability to love change, accept human resources as a major asset, stress quality and the use of building blocks as a strategy. The seven guiding premises are:

1-Creating Total Customer Responsiveness
2-Pursuing Fast-Paced inovation
3-Achieving flexibility by Empowering People
4-Learning to Love Change
5-Buillding Systems for a World Turned Upside Down

A guru forces the serious big company leaders to reinvent their companies.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me a very long time to read. And I think I need to start again, and take notes this time. Still as relevant today as it was in 1991.

[David Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first and favorite book on quality.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though dated at times, the book distills years of research into essentials that still resonate today: customer service, developing niches, differentiating from the competition. The timeless themes involve the focus on the people involved (be they customers or employees) and empowering those “on the line” to deliver direct and applicable service.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming to us from 1987 this book might seem a bit dated but the management concepts are sound and still relevant for an organization changing to adapt in a competitive environment. I liked it and find that it has applications outside of the business world.

[J.J. Bruce]

A vital guidebook for business. Much of what he says here worked for my business--successfully.

[Paul Floyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whilst there's a lot of good advice, and does seem to be all over the shop. For instance, we are advised to understaff to give workers a sense of job security, but to overstaff to pamper customers. Much is said of the state of business in the USA around 1987. Apple doesn't seem to have paid much attention to the advice. It has outsourced and its fortunes are largely based on gimmicky design rather than honest to honest to goodness following of customer needs. And yet Apple is the king of the castle.

[Juan Ruiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this book on sale and decided to give it a try. Unfortunately i became bored after some 50 pages and thought I’d just go through it quickly trying to read the titles of the sections and reading only those parts that promised to be interesting. The book seems to have a deep analysis for managers on the seventies, in a time before computers, before internet, before crypto, before e-commerce... so I really doubt how relevant can it be in our days...

Probably I was just not in the mood for this kind of book, and maybe in a far future I can reconsider giving it a try.

[Peter Timson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Loved" this at the time - not so sure now.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read years ago - giving books away

[Hebah Dwidari · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was a bit boring but informative

[Fred · Rating 2 out of 5]

Light reading.

[Daniel Bloom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good informatin but drags

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story and quick read. Loved all the poetry woven throughout.

[Mark Rodrigue · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book mentions markets concerning a market-share approach along with sensible business planning procedures...The book finalizes in my mind's eye the knack of structure in several business models presented throughout his writings... The book's intended focus is straightforward, and further appealing towards his other works on management practices in the workplace as well. It levitates toward the intellectual business-minded individuals in all organizations, as well as in small firm assemblies... The thriving on chaos is simplified in my opinion...Further works are not chauncey information pieces of literature either... To say the least...

[Krishna Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Peters makes a good statement when he says that most of the old management theory makes very little sense today because they belonged to a time when change was not so rapid. In this book, he provides various prescriptions for survival of the corporation. Most of what he says is basic common sense, yet it is amazing how many companies don't follow them. The only blemishes are that the book is a little outdated (written way back in 1988) and also has some minor inconsistencies with respect to resource allocation issues.

[Wayne G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this book to everyone on the management team in Washington County and used some of the theories as a blueprint for reorganzing the district and re-defining roles. The first chapter is a great description of the frontier mentality that was the underpinning of our country's business thinking... we assumed then (and in the Bush-think world CONTINUE to think) that resources are boundless

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a charter member of the Tom Peters fan club during my "business" days. Unfortunately I never had the chance to work for an organization that glommed on to his ideas. Still, watching his seminars is always inspiring and fun, and his books, for the most part, are quenching sips at the business revolution kool-aid.

[Robert Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Went through the Telecommunication change in my business career; from copper to fiber, from analog to digital and from good management to poor management. This title is very apropos when it come to business, you must embrace change not only in your business, but also in your life. Otherwise you'll be swallowed up by both! A must book to read and to have on any managers desk.

[Víctor R. Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Peters wrote this book more than twenty years ago and Thriving on Chaos is a classic now.

Flexibility, Competitive Advantage, Productivity, Supply-Chain Management, Innovation, are some of the topics covered in the book.

Much of what Peters talked about some years ago is happening today. Thriving on Chaos is sure to be a great read.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still one of the best books around on understanding change management.

[Lewis Hyam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insights into change

[Lori Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A should-read book on managing companies for knowledge workers, managers, executives, and entrepreneurs.

[Frank Fish · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a so so book not one of his best.

[James Pritchert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom always delivers an excellent book on leadership. I really enjoy his writings and I try to read all of his books. I can highly recommend this to anyone.

[Jeffrey Burden]

If anyone has taken a marketing course you have probably had to read one of Tom Peters books. I 'm a big fan of Tom! He is simply the real guru of business everything.

[Don Gubler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thriving by selling so-so books about thriving on chaos.

[Geoffrey Veit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and informative

[Ian Kloester]

Enjoyed this at the time but on reflection enjoyed reading the books challenging or debunking many of the claims within it. Worth reading for the impact this guy had on corporate life for so long and learning about the power of stories in the real world not just hollywood.