The Hungry Spirit

by Charles B. Handy

The Hungry Beyond Capitalism - A Quest for Purpose in the Modern New Thinking for a New World [Paperback] Charles B. Handy

Genres: Business, Philosophy, Management, Self Help, Nonfiction, Economics, Politics

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 21, 1997

About the author

Charles Brian Handy was an Irish author and philosopher who specialised in organizational behavior and management. Among the ideas he advanced are the "portfolio career" and the "shamrock organization" (in which professional core workers, freelance workers and part-time/temporary routine workers each form one leaf of the "shamrock").
Handy was rated among the Thinkers 50, a private list of the most influential living management thinkers. In 2001, he was second on this list, behind Peter Drucker, and in 2005, he was tenth. When the Harvard Business Review had a special issue to mark the publication's 50th anniversary Handy, Peter Drucker, and Henry Mintzberg were asked to write special articles.
In July 2006, Handy was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Law by Trinity College Dublin.

Reviews

[Lee Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently saw Charles Handy speak at a festival, about his more recent book "The Second Curve". I read and enjoyed this a lot, so when I spotted this in a charity shop recently, I was keen to give it a read.

It was written in 1997, and obviously the world has changed enormously since then, but much of the book is still relevant, and his predictions for society and culture were pretty spot-on. He writes about many themes connected with the world of work and personal fulfilment, and he argues passionately for greater autonomy in work, and a focus on values. He's one of the few business writers with an actual soul!

I'm very tempted to read this again armed with a highlighter, as there's lots of great ideas in here. It's come along at a time where I've been thinking a lot about how I want to live, and it's a great reassurance that I'm heading in the right direction.

A very wise book from a very wise writer.

[Sambasivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books asks the basic questions on why we are here and what is the purpose of life. Capitalism if nourished with proper selfishness can help evolve a decent society where we can peacefully co exist with each other. There is a need to say 'enough' and start living in a world of Trust. Profound thoughts written by an erudite scholar in simple language. Crystal clear writing. Strong arguments and unquarrellable conclusions.

[Zahida Zahoor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hardy explains we need a life that has bigger meaning in life than capitalism and ourselves which he terms proper selfishness.
Hardy talks about his awakening after his father passed away which made him think more deeply about what kind of world he is leaving behind for his family.
I didn't like the style of writing it was a bit bland, but there are powerful points in the book such as our inadequate schooling and education system our unaffordable pension system in the west and the concept of companies as having rights (he gets the reading to realise that some companies are more wealthy than nations and can survive for decades).

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be fair, I pulled this one off my shelf because I was interested in the middle section, which the quest for meaning on a personal level.

It’s all pleasant and well expressed, but for me there’s nothing revelatory.

[Peter Timson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My edition has the same ISBN and is by Arrow from 1998 (it has a different cover to the one shown). I must have picked it up in an airport, at around that time, on one of many business journeys... to read while waiting for a mislaid plane. It changed my view of the world and would be quite prophetic. It helped me when the time came. One wonders, twenty years later (wow!) whether the government has really got it... that is, how employment has changed so fundamentally. The opportunities for a better working life are there but, sad to say, they have been denied to many. Still worth a read. On the strength of this I also bought many of Handy's other books - none is as good as this one though... they tend to be repetitive as is the nature of "management"/"business" texts by any given author.

[Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Cambridge Sustainability's Top 50 Books for Sustainability, as voted for by our alumni network of over 3,000 senior leaders from around the world. To find out more, click here.

The Hungry Spirit, which is a philosophical treatise on business, grew out of a personal realisation by Handy that, over the course of his life, he had placed too much signficance on job titles and and career success. Conversely, he felt he had not paid enough attention to the importance of family, friends and becoming a more complete person, rather than simply an economic actor in the theatre of business. Handy urges us as individuals, companies and organsations to take responsibility for shaping our lives by finding a purpose and applying it in the world.

[Mehul Raina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is inspiring in pieces. The first and second part are interesting reads wherein the author decries the institutions of relying entirely on market principles and also elucidates the concept of proper selfishness. Its, however, in the third part that I loose interest where the author talks about the role of corporation and governments. Overall a good read which I had to drag through on multiple occasions.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a book I would have picked up on my own, but I am very glad my summer roommate picked it up. I was curious after seeing on the coffee table and decided to give it a go. Had some great pointers on the business world and how to treat employees and business partners (and pretty much anyone you meet) that is necessary to become successful in any field.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting ideas on a progression to and advanced capitalist society that brings a bit of humanist advancement from the economic advantages of capitalism. It would be an interesting topic to update the ideas given the economic changes of the last 15+ years since this came out.