Customer Reviews:
Iconoclastic Management Book.......2007-07-28
Maverick is a valuable management book because of many of the counterintuitive ("You just couldn't do that!") concepts that Semler actually implements. It's value lies as much in showing "Well, he did just do that" as it does in espousing theory - without the implementation, it would just be too out there...
Some of the counterintuitive:
- Let managers set their own pay. And publish publicly.
- Don't fire people during a strike. Or even take attendence.
- Get rid of extra management (don't "hoard" talent) but fund their new startups if need be.
There's much more, as well as some less controversial advice ("Treat people with dignity" & "Rotate your managers"), but it's best to read the book yourself to get the stories with the advice.
Great Book.......2007-07-01
Very fun and interesting, and we can learn a great deal by using this story as examples and lessons.
Great Book.......2007-02-22
Learn from the experience of this Brazilian entrepreneur that goes against normal business models and managed to sustained in the market with a highly profitable company.
It is fun to read, it is a business story and not a business history or theory. If you like to read about business, if you are interested in opening your company or just if you think you want to learn about others real experiences, read this book!!
The Pursuit of Happiness.......2006-12-25
I read both of Ricardo Semler's books, Maverick! and Seven Day Weekend prior to watching the film about Enron. As a 22 year old dreamer, idealist, pragmatist, and economics student, I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to see the opposite ends of the capitalist spectrum. There's so much knowledge to be learned from the two companies, Enron and Semco. Semco is everything Enron wasn't and is making profit while empowering its employees like no other company on the planet. Business does not have to be analogous to war. Enron's motto was `ask why' and nobody ever did, Ricardo Semler's motto is `ask why' and he hasn't stopped asking. Ricardo Semler will be regarded as the most influential CEO of the 21st century, mark my words.
Believing in others.......2006-11-10
I think the purpose of the book is to illustrate that if we trust each other and we discuss our diferences we generate synergy and cohesion in any group making it easier for its memeber to achieve a given goal.
Book Description
Bob and Melinda Blanchard's first book, A Trip to the Beach, sold more than 85,000 copies and became inspiration for countless people who were ready to start living their dreams. Comprising stories, reflections, notes, insights, and a bit of advice, Live What You Love is the Blanchard's warm, engaging, and personal response to the thousands of fans who've asked them, "How did you do it?"
"What happens if life falls outside the expected lines and inside others that are self-defined? Our experiences tell us that living this way is as wonderful as it is odd. We happen to believe that life really is about choices, and we love what happens when interesting ones get paired together."--Bob and Melinda Blanchard
After the Blanchards' published A Trip to the Beach, they found that readers responded personally and passionately, often buying multiple copies to give friends and family. They received countless invitations to lecture and requests for national television appearances, and have been asked to develop a series for PBS. Everyone, it seems, wanted to live their life: during the winter, the couple operate the most popular restaurant in Anguilla, the tiny Caribbean nation hideaway of celebrities, beautiful beaches and luxurious homes, and spend summers in the green hills of Northern Vermont.
Through delightful and moving stories, reflections, notes--and a soupcon of advice--the Blanchards have written a stunning, inspirational manifesto where truly living what you love becomes a revolutionary act, a rebellion against the common life. They show how, through self-trust, personal adjustment, and daily acts of commitment, each of us can live the life we love and make every day a personal treasure. Full of warmth, humor, wisdom, and charm, LWYL is the Blanchard's love letter to life, a celebration of unusual choices, and a thank you gift to all of their fans.
Customer Reviews:
More Than a "Special Features Disk" to "A Trip to the Beach".......2007-06-24
"Life is to be lived and to be loved", Blanchard writes, which befittingly defines the doctrine of Bob and Melinda's lives, as well as the invaluable message conveyed in "Live What You Love". In an uniquely inspirational companion book to their first triumph, "A Trip to The Beach", Bob and Melinda Blanchard reflect on their extraordinary and anomalous lives full of successes and failures.
The book shares some of their salutary words of wisdom learned from a remarkable life to help you begin to live a life you love. Organized into a series of random intriguing personal short stories, you are provided with tonic quotes and an end to each chapter with a checklist for you to begin striving towards your own aspirations. This book is to be held and carried indefinitely, not rushed through like a novel. It's designed to be read over and over again, consoling a reader like a Tony Robbins or Joel Osteen book.
We've all heard the admonition of, "follow your dreams", but what does it really mean? Where do we begin? I have a steady job and am receiving AARP applications in the mail, is it too late? For anyone who might still hold an unconventional long cherished dream that doesn`t snugly fit into the sequence of an "average American lifestyle", Bob and Melinda do more than tell us how, they show us. To read "A Trip to The Beach" and "Live What You Love" consecutively will have you reflecting on where you are currently and wondering why you haven't begun to fertilize a lifelong dream kept in your backseat.
As Blanchard sums it up, "Our Life is a series of positive acts with purpose." Having lived a life less ordinary; opening eight businesses, residing in two countries, building everything from restaurants to sailboats, to going from six digit debtors to wealthy entrepreneurs has bestowed the Blanchards with a crate full of knowledge on how to live a life for what you are truly passionate for. Despite any atypicalities or the absence of predetermined roadmaps for success, the Blanchards overcame much apprehension in shadowy times to become impelling life motivators.
Live What You Love.......2006-06-30
This book was amazing. I had bought 10 copies to provide to my guests at our destination wedding to Anguilla and everyone loved the books. I personally read it on the plane ride down there and found it to be quite inspirational. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to begin enjoying life to the fullest
Big disappointment........2006-03-03
I was disappointed. The Blanchards sound like very nice, fun, hard-working people who embrace change and roll with the punches. They see opportunities and they seize those opportunities. I admire that and would probably like them in person.
The book, however, annoyed me. Aside from its Trump-like self-congratulatory tone and phoney sounding dialogue, there was a bigger issue that I could not get past.
The book talks about how the Blanchards live out their dreams after coming back from the brink of financial ruin, following the long-term hospitalization of their very prematurely born son. They do this by "following their hearts." I don't dispute the importance of that, but maybe the fact that the hospital decided to pick up the tab for the Blanchards had just a LITTLE something to do with it.
I was so happy for the Blanchards when I read about the hospital's kindness to them. I could not wait to read about how the Blanchards would be inspired by that act and someday do something kind for someone else... how they would incorporate that kindness into their lives and business ventures. What goes around, comes around, right? Maybe they'd donate a percentage of book profits toward medical research? Or do restaurant promotions to support families with sick children? I was disappointed that there is never any mention of them doing anything to help anyone but themselves.
Then, there's the "financial struggles." At times, they are legitimate. But then, when they miss Vermont and want to get back somehow, it sounds as though the Blanchards scrimp and save to buy a piece of property in hopes of "someday" building a small house they could retreat to for 2-3 months a year. A few pages later, they're building the house and struggling to make it happen on a tight budget. I'm not sure their definition of "budget" is the same as most people's, considering it's a majestically situated 6400 square foot home and art studio.
For all I know, the Blanchards may be two of the most generous, philanthropic people around but that never comes across in the book. Perhaps it was the book's "preachy" tone that made the absence of any mention of selflessness so conspicuous. My impression of this book is that it is nothing more than a marketing tool to promote their other books, restaurant, and possibly upcoming resort. They seem to view themselves as free-spirits, but what comes across in the book is that they are really good salespeople.
Not what they seem (as usual).......2006-02-01
First, a few confessions. I did not read this book, I only skimmed parts of it while in a bookstore. Also, I am naturally cynical, though I want to believe in people (an idealist at heart hidden beneath a cynic's clothing). Normally, I would never consider writing a review for something I never read-- a big pet peeve of mine. However, skimming this book and reading the reviews of the other book by the Blanchard's, "A Trip to the Beach : Living on Island Time in the Caribbean", compelled me to balance out the five star reviews. What I did read of this book seemed very shallow, self-congratulatory, and generally obnoxious and annoying. My feelings were lent further validity when I saw the negative reviews of "A Trip to the Beach : Living on Island Time in the Caribbean" (overall, it does have a four and a half-star rating, though the several negative reviews had a lot of merit). Those reviews pointed out that the Blanchard's were rich before they moved to the Caribbean and they had owned eight businesses previously (one of which was a restaurant in Anguilla before they opened "Blanchard's"). Yet the Blanchards portray themselves as free spirits who on a whim and against logic took a risk to follow their dreams. They write a misleading book ("A Trip...") and then follow it up this disingenous crap. In addition, the Blanchards have a condescending tone towards the natives on the island, and seem to be more concerned about themselves and their business than other people. So basically, they fall into the all-too-prevalent stereotype of rich, old, white people who don't realize how lucky they are (financially, anyway) and who do not appreciate or respect others. Publishing several books about their "heroic" and "inspiring" tales is even more callous and fake. They should run for political office in Anguilla.
If none of this matters to you and all you want is regurgitated, BS fluff to inspire you to do something that the the authors didn't do, buy and read this book. Otherwise, abstain.
A most uplifting book.......2006-01-09
I finished this book in two hours. Very encouraging and uplifting. If you need a little emotional boost or support when you are in the early stages of starting a new business, read this!
But hold on -- not only does it offer emotional support, I find that it also offers the budding entrepreneur quite a few good advice and examples if you read carefully. On the whole, I find this book more useful than Martha Stewart's recent book on starting a business. Martha's advice is too impractical sometimes for cash-strapped entrepreneurs ('get the best lawyers !!' or something to that effect).
Book Description
Anita Roddick is one of the world's most outspoken, controversial, and successful entrepreneurs of the age. Her autobiography, Business As Unusual, charts the story of Roddick and her company The Body Shop through all the highs and lows since 1990. It also examines the parallel growth of vigilante consumerism and predicts how businesses can evolve in this millennium.
Roddick tackles a wide range of personal and political issues—from self-esteem to human rights abuses associated with globalization—and offers her own vision for dealing with the demands of an ethical economy. She proposes that the power of public pressure to create change must never be underestimated and argues that waves of public consciousness are steadily forcing corporations to re-evaluate their actions. By expanding the role and responsibility of the entrepreneur, as well as the definition of business ethics, the corporate world will be compelled to change. In this new edition Roddick brings the story up to date.
Average customer rating:
- But why do they keep calling him fat?
- great, but with one flaw
- (Re-)introducing Mel Bush
- The Sixth Doctor Meets Mel!
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Business Unusual (Dr. Who Series)
Gary Russell
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Customer Reviews:
But why do they keep calling him fat?.......2007-08-05
Now this is more like it. I always consider the Missing Adventures (or Past Adventures, or whatever the heck the BBC called them) to be a step below the brandy-new original Eighth Doctor adventures because they couldn't go and take the same kinds of risks that those books would often do. The best they could do was recreate the feel of the show on paper, maybe with a better budget, especially since they couldn't really do much to mess with established continuity. However, this is probably a darn sight better than the last few original adventures, which were at best lackluster. As the Sixth Doctor, Colin Baker often gets a bad rap, but most of the so-so quality of his episodes were due to factors that were out of his hands, the scripts were variable, the BBC started to actively hate their own show and the notion of making the Doctor unlikeable first in order to eventually win the audience over hardly got past the "unlikable" stage before it went on a brief hiatus and came back for the admittedly uneven Trial of a Time Lord season. Then he got fired. Needless to say, his Doctor could benefit the most from a proper focus and Russell does his best here to show how Baker's Doctor would measure up against all the others. His characterization is spot-on, showing the Doctor as arrogant but proactive, full of energy but moody, and fiercely intelligent and moral. The Doctor finds himself on Earth to tie up some loose ends, only to find himself caught up in another adventure entirely, one that involves companion Melanie Bush. Except she isn't his companion yet, he's been trying to avoid her in order to dodge the timeline that could potentially lead to him becoming the Valeyard (long story). Now he's forced to work with her. Meanwhile, forces of evil intent are kidnapping kids and using some familiar devices to enact their plans. And there's a giant crazy dog. Even though there are long stretches where the main characters are barely in the same room and hardly any action, Russell makes this story one of the tautest so far, dispensing with chapters to go with a crosscutting timeline format that keeps the story moving even when a lot isn't happening. Plus he keeps the Doctor unaware of the nature of the plot for a while, forcing him to react to things that he's not totally sure of. Mel, long one of the least favorite companions, comes across as three dimensional and not actually annoying for once, the typical elements of her personality are there but toned down slightly and maybe if this was the version that appeared on the screen the collective memory of her time aboard the TARDIS might not be so . . . distasteful (this may have something to do with Bonnie Langford's acting, while not terrible it certainly didn't help, from what I remember). With all the plots and characters circling around, he keeps the story engaging, even when you're pretty sure you know what's going to happen. It's not perfect, some knowledge of continuity is probably required, there's no real overriding reason why the Brigadier has to be involved (it's nice to see him though) and the main villain's reason for doing all of this isn't that impressive. But in terms of sheer readability and entertainment value, it may be the best Past Adventure of the BBC line so far. It doesn't break any ground but it does help reimagine the Colin Baker era to what might have been and that counts for a whole lot.
great, but with one flaw.......2001-08-31
The Doctor has arrived on Earth in 1989 to correct a problem that the Master has created. The Doctor manages to get it taken care of, for the most part, but he needs someone who is familiar with the simpleness of the Earth's computers at that time to help him. Enter Melanie Bush. The Doctor has seen his future (thanks to the Matrix) and doesn't like what he has seen. He believes that if he can prevent Mel from traveling with him he can avoid the existence of the Valyard. thus, he spends the whole book being rather short with Mel, trying to deliberatly put her off of traveling with him. On the up side, Gary Russell has nailed the character of Colin's Doctor (my personal favorite) right down to his fondness for children and the ego the size of the universe. Absolutely wonderful! BUT!!
Considering that the Doctor knows his future and wants to avoid it he takes great pains to keep it from happening. He knows that he cannot interfere with what he knows will happen (I refer any confused readers to "Festival of Death") yet he insists on doing just that. As a Time Lord he knows that he cannot change the future, and yet he tries his hardest to change it. He evnetually gives in however, after the final heart-renching scene when he tells Mel that she cannot travel with him and she manages to sneak aboard anyway, he knows that he cannot escape what he knows will happen.
As far as the main plot, I thought it was inventive and well written. I wish that we had seen more interaction between the 6th and the Brigadier, but it was well done nonetheless. Gary Russell did an excellent job in explaining the presence of Mel during the "Trial" and her subsequesnt disapearance. Overall a very excellent book, with just one annoying little temporal law flaw.
(Re-)introducing Mel Bush.......2001-02-24
Having assisted UNIT to defeat a plot by the Master and the Usurians from wreaking economic havoc on Earth, the Doctor is left with one problem: how to undo the computer virus that they have left behind. The Doctor is not familiar with the primitive Earth computer language involved, and so a local is needed. Imagine his horror when that local turns out to be the woman he is trying to avoid: Mel Bush, his future companion...
In the wake of 'The Trial of the Time Lord', we have a Doctor who knows that he has the potentials to become the antithesis of what he believes in. During his trial, he became aware that he would one day have Mel as a companion, and sees this as a step down the path towards becoming the Valeyard.
This story is the real introductory story for Mel, who must prove herself as worthy in ways that other companion have never had to. One of the least popular of the Doctor's companions in her TV appearances, Gary Russell takes on the difficult task of proving Mel worthy to both the Doctor and the readers. I guess the extent to which he succeeds is a matter of opinion: this book certainly makes Mel a less one-dimensional character than she appeared on TV.
As well as coping with that continuity issue, though, Mr. Russell might have been wiser to have set the whole thing up with an enemy who is mining the Doctor's past adventures on Earth for weapons. Recognising and appreciating all the threats that arise later in the book really requires a bunch of knowledge of the Doctor's earlier adventures.
The Sixth Doctor Meets Mel!.......1998-02-11
This is a story I wish they would have filmed. Not only does this feel like Doctor Who, we finally are able to see how the Doctor picks up Mel Bush! One of the better Doctor Who novels I've read!
Book Description
More and more people believe we must quickly wean ourselves from fossil fuels - oil, natural gas and coal - to save the planet from environmental catastrophe, wars and economic collapse. Professor Jaccard argues that this view is misguided. We have the technological capability to use fossil fuels without emitting climate-threatening greenhouse gases or other pollutants. The transition from conventional oil and gas to their unconventional sources including coal for producing electricity, hydrogen and cleaner-burning fuels will decrease energy dependence on politically unstable regions. In addition, our vast fossil fuel resources will be the cheapest source of clean energy for the next century and perhaps longer, which is critical for the economic and social development of the world's poorer countries. By buying time for increasing energy efficiency, developing renewable energy technologies and making nuclear power more attractive, fossil fuels will play a key role in humanity's quest for a sustainable energy system.
Customer Reviews:
Why the solution to energy consumption is not limited to finding an alternative to fossil fuels.......2006-08-09
"Sustainable Fossil Fuels: The Unusual Suspect in the Quest for Clean and Enduring Energy" tackles the task of explaining why the solution to energy consumption is not limited to finding an alternative to fossil fuels. The author argues that there is evidence that the world has untapped resources and an energy reserve supply of fossil fuels to last perhaps 800 years (for gas and coal), and that rising prices of precious fuel resources should not be assumed to mean the end of stored fossil fuel energy is imminent. Considering the options of renewable energy, nuclear power, and energy efficiency, the author states:" The end (goal) is a low impact and low risk energy system that can meet expanded human energy needs indefinitely and do this as inexpensively as possible, without succumbing to cataclysmic forces at some future time...it is unjustifiable to rule out fossil fuels in advance of a holistic comparison that considers critical decision factors. These factors include cost... the human desire to minimize the risk of extreme events...to ensure adequate and reliable energy supplies free from geopolitical turmoil, and to sustain values, institutions and lifestyles (p. 355)." Jaccard believes that fossil fuels are likely to continue to provide a significant resource to the global energy system during a gradual transition to a sustainable global energy system, perhaps over a period of more than a century. "Sustainable Fossil Fuels" makes a convincing argument for thorough review of the cost of energy sustainability, leading to an unprejudiced reconsideration of continuing the mixed use of fossil fuels. A handy chapter reading guide suggests the best way to read the book, considering the following key questions: What is energy sustainability (Chapter 1)? Is our current energy path sustainable (chapter 2)? Chapter 3: The prospects for clean, secondary energy, Chapter 4: The usual suspects: efficiency, nuclear and renewables, Chapter 5: The unusual suspect: how long can fossil fuels last - and does it mater? Chapter 6: Can we use fossil fuels cleanly - and what might it cost? and last, Chapter 7: Sustainable energy choices: comparing the options. "Sustainable Fossil Fuels" is a convincing argument for the continued judicious planned use of fossil fuels while seeking alternative sustainable energy choices. It is enhanced by a bibliography of 22 pages and many graphs and charts and footnotes. References are made to pertinent web sites for further information as well.
Clean fossil fuel - an oxymoron?.......2006-05-18
Given all the talk of "peak oil" in the media, it appears that the public has accepted the message that we are running out of all manner of fossil fuels. Regardless, high pump prices aren't viewed as signs of increasing scarcity, but rather of increased collusion among big oil companies.
This book provides a very useful compendium of energy industry information, and argues convincingly that fossil fuels will not run out for quite some time. The information the book contains would go far to dispelling a lot of fossil fuel "urban myths" if energy consumers took the time to read it.
Other recently released books on energy and climate change encourage readers to "stick it" to big oil and big coal by going "off-grid", etc., and don't sufficiently explore how these same companies can play a role in a more sustainable energy future.
While fossil fuels may never be viewed as "clean" by the public, they will certainly endure for centuries as Jaccard attests. This book is a useful read for those interested in learning how to make fossil fuel-based economies more sustainable, using more facts and less media hyperbole.
Extraordinary tour of our imminent choices.......2006-03-08
Complete. Here and now. Solid. It takes the reader on a 360 degree loop, at least for the next 100 years. Professor Jaccard evidently knows how to deliver a class. Good economic analysis, just three things I wanted to mention:
1. The book needs a relative sense of the urgency for policy that fosters carbon capture -with its corresponding research of possible CO2 leaks- a starting point, if not the cornerstone of his proposal.
2. Idem 1 but for legislation that promotes the adaptation of new technologies (ingenuity) to replace the vanishing fossil fuels. These technologies are intrinsically linked to the success of the proposal as a whole.
3. I wasn't very convinced on the transportation front. If combustion from "Status Enhancement Vehicles" represents almost half of the total anthropogenic-related pollution, shouldn't we be focusing more on them? The current technologies are mentioned and explained, but transportation is key in our urban societies and needs a push from governments if a transition is to take place in the short run. Taxing private vehicle owners (Yes, like smokers!)could be a means to promote and build alternative clean transportation and at the same time curb driving.
I understand that the book cannot cover all the issues at hand. In 361 pages, it addresses and explains with surprising clarity our current situation and possible solutions. Worth every page.
Unsustainable sustainability.......2006-02-18
Jaccard's book is a good survey of many of the issues and problems surrounding energy use. But he pays lip service to some critically important issues.
Despite a few brief glimpses outside, Jaccard takes the usual economist's "closed system" approach and couples it with the usual technotopian idea that humans have the ingenuity to find technological fixes for virtually any problem. In talking about the future impact of human activity on the natural world, Jaccard comments that "any individual unavoidable hazards can be ones from which the system could recover within a reasonable time, either from natural processes alone or in concert with human remediation efforts" (p. 355)
A BBC News report that states that, due to human activity, "organisms are disappearing at something like 100 to 1,000 times the background levels' seen in the fossil record." ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4563499.stm ) This loss of biodiversity has a direct impact on human health and wealth. To date, "natural processes" and "human remediation efforts" have not managed to bring back any extinct species.
Jaccard promotes the idea of "zero emission" fossil fuels at the point of use, but neglects the fact that large quantities of fossil fuels and resources are required by the operation of, and even production of, the machinery and infrastructure required to produce those fuels. He talks about the expansion of "clean" nuclear energy, but again neglects the emissions from mining, processing, and transporting fuel, storing and safeguarding spent fuel, and the construction of power plants and machinery. More importantly, Jaccard fails to mention the social irresponsibility of leaving behind toxic mine tailings and wastewater, spent fuel, and power plants that are decommissioned after their relatively short life span. Despite protocols and regulations, these will pose a hazard to future generations for thousands of years.
As a further example of "closed system" thinking, Jaccard talks about the expansion of "renewables," including solar and wind power, again without mentioning how dependent upon fossil fuels these energy sources are t present, for materials, production, and maintenance.
Finally, Jaccard neglects to mention that the growth he predicts depends heavily upon so many other resources, many of which are becoming increasingly scarce, and which rely on the current relatively cheap and abundant fossil fuels for extraction, processing, and production.
Despite the title of his book, Jaccard does briefly acknowledge that fossil fuel use, even in the manner he promotes, is not indefinitely sustainable, and would require enormous efforts and will to reduce GHG emissions, let alone solve all the other waste stream and resource issues. Indeed, almost appearing as repentance at the last minute, Jaccard's very last sentence acknowledges that a "sustainable fossil fuel future does not guarantee a sustainable human presence on this shrinking planet." (p. 361)
So much for sustainability.
Book Description
Designed for managers, this insightful handbook contains 27 specific guidelines on retaining good employees, maintaining morale in the face of change, and attaining the performance results a manager expects from his or her work group. Business as UnUsual teaches managers how to become a change agent, rebuild morale, pass out "psychological paychecks", re-recruit good people, take care of "me" issues, ride "close herd" on transition and change, and avoid common pitfalls in times of change.
Amazon.com
Flaunting a title like Business as Unusual, Anita Roddick's company biography is anything but your run-of-the-mill book on how to create, nurture, and run a successful company. While it does give a firsthand account of the birth of The Body Shop and Roddick's own particular leadership style of creative (and sometimes chaotic) passion, it doubles as a clarion call for business to tackle the big issues of life alongside the pursuit of profits, with heart, soul and conscience.
Roddick grew up in a large Italian immigrant family in small town in blue-collar England, where she was instilled with an intense work ethic and an irreverent, entrepreneurial spirit. Though she admits to having opened her first Body Shop as a way to make ends meet, Roddick developed the company around her zealous belief that, since there is "no more powerful institution in society than business ... it is more important than ever before for business to assume a moral leadership in society." Her concern for protecting the environment and indigenous people's cultures, and of seeing all of life as interconnected, have directed the growth of the company and inspired much of this book. Her account moves from an initial description of what she sees as the problem with "business as usual," through a history of The Body Shop as illustrating her philosophies on fostering passionate activism, building community, making it as a woman, and succeeding in business. Though Roddick's tone occasionally lapses into what might be interpreted as a rather self-righteous one (particularly in her references to most of the company's competition as merely "imitation"), it is driven by a feisty belief in her ideals. The chapter that describes The Body Shop launch into the U.S. market and its subsequent problems with intense competition is not exactly an American love-fest, but for those readers on this side of the Atlantic who don't take themselves too seriously, it's an informative and often amusing take on the trials of cross-cultural marketing. While praise of The Body Shop's good deeds to date is woven into much of what she discusses, Roddick is not afraid of being honest. Indeed, she presents some of the company's less flattering underbelly, such as a failed experiment in trading directly with an indigenous tribe and the unsuccessful "reorganization" of the company by an unresearched external consultant, which is far more daring than most business leaders are in discussing their corporate offspring. The book would have benefited from a more detailed and less defensive presentation of the media storm that surrounded the company from 1992 to 1994 (which comes dangerously close to being a diatribe), but Roddick's conversational writing style--extremely effective in relaying fervent dedication--doesn't leave room for a lot of legal analysis.
This is an entertaining read with a serious message, a lilting and somewhat whimsical manifesto. Not merely the story of one woman's pursuit of business success and the history and philosophy of The Body Shop, it is an invigorating guidebook for anyone eager to marry an entrepreneurial, principled spirit with a keen sense of social justice. --S. Ketchum
Book Description
Business as Unusual charts the progress of Roddick and her company The Body Shop through the last decade.
Customer Reviews:
revolutionary theory- business with consciousness.......2006-01-11
Roddick is a very successful business woman, environmental advocate, socially responsible coporation builder, die hard worker, and outspoken renegade. Lots of hats for a woman who just thought that having a skin care shop with products from natural ingredients would help supplement her income. Roddick shaped the way that we look at business, she upholds the principal that businesses should alway give back to the people and land they were built on. Roddick cites many examples of the best and worst business practices, and the people (and areas) that have been affected. She cites as a CEO in a certain company's annual income is more then all the workers in their Haiti sweatship will recieve in their life. Yet they refused to give these workers a startling $0.54/ hr minimum wage. While Samsung gives much of its profit to helping fund schools, homes, and decent living conditions for its workers. Roddick gives one chapter on the effect that non-governmnetal groups ar having on changing business's outlook such as the popular rally against Nike for sweatshop activity.
Roddick includes more then just socially responsible purchasing, the effects of big businesses, and NGOs- she also includes business strategies that have helped make her successful, essential criteria for becoming an entrepreneur, emotional strains, spiritual beliefs, and a great chapter regarding the ethics and management of the Body Shop.
This book is unlike other stuffy "how to in business" books, because it includes notes, quotes, ads, lists, and photos. Its full of informative pieces that are easy to read and you really glean wonderful information about becoming successful yet compassinate in business.
I am anxoius to read her other book as well but this one was a really wonderful read that exceeded my expectations. This would be actually a great book for a young adult with consciousness for environmental needs. It really was revolutionary how the Body Shop was created back in the 1970s, but its rewarding to see how new shops are embracing natural products, and giving back to the people. Please enjoy.
The untold story..........2005-12-30
I agree this book is incredibly inspirational and empowering. It is however a shame that Roddick fails to credit the Art Student (me) who was paid GBP25 in 1977 to design the now famous logo. I also printed the original product labels for the first shop. When I mentioned this to her in 2003 her only comment was; "That must have been a coup for you". Inspirational indeed.
Business as Unusual.......2002-01-23
A dynamic book, reflecting page by page a visually creative presentation that challenges the reader to step beyond the words to discover multiple layers of interrelationships and values. The book undertakes to demonstrate her life's purpose of protecting and valuing humanity and the environment whilst still developing a profitable business.
Roddick presents her story, "Business as Unusual" by modeling the same constructs that have underpinned the ethical, moral and business essences of "The Body Shop".
The sometimes humorous but always poignant captions, quotes and pictorial representations through out the writing, demonstrates the importance Roddick places on communication. The book also scaffolds the in depth discussion that is used to deconstruct "The Body Shop" story.
Roddick does ascribe and briefly describe basic no nonsense commonsense information and elements inherent for all business. She also explores a range of interesting anecdotes, practical problems and ethical values.
The reader is encouraged and dared to ponder and reflect on basic elements such as child care, gender discrimination and female beauty whilst being whisked away to analyse the heavier issues of the Amazon and Hemp.
Roddick concludes the writing by sharing ten lessons that describe practical information which she suggests may guide the reinvention of the "The Body Shop" of the future.
An "unusual" story; certainly worth a read; definitely challenges the creative mind and makes no bones about business responsibility to humanity and the environment.
I expected more.......2001-12-30
Body Shop is a household name and a corporation with an atttitude. Anita built the company on her beliefs and always stood for what she believed in.
I was a little disappointed with this book. I was expecting to read about how she started the company, what drove her to start, her fears, etc but what I found was a book filled with her philosophies mixed with her story on how she grew her business. If you're doing an MBA, yes by all means, this is a great book as it gives you different and fresh business perspectives but if you're looking for a "how I made it book", you may be a little disappointed.
Make every MBA student read this book!.......2001-05-25
....This is the story of that woman and the company she founded.
Today, with over 1,800 Body Shops worldwide, and many a dissenting corporate CEO cursing at the very mention of her name, she commands an empire that still stands for something of value in this world. Anita is one of the very few people I have read or studied, that truly "walks her walk". The others merely pay lip service to the environment or other cultures less 'civilized' than ours. Like Anita, this book really "tells it like it is."
This book should be mandatory reading for every MBA student in the world. Perhaps being exposed to Anita's philosophies, examples and case studies of how to build from a start-up to an international retailing empire, will help save a few of them from the "nothing matters but the quarterly bottom line" syndrome. Anita's book lays out a positive path and a myriad of methods one can use to identify, analyze and address business problems and opportunities in a sane manner.
It is a way of doing business that first takes into consideration people, not just profits.
It's a company with "attitude".
Average customer rating:
- The Leadership Centre Says
- An excellent application of desired management principles
- The most important book to combat turnover and low morale
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The Human Touch: Today's Most Unusual Program for Productivity and Profit
William W. Arnold , and
Jeanne M. Plas
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Human Resources & Personnel Management
| Industries & Professions
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Management
| Management & Leadership
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Quality Control
| Management & Leadership
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Entrepreneurship
| Small Business & Entrepreneurship
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0471572918 |
Book Description
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most revolutionary… "An eloquent argument for the cost effectiveness of civil leadership and civility in the workplace. Every executive should read this book before concluding she or he knows the real meaning of total quality management" —M. Scott Peck Author, The Road Less Traveled and A World Waiting to Be Born "This is a compelling story from someone who's actually lived it. Bill Arnold's `hard-nosed humanism' is that rare blend of respect and trust, rights and responsibility. The results speak for themselves. Arnold and Plas know their stuff."—Nancy K. Austin Coauthor, A Passion for Excellence "Bill Arnold has turned the corporate pyramid upside-down. He has opened his office to everyone, and he has spread decision-making responsibility throughout his organization… Bill Arnold has proved that it doesn't need to be, and shouldn't be, lonely at the top." Vernon R. Loucks, Jr. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Baxter International Inc. "This is an exciting book. It's an inspiring story of leadership and success. If anyone still needs proof that a people-oriented focus on quality works, this compelling description of the transformation of Centennial Medical Center should do it."—Dean O. Morton Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Hewlett-Packard Main Selection of the Newbridge Executive Program
Customer Reviews:
The Leadership Centre Says.......2005-03-15
As An Executive Coach, Management Team Builder and Leadership Development Trainer I read 3 or four books a month in related fields. Arnold and Plas have created a program I can only call fantastic. No one since Peter F. Drucker has demonstrated such a thorough understanding of the profit centered organization and the interpersonal relationship skill required to make it effective. I can't believe that there is any organization that will not profit from the study and application of these principles.
An excellent application of desired management principles.......1998-11-21
I have used this book as a second book in teaching an Organizational Behavior Class. It is an excellent case study drawn from the actual experience of Mr Arnold. It is very straightforward and readable. He sets forth management principles that are sound yet difficult to implement as they require creating and maintaining an organizational culture based on strong employee participation and ownership with the buy in and support of management.
The most important book to combat turnover and low morale.......1998-03-07
Bill Arnold's book is, by far, the most on target book dealing with employees and bottom line that I have read. His approach may be a little frightening for the people who must focus strictly on the bottom line, but investing time, trust and power in your employees will make them loyal, happy, more productive than ever and healthier (because they will be less stressed and have a stronger sense of purpose). We wish Mr. Arnold would return to Nashville. His approach is greatly missed and others aren't as centered as he is to open up and listen. Bravo!
Average customer rating:
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Codes and Ciphers: Hundreds of Unusual and Secret Ways to Send Messages
Christina Ashton
Manufacturer: Betterway Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Writing
| Reference
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science, Nature & How It Works
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 9-12
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 155870292X |
Book Description
This book charts the story of Anita Roddick and her company, The Body Shop, through the lows and highs of the last decade.
Books:
- Meteor Showers and their Parent Comets
- Navigating the Badlands: Thriving in the Decade of Radical Transformation
- New York, New York: Fifty Years of Art, Architecture, Photography, Film, and Video
- Object of His Desire (Indigo: Sensuous Love Stories)
- Of Permanent Value: The Story of Warren Buffett/2007 International Edition/in 2 volumes
- Only the Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company
- Only the Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company
- Oxford Bible Atlas
- Perennial All-Stars: The 150 Best Perennials for Great-Looking, Trouble-Free Gardens
- Raja-Yoga
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