The Financial Times is a UK based business paper, but is also widely read in the U.S. I wrote a piece for them awhile back on "Separating the Best CEOs from the Dolts" and they just came out with a positive, but classically "cheeky" English review by Peter Whitehead. My reaction is that "I wish I could write like that," but I think I was raised in the wrong country! It is headlined "A timely guide to being a better manager" and here is how it ends:
Having made the case repeatedly that managers need to
consider others in everything they do, Sutton’s perhaps counter-intuitive
conclusion is that they have to accept the role is all about themselves: their
own behaviour is infectious and will be copied; everything they do will be
watched and noted.
Is this good advice? The world’s worst boss, David Brent
of The Office TV comedy series (renamed Michael Scott in the US series)
believes exactly that, with his constant “look at me” antics. But he is utterly
lacking in common sense and compassion. So perhaps the best advice would be
that anyone without these traits should please do everyone a favour and steer
clear of management.
I confess that I sometimes react to reviews — even positive ones — by whining "the reviewer doesn't quite get it." Mr. Whitehead clearly did, which means he read the book carefully.
P.S. An interview with me about the book just came out at The Invisible Hand if you are interested.
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