Book Review: The Management Gurus
Lauer, Chris. The management gurus : lessons from the best management books of all time. Portfolio, 2008.
The senior editor of Soundview Executive Book Summaries compiled 10 to 20 page summaries from 15 management books, half of which were best-sellers in their time. Every valuable book does not become a best seller, yet this reviewer would argue that the books selected for this volume are not the best management books of all time. For example, Topgrading, a book about filling every position in an organization with an A-Player, is not A-list material. And it is odd that the best management books of all time would be largely written since 2005.
The author-gurus included in this volume are well respected writers, educators, executive coaches and consultants. It is interesting to see what authors were selected as “management gurus” and even more interesting to see what authors were not. Charles Handy, Warren Bennis and Don Tapscott are included. Peter Drucker, Michael Porter, Rosabeth Moss Kanter and Tom Peters are not. Surely any serious book on management thinking would include the latter set.
The book summaries included in this volume:
- Dealing with Darwin : how great companies innovate at every phase of their evolution by Geoffrey A. Moore.
Ford Library | HD58.8 .M633 2005 - The Next Global Stage : challenges and opportunities in our borderless world by Kenichi Ohmae.
Ford Library | HF1418.5 .O463 2005 - True North: discover your authentic leadership by Bill George.
Ford Library | HD57.7 G4582 2007 - Small Giants: companies that choose to be great instead of big by Bo Burlingham.
Ford Library | HD62.7 .B835 2005 - What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: how successful people become even more successful by Marchall Goldsmith
Ford Library | HF5386 .G65 2007
— also available as an audiobook —
© Reviewer: Meg Trauner & Ford Library – Fuqua School of Business. All rights reserved.
Tags: Management