Good to Not-So-Great: Debunking Hot Business Books

Great new book out of Wharton: "Phil Rosenzweig rips into some of the most popular business books of recent years, including the bestsellers In Search of Excellence and Good to Great. Along the way, he argues that many of the pat principles bandied about in the business world are based on misguided thinking and flimsy research."

The Halo Effect: Debunking Some Hot Business Books with One of His Own

In my final strategy class last year, I asked our professor for any book or magazine suggestions. He thought for a minute and could only offer the Harvard Business Review. At first, I was shocked, having been a long-time reader of popular business books. However, after two years at business school, I have become far more critical of mainstream business books and their methodologies. The only two books I know consistently recommend are The Innovator's Dilemma and The Tipping Point. Any others I'm missing? Let me know in the comments.

[thanks for the link, Andrew]

Comments

[Matt]

Matt here - one of my best friends sent me this in response to the link. I thought it was worth reposting as a comment:

"I'll definitely take a look at that, but I don't know, man... I've been leading over 100 people for a while now and I think Good to Great is one of the best leadership books ever written. I've got my own short list that I'll share at some point. Two other great books are Leadership by Rudy Guiliani and Execution by Larry Bossidy. "

[kareem]

i'd have to say made to stick is one of the better business books that i've read in a loooong time, and sure to be one i'll read agfain and again.

[wync]

Hey Kareem - funny coincidence that we are interviewing Chip Heath (author of Made to Stick) for iinnovate on Tuesday. Let me know if you have any questions for him.

[Joy Casey]

I read both of Jim Collins' books: "Built to Last" and "Good to Great" and thought they were excellent but I have not read "The Halo Effect" to learn Rosenzweig's opinions.

An older book that's quite good is, "John P. Kotter on What Leaders Really Do," by John P. Kotter. Speaking of "Harview Business Review," the Kotter book is a Harvard Business Review Book.

[Brad]

What about Dale Carnigie's "how to win friends and influence people" ? Needs to be updated for assholes in life, but still the core core concept is good.

[Andrew]

I'm not so sure "The Tipping Point" should make it into anyone's top business book list. It read a lot like Sociology class to me... let's observe the past, classify behavior with perfect 20/20 hindsight and anecdotal evidence. In the last 10 years or so, and numerous jobs, I’ve found that there are two books that I consistently recommend to my co-workers – Crossing the Chasm (a true bible for startups) and Managing at the Speed of Change by Daryl R. Conner. While every consultant I’ve ever worked with jokes despairingly about change management, execution fundamentally comes down to people - and this book provides an interesting perspective (and framework) for understanding, and finding opportunities in change.