World According to Peter Drucker

Amazon.com

Over a remarkable 60-year career, Peter Drucker has written the book on management theory, executive advice, and various aspects of social and political thought. He's also penned a monthly editorial-page column for the Wall Street Journal, contributed to publications ranging from The Economist and the Harvard Business Review to Forbes and Esquire, taught at several major universities, lectured worldwide by satellite, consulted for leading global corporations, and still found time to write two novels. His impact on individual and corporate philosophy has truly been astounding, so much so that it's often difficult to grasp its full scope. Jack Beatty's The World According to Peter Drucker is up to the task, however, offering a satisfying examination of his ongoing legacy for followers as well as a great introduction to specific works for neophytes.

With Drucker's full cooperation and assistance, Beatty (an NPR commentator and Atlantic Monthly senior editor) mixes bits of previous interviews and passages from his subject's voluminous writings with personal analysis to explore the range of his always provocative views on business, government, nonprofits, and the future. Beginning with the experiences in Europe during World War I that ultimately shaped Drucker as a writer, Beatty looks into themes like fascism, freedom, decentralization, and bureaucracy while tracing the transformation of Drucker from political scientist to management theorist. In combination with other particularly interesting observations, like those on Drucker's prescient prediction of a "new world economy" and his defining conceptualization of both privatization and "knowledge workers," the book serves to whet one's appetite for a bigger helping of the master's works--many of which, fortunately, remain in print. --Howard Rothman

Book Description

Peter Drucker is arguably the most influential architect of today's corporate society. Yet no concise overview of his life and work has ever appeared--until now. Creating a Drucker primer as much as a biography, Jack Beatty has distilled the essence of Drucker's beliefs and strategies into one engaging volume. Spanning Drucker's childhood in Vienna during the first world war, through his first American teaching jobs when raging factions debated the best form of government (if any), to his immersion in modern management theory using General Motors as a model, and finally, to the era of downsizing facing his Fortune 500 clients, The World According to Peter Drucker also captures our own corporate evolution in this century.

Customer Reviews:

Drucker, Pol Correctness, Pomposity.......2005-09-16

When I first read Peter Drucker in 1982 I was bored to tears
by a pompous man telling us the pol correct. Unfortunately,
those who teach business are not those good at practicing
it. In fact, many of them loathe it and seek revenge for
their own unemployability. Recently, with the advent of
differential pay, we have faculty who don't even care, but
who switched form teaching operations in engineering, psychology or economics in liberal arts or even
biostatistics. This is why you don't see Drucker
(who proclaimed Japanese "participative" management
before it came into fashion - MacArthur deliberately
forced socialism on Japan to de-fascistify it) apologising
for the failures in Japan today. No, now they tell us
to emulate communist China, or the "knowledge" feudalism
of the university. Wait, didn't the university-style
environment they promote cause Arthur Andersen and KPMG
so much trouble? Did they ever tell you that large USA
made cars weren't the problem in the 1970s, but that gas
prices made consumers buy smaller USA-name cars made
with defective Asian parts and yet somehow the peaceniks
who rebelled and bought "pacifist" Japanese cars turned
this into something else. Also, as USA education was deteriorating, our mechanics weren't telling us the
reason they preferred foreign cars was because they had
no clue how to upkeep the computerised USA carborateurs.
Now, as customer service has returned to 1970s levels,
did anyone mention it was caused by the inflationary
environment, and the excellent customer service of
the 1980-90 era was due to low inflation, as inflation is intimately involved with mass paranoia and irrationality?

Superb Overview.......2003-01-11

In this superb, slim 186-page volume, the author manages to capture the quintessence of Drucker's life-work on management. Drucker's neo-Weberian sociology, the search for the moral basis of capitalism, the influence of Schumpeter (the renegade Austrian economist), the roles of European intellectual currents, his spiritual underpinnings in Kierkegaard, and the social context of Drucker's thought and development--all are ably portrayed here, in all the richness of their context. Penetrating, insightful and never blinded by adulation, the book is also extremely well written. I read a chapter a night and was done inside a week. There are only 2 blemishes. First, he is a bit skimpy on some biographical details (*when* was Drucker born, for example?). Secondly, what in the world does "elide" mean? Here's the sentence: "...Drucker's bold reinvention of government...elides the cardinal difference between government and business...--democratic accountability." You can't even infer the meaning of this strange word from its context. Before I was even finished, I was able to use information in this book to choose (and purchase) 3 other Drucker classics. And excellent, valuable read--don't miss it.

Reasonably good look at the great man and his works.......2002-11-27

I enjoyed some aspects of this book, especially the concise biography of Drucker at the start, but found it a bit dull overall. The author takes a good look at all Drucker's work, the developments in his thinking over his long and productive life, even his writing style, but it is all done in a rather dry, humourless, academic manner. It is clear that Drucker is a great thinker on management and society, but it doesn't always come across like that when reading the passages from his books that are quoted. I think the way the passages are quoted, in boxes separate from the main body of text, serves to decontextualize them, making some of them appear rather shallow and commonplace.

Having said this, The World According to Peter Drucker is still a worthy introduction to/critique of Drucker's writings and worth reading. It is largely concise and to the point, which helps given that it is not all that exciting.

A history book.......2001-10-12

This book gives you glimpses of the influence Drucker has had on society. But, unless you are looking for a biography, I do not recommend this book. It is dry and tedious to read.

A Good Read!.......2001-06-02

Peter Drucker's philosophies and theories have shaped management all over the world. Drucker is highly respected. He has always taught that people are an organization's most important resource. In 1954, Drucker virtually invented 'management.' Although, of course, management existed before, nobody had ever treated it as a distinct field.

Jack Beatty's book about Peter Drucker is not just another biography. Beatty criticizes Drucker in some areas and extols his virtues in others. The book is sometimes entertaining and consistently well written. Enough of Drucker's ideas are included to make you want to read his books. Most of the book summarizes Drucker's work chronologically. Company leaders who want their top people to learn about management should make this required reading. We [...] recommend this book to managers in all industries.

Customer Reviews:

Very Well Done For a Book of this Type.......2004-04-05

As a lifelong Patriots fan and a huge Brady fan, I have read nearly every publication chronicling the rise of Brady and the Patriots to two World Championships. Surprisingly, this 48 page book captures the feel as well as if not better than virtually all of the other immediate release tribute books such as those released by the Boston newspapers and writers. More than just a collection of game recaps, this short book really gets it right. The explanation and history behind the passing of the baton from Bledsoe to Brady was particularly well done and the information provided on Brady's pre professional career was interesting even to those who knew much of it already. I highly recommend this well written book to any Patriots/Brady fan. Even with the recent Super Bowl 38 win, this is a nice piece to have despite it being two years old.

Customer Reviews:

Man of the sea........2006-05-25

I have been a Flynn star for years and have read most of the books except the lousy rush to print books. I read Higham and his forte is to denigrate falsely major stars once they are dead. He is a self loathing old gay queen who lashes out his venom. Errol Flynn was not a Nazi. He was too much a hedonist to be a nazi. He thought in fun not politics. I once met Cary Grant and as he said numerous times re: Flynn - he was not a nazi traitor at all- he just enjoyed life. He also said Errol never had to rape any woman- they raped him!!!

This book is very good, detailed and correct. If his biographer Mr. Conrad was alive he would write the same thing. I talked with Mt. Conrad and he was adamant that Flynn was not a nazi spy.This started because actor George Brent was mad at Flynn for bedding down Ann Sheridan. He also was envious of Flynn for his career and his larger ship the Zaca.He was pissed that Flynn pulled strings to allow himself to use the ship and for it not to be confiscated for the war effort.

Its time that writers like Higham and his low ilk were drum out of the writing profession and publishers stop printing lies and crap.

Note- Flynn and Howard Hughes were not lovers - Hughes number one man said so.

Great book on Flynn by Mr. Thomas. Read a must.

Thomas attacks assertion that Flynn was a Nazi spy.......1998-03-25

Like a lot of other people, Tony Thomas grew up in the 1940s fixated on the dashing, magnetic screen idol Errol Flynn. In the 1950s -- when Thomas was a writer and Flynn a washed up, dissipated shadow of his former self -- Thomas got to know Flynn and conducted several interviews with him. One of those still exists in audio form, but it very hard to find. In the 1960s, Thomas co-authored the landmark work "The Complete Films of Errol Flynn," and went on to serve as a consultant on the actor's life for a number of documentaries. His last book, "Errol Flynn: The Spy Who Never Was," is one of the most fascinating looks at Errol Flynn ever committed to print -- it contains much never-published information on the actor -- and dismantles in detail Charles Higham's poorly-researched assertion that Flynn was a Nazi spy. Tony Thomas died last July after suffering a stroke; while those of us who had contact with him will miss him, we can be thankful of this last work, in which the great swashbuckler is finally defended. If you can find it, "Errol Flynn: The Spy Who Never Was," is a must-read.

Errol Flynn: The Spy Who Never Was (ISBN: 080651180X)

Average customer rating:

Errol Flynn: The Spy Who Never Was (ISBN: 080651180X)
Tony Thomas
Manufacturer: Citadel Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000LC6WDQ

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2005-12-28

Great information. Very helpful.

Best Gambling Portal http://www.increasedodds.com

Kudos To A Well-known Professional.......1999-12-31

If you're looking for "get-rich-quick" systems on sports betting, then look elsewhere (and you'll be looking for a *long* time, too!). But, for the average income gambler like myself, you'll make good use of the author's betting theories, money management and discipline guidelines. Filled with dozens of examples, John Patrick's book on one of the most popular forms of gambling explains how to manage your money and turn a profit simultaneously at this exciting game of chance. Read it, digest it and follow it. You'll be glad you did.

Worst sports betting book I've ever read!.......1999-03-27

Apparently, Amazon.com has some sort of private agreement with the publisher, as the first review that I wrote has been censored. This "book" is without merit. Two thirds of the content is filler - useless anecdotes that won't lead to putting any money in your pocket. The money management "system" proposed by the author is statistically unsound. If you want a solid sports betting primer, pass on this title and buy "The Complete Book of Sports Betting" by Jack Moore. For more in-depth info, obtain any work written by Bob McCune other than the "Gambling Times" book.

If you bet on sports, buy this book.......1998-08-06

This is the first of John Patrick's books I have read. From other comments, you either love or hate his writing style. I think he is hilarious while also very informative. All I have to say about this book is, betting with the money management ideas he presents, I ended up positive where I have so many times previously ended up negative on the same number of wins. If you bet on sports, buy this book!

Practical, profitable and down right funny........1998-07-13

John Patrick's Sports Betting book is by far one of the best books of it's kind. John explains the ins and outs of the sports wagering world, educating the reader and at the same time making you laugh at yourself. The best thing about John's book is that it gives you practical and realistic expectations about sports wagering instead of greed based hype. If you're serious about cutting gambling losses and incresing profits, get this book!

Book Description

83 card tricks appear: key card tricks, mathematical card tricks, tricks using arranged stacks of cards, sleight of hand, and tricks using two packs of cards, as well as special cards, props, and card novelties. And 66 magic tricks --with coins, silks and handkerchiefs, string and rope, paper, mind games, and mathematical tricks. Worth the price of the book for any beginner are the 30 pages of card handling methods. There's even a section on how to get the truly "magical" effects that will have your audience shaking their heads in disbelief and calling for more. 512 pages (all in 2-color), 4 3/16 x 5 1/4.

Customer Reviews:

EXCELLENT!.......2000-03-31

I think this book is the best! It has everything including slight-of-hand maneuvers and a great deal of card tricks! I would recomened getting this book. Even after four and a half years of being a magician, this book was still useful. GET THIS BOOK

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND DON'T BUY THIS BOOK!.......1999-09-09

I am an amateur magicican and I must say this book is lousy at best. This is definately a book that you should judge by its title. (it is actually quite small barely fitting in your hand). As the latter suggests, it is quite difficult to hold on to this book since its really so small in size. As far as the contents, the book does not contain any useful slights. In addition, the tricks are not explained in a whole lot of detail and the pictures don't help at all either. I did learn some tricks which were quite good, but it took considerable time to learn based on the nature of the book. Do yourself a favor and buy Mark Wilson's Complete course in magic.

Magnificent!.......1999-07-12

This book is an excellent guide to those who wish to put on magic shows or just make friends ask you, "how the heck did you do that". While some of the props you have to make yourself, most of these tricks can be done with everyday objects. It also allows you to add your own creativity to the tricks. A great book!

Nicely explained and great for beginners.......1998-11-17

This book is great for those wanting to learn easy to moderately difficult card and magic tricks.

Wonderful Resource For Beginner or Advanced Magicians!!!!.......1998-08-23

This is by far one of the most comprehensive books on magic I have seen. I have been a magician for nearly ten years now, and I still find use for this versatile manual of magic. It has everything from card and rope magic, to amazing parlour tricks!!! If you are beginning in magic or are just looking for a new resource for your repetior, you will find what you need to spice up your act in this book. I love the book and would recommend to anybody!

The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Card and Magic Tricks (Little Giant Encyclopedias Ser.)

Average customer rating:

The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Card and Magic Tricks (Little Giant Encyclopedias Ser.)
Diagram Group Staff
Manufacturer: Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KPOWCM

Book Description

This book is not authorized or approved by Microsoft, Citrix, or anyone else! Instead of vendor marketing speak, this book tells you how Terminal Server actually works. This book is not an administrator's guide. Rather, it's written for IT consultants, system engineers, and architects who must plan, design, implement, and optimize Windows 2003-based Terminal Server systems. It's filled with real-world, proven strategies created specifically for Windows Server 2003. See how some of the world's largest companies are using pure Terminal Server 2003 environments.

Are you thinking about using Windows Server 2003's Terminal Services capabilities?
Do you want to use it for a few users, or do you want to use it on a larger scale?
Are you wondering whether you need to use Citrix MetaFrame or Tarantella New Moon, or if you can use Terminal Server by itself?
If you're wondering whether Terminal Services will work for you, spend 50 bucks on this book before spending thousands of dollars on licenses.

What's Covered in This Book...

Server and network design

Application strategies and installation

Licensing server design and deployment

User profiles, policies, home folders, and logon scripts

Client device strategies and management

Accessing native Terminal Servers from non-Microsoft platforms

Real-world printing strategies and techniques

Accessing Terminal Servers via web portals

Ensuring end-to-end security

High availability and load-balancing solutions

Server sizing

Performance optimization and tuning

Enterprise deployment options

Customer Reviews:

Nice for introducing.......2007-07-04

Nice job for introduce to advanced functions and options on LDAP.
Not imprescindible for experienced users, but perfet structure, nice design and a perfectly description of all functions and advanced options.

THE book on Windows Terminal Services.......2007-05-13

Stock Windows Terminal Services, without the Citrix licensing and complexity additions, is a feature-rich and capable architecture. This is absolutely the best book written to explain the intricacies (including licensing) of this product. The explanations are detailed but also written in a matter-of-fact plain English that is easy to understand. Highly recommended.

Saved me headaches, time and money.......2007-02-06

This book answers some very important questions on your install that you didn't even know you had. There were a couple of things in here that saved me countless hours of beating my head against a wall because of how a certain function worked in regards to a firewall, for instance.

After this book arrived, I took a quick glance at it and knew this was the one. I told my boss that I was going to need a "reading day" for this one - something unheard of - a day to just do research. Paid for the book and the day in spades. The money saved was an entire server that I just am not going to be able to use, so I don't have to buy it! That's big. I was going to have 3 servers, now just 2.

Mostly, it told me I was on the right track, but showed me where simple things could make a big difference up front - before my first server even arrived.

Good information but poorly edited.......2006-01-25

I have found this book to be very informative and helpful. It goes quite in depth on subjects related to terminal services and terminal server licensing. It also gives great ideas on how to make everything "work together".

The one major flaw with the book is the editing and proofing. I don't recall ever reading a book, technical or not, and finding so many obvious spelling errors, sometimes 4 and 5 errors in a single paragraph.

In a technical book spelling should not be an issue - it undermines the feeling of trust for a book. I cross-checked much of the content where I wanted to be sure and found it to be quite accurate, but it is still disturbing to see that frequency of errors and my 3 star rating reflects this.

One of the best technical books I've ever read..........2004-06-12

... and I've read quite a few of those! I bought the book after running Terminal Server 2003 for a while, and immediately discovered better ways to implement printing and user profiles (flex profiles seem to be exactly what we needed). Explanation of licensing was also very useful.

What I like most:
- very concise and accurate presentation, often with flow diagrams;
- whenever there're several methods to do something, authors always discuss advantages and disadvantages of each method;
- real-life examples;
- references to low-cost or free third-party tools;
- good style and occasional humor!

I would highly recommend this book to specialists designing and implementing Terminal Services on Windows 2003 Server.

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