THE ENTERPRISE
It seems unavoidable to read the news and not find several articles about 3 topics: Iraq/Terrorism, Political partisan bickering/scandals and Wal-Mart. Since the first two have nearly been exhausted and I have precious little to add (for the moment anyway), I am going to do one more edition on Wal-Mart and our society, and the move on in future weeks to Global business, management and other topics.
A NEW BOOK--A MUST READ
This edition of THE ENTERPRISE focuses on a new book on Wal-Mart (another one, you ask?). Yes, but this one is the exception. The author, Charles Fishman, a Contributing Editor for FAST COMPANY gets it right--or as right as anyone can get a subject as big, as complex and as dynamic as Wal-Mart and its effect on our lives, our society and global business.
Rather than start over, I'll insert here what I told Charles after I read the advance copy of the book.
DEC. 27, 2005 Finished The Wal-Mart Effect this AM.
I will write a more complete piece for an edition THE ENTERPRISE in a couple of weeks. Here are the words I jotted down right after I finished reading:
-Fair & balanced
-Perceptive & informed
-Entertaining, well-written
-Frightening in places
-Thought-provoking (often)
--Important--not just to business people, but to all Americans, and possibly to all "citizens of Earth"
I will recommend it strongly to all of my "readership" and friends/contacts.
I can't remember many books, and even fewer non-fiction works that were as interesting, at times compelling and held my attention enough to read 250 pp. within a 24 hour period (and still sleep 8 hours). (I am a fast reader, when I am really interested.) I am also a picky reader, which means I don't read just anything--for anybody--and I often quit reading books after 75-100 pp! Not this one.
I put this is the class of Tom Friedman's The World is Flat (which I still haven't finished completely, but he had me for the 1st half), and Malcolm Gladwell's two recent books, Blink and The Tipping Point. That means they are relevant to what I called my old 13-week radio show: "The Life of Business and the Business of Life."
A TOUGH GRADER
Those who know me, know I read a lot and I have always been a "tough grader." I first talked to Charles Fishman when he interviewed me at length for his FC article a couple of years ago. He did several things that I admired. He quoted me accurately and in context, he wrote what he said he intended to write, and he attempted to portray a balanced view (until his FC editors whacked about 25% of his article--just coincidentally the part that made it "balanced.") Anyway, we stayed in touch and he took a leave from regular duties to research and write this book on the topic of Wal-Mart and its effect on American society and global business.
He did it as well--no, he did it better--than anyone has to date. His writing style is easy to read and entertaining. His content is documented and appears authentic, and his conclusions are mostly right on. That said, I don't agree with all of the conclusions Fishman reaches, nor some of the longer term implications he raised. However, given the number of hack jobs done on Wal-Mart in recent years, this one is a real gem. We exchanged a later set of emails in which he solicited the areas where I disagreed with his book, for whatever reason. There were a few, and when he replied, his reply allowed that my perspectives were probably as right as his. I'm happy to share that exchange with readers who want it, but in the interest of brevity, I'll omit it from here.
Bottom line: IF YOU ARE AT ALL INTERESTED IN WAL-MART, ITS EFFECT ON YOUR LIFE, ON AMERICA AND ON THE WORLD--THIS IS A "MUST READ" BOOK--whether you agree with it or not. You'll find it offers a lot of useful information, stimulates your thinking and actually entertains you as you read it.
JOURNALISTS TOP THE "EXPERTS"
I meant what I said when I compared it to Friedman's FLAT WORLD and to Gladwell's BLINK & TIPPING POINT in that respect. All of these books have an interesting point in common. They are books on the world, business, society and people in organizational settings, and none of them are written by so-called "experts"--not academics, not consultants, and not ghost writers for executives. (You know, like the ones who opined that this new, revolutionary company named Enron was the "second coming," until it imploded in a cloud of fraud and deceit. A lot of "experts" still have crow feathers sticking out of their mouths over that one. I guess Warren Buffet is right. It is best to understand something before you "invest" in it.)
Anyway, I think all four books are well worth reading, and yes, they were all written by smart, insightful journalists. They contain a lot of good information, presented in an easy to read and useful fashion. I recommend them all, and that's more than I can say for most of the business books I've seen lately. THE WAL-MART EFFECT hits the bookstores next week. Go get it. You'll be smarter and more thoughtful because of it. And to Charles Fishman (who gets THE ENTERPRISE)--good work.
Best, John
PS: If you like novels, grab anything by Gregory Iles. He is my new "best novelist." No two of his are alike, either--but don't start the last 100pp. if you need to go to bed in less time than you can read that many pages.
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