Book Description

As corporations become increasingly more powerful, their decisions have a larger impact on the social and ecological landscape both domestically and internationally. In Ethics and HRD, Tim Hatcher shows how human resource development departments can foster ethical consciousness and play an important role in transforming their organizations into responsible corporate citizens. He describes the relationship between ethical leadership, social responsibility, and HRD and shows how to synthesize them into a new and more sustainable paradigm for HRD. The first book of its kind, it will serve as a guide for managers, human-resource professionals, and students of HRD alike. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Complex but Seminal Work
Tim Hatcher's Ethics and HRD is the first book-length treatment of what most would think are two obviously connected areas - business ethics and the development of human resources. In Ethics and HRD, Hatcher identifies the challenges of "globalization, high-speed technological changes, wildly fluctuating economies, a changing workforce, an unstable environmental climate, and erratic politics". Because of these challenges, Hatcher argues that "we have come to a point where we must have people and organizations that do the right thing ..., organizations and leaders that are moral, ethical, and socially responsible". "HRD professionals," writes Hatcher, "have been complicit in helping to create organizations and workplaces that do little to enhance the human spirit or protect the environment". He proposes a new approach to human resources development that synthesizes ethical leadership and social responsibility. Hatcher believes that HRD professionals can play an important role in transforming their organizations into socially-responsible corporate citizens.
Hatcher's Ethics and HRD is written in dense prose, subtle to the point of apparent contradiction at times, with frequent repletion. I am uncomfortable with some of the author's New Age ideas, such as Gaian philosophy and ecopsychology, the study of the "relationship between our psyches, related behaviors, and what is happening in our environment". Nevertheless, for a first book-length treatment of this important issue, there are seminal ideas and much that is suggestive. Chapter 10, The Imperatives of HRD, especially the section "Strategies, Programs, and Interventions," provides excellent practical suggestions and a myriad of ideas for future research.

Hatcher reminds us that ethics are vital to our success
This volume lays out why adding value to our shared society is not only practical, but ethical as well.Almost always missing from the conventional wisdom presented in the HRD literature, Hatcher lays out the case in convincing manner. It should be must reading and action for everyone in the field. ... Read more

Book Description

A unique collection of text, cases, and readings, MORAL ISSUES IN BUSINESS is the best-selling business ethics book in North America. Combining insightful and accessible introductions prepared by the editors, cases that highlight the real world poignancy of the matters addressed in this book, and reading selections from the most influential voices in contemporary ethical debates, this book--the standard for today's business ethics books--is a comprehensive, flexible, and pedagogically proven course of study exploring the intersections of commerce and ethics. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Terribly boring
This is easily the most boring book I have ever had to read for a class. While the case studies are fairly interesting and thought-provoking, the actual instructional portions of the book are very dry and hard to read.

As a response to comments by "ssaber"
Well, I happen to disagree with previous comment. Not only did I like the course, I also liked the book. It wasn't an easy reading, I got to tell you. Sometimes it took more than one reading and several minutes or reflecting to figure out what the authors were talking about. But in the end it all made sense. And as a bonus the book went into great detail on philosophy, psychology, political science, and economics which I found quite helpful, since as a business major I didn't have a chance to take courses in first three subjects mentioned. The best thing, however, was, that almost a year later in packed Helsinki bar, I was able for about 15 minutes to talk about greatest German and French philosophers - all about them I learned from this book.

Politically Correcting our Colleges and Universities.
It is my good fortune to be in a college program aimed at the adult learner. I had heard much about today's college atmosphere molding many of our young people into politically correct animals and was glad that type of teaching was not reaching me. Unfortunately it found me in a Business Ethics course which uses this book. Messrs Shaw and Barry, in a writing style that is very familiar to me, do a rather unethical job in an attempt to bring you around to their point of view. In the book they cite single sources with assurances that others must feel the same, use the famed, 'many have said' frame of mind, and introduce each chapter with one of societies ills, the entire purpose of which seems only to be to cast a negative light preparing the reader to dislike something that follows. In a specific example, a section on the natural right to property (p 146, 2nd paragraph) in a part of the chapter that is supposed to show the moral justifications of capitalism has a sentence that reads as follows: "Although we are no longer permitted to own other people, we are certainly free to own a variety of other things, from livestock to stock certificates, from our own home to a whole block of apartment buildings." I was so bothered by this one sentence that I had to put the book down for an hour. There were no statements on slavery in the beginning of the chapter and after looking there was nothing that would indicate a disclaimer about not being able to own people in the entire book. Yet here was a statement in a section that was supposed to show the morality of capitalism that gets shot down in the second sentence. If this were the only example of questionable writing in the book I would not have written this review. Another section that was supposed to define capitalism spent more that half the section discussing socialism. Much of this book seems to be designed to incite a person's emotions. As an adult learner it seems silly to me to attempt to coerce my viewpoint in such a manner. My open mind is better reached through logical discussion of facts and views rather than this unethical attempt to work at my underbelly. I'm insulted and disappointed by the attempt. What bothers me more is that other students not my age (33) are being influenced or coerced by material of this type in advanced learning institutions. I'm concerned that these are the types of texts and the professors that teach from them that drive children to throw tofu pies and yell 'shame on you' at officials just for eating meat. ... Read more

Book Description

This comprehensive collection presents a case-method approach to teaching business ethics, making it ideal for advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level courses in both philosophy and business departments.It contains a wide range of individual, managerial, and corporate cases, many with an international perspective. All cases have been classroom-tested at the Harvard Business School; most have been developed in the field rather than in the library. The third edition is now in softcover for the first time with 15% fewer pages.Nine new cases (of the total 53 cases) cover such topics as labor-management trust, product liability, foreign bribery, the Dow bankruptcy over breast implant lawsuits, and more.A new appendix, "Ethical Frameworks for Management," provides students with ethical frameworks for analysis and a second new Appendix, "Bridging East and West in Management Ethics," discusses certain basic similarities between Asian and Western ethical ideals. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Policies and Persons Casebaook
A VERY VERY fast response seller! I like u!! ... Read more

Book Description

Just Business provides a thorough and invaluable framework for understanding questions of business ethics and corporate governance. What are business's proper responsibilities? Is bribery ever moral? When are takeovers and redundancy ethical? Elaine Sternberg looks at these and other issues, challenging many notions associated with the "stakeholder" approach to business. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Packed With Knowledge!
Elaine Sternberg has written an important, fascinating look at business ethics. Despite its academic presentation, it hooks you right away, and keeps you hooked. She is not fuzzy in her ethical analysis; there is no moral posturing to be found. This book is a practical decision-making guide for businesspeople. Sternberg builds an ethical framework that starts with the fundamental premise that the goal of business is to increase owner value. If an ethical issue relates to that goal, it's one you must address. If not, it's not your problem. Once you've identified an ethical dilemma that you must resolve, Sternberg guides you through a series of intellectual exercises that narrow your options, identify your constraints and ultimately help you arrive at the correct answer. We [...] recommend this book as a seminal introduction to ethical decision making for business men and women that should be read by all and referred to often.
... Read more

Book Description

"There really is a Jerry Maguire. Only he's not some schlumpf struggling to make it on a wing and a prayer like Tom Cruise in the movie. . . . His name is Leigh Steinberg, and he's been cultivating a choirboy image for twenty years. He also happens to be the pre-eminent sports agent of our time."

--San Francisco Examiner Magazine

"This is a book about the process of negotiation. Which means that this is a book about life."

Leigh Steinberg is the premier agent in sports. He has negotiated over $2 billion in contracts for the athletes he represents--who include Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Drew Bledsoe, Kordell Stewart, and Warren Moon--but he has also spent twenty-four years as a sports agent living by a strict personal and professional code of ethics. Steinberg's philosophy of ethical dealings and responsibility is well known in the sports world--and well known to moviegoers as well, because Steinberg's way of doing business was a model for Cameron Crowe's wildly successful film Jerry Maguire and the "manifesto" of business ethics that was the premise of the film.

Steinberg has always believed that negotiation is about more than the bottom line: the most successful business dealings are not always the ones that pay the most; they are about balance, perspective, objectivity, and values. A success in business must also be a success in one's own life. And in his book, Steinberg shares the secrets of successful negotiation, breaking the process down into the essential steps, from "Orientation" through "Making the Deal," and giving step-by-step practical and inspirational advice that will get any two people or parties, in any situation, to come to terms.

Full of great inside sports stories and characters, Winning with Integrity is an intelligent, insightful, and inspiring guide to the art of negotiation in business and in life--from the most successful businessman in sports.

"It's fashionable now, after the movie, for a lot of agents to talk about heart, but Leigh was the only one talking like that in 1993, when I began research."

--Cameron Crowe, director of Jerry Maguire
... Read more

Reviews (18)

Sound principles from a master negociator
It's been said that if you want to learn how to be succesful, you go and talk to a person who is successful. In the area of negociation, few parallel what Leigh Steinberg has accomplished.

I dissagree completely with anyone who says this is an autobiography. Steinberg uses the lost art of storytelling to convey his principles, that's all. But I suppose if you prefer textbook, "gimme just the facts" sort of reading, you'd be disssapointed. Instead of slapping you across the face and saying, "Do this, and do that," Steinberg offers examples from his own life's experience. And, frankly, I'd rather learn from his experiences than from someone less successful.

The priciples are simple, yes. The best principles always are. But who practices them perfectly? I noticed flaws in my negociation abilities as I read this book, and I have made some changes for the better because of it.

...zzzzzz
Winning with Integrity is a great self help guide for the Jerry Maguire to be. The author helps the reader to realize that it is all in negotiating. Whether it is how successful you are in life to life in general if you cannot negotiates well, you'll go nowhere.
Even though the author does seem a bit self absorbed the reader is able to see how negotiating well will help you get ahead. Leigh Steinberg has negotiated more than 1 billion dollars in contracts for the athletes he represents famous athletes such as, Troy Aikman and Kordell Stewart he also spent 24 years as a sports agent living by his own strict moral rules. Mostly everyone in the "sports world" knows of Steinberg and they follow his moral standards. He was the inspiration for the film Jerry Maguire, "SSHHHOOOWWW MMEEEEE TTHHHEEEE MMMOOONNNEEEYYYY!!!!!''

Disappointing.
This book is pretty much a joke. There are some useful points on negotiating, but by and large the author goes out of his way to pat himself on the back for his career success. Obviously Leigh Steinberg has plenty of lessons to teach aspiring negotiators, agents, etc., but a more even approach--i.e. listing actually conflicts or problems (as opposed to those that amazingly Leigh resolved through sheer brilliance and perseverance)--would have made for much better reading.

Want to learn about negotiation with sports world examples?
For a recently college graduate and moderate sports world observer with little experience negotiating in a business environment, this book was a pleasure to read. The concepts in this book are on or above par with my textbook on negotiation. However, I specifically enjoyed how Steinberg illustrates important concepts with stories involving the ever interesting personalities of professional sports. From establishing values to finalizing the contract, this book is efficiently organized to lead through the negotiation process. Also, at the end of each sub-chapter is a summary of the key points of the reading. Winning with integrity isn't easy in general, let alone in the ruthless world of sports agents. Leigh shares his experiences that have lead to his success in this fun and insightful book.

Awesome Framework for Negotiating!
I found this book to be a real treasure and entertaining at the same time. And best of all, you don't need to be a sports fan to appreciate the examples Steinberg uses.

It is a shame that some readers have found this book shallow and only written to brag about his exploits. They are missing the real point of the book and the positive outcomes that can happen from true negotiating, not just getting what you want. If you are looking for a book on 'How to be Persuasive and Always get What you Want', this is not your book.

Rather, it helped me build a solid mental foundation and framework when I enter negotiations. Also, you need to have the right attitude when you enter negotiations. This book will help you.

There are some remarkable examples that provided me with some real insights on perceptions. It opened my eyes that the world I see is not what everyone else sees. With his examples, I began to see how that applies to the business world as well.

I own a company that provides HR and OD consulting and I get emails EVERY day about hostile work environments. In many cases I refer them to this book to make sure their perception of the problem is on track with the problematic person.

If you are looking at this book for ANY reason, I suggest you buy it. Also, because of all the famous people involved in the negotiations, it was an easy read. ... Read more

Book Description

Maintaining solid corporate ethics goes beyond just being a ‘feel good’ story or a good public relations angle. Organizations that demonstrate strong ethical commitments can gain a real competitive advantage over others by keeping employees happy and productive and keeping customers satisfied and loyal, while avoiding some of the unexpected pitfalls that may beset a less ethical organization. These factors all lead to a more stable and consistent organization, and will improve the bottom line and drives higher profits.

The erosion of business ethics affects everyone, from the employees laid off, stockholders losing investments, to customers paying a higher price or receiving lesser quality. In Bringing Business Ethics to Life: Achieving Corporate Social Responsibility, best selling author Bjørn Andersen has written an easy to read yet powerful book demonstrating the need for solid ethics in every organization. Andersen first explains the importance of creating a strong ethical culture within every organization, demonstrating the positive effects it will have throughout the business. He then shows how business leaders can make this happen, by introducing a holistic value-driven and ethically based model of leadership and management that can bring about dramatic changes for any organization. ... Read more

Book Description

An ageless story of men, power, greed, and sex

Testosterone Inc.: Tales of CEOs Gone Wild tells the story of a group of corporate titans–Jack Welch of GE, Dennis Kozlowski of Tyco, Ron Perelman of Revlon, and Al Dunlap of Sunbeam–during a time when all stock prices rose and all business leaders were heroes. With skill and wit, business writer and columnist Christopher Byron paints a vivid portrait of how these notable moguls became drunk on power and addicted to fame.

Praise for Christopher Byron’s New York Times Bestseller Martha Inc.
The Economist magazine Book of the Year and BusinessWeek Top Ten Business Book of the Year

"Christopher Byron’s account is fun, bitchy and, when it is due, also admiring, of the woman who is responsible for stretching chintz across America."
The Economist magazine

"Enough dish to feed Martha Stewart lovers and loathers alike in this scrupulously reported bio."
People magazine

"Jaw-dropping tales of excess and success."
New York Times

"Christopher Byron has redefined the Martha Moment."
USA Today ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Unbelievable but true
It's about time someone got the goods on these pigs in suits. Byron nails them, and he also has a very funny way of telling their stories. Of course, I'd be laughing harder if it weren't so egregiously out of hand. I just read somewhere that Perelman (just as an example) is on, what, his fourth wife? Amazingly, as Byron points out, even one divorce used to be an indication of unfitness for leadership in a corporation. There's one rule that no longer applies! You'll be amazed by the behind-the-scenes stuff Byron has dug up for this book.

A Must Read -
It's about time! I found this book to be the proverbial page turner. Hysterically funny at times, yet equally disturbing. Many of the stories and accompanying facts within, I've never seen reported elsewhere. They certainly deserve to be out there and examined for all to see. The truth eventually "outs" itself. If ever there was a book to make Corporate America sit and take a long hard look at their chosen heroes of the 1980's and 1990's, it's "Testosterone, Inc". If this book doesn't make a case for that, not much else will. No wonder men such as Jack Welch don't want this book out there for all to read. The third Mrs. Welch is obviously just as lacking in ethics and decency as her new husband. It's a perfect match. What I want to know is... when's the movie?

Nice angle, terrible book....
Hoping to gain some insight into the behavior of Corporate Exec gone bad, I picked up this book........

MISTAKE!

This book is the National Enquirer of books. Ridiculous pop psychology that would make a first-year psych. student howl with laughter (It was the testosterone! No. Wait. It was because his mother called him a punk!)

The footnote system is insane. Memo to Mr. Bryon: the use of metaphors (such as Lillith) typically do require footnotes to explain them.

Conclusions and assumptions made by others are pushed aside to give more room to Mr. Byron's equally fallacious assumptions and illogical conclusions.

Poorly written. Poorly edited.

All this, plus, Mr. Byron sets the men's movement back 20 years with his male-bashing biological reductionism and stereotyping.

Too bad. An insightful book on this topic is sorely needed. Anyone know of one?

hidden envy fuels the pen
Christopher Byron is a barely-contained little nut of rage whose transparent drive to make fun of or denigrate the powerful, seems his way of touching the hem of powerful, successful people. He appears to be in great need to vent his envy and impotence. Worthless read.

an entertaining little hissy fit
This was an entertaining little hissy fit on the part of the author. I have never read, even in college texts a book with such lengthy footnotes. Sometimes I felt like I was reading two different books on the same page. I finally gave up reading the footnotes, and that made for a very fast read.

This book is about 75% trash Jack Welch, 25% trash everyone else. I'd like to have learned what ultimately became of Al Dunlop, the most loathsome of the bunch. No cancer or raging impotence stories to cheer us up?

This is the kind of book to take to the beach to read, but you might want to put a different jacket on it so no one knows of your guilty pleasure. ... Read more

Book Description

In The Corrosion of Character, Richard Sennett, "among the country's most distinguished thinkers . . . has concentrated into 176 pages a profoundly affecting argument" (Business Week) that draws on interviews with dismissed IBM executives, bakers, a bartender turned advertising executive, and many others to call into question the terms of our new economy. In his 1972 classic, The Hidden Injuries of Class (written with Jonathan Cobb), Sennett interviewed a man he called Enrico, a hardworking janitor whose life was structured by a union pay schedule and given meaning by his sacrifices for the future. In this new book--a #1 bestseller in Germany--Sennett explores the contemporary scene characterized by Enrico's son, Rico, whose life is more materially successful, yet whose work lacks long-term commitments or loyalties. Distinguished by Sennett's "combination of broad historical and literary learning and a reporter's willingness to walk into a store or factory [and] strike up a conversation" (New York Times Book Review), this book "challenges the reader to decide whether the flexibility of modern capitalism . . . is merely a fresh form of oppression" (Publishers Weekly, starred review). ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Todays changing workplace
Richard Sennetts book entitled The Corrosion of Character: The Personal Consquences of Work in the New Capitalism is a well written and informative book about the economic changes and conditions going on in America's workplace today. Sennett uses examples in his book about janitors, IBM workers, and Boston bakers as case studies to get some of his points accross. He paints a picture of how each of these professions has changed over the years. These examples are deeply thought out and explained in detail. He even makes the examples so easy to understand that even a young adult can follow along. The only downside to his book is that the author gives no soloutions to the problems inour changing workforce. He just explains why things are the way they are. If you are intrested in learning about the changes in our workforce, this is a book for you.

Humanistic insight into the changed world of work
This is a highly readable book, informed by academic insights but not over scholarly. Its merit is that it makes you think-particularly by the chapter segmentations. Its scope is wide for a small book-employment,the nature of jobs, the career..Throughout Sennett provides a powerful counterblast to the rhetoricians of the right and also demonstrates the indifference of big business and politicians. His perspective on the Davos summits is beautifully written and acute. While respecting the advice of another reviewer concerning Hezenberg et al, I do not believe the books should be compared. 'New Rules' is a book largely about employment and does not attempt to assess matters of meaning and identity at work. Sennett does this admirably. I think his target audience is the layperson not the academic and reading this book can be a rewarding experience

Superb Resource for College Seniors
A book that helps college seniors understand the shifting patterns of employment, but also the shifting meaning of employment in peoples' lives. The book remains very readable, even entertaining, as it presents the historical background on how the meaning of work changed from the 1700s forward, and sociological data on current work and employment patterns. It makes the world of work come alive as a place of opportunity, risk, and disappointment. By its vivid narratives, it helps college students understand that their uncertainty and anxiety are appropriate to the world they are entering, but also encourages them in a spirit of healthy adventure. Super

Antidote to Who Moved my Cheese
Thankfully, after browsing in a bookstore through the huge and often intellectually bankrupt variety of management, success and business books the thoughtful reader may find solace by stumbling upon a book by Sennett.
In Corrosion of Character, Sennett exposes the reality on new capitalism and how its emphasis on flexibility has changed the nature of work. flexibility is being encouraged to fight the rigid bureaucracies of the past - and typical of public sector jobs. The 'Career'is a thing of the past. Sennet shows how the emphasis on flexibility is affecting character as expressed by loyalty and committment and ultimately the decline of values and personal traits that are desirable in society. This book is moving in that it shows the negative repercussions of the present - ideologically unchecked - renegade capitalism are eroding human character and life. It is also a warning to those societies that have yet to leap in the totality of the Reagan-Thatcherite economy to resist making the leap.
You might find yourself humming the Internationale and appreciating the color red more after finishing this easy to read book.

"Corroded" and proud of it!
According to Sennett, I am one of those "soul-less, disposable employees with no stability and no career." I never worked anywhere for more than 18 months, and in fact can not remember off hand how many times I changed jobs. Some of my former companies no longer exist; others have turned over completely, with no original people left.
And guess what? I like it this way. I enjoy what I do, and love to learn new things. I make no long-term career goals, and it would be a folly to try since nobody knows what the world will be like in 20 years. When I am not learning anything new, it is time to leave. Does it make me selfish and disployal? Not at all, because my loyalty is to individuals - colleagues, and even more importantly, FORMER colleagues, - not to an abstract entity called a "company". When they need help, such as new business contact, I help them, and they help me. I a word, I am a Free Agent, knowing my own own worth, and negotiating the best deals with those who need my services. (Actually, a consulting company does the negotiations, bargaining not being my strong suit.) And contrary to the "greedy workaholic" image, "best deal" does not necessarily mean "more money". Some weeks I work only 30 hours, to spend more time with my family. And no, I do not believe that delayed gratification is necessarily virtuous (although often necessary). "Live as if you were to die tomorrow, study as if you were to live forever." Sennett seems to yearn for the world of yesteryear, where one went to school, joined a company (and a labor union), rose through the ranks, then went on pension and died. All your life company took care of you in exchange for being an obedient wheel. I suspect only someone who spent his whole life in academia can admire the mind-numbing stupefaction of such "traditional career".
For a balanced view of the changing nature of workplace and the real power of skilled individuals, read "Free Agent Nation" by Daniel Pink. ... Read more

Book Description

This practical book illustrates, in an easy-to-read format, howto make ethical decisions. It employs a “hands-on,” international approachunique to this market.Complete, structured ethical decision- making model found in Chapter 1 and used throughout the text. Approximately onehundred short and long cases in each chapter. Pedagogical boxes in each chapterhighlight current, real world ethical issues relating to actual organizations in the privateand governmental sectors. For anyone in industry or business settings. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The chief problem societies have faced "since the time of the Babylonians," writes Dinesh D'Souza, has been the problem of scarcity. "But now that age has passed, and America has a new problem: coping with prosperity." It's a good problem to have, but also a serious, even debilitating, one. "The moral conundrum of success," the author continues, means that all too often, "the body is flourishing, but somehow the soul still feels malnourished." D'Souza is well known for his bestselling conservative books Illiberal Education, The End of Racism, and Ronald Reagan. On these pages, however, he seems to set politics aside to ask deep questions about the meaning of life in a world of material abundance:

What is my life for? As affluence spreads ... hundreds of millions of people will be asking just this question. That they can ask it is in and of itself a great moral achievement, because it opens up to innumerable ordinary people the avenues of human fulfillment that were previously open only to aristocrats. Yet at the same time it is a strangely disquieting question, because there is no complete answer to it within the modern techno-capitalist framework.

Reviews (23)

Simply incredible
I am absolutely amazed at the breadth of D'Souza's knowledge. This is my first Dinesh book and it certainly won't be the last.

After reading that he was a policy analyst for Ronald Reagan and was a member of both the American Enterprise Institute and the Hoover Institution, I expected the book to make a much firmer stance on the issues. I am pleasantly surprised at the respect that D'Souza gives to all arguments. He really considers every viewpoint before moving on.

The topic at hand I would summarize down to "the ethics and morality of capitalism and technological progress." What I found was a very intellectual (for a grass-roots type of book) work that bounced between technophile and technophobe viewpoints, liberal and conservative viewpoints, and touched upon a huge diversity of subjects such as philosophy, sociology, psychology, politics, and biology, among others. By the way, I minored in Philosophy, and D'Souza seems to have a firmer grasp of philosophical concepts than I ever had! D'Souza has a deft touch that makes his book at once highly readable, intellectually stimulating, and thought provoking.

Second Thoughts About the New Economy
Dinesh D'Souza has written a very significant book in which he endeavors to find the deep, true meaning behind the euphoria, the hype, the madness that is the new economy. After a sober and methodical reassesment of the profound changes left behind in the wake of our recent prosperity, D'Souza ultimately comes down on the side of the optimists, the Party of Yeah he calls them, who embrace transformational technologies even as critics (whom he dubs the Party of Nah) charge that they threaten to uproot the old bonds of community, replacing spiritual values with purely materialist passions.

D'Souza is scrupulously balanced in forthrightly presenting both sides of the argument. The arguments themselves aren't new; the rigor with which D'Souza analyzes them quite possibly is. Does technological capitalism ultimately degrade the soul? We have all heard the liberal economic critique of the gap between the rich and poor. How does the emerging conservative critique of the social consequences of inequality stack up in comparison? D'Souza discusses these questions briskly and adroitly. Often while reading the book, I would find myself thinking of possible counter-arguments to the views presented on any given page and invariably found them echoed a turn or two of the page later.

More than most defenders of the marketplace, D'Souza does take very seriously the notion that the new prosperity may hinder our search for spiritual meaning. The case for either sides of this often demagogued controversy is clouded by the fact that one's economic good fortunes don't seem to guarantee either frustration or inner fulfillment. For every white collar criminal, there is a young man who is moved to depravity by hunger or poverty. For every example of a person with modest means contented with the simple life, there seems to be an equal abundance of millionaires who find fulfillment and happiness in their enterprise and in the educational advancement that prosperity makes possible. Perhaps this means that techno-capitalism really has less spiritual consequence (for good or ill) than we think and at best it offers unique people an outlet for their interests, much like art, science and politics. These are the kinds of questions you will find explored in this refreshing work.

D'Souza concludes his work with a life-affirming statement of the dignity of human nature as a rebuttal and a caution against those who would take technology too far in the quest for pursuits such as cloning, genetic engineering or even merging the human race with computers. Part of the beauty of techno-capitalism is that it allows for the satisfaction of human wants and desires in a decentralized environment that replicates natural processes. Naturally self-regulating, self-perpetuating price mechanisms that nobody fully understands (much less controls) have much less to do with the marketplace than command-and-control decisionmaking. Effectively, capitalism is the triumph of human nature over centralization and control. Technology is the product of pure human nature and its perpetual quest for improvement. Does the new emphasis on biotechnology, the rhetoric of "overcoming" human nature with vastly advanced, highly evolved computers, and the impetus to control nature through genetic manipulation violate the principles that have brought us such success and the Party of Yeah such satisfaction? At the very least, it is something both optimists and pessimists must think through before taking the next bold leap into the future.

A Great Read
Dinesh did it again with this piece of literary genius! Well maybe it isn't genius, but it is informative and entertaining.

In "The Virture of Prosperity" D'Souza makes an argument for capitalism based around the compassion that affluence had brought to this country. This book should counter every anti-globalization textbook in the classroom in order to provide a fair and balanced view of our supper-affluent society.

Relatively short, easy to read, and full of stats and figures to amaze your friends with, this book would make a great paper-back to pick up asap!

The only shortcoming would be that it was written before 9/11 so some of the flowery imagery of our future seem a tad bittersweet.

Capitalism Vindicated
Business people rank among the biggest victims of unfair criticism. Blamed for greed, exploitation and selfishness, business people generally fail to defend themselves or assert their positive status. Instead, they continue holding the country together through productive activity that generates tax revenues and high standards of living.

Thanks to a book by Dinesh D'Souza, they have a well-articulated defense of their status that extends beyond moneymaking. As D'Souza points out in The Virtue of Prosperity-Finding Values in an Age of Techno-Affluence (The Free Press, 2000, $26), business is about more than earning dollars. It is about realizing dreams through sacrifice, work, vision and an ability to satisfy society's needs. The pursuit of business not only is an economic endeavor but a noble endeavor, D'Souza believes.

An enthusiastic free market advocate who immigrated from India and was graduated from Dartmouth College, D'Souza focuses his attention on the boom of the high tech industry, which turned many ordinary people into millionaires almost overnight. The growth of capitalism, he notes, has led to unprecedented general prosperity.

An annual survey of freshmen conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA and reported by Alex P. Kellogg in the Jan. 26 Chronicle of Higher Education reveals that nearly three quarters of first-year college students say they want to be very well off. Only 28.1 percent report an interest in keeping current with political affairs.

D'Souza acknowledges that capitalism unleashes vast social and economic changes that alienate people and create an intensive need for spiritual fulfillment. He realizes that for many people, capitalism will not solve a search for meaning.

Also, social hierarchies are an inevitable outcome of the scramble for success in capitalist societies. However, these inequalities are not arbitrary accidents of birth. "The rich are today the hardest working people in society, and they refuse to...work less or stop working, even if they can easily afford to."

The ability to turn an area of enthusiastic interest and energetic resolve into prosperity for oneself and others drives the successful business person and also explains the hostility to the capitalist by those who look behind a haze of envy for not receiving the same rewards.

Despite economic gaps between rich and poor, one does not find instability or conflict as in other cultures because "technological capitalism is a powerful catalyst of enduring equality among citizens," he says. Indeed, higher standards of living make life better for all, with those at the bottom in America society considered privileged by the poverty-stricken in non-capitalist Third World countries. This result, D'Souza believes, elevates capitalism to a moral good so long as it retains the goal not of "I win, you lose," but "I win and therefore you win, too."

Sort of dry in a few places
I like most of Dinesh D'Souza's books, but this book was a bit dry. I guess maybe the subject matter didn't really lend itself to a full book. It just couldn't hold my attention. While some parts were somewhat interesting--such as, the discussion of the super-rich, and who owns what in America. Overall I would pass on this book. I can recommend his other books, though. ... Read more

Book Description

This 8th edition of Business Ethics and Society is designed to introduce students to controversies in business ethics. The readings, which represent the arguments of leading philosophers and business commentators, reflect a variety of viewpoints and are presented as "pro" and "con" arguments.This title is also supported by the student Web site, Dushkin online at http://www.dushkin.com/online. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

You don't have to read it
This book covers 19 controversial issues. First the authors bring an issue, give some comments and give two articles that discuss the issue, but are contraversial to each other.

The reasonwhy this book cannot get more than three stars is that the choise of articles wasn't really successful. Sometimes some of the articles seem not to make sence at all. Some of them don't answer any questions.

For instance, the one about Patenting Life; second article, which keeps ripping on Rifkin (the author of the previous article) instead of discussing some of the issues Rifkin mentioned in his article against Patenting Life.It's obvious that he's for patenting lives, but he doesn't come even close to some of the issues that Rifkin talks about in his article. He just tries to avoid them because he doesn't know how to answer to those claims. The author could pick a different articles in this and many other cases as well.

Also the second article ofCEO Compensation Issue doesn't make any sence. Actually, the author of the article was Lisa H. Newton herself. She asserts that CEOs do nothing but writing memos and lay offs, at the same time receiving over 47,000 times (if I remember correctly) more than other people in developing nations like Africa and Asia do, and 209 times more than his employees.Common, this is not called Ethics in Business. She doesn't face the facts brought up by the author of the article who gave pretty reasonable arguements why CEOs should get that much compensations, why they are worth it.

Some of the articles do not provide with any references or sources of citations from outside sources when needed. I can mention one from Rifkin's article on patenting life.

The reason why this book got three stars is that, the issues brought by authors are pretty interesting and some are thought provoking. Even though one doesn't agree with the arguements, you can still learn something by reading them, and try not to repeat some of the blunders made by the authors.

I do recommend you to go for alternatives if you want a book on Business Ethics. ... Read more

Book Description

Hosmer’s fourth edition of The Ethics of Management provides business students (future managers) with a very specific analytical process for understanding and resolving moral problems in management. A manager needs insight and understanding in a global economy to convince everyone involved, given his or her varied religious, cultural, economic and social backgrounds, to accept a proposed moral solution.Acceptance of managerial moral solutions, over time, brings trust, commitment and effort, and those three, also over time, are essential for organizational success. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

MBA Program Required Reading
The book is required reading for the Anderson University MBA program in Anderson, IN.The book is used as an introduction to the MBA program (first course in the sequence). ... Read more

Book Description

A revised, updated, improved edition of a groundbreaking textbook in Business Ethics which will fill the need for a textbook in Business Ethics for professors and students at Christian colleges and universities. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent reference for christian business ethics
I am a Christian CEO in Hong Kong and have written a book review on this book for the Graduate Christian Fellowship a few months back. An excellent reference. Touched on many important and controversial issues including capitalism, bribery in third world, honesty, advertisement and marketing, etc. Presented many primary articles with balanced, provocative opinions from all sides. A book for the serious thinker. NOT FOR NEW CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS NOR FOR NON-BUSINESS PERSON. Only one criticism: the editors' own comments at the end of each chapter is a bit weak; not the same calibre as the 20-30 authors. ... Read more

Book Description

This text/reader engages students in ethical reflection upon issues that arise in all aspects of the contemporary workplace. Featuring the theme of globalization, it provides an accessible and timely introduction to the discipline of business ethics. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very good text.
Adams and Maine(s) have put together a very good text for standard business ethics classes, or for anyone seeking a comprehensive and readable introduction to the topics and issues in business ethics.I have used it in my classes for a number of years and find it covers the topics in depth and breadth.Students have also found it clear and understandable.One drawback, as with any text for a college level course, is that some topics I would include are omitted. However, this is true of almost any text in the field and for each individual instructor. The other drawback is that for some issues it could use just a bit more "pro-con" selections and presentations.Overall, the issues are presented fairly and in a balanced manner.The stengths of the text outweigh its weaknesses by far. ... Read more

Book Description

What went wrong and how to fix it

"This is a book that well represents the skeptical, probing, and doubting spirit of the time. Professor Ketz explores the ways corporate management and auditors can ‘spin’ financial reporting to misinform investors. It is written so that the individual investor can grasp the ideas but will be useful for investment analysts and audit committee members who need a lively briefing in how to spot questionable accounting."
–– John H. Biggs
Former chairman and Chief Executive Officer
TIAA - CREF

"Ed Ketz brilliantly illustrates how the improper application of accounting rules misleads users of financial statements. This book is an indispensable resource and greatly enhances one’s understanding of the many obscure footnotes found in today’s financial statements."
–– Albert Meyer
2nd Opinion Research, Plano, TX

It is now painfully clear that "earnings management" has managed little, other than some short-term gain for a handful of managers and a long-term catastrophic erosion of the public faith in financial reporting.But it is not too late for the accounting industry to turn back from the brink. Edward Ketz lays out several specific problems in the financial reporting arena, describes how the system failed to correct any of these problems, and suggests a compelling course of action for improvement in Hidden Financial Risk: Understanding Off-Balance Sheet Accounting.

Chapter by chapter, Ketz explains how firms hide debt using:

• The equity method
• Lease accounting
• Pension accounting
• Special Purpose Entities

and then illustrates the failures of directors, auditors, regulators, and investors to detect and eliminate these tools of deception. He concludes by drawing upon his thirty years’ experience to propose how the industry can learn to identify fraud and ultimately restore investor confidence. Executives, accountants, and individual and institutional investors will find Hidden Financial Risk to be a powerful examination of the present, shifting accounting landscape. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Accounting for the Investor
While experts wring hands and say "mistakes were made," this book gives average investors the "how to" in order to make sense of annual reports and balance sheets. It seems to blow the lid off of the various methods that managers used to hide bad debt and shaking investments. Undoubtly, good for most investors who want to avoid a repeat of Enron. It also offers a pretty explanation of why major accounting and auditing firms can't be trusted. At last, a book that allows investors to keep their investments and earn money--instead of CEOs and corporate executives. Favorite Chapter: How to Hide Debt with Pension Accounting. ... Read more

Book Description

This timely book is the result of a Stanford University study of "good work" in business, under William Damon's direction. During the course of the study, researchers interviewed 48 men and women who have achieved success in business. The interviews revealed the surprisingly strong role that morality can play in successful business careers. Based on this information, Damon has developed a set of principles for using the Moral Advantage in business. These principles include "moral imagination" - creating a business concept that serves a larger purpose without losing profits; forthright communication that inspires trust; cooperative strategies that build teamwork and community; uses of the Golden Rule for managing complex relationships; philanthropic efforts that express compassion; and a public commitment to ethical standards. The book shows how and when business people can most effectively draw on these principles and explains how to develop the personal capacity to do so throughout a career. ... Read more

Book Description

This book looks at the peculiar ethical demands in the policing and corrections professions, with particular emphasis on sub-cultural constraints, and how loyalty to colleagues can sometimes cause a sacrifice of individuality.It contains a unique discussion on whether ethics can be taught, covers sensitive, real-life moral dilemmas and the ever-increasing ethical demands placed upon police and corrections professionals. For Chiefs of Police, Jail Wardens/Superintendents, and Principals of Justice Academies. ... Read more

Book Description

Success is even sweeter the second time around

In this inspiring book you will meet twelve extraordinary people–from a software tycoon to the founder of a toy empire–who soared to the top of the business world only to plummet like Icarus from the heights–at which point their real stories,excitingly told in this book, begin. What follows in each case is a remarkable, true tale of despair overcome, confidence reborn, goals redefined, determination rediscovered, and success reclaimed!

Never deterred by minor setbacks, disappointments, or missed opportunities, these business giants faced utter ruin in a bewildering variety of forms, from personal bankruptcy and business failure to devastating illness, natural disaster, and even criminal indictment and incarceration. Yet, each of these modern-day heroes, though forever changed, scarred, and humbled by tragedy, discovered an unfathomable reserve of strength and dedication and rose again.

Prepare to redefine your notion of what it means to overcome any obstacle in your path to success. Prepare to meet twelve men and women–including Donald Trump, Larry Ellison, and Emma Chapell–who will awe you with their courage, inspire you with their vision, and help you find the strength and passion to make your own dreams come true, again and again. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Great Gift Book
I gave this book to my father for his birthday--but it was one I had to peek at before I wrapped it. I ended up reading the whole thing. A quick read that inspired me-- it is great to know that successful people have had obstacles to overcome and the rise to the top is not an easy one. I found this a great gift to give to anyone who works in the business profession.

Great book, great format, inspiring down-to-earth examples
I enjoyed the 12 short stories in this book, each one highlighting a businessperson overcoming amazing challenges to become successful (or, if they were already successful when crisis hit, what they did to remain that way). The wide range of professionals presented also shows that the determination and vision of one person can truly make all the difference (albeit sometimes painfully) irrespective of service or industry. ... Read more

Book Description

Do business like Jack Welch

When Jack Welch took the reins of General Electric in 1981, he reformulated GE in his own image -- tough, smart, competitive, and relentless. First published in 1994, Get Better or Get Beaten became a bestseller as managers sought to understand and mimic the success ;of the man lauded by Fortune as "...perhaps the most admired CEO of his generation." Now, on the eve of his planned April retirement, the new Get Better or Get Beaten, Second Edition shows you how to compete "Welch style" in today's techologically advanced business arena. Look to this fast-paced book for:

*Jack Welch's latest views on management and leadership
*Examples of how Welch transformed GE into an e-business
*Insights into Six Sigma and other s;uccessfulk GE quality initiatives
*More ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Highly Recommended!
The best thing about this book is that it quotes extensively and piquantly from the writings and speeches of Jack Welch. The intriguing list of "29 leadership secrets" (which could have been reduced to ten) is more selective than secret, given that Welch has been preaching them loudly from a very prominent platform for more than 20 years. However, the book will be valuable to Welch neophytes and to fans who want more Jack, or the essence of Jack. Author Robert Slater assumes a certain familiarity with GE's history and initiatives, and sometimes refers to them without explanation. Welch long ago transcended management to become sort of a leadership prophet, and his utterances are sometimes paradoxical, if not contradictory. He says nurture people, but downsize; he says cut bureaucracy, but implement a paperwork intensive Six Sigma program. We promise that somewhere in here, you'll find a managerial principle to fit almost any occasion. What more can you ask of a handbook?

More of the Same from Robert Slater
I previously read "Jack Welch and the GE Way", also by Slater and published in 1999, but I never read the original version of "Get Better or Get Beaten". This newer version of "Get Better..." contained a substantial amount of material that was already covered in more detail in "the GE Way" book. Except for some of the material covering events since 1999, I think "the GE Way" was a better choice of the two, especially if you're looking for more detail and analysis. In many ways I felt like I was just re-reading the other book. On the other hand, if you're looking for sort of the 'Cliff Notes' version and want some good insight into Six Sigma, this newer, smaller work by Slater is certainly satisfactory. There's only marginal benefit to reading both of these.

Simple, strategic and to the point
This is the first GE's Jack Welch book I ever read. I bought it because the title is so far the best amongst its keens, "Get Better or Get Beaten", which is a norm in today's competitive world. Remarkably, the content is of the same quality as its title. It is so well written that I finished it in 1.5 day.

In fact, the core concepts or the secrets are nothing new. Quality and Re-engineering gurus like Peter Drucker, Philip Crosby, Tom Peters etc had stressed the importance of quality, customer orientation, corporate culture, employee involvement blah blah blah for decades. It's just that Jack Welch has been so successful a real life practitioner and advocate that nobody can neglect. Think about the 6 sigma phenomenon and you know what I mean.

In case you just want to know the secrets without the elaboration, or that you cannot afford one, go to the table of content (Thanks to Amazon) and have a look. All the secrets are already there. (Sorry, Mr. Slater). However, I still think it is a good collectible for your personal library.

p.s. I had worked in an acquired subsidiary of a Fortune 20 company. I am sorry that what happened there was far from what Mr. Welch preached. The result is: The leader five years ago (when it was acquired) is now the fifth in the market.

Get Better, And Then Get Even Better
This is one of the few best books on leadership I have read in a long, long time. The others, which compliment this book are Jack Welch's book, "Jack", and Norman Thomas Remick's book on the philosophy behind all the good advice from Mr. Slater and Mr. Welch called "West Point". Read "Get Better" to get better, then read the others to get even better yet. And what's nice about it, they're all available right here on Amazon.com.

Very good !
I picked up this book in a bookstore and I did not know what to expect. I was amazed at the wisdom that this man posses when I began to read this book. He is very straightforward and very cool. All the principles are appliable to any kind of business I think. One of the best business books I ever seen, and its based on a man who practice what he preaches. BUY IT !!! ... Read more