Review
of
Management of the Absurd, by Richard Farson
Reviewer: Mark Lamendola, MBA, Certified Professional Manager, and author
of over 3500 articles.
Two thumbs up! Farson hits the nail on the head, time after time. Usually
when I review a management-related book, I don't post the review
because I can't come up with a positive one! Most books on this topic
oversimplify and make recommendations that have me wondering just how
stupid the author thinks people are. The fact I will post a review of
this management book is a ringing endorsement. I
listened to this book on tape--the author is a very good narrator. But
now I am convinced I need a hard copy to refer to every so often. One
reason this book succeeds is the author guides the reader into a different
way of looking at common management problems. Common solutions (those
most often prescribed by the typical management books) merely exacerbate
problems. In reality, management problems defy resolution via simple
formulas.
Understanding why things are as they are is the
first step to successfully coping with them. Things are not always as
they seem. What does this mean to a manager who must solve problems
like employee dissatisfaction? That is a question Farson answers extremely
well. The answer is not "be a robot and do this." Instead,
Farson shows you how to best use the talents, knowledge, and intelligence
you already have. Farson shows you how to identify the real issues and
where to look for achievable resolution.
Personally, I like a book that doesn't assume I
am a programmable robot but instead helps me grow in my own area of
expertise. That is why I decided to post a review of Management of
the Absurd. |