The Wal-Mart Effect: How the World's Most Powerful Company Really Works--and How It's Transforming the American Economy
by Charles Fishman
book data
497 ratings, 3.88 average rating, 139 reviews
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published
2006
by Penguin Press HC, The
binding
Hardcover, 304 pages
isbn
1594200769
(isbn13: 9781594200762)
description
An award-winning journalist breaks through the wall of secrecy to reveal the many astonishing ways Wal-Mart's power affects our lives and reaches all ...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 736)
recommends it for:
anyone who buys stuff
Having a family in the grocery business (and being a product of one of the most economically distraught states in the country-Michigan) of course likely aroused my interest in this book more than most. But, as the book so thoughtfully and throughly puts forward, Wal-Mart truly affects us all, whether we shop there or not. Now don't think that this book was simply one big stoning fest at Wal-Mart, it's not. The author covers the positive and the negative of this the largest company in the count...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
consumers
Overall the book does a good job laying down the issues. It asks a lot of questions and tries to answer them. The writing is well organized, written in a way anyone can understand, and is very easy to read. All the sources are cited. Wal-Mart itself was of no help witing this book, and it is clear a lot of effort went into getting the interviews.
You're going to learn a lot about Wal-Mart reading this book. If you're in a hurry, much of the writing is anecdotal and you can skip over quit...more
You're going to learn a lot about Wal-Mart reading this book. If you're in a hurry, much of the writing is anecdotal and you can skip over quit...more
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Read in February, 2008
So I only got to disc 3 (of 6) before I gave up. There's just only so much hating of Wal*Mart that I can do in one week.
Actually, this book did help me see that Wal*Mart is not entirely evil. Suppliers don't necessarily like them b/c Sam Walton effectively stole the pants in the relationship. However, Wal*Mart's history is riddled with several examples of what happens to ethics when low prices become the ultimate goal: breaking the law. From sexual discrimination to large-scale employment of...more
Actually, this book did help me see that Wal*Mart is not entirely evil. Suppliers don't necessarily like them b/c Sam Walton effectively stole the pants in the relationship. However, Wal*Mart's history is riddled with several examples of what happens to ethics when low prices become the ultimate goal: breaking the law. From sexual discrimination to large-scale employment of...more
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Read in February, 2008
I didn't expect to enjoy this book, but I forged ahead and was surprised. This is a fascinating and eye-opening "look behind the scenes." In the early chapters, you find yourself cheering for "the largest corporation in the history of the world" as they manage to drive down prices and increase efficiency. But gradually the layers are peeled back to expose the impact of those innovations - both on the lives of employees, American producers, and overseas farms and factories. T...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
Everyone
Extremely interesting look inside Wal-Mart (at least as far inside as you can get...apparently Wal-Mart isn't too forthcoming when it comes to information) and how they affect not only their immediate surroundings but also on a global scale. I never realized how large and far-reaching this company is. In my opinion, the book is fairly unbiased. He speaks of both Wal-Mart's virtues and of its evils. He tries to answer the question, is Wal-Mart good or bad for us? There is no definite answer to th...more
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Read in December, 2007
A fascinating look into the way Wal-Mart creates their low prices, and the effect those low prices are having on manufacturers (putting many of them out of business, including the ones who sell to Wal-Mart and are basically blackmailed into regular price cuts), consumers (we buy more and more because it is such a "good deal," and we are caring less and less about quality), employment (low price requirements force more manufacturers to go overseas for labor), competitors (yes, Wal-Mart ...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
Brandon & Kristy
Wow, some interesting stuff. I don't think it's going to change my buying habits for the most part, but it does make you think about this issues surrounding megacorporate America. One thing that kind of annoyed me though is how they talked about "low" wages for example, for people stocking shelves. If they work 40 hours a week at $10 an hour they'll take home $1280 per month not counting taking out for health insurance. They are saying you can't raise a family on this. Yes, this i...more
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Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone fascinated with businesses
I own seven books on Wal-Mart, and have researched the company for my newsletter.
The thing I've learned from Fishman's book is just how great a company Wal-Mart is. Mind you, Fishman is highly critical of Wal-Mart. But he's done a good job of researching the company.
He shows, for example, how good Wal-Mart is at sucking costs out of the distribution of retail goods. He also demonstrates quite well that, even companies who don't do business with Wal-Mart must be careful not to price ...more
The thing I've learned from Fishman's book is just how great a company Wal-Mart is. Mind you, Fishman is highly critical of Wal-Mart. But he's done a good job of researching the company.
He shows, for example, how good Wal-Mart is at sucking costs out of the distribution of retail goods. He also demonstrates quite well that, even companies who don't do business with Wal-Mart must be careful not to price ...more
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Growing up, I never shopped at Walmart (still haven't purchased anything there) and so I never understood why there you be reports in the news about "Walmart has decided not to sell this rap album / video game" or "Walmart has decided to build a location in this town." I was like "Why does this matter?"
After reading this book, I now begin to grasp the magnitude of the effect Walmart has the on us, the U.S., and the world in general. This book focuses on the how ...more
After reading this book, I now begin to grasp the magnitude of the effect Walmart has the on us, the U.S., and the world in general. This book focuses on the how ...more
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Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
business nerds
Oh Wal-mart...what can I say?
This book is actually fascinating. It is written by Charles Fishman who started his career at 'The Washington Post' so it is very well written. I have heard a lot about Wal-Mart, but had no idea how long it had been around and how it actually came to be what it is now. I am still disgusted by the magnitude to which Wal-Mart has affected the economy. Fishman doesn't make this influence as clear as I had hoped, but he does touch upon some interesting factors. ...more
This book is actually fascinating. It is written by Charles Fishman who started his career at 'The Washington Post' so it is very well written. I have heard a lot about Wal-Mart, but had no idea how long it had been around and how it actually came to be what it is now. I am still disgusted by the magnitude to which Wal-Mart has affected the economy. Fishman doesn't make this influence as clear as I had hoped, but he does touch upon some interesting factors. ...more
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recommends it for:
anyone in retail
I thought this was a really interesting look at the tremendous impact Wal-Mart has in the modern economy. The author has pretty balanced approach to the subject, alternately criticizing and praising the company. My only issue is that his criticisms aren't alway supported by hard fact and have a tendency to be dismissive with a bit of "we all know why Wal-Mart is so bad so I won't bother going to the details" feel about them.
In one section he states that if Wal-Mart raised it's ...more
In one section he states that if Wal-Mart raised it's ...more
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Read in March, 2007
recommends it for:
Shoppers Everywhere
Wal-Mart is the world's biggest retailer. By far. Add up the sales of the next 9 retailers and Wal-Mart is still bigger. Wow. It's also the world's largest private employer. 1.6 million employees. Wow.
But Wal-Mart holds tight to its sales/financial/marketing information. They wouldn't even give an interview to the author--until after the book came out.
Fishman looks at every aspect of "the Wal-Mart" effect starting with some very good things--forcing companies to reduce packaging, ...more
But Wal-Mart holds tight to its sales/financial/marketing information. They wouldn't even give an interview to the author--until after the book came out.
Fishman looks at every aspect of "the Wal-Mart" effect starting with some very good things--forcing companies to reduce packaging, ...more
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Read in January, 2006
You'll never look at Wal-Mart the same way again. Fishman gives a very nonpartisan analysis of the Wal-Mart culture, business stratagem and of the positive & adverse effects both have on American manufacturers as well as the everyday American consumer indirectly. This isn't so much an anti-Wal-Mart book as it is an exploration of how Wal-Mart beats Amerian mfg. companies into submission, pursues rock bottom operation costs ("at all costs") pursuant to undercutting competition in ...more
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Read in May, 2006
recommends it for:
non-fiction readers, journalists, target shoppers
Wal-Mart Effect was my (triumphant) return to non-fiction reading. And what a way to return. What stands out the most to me is this book is so well-written that you don't feel like you're reading a non-fiction. The pace moves along, with facts littered with illustrative anecdotes. It was not a surprise to find out that the author was a journalist because this is long-form journalism at its best: it reads like a long article, with "gold coins" scattered throughout the prose.
Writing...more
Writing...more
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Read in March, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone interested in Wal-Mart
I gave this book five stars because it did what seemed impossible to me. The writer of this book gave both Wal-Mart's detractors and the company itself fair coverage. He created an objective, mostly neutral, and well-documented book on the subject. There are good and bad examples of how Wal-Mart does business, but the writer also makes the major point that Wal-Mart is a bigger entity than any other company ever - not Disney, or Nike, or Coca-Cola - and that has caused it to easily do things on a...more
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Read in November, 2008
I enjoyed this book because it examined the good and bad aspects of Wal-Mart. Before reading this, I had no idea how much it would cost Wal-Mart to increase the wages of its workers. Likewise, I had no clue as to how Wal-Mart impacts the salmon industry. This is a must read for anyone who has a strong positive or negative opinion regarding Wal-Mart!
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Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
Everyone
This is a great book. It is an easy read and it will really open your eyes to how megacorporations are impacting our daily lives, our economy and our country. Many people don't realize it, but Wal-Mart is the largest corporation in the world! Not just the United States people, but the world! Even if you don't shop at Wal-Mart it is effecting your life and the lives of your friends and family. I have only been in one Wal-Mart in my life and I did not buy anything. After having read this boo...more
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Read in January, 2007
This assessment of an economical phenomenon was very thorough and much less biased than I expected. It seemed to me that Fishman did a great job of exploring what he feels are the dangers as well as the benefits of such an economical superpower, and provides some suggestions on how to lessen the dangers. The updated epilogue was very interesting as well.
My scale (since the speed of my listening is directly proportional to how well I like the book):
1 - couldn't get through it
2 - a...more
My scale (since the speed of my listening is directly proportional to how well I like the book):
1 - couldn't get through it
2 - a...more
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This book was very, very interesting. It objectively paints the corporate behemoth as the conundrum that it is--numerous people despise the place, yet are irresistibly drawn in because of its low prices. Well worth the read.
I really enjoyed this book. I think the author is very fair and shows the good and bad sides of wal-mart. So your opinion is objective but i think the bad outweighs the good. Although in this economy, we need to save money.
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