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60th out of 66 books
—
29 voters
Nuts!
Twenty-five years ago, Herb Kelleher reinvented air travel when he founded Southwest Airlines, where the planes are painted like killer whales, a typical company maxim is "Hire people with a sense of humor," and in-flight meals are never served--just sixty million bags of peanuts a year. By sidestepping "reengineering," "total quality management," and other management phil...more
Paperback, 384 pages
Published
February 17th 1998
by Crown Business
(first published 1995)
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I had previously read "Guts!" by Jackie and Kevin Freiberg and loved it. "Guts!" provided briefer descriptions of more companies whereas "Nuts!" focused solely on Southwest Airlines.
The Southwest story is a good one. Their personnel policies are admirable and their dedication to their mission should be a model for any new business. The writing in the text was easy to read and accessible.
I could not connect to this book like I did "Guts!". I was truly inspired by "Guts!" and perhaps built this o...more
The Southwest story is a good one. Their personnel policies are admirable and their dedication to their mission should be a model for any new business. The writing in the text was easy to read and accessible.
I could not connect to this book like I did "Guts!". I was truly inspired by "Guts!" and perhaps built this o...more
It was really an ok read.
Southwest may be a great airline but the authors chose to show only the rosy pictures and conveniently avoided any shortcomings. Never once they highlighted any problem with Southwest business model!
Since the author do consulting work for Southwest, it also makes you think if this book was written solely for the purpose of ass-licking. Some stories are great and the book overall is informative. I just wish the book was more realistic than what it is.
Southwest may be a great airline but the authors chose to show only the rosy pictures and conveniently avoided any shortcomings. Never once they highlighted any problem with Southwest business model!
Since the author do consulting work for Southwest, it also makes you think if this book was written solely for the purpose of ass-licking. Some stories are great and the book overall is informative. I just wish the book was more realistic than what it is.
I’m not normally a guy who reads “Business books” but this is a great read about the only airline that seems to be able to make money and have a little humor in doing it. Some of the business aspects were probalby written for MBA type crowd and would lead to long disuccsions among those people, but in the end it was worth the read for people who want to know about the companies you support when you choose to fly.
This is a book that tells the history of Southwest Airlines and how it developed a very strong culture that will most likely outlast it's crazy CEO Herb Kelleher.
While it's focus is on the history, there are wonderful examples of exact incidents and things they have done that you can learn from in creating an enduring culture in your own business.
While it's focus is on the history, there are wonderful examples of exact incidents and things they have done that you can learn from in creating an enduring culture in your own business.
Couldn't decide which was worth - the abysmal writing or the blind worship these authors have for Southwest. Fairy tales have more nuanced characters and less repetition. There probably is something to learn about Southwest Airlines that's good for businesses - you just won't get it from this book. Still a sour taste in my mouth a week later.
I love the passion that Herb Kelleher shows in this book and how he celebrates the important lives of his employees. Customers come second. Photographs of their families celebrations covering the walls of their offices will surely make a difference to every businesses culture and employee retention.
I love any book by the Freiburgs. This book describes how Southwest Airlines keeps their customers and employees happy. Whether you are a leader, educator, or even an employee, you will find this book extremely uplifting and will have you think about how you can improve your day to day activities at work!
Book is a little dated (1998) and finally just lost my interest. Did it look a little like a school book to anyone else?
I love the maverick attitude and got me thinking of some of the Southwest Airlines qualities in culture that I could incorporate into my work place and my life.
Lean, flexible and fast - these all go together. Southwest had all these in spades to survive competitors throwing below the belt punches and profiting in one of the most capital intensive industries.
Ownership - this is...more
What a grat book!
Herb Kelleher is my hero!
He has the fortitude and confidence to know what is needed and what should be tossed aside. This is what makes great CEO's worth what they get paid!
For the first time, it is made clear that to be a respected leader, you must first become a legend in the minds of your people. To do that, you ust know who you are and where you want to lead. Herb truly knows that.
He is a maverick and that is why Southwest is what it is today.
This book tells true stories tha...more
Herb Kelleher is my hero!
He has the fortitude and confidence to know what is needed and what should be tossed aside. This is what makes great CEO's worth what they get paid!
For the first time, it is made clear that to be a respected leader, you must first become a legend in the minds of your people. To do that, you ust know who you are and where you want to lead. Herb truly knows that.
He is a maverick and that is why Southwest is what it is today.
This book tells true stories tha...more
I had to read this one for a grade! it wasnt as boring as i thought it would be. Its all about giving a public service that people will pay for. it was pretty interesting to find out how a company operates and makes bokoos of money!
Jun 21, 2008
Jac
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people interested in business
Shelves:
non-fiction,
historical-novels
This is a great book about the history of Southwest Airlines, and a great case study on what made the company so successful when other airlines were failing.
I loved the anecdotes and the examples, but my one complaint is that the authors really heavily push their opinions on you. I feel like they insulted my intelligence a bit by attempting to extract all the "morals" of the stories, and I wish they'd left the conclusions to me.
That said, it's a very well researched and well-documented book on t...more
I loved the anecdotes and the examples, but my one complaint is that the authors really heavily push their opinions on you. I feel like they insulted my intelligence a bit by attempting to extract all the "morals" of the stories, and I wish they'd left the conclusions to me.
That said, it's a very well researched and well-documented book on t...more
I've been a big fan of Southwest Airlines for many years. This book gives a glimpse into what makes the company tick - how the company culture is built into everything they do.
"Excellent book about perserverance, committment, focus, determination, overcoming obstacles, intestinal fortitude, wherewithal, and success!"
Good if you're obsessed with Southwest like I am. Easy to skim and worth it for some great bits about their turnaround time etc...
The Southwest corporate story is like being upgraded to first class, but the writing in this book is like sitting in the middle seat on a delayed flight between two POS and later discovering your luggage was left on the tarmac and is soaking wet.
Enjoyable read about the development of a play hard work hard corporate culture which delivers on the bottom line.
Funny and interesting read about the history of Southwest Airlines. Customer service is number one!!
Very great ideas on business operation! I have experienced their practices first hand, a lesson to all!!!
The author as CEO did have a sure fire plan for building a brand, and establishing customer loyalty.
An interesting book that I read for a college class that taught me about doing business differently.
Southwest Airlines has been a very successful venture because they dared to be different. Indeed it is fascinating to read how they manage their "people" (not "employees") unlike most other companies. Sometimes the book is redundand, and sometimes the things Southwest gets praised for just sound exaggerated and maybe not occuring all the time, all across the company. But, basically the book is entertaining to read and does provide many incentives for approaching professional or personal life fro...more
Excellent depiction of a high-growth, customer and employee oriented company.
Brilliant insights on employee-customer managament
Inspirational leadership.
Excellent look at what one company was willing to do to become the best. Insights galore on what it takes to lead a group beyond expectations.
What an amazing story--I wish my employer operated like Southwest Airlines! I ate up the storyline and the lessons on leadership, all intertwined in this fascinating book. I highly recommend it.
This was a fascinating look into a very sucessful yet most unorthodox business model. It encourages you to look at the way things are done where you work, think of ways to make it more fun (and effective), and makes you want to fly Southwest!
One warning - at some points the detail into procedures and history can make for a some slightly slow reading.
One warning - at some points the detail into procedures and history can make for a some slightly slow reading.
Southwest is definitely a company to admire. I always choose to fly Southwest when I have the choice. I would like to see this book updated with changes made Post 9/11.
If Southwest Airline's corporate identity were a person I'd give my choicest free evenings to kick back and strike up a great friendship.
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| Current news on Southwest Airlines | 1 | 7 | May 28, 2008 07:17am |
