In this crowning achievement, one of the greatest minds in management theory reveals how to succeed and wield power in the real world.
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reviews
Mar 19, 2011
Joe
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This is one of those books that should be considered a must read! If you've ever wondered why someone gets promoted over you or why you just can't seem to advance in your career, you should read this.
Power explains why people who aren't very smart or hard working seem to get so far. The first thing you have to realize in business is that, "life isn't fair." Don't expect it to be. I have a phrase that guides me in my working and management decisions: "you can either More...
Power explains why people who aren't very smart or hard working seem to get so far. The first thing you have to realize in business is that, "life isn't fair." Don't expect it to be. I have a phrase that guides me in my working and management decisions: "you can either More...
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Feb 06, 2011
Book
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Power Why Some People Have It And Others Don't by Jeffrey Pfeffer
Jeffrey Pfeffer is a professor of Organizational Behavior at the Graduate School of Business of Stanford University. He is writing about building power or authority inside organizations. His focus is more than politics. It is also about how to succeed at the top levels of companies or organizations.
There is focus on personal success in this book. He describes the process as much more tha More...
Jeffrey Pfeffer is a professor of Organizational Behavior at the Graduate School of Business of Stanford University. He is writing about building power or authority inside organizations. His focus is more than politics. It is also about how to succeed at the top levels of companies or organizations.
There is focus on personal success in this book. He describes the process as much more tha More...
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Jan 01, 2011
Charlice
rated it: 
There wasn't much surprising in this book. Although the author cites much more research to back up his assertions than most management writers, the advice is fairly standard: build your network, behave confidently, etc. His characterization of leadership research and teaching as "pablum" was off-the-mark. I find it interesting that he expects readers to trust social science research supporting his arguments on attaining power, but expects us to dismiss research that seems to contradict
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Oct 22, 2010
T.
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Pfeffer (Glad this is a written review I have no idea how to say that name) is an academic who specialises on organisational behaviour, and this book is essentially his advice on how to obtain, maintain, and understand power.
While his book unsurprisingly mostly focuses on corporate CEOs, Pfeffer's principals apply equally well to non-profits, politicians and any other situation that involves other people and positions of power.
Probably the most helpful, but most unpalatab More...
While his book unsurprisingly mostly focuses on corporate CEOs, Pfeffer's principals apply equally well to non-profits, politicians and any other situation that involves other people and positions of power.
Probably the most helpful, but most unpalatab More...
Oct 29, 2010
Jeffrey
rated it:
I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway
It's hard to come around and endorse Jeffrey Pfeffer's latest book. Not because it's inaccurate or deceptive or dishonest, but precisely because it's none of those things.
Pfeffer lays out a survey level argument of why power politics exists, what it takes to obtain and maintain it, and why the system is not going away. When combined with current events, for example the recent film Inside Job, it provides a solid explanati More...
It's hard to come around and endorse Jeffrey Pfeffer's latest book. Not because it's inaccurate or deceptive or dishonest, but precisely because it's none of those things.
Pfeffer lays out a survey level argument of why power politics exists, what it takes to obtain and maintain it, and why the system is not going away. When combined with current events, for example the recent film Inside Job, it provides a solid explanati More...
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Oct 17, 2010
Blog on Books
rated it:
Want to get a good job? Want to move up the corporate ladder? What are the tools you are going to need?
A good education? Hard work and smarts? Being well liked?
Not so much, at least according to Jeffrey Pfeffer, a Stanford Business School professor and author of numerous books on this and related subjects. No, despite popular notions and the usual urban myths, Pfeffer contends that the path to power is significantly different than the popular notions we were raised to bel More...
A good education? Hard work and smarts? Being well liked?
Not so much, at least according to Jeffrey Pfeffer, a Stanford Business School professor and author of numerous books on this and related subjects. No, despite popular notions and the usual urban myths, Pfeffer contends that the path to power is significantly different than the popular notions we were raised to bel More...
Nov 01, 2010
Brett
rated it:
*I received this book as an advance free copy for review through Goodreads First Reads.*
I feel that this book would be very good for someone with no job experience at all, and maybe not a whole lot of business-sense. What Pfeffer covers in here is all good information, but it's all very basic and almost common-sense to those of us that have been studying the environments we work in already.
Even though it really taught me nothing new, I could see it as being a pretty indispens More...
I feel that this book would be very good for someone with no job experience at all, and maybe not a whole lot of business-sense. What Pfeffer covers in here is all good information, but it's all very basic and almost common-sense to those of us that have been studying the environments we work in already.
Even though it really taught me nothing new, I could see it as being a pretty indispens More...
May 04, 2011
Alexander
rated it: 
Blah, terrible... well I guess closer to say disappointing. It starts out saying that all the other business success books and biographies are crap and filled with only the good stuff but then this book starts going off about the same stuff. Compliment people excessively, don't be afraid to ask for what you want, find ways to stand out--the problem is that the tone of the whole thing puts the reader into a begging position, where you let your boss know that you'd really appreciate it if so and s
More...
Sep 25, 2011
Husam
rated it: 
كتاب واقعي عن القيادة والسيطرة بعيد عن المثالية اللتي تصبغ الكثير من كتب الأدارة. بقدر ما أثار اهتمامي الكتاب بقدرة الكاتب على ربط تصرفات الراغبين في الحصول على القوة والسيطرة في الشركات الكبرى، بقدر يقيني بعدم رجوعي الى صفحاته مستقبلا لتحفظي على الكثر من الأساليب والحيل المذكورة ضمنا.
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Oct 21, 2010
J
rated it:
I have to admit this is the most no nonsense practical book you will ever come across. I wish I had gotten hold of this book when I was just getting started.
I am not reading this book, but digesting it so it is taking a while. This is not a book you want to read it fast, otherwise you will miss lot of useful nuggets that you can use.
I would make this a required reading in high school since that's where people get set in their ways and then get disappointed when the More...
Apr 23, 2011
Jonathan
rated it:
It is an easy read with interesting examples. If you dislike the
title, consider how the world is political, and it is in you interest
to know the power games other people will play.
A few highlights:
* When Keith Ferrazzi (author, CMO, CEO) was offered a position at
Deloitte, he insisted in seeing the "head guys." He met the NYC chief,
Loconto, over dinner and Keith said he would accept if the two would
have dinner once a year at the same res More...
title, consider how the world is political, and it is in you interest
to know the power games other people will play.
A few highlights:
* When Keith Ferrazzi (author, CMO, CEO) was offered a position at
Deloitte, he insisted in seeing the "head guys." He met the NYC chief,
Loconto, over dinner and Keith said he would accept if the two would
have dinner once a year at the same res More...
Dec 12, 2010
Scott
rated it:
Jeffery Pfeffer offers a well-crafted, how-to manual of gaining power in an organization through his aptly titled book. There are several themes throughout the book that sometimes do not seem entirely righteous including: the world is not just or fair (get over it); be your own champion and promoter; do not worry about being well-liked; and do not pass over or delegate power. The lessons may not always be pleasant, and they may seem Machiavellian to the delicate (he finally references The Pri
More...
Apr 18, 2011
Annie
rated it:
I have to admit, I expected something different from this book. Because I'm a storyteller intrigued by the idea of power, I inferred from the title that it would be a fascinating examination of what makes someone the kind of person who is powerful and influential.
But this book is far too practical for all that. It's an examination of workplace politics, offering concrete examples and suggestions for how to become more powerful at work. Jeffrey Pfeffer disregards all my romantic no More...
But this book is far too practical for all that. It's an examination of workplace politics, offering concrete examples and suggestions for how to become more powerful at work. Jeffrey Pfeffer disregards all my romantic no More...
Mar 31, 2011
Chris
rated it:
Ever needed power or wondered how people with power got power in the first place? Author, Jeffrey Pfeffer, who has written about power and teaches an elective course at Stanford on Power, has laid out all that you need to understand and achieve to get power.
This book explains the frame work of what people understand about power, the types of people who naturally have power and know how to use it but also how people with power can give it away without knowing or intentionally. Many p More...
This book explains the frame work of what people understand about power, the types of people who naturally have power and know how to use it but also how people with power can give it away without knowing or intentionally. Many p More...
Jan 14, 2011
Ted
rated it:
People and Organizations, we all belong to them. Jeffrey Pfeffer is a professor in the business school at Stanford. Leo Durocher is credited with coining the phrase "Nice Guys finish Last," and this is the book to read to find out why...and if you decide to push the power button, here's the inside schoop on how to live with yourself. Read it if you dare, it's the roadmap to the top, if ye dare to tread that path; take heed.
Jul 15, 2011
Pamela
rated it:
Valuable observations, but the same CEO examples are overused to illustrate too many different points. It would have been helpful to me to provide more comprehensive data to substantiate the claims (rather than provide one example of how a manager became powerful than another). Also, I would have appreciated more of a "toolkit" structure to the book, as the points in the latter half of the book were overlapping a lot with the beginning.
Still, I'm disappointed I missed the cha More...
Still, I'm disappointed I missed the cha More...
Jan 04, 2012
Scott
rated it:
How to succeed in business by playing politics. The author makes the case for always looking our for yourself to gain power and keep it in organizations. He also argues that hierarchical organizations are inevitable. Overall a pretty depressing book.
Dec 14, 2010
Co2
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This is a traditional business book along the lines of "who moved the cheese", "Zap", "the one minute manager", for older readers of this genre, “up the organization" and "the peter principal".
I view these books like I do most seminars; they don't have all the answers but if I get anything useful from them my time isn't wasted.
In that vein, there's a lot of good insight here. I liked the slant the Pfeffer takes. Business is pow More...
I view these books like I do most seminars; they don't have all the answers but if I get anything useful from them my time isn't wasted.
In that vein, there's a lot of good insight here. I liked the slant the Pfeffer takes. Business is pow More...
Nov 08, 2010
Robert
rated it:
Eye-opening. As a determined non-participator in office politics, I learned quite a bit from reading this book. Like it or not, the degree to which one engages in office politics has a direct correlation to one's ultimate level of success/satisfaction.
This book is highly recommended for everyone from the recent college graduate to the seasoned executive. Compelling information whatever your field.
This book is highly recommended for everyone from the recent college graduate to the seasoned executive. Compelling information whatever your field.
Jan 17, 2011
Andrienne
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It justifies and clarifies what underlings see. It features plenty of examples like a rolodex of who's who in business. Pfeffer tells it straight without fluff. Worthwhile reading.
Dec 07, 2010
Alicia
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Interesting and fairly compelling argument for gaining power. I got some great ideas for a character I'm writing.
Jan 16, 2011
Sarah
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I know this book sounds like just another POS business pablum. It's not. I typically gag when people suggest I read anything of this sort, from "Made to Stick," to "Art of the Start," to "Never Eat Alone." All that crap about succeeding in white collar America is typically just that - crap. But Pfeffer's book is fascinating even to people completely uninterested in playing politics at the office or elsewhere. This book passes muster from someone obsessed with socio
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Dec 31, 2011
Michele
rated it:
Just started. So far, it's fascinating from an organizational behavior POV. Stay tuned....
Jun 14, 2011
Brigitte
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I can't believe I read this - he makes about six good points and the rest made me cringe.
Mar 18, 2011
Scott
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Much more lucid and humane than "48 Laws of Power". Just as interesting.
Dec 27, 2010
Chad
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I really enjoyed this book. Jeffery Pfeffer states that his wife has encouraged him to write something that regular people could read and this is it. This is a basic easy read with many useful observations and recommendations. It will probably be found on the bookshelves of many managers and business leaders now and in the years to come.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. What a great giveaway program. Thank you to Danielle who listed this book for the g More...
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. What a great giveaway program. Thank you to Danielle who listed this book for the g More...
Nov 14, 2010
Jon
rated it:
Good stuff. Very insightful, chock full of analogies, case studies, research and anecdotes. Some of it obvious, while others surprising. Such as research indicating that seeking power is better for your health than not. Pfeffer is a professor at Stanford School of Business and this what he teaches for a living. What I found most enjoyable is the simplification he imparts to the reader so we can benefit from his wisdom. I certainly have learned a great deal here.
Jun 30, 2011
David
rated it:
Good book, but I felt it dragged a bit. Could have been shorter and wouldn't have missed anything.
