Augustine's Laws

by Norman R. Augustine

A top chief executive looks at the complexities and conundrums of today's business management and offers solutions. Augustine sets forth 52 laws that cover every area of business in an entertaining, informative manner.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Management

365 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 1982

About the author

Norman Ralph "Norm" Augustine is a U.S. aerospace businessman who served as United States Under Secretary of the Army from 1975 to 1977. Augustine served as chairman and CEO of the Lockheed Martin Corporation. He was chairman of the Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans Committee.
In 1983, Augustine was elected as a member into the National Academy of Engineering for imaginative blending of the skills of engineer, analyst, and manager to accomplish important aerospace engineering projects.

Reviews

[Tom]

I atually read the first edition just after I was involved in a significant defense acquisition. I have since picked it up from time to time t remind myself of some of the lessons

[T]

3.5 Stars. As a classic of aerospace, I felt like I had to read it. However, it's a frustrating read. The book is filled with interesting insights, but it's written with a turn-of-the-century style of constant witticisms and wise-cracks that I found annoying. Worse, nearly every chapter has a graph to illustrate the central point, but the graphs are poorly described and that often undermines their ability to be understood and believed. This book would be great if the fat were trimmed, which would eliminate 3/4s of the text.

Ultimately i think this is the kind of book that should not be read all at once, but distributed over a year or more. I'd recommend a chapter (which are only a few pages in length) every other week. I may do this in the future because many of the ideas are important to keep in mind for those of us whose work touches government policy.

[Chris Maddix]

My dentist's office is less daunting because it has Murphy's Laws posted on the ceiling. Every time I visit I seem to find something new and especially clever. Augustine's Laws, a book by Norm Augustine, the Executive Vice President of Martin Marietta, is equally prescient, except more directed and specific. Permit me to list some of my favorites:

#3 - There are no lazy veteran lion hunters

#4 - If you can afford to advertise, you don't need to

#10 - Bulls do not win bull fights, people do; people do not win people fights, lawyers do

#12 - It costs a lot to build bad products

#15 - The last 10% of performance generates 1/3 of the cost and 2/3 of the problems

I think you get the idea. Take a look at the book and find your favorites

[Chris Haley]

This book was a thoughtful and satirical look at the peculiarities of defense procurement. It can be a little dry at times, and is dense with quotations, but it can also be laugh-out-loud funny while describing the realities of government contracting. As a side note, having been lucky enough to meet Norm Augustine in person, he is an amazing man with a sharp wit, a big heart, and a plethora of stories that are both fascinating and hilarious. One of the more compelling people I've ever met.

[Scott Haraburda]

An interesting book from nearly four decades ago with relevant concepts that relate to modern business practices. Although the book focused primarily upon aviation defense acquisition practices, many of the concepts translate to businesses in general. Also, many of the graphs contained data that were relevant at time of publication, but have not remained relevant today. However, worth the read.

[Matt Watkinson]

Witty, wise and worth a read. No doubt as relevant today as when published 35 years ago.

[Robert Walden]

One of the funniest and most memorable business books that I've ever read.

[Shoubaneh]

I prefer the older (shorter) version to the newer one.

[Jan Nieuwerf]

a little gem

[Lee]

I wish I could say things have improved since Norm wrote this book. But I can't. If anything this book should still be taught today as many of its lessons seem to have been forgotten.

[William]

A must read for anyone interested in manufacturing, technology, and the marriage of the two!

Funny, engaging, entertaining, and informative. The complete package.