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Business Without the Bullsh*t: 49 Secrets and Shortcuts You Need to Know
In BUSINESS WITHOUT THE BULLSH*T, James explains how to clear the clutter from your work life so you can achieve real and lasting success. You'll learn how
Full of the bluntest secrets from the most successful workers, BUSINESS WITHOUT THE BULLSH*T gives you the essence of what you need to know to achieve a successful and meaningful career in the business world.
Full of the bluntest secrets from the most successful workers, BUSINESS WITHOUT THE BULLSH*T gives you the essence of what you need to know to achieve a successful and meaningful career in the business world.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 21, 2013
67 people are currently reading
539 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 29, 2018
I am going to quote Jonathan's review, as it sums up my experience really well:
"I rated this 1/5 because I took away about one out of every five "secrets" that, if you have any experience in business, aren't really secrets at all. Hence 1/5...seems to be a one size fits all way of conducting business which is actually bull sh*t therefor negating the title of the book.
If you must read it for a college class or company implemented reading, save yourself a ton of time and just read the titles of every paragraph."
"I rated this 1/5 because I took away about one out of every five "secrets" that, if you have any experience in business, aren't really secrets at all. Hence 1/5...seems to be a one size fits all way of conducting business which is actually bull sh*t therefor negating the title of the book.
If you must read it for a college class or company implemented reading, save yourself a ton of time and just read the titles of every paragraph."
May 27, 2017
I rated this 1/5 because I took away about one out of every five "secrets" that, if you have any experience in business, aren't really secrets at all. Hence 1/5...seems to be a one size fits all way of conducting business which is actually bull sh*t therefor negating the title of the book.
If you must read it for a college class or company implemented reading, save yourself a ton of time and just read the titles of every paragraph.
If you must read it for a college class or company implemented reading, save yourself a ton of time and just read the titles of every paragraph.
August 19, 2017
This book is hard to review. On one hand, it's a tactical book with a few gems, which is a rare treat. However, it felt a bit too Machiavellian for my tastes. This book is definitely worth a 30 minute perusal though.
April 13, 2024
It’s great for young professionals entering the workforce but nothing new for people with more experience in business.
April 25, 2022
It’s incorrectly subtitled; if it were subtitled “Basic Workplace Wisdom for Young Professionals” then I would rate it higher, because that’s what it provides. However, as someone who’s been working for over 30 years, I did not find any “Secrets and Shortcuts” to apply. Do I recommend reading it? Sure, as it’s a nice return to basics, many of which I marked with sticky tabs for my daughters to find in a few years when they finish school and start to work.
October 9, 2019
as young professional myself, i find the tips in the book very useful. I could follow the logic behind the tips. The book also listed some examples of how you could/should tackle basically everyone in the office from your boss to your colleagues to yourself in working environment. Now, I just have to find the right time to implement the tips and see what happens!
August 1, 2017
The bad: sometimes too straightforward and possibly even simplistic. It tries to cover too much from being an employee to being a boss, from ethics to productivity, and I think it spreads a little too thin there. But still good.
The good: it's a pretty good summary of work problems. It's comprehensive, it's handy, and it's good advice. Very practical.
The good: it's a pretty good summary of work problems. It's comprehensive, it's handy, and it's good advice. Very practical.
February 2, 2019
The content in this book is great, it accomplishes what it intends by sharing insights to help anyone take their career into their own hands. If you're less than a decade out of school and into your career, or if you feel stuck in your career, there are tips in here than will likely help you accelerate to where you want to go.
May 28, 2021
This book is like a buffet…somethings I really enjoyed others I found useless. How to manage coworkers , your boss and employees were all fascinating sections. When it veered into coping with evil and parts of How to handle to handle emergencies I tuned out. The examples were germane and semi interesting. Not a bad read but not a re-read.
March 11, 2019
It really is as the title indicates, straight and to the point no BS. He does a great job explaining everything and I can vouch for a lot of the things he describes since I have also lived or known a lot of people that have done or used this kinds of Secrets and Shortcuts and they do work.
June 27, 2019
An indispensable read for students about to enter the workforce, a nice little refresher for everyone else.
Some of the less obvious gems I learned from the book: 1) Gather your coworkers' buy-in BEFORE meetings. 2) During meetings, raise your point AFTER everyone else has spoken.
Some of the less obvious gems I learned from the book: 1) Gather your coworkers' buy-in BEFORE meetings. 2) During meetings, raise your point AFTER everyone else has spoken.
May 18, 2021
This book is written more from a psychological point of view. The secrets are not really secrets, because one who worked before can relate to them and met them already, but sometimes this book can be very handy.
January 17, 2017
Some nice reminders and tips. I like to flip through books like this - I always find something I can put into practice or affirmation.
June 5, 2017
Buen libro lleno de sentido común. Quizá demasiado sentido común como para que sea trascendental.
November 2, 2017
Very, very direct book.
January 9, 2018
With a title like this, you'd expect the book to be laced with 100% bovine stool. But it's actually OK. Not amazing, but not terrible either. Just meh...
January 20, 2019
a bit of truisms, common sense, nothing revolutionary or "secret" :)
February 16, 2021
This is a good book great for all those who are new to the world of business.
For my full review please go to my blog- https://cembookportal.blogspot.com/20...
For my full review please go to my blog- https://cembookportal.blogspot.com/20...
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February 28, 2024ذراع
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2025
just read the first sentence of each paragraph. not worth reading the rest
June 20, 2023
เข้าร่วมประชุมที่คิดว่าสำคัญ เตรียมหัวข้อเข้าไปพูดอย่างมั่นใจและต่อเนื่อง ให้จังหวะเหมาะสอดแทรกเป้าหมายคุณเข้าไปในการประชุมด้วย
July 10, 2014
Disclaimer: I received an early copy for free from the author.
This book is not only for "business" people. It is for everyone. It will help you with communication, time-management, effectiveness, managing your boss, and many other aspects of your life that determine if you are happy or not.
This book is about how to be the best employee or boss you can. It is not really thick but it is so packed of useful, applicable information, written so clearly that you will read it for fun several times. This book covers a wide variety of topics so that anyone can find something applicable. There were some topics I wished the author had explored a bit mor thoroughly, but he gives you enough to get the gist of it. It was easy for me to follow the principles in this book. It is not abstract, yet it doesn't dwell on the obvious things.
In my professional career I had to learn many of the points in this book the hard way. I found many pieces of advice that can help me right now with the issues I am facing, and the book even pointed out several things I should be working on in the very near future. This book is also perfect for people in college or starting their professional career. I wish I had had this book when I started.
I am not sure if I had ever read this book only based on the title. The content of the book is great, it is the title that was putting me off. First of all, the word "Business" is so vague. This book is not about being an entrepreneur, or building a business. I think a better word would have been "career". It is really about how to be better in your professional (and even personal) life, and enjoy your work to the most. Now, the second part of the title was the real offender for me. It is a bit distasteful. But truth be told, the author's writing style is so straight-to-the point and clear that I can understand why they named it like that. The author even teaches you how to write as clearly as this book is written.
Overall this is one of the best non-fiction, non-technical books I have read. I will be re-reading it many times and each time I will pick one point to work on.
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This book is not only for "business" people. It is for everyone. It will help you with communication, time-management, effectiveness, managing your boss, and many other aspects of your life that determine if you are happy or not.
This book is about how to be the best employee or boss you can. It is not really thick but it is so packed of useful, applicable information, written so clearly that you will read it for fun several times. This book covers a wide variety of topics so that anyone can find something applicable. There were some topics I wished the author had explored a bit mor thoroughly, but he gives you enough to get the gist of it. It was easy for me to follow the principles in this book. It is not abstract, yet it doesn't dwell on the obvious things.
In my professional career I had to learn many of the points in this book the hard way. I found many pieces of advice that can help me right now with the issues I am facing, and the book even pointed out several things I should be working on in the very near future. This book is also perfect for people in college or starting their professional career. I wish I had had this book when I started.
I am not sure if I had ever read this book only based on the title. The content of the book is great, it is the title that was putting me off. First of all, the word "Business" is so vague. This book is not about being an entrepreneur, or building a business. I think a better word would have been "career". It is really about how to be better in your professional (and even personal) life, and enjoy your work to the most. Now, the second part of the title was the real offender for me. It is a bit distasteful. But truth be told, the author's writing style is so straight-to-the point and clear that I can understand why they named it like that. The author even teaches you how to write as clearly as this book is written.
Overall this is one of the best non-fiction, non-technical books I have read. I will be re-reading it many times and each time I will pick one point to work on.
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September 6, 2017
Great book!
July 11, 2015
"Publicly held corporations are natural sociopaths. They are legally bound to their stockholders to make the most profit possible, even if doing so involves robbery, slavery, environmental destruction, and the death of innocents, including children." - Geoffrey James, Chapter 49
This one quote alone tells you from whom you are getting advice: someone who clearly doesn't understand business. Any institution run by people will be imperfect as people are inherently imperfect, but James takes it to the next level as the tinfoil hat he's wearing becomes increasingly visible by the end of the book.
I was optimistic about this book when I skimmed it at Barnes and Noble. Upon sitting down and actually reading it, the book contained far too much piffle, and if anything seems more targeted at college sophomores getting ready to start a summer internship with the level of advice provided. The best section was the final section about how to handle truly difficult situations, but when the book is taken as a whole combined with its kooky tone in places, there are far better ways to spend your time than reading this book.
This one quote alone tells you from whom you are getting advice: someone who clearly doesn't understand business. Any institution run by people will be imperfect as people are inherently imperfect, but James takes it to the next level as the tinfoil hat he's wearing becomes increasingly visible by the end of the book.
I was optimistic about this book when I skimmed it at Barnes and Noble. Upon sitting down and actually reading it, the book contained far too much piffle, and if anything seems more targeted at college sophomores getting ready to start a summer internship with the level of advice provided. The best section was the final section about how to handle truly difficult situations, but when the book is taken as a whole combined with its kooky tone in places, there are far better ways to spend your time than reading this book.
December 1, 2014
quick, sometimes funny, read providing small doses of authoritative advice for a wide range of on the job situations. Some of it was amusing (the word "voluntary" in "your participation is voluntary" means "mandatory" --- reminded me of NFL teams' optional offseason stuff).
Other advice seemed reasonable, albeit pretty well-known (always think of yourself as selling, since at minimum you're selling yourself to future potential employers or the one with whom you want to stick), whereas some was a little creepy ("if your boss loves science fiction, ask which books are his or her favorites and then read them").
I learned that a method I've been accused by graduate students of using (offer 3 alternatives to convey a sense of choice even though only the one I want them to do is at all plausible) is referred to as 'forcing a card' in reference to the magic tricks (pick a card, any card....) that work based on influencing the person to pick the card you want them to pick. I think I'll add "card forcer" to my LinkedIn profile. Thanks Geoffrey James!
Other advice seemed reasonable, albeit pretty well-known (always think of yourself as selling, since at minimum you're selling yourself to future potential employers or the one with whom you want to stick), whereas some was a little creepy ("if your boss loves science fiction, ask which books are his or her favorites and then read them").
I learned that a method I've been accused by graduate students of using (offer 3 alternatives to convey a sense of choice even though only the one I want them to do is at all plausible) is referred to as 'forcing a card' in reference to the magic tricks (pick a card, any card....) that work based on influencing the person to pick the card you want them to pick. I think I'll add "card forcer" to my LinkedIn profile. Thanks Geoffrey James!
January 11, 2016
I enjoy James column at Inc.com and receive a regular e-mail update of his writings and critique of business letters/e-mails. Like many of the comments, whether you like this book or not depends on your perspective. As I work for a small business....just 40 employees...so of the big business issues were somewhat meaningless. However, as I am sales manager, the portions that spoke to areas of business I was directly involved with were of great interest and I picked up a few things. The author, in the introduction, speaks to just that phenomena...that the reader will get out of it something in those areas of most direct impact to his/her own current situation. Largely, I assume, the reason he suggests you not read the book from cover to cover, but it segments as the need arises. Plus.....I suppose, you need to own it that way and not get a copy from the library as I did. And, I'm glad of it....I don't need to add this to my personal collection. This book, however, in no way diminishes the value of Geoffrey James Inc.com writings, which I enjoy, and highly recommend.
September 1, 2016
Textbook is what I called this book. It is step by step guide to the world of working life and it is quite straight-forward. What I like about this book is the summary of each topic at the at end of chapter which is good if you want refer it again without read the whole chapter. Despite saying that each topic or statement made is short and lack elaboration and at times does not fit into certain situation. It pretty much general. The first half of the book was shallow, it like going through a motion, of getting past certain topic but it gets better toward the end, no worries. It would still satisfied me, would expect more of personal experience story from Geoffrey James because the chapter that comprise his personal experience was favourable. Clearly the books is for noobs into working life, and if you aren't a noob, I recommend don't read it, you feel stupid after reading it especially the first few chapter.
August 10, 2016
Maybe I'm missing something but, as far as I'm concerned, this book that purports to take the bullsh*t out of business has seemingly done so by putting it all in this book. Page after page had me rolling my eyes and thinking of how doing even half the suggested things would lead to me getting fired. There was some advice that was applicable to the world of work but these nuggets would be pretty self-evident to anyone who's ever had a job. The rest were nuts.
The fact that the author cites nothing by way of evidence is ridiculous. The fact that he covers himself in his own introduction by stating, I quote, "...you may sometimes find it difficult to imagine yourself following some of the advice...Such feelings are a signal that you must follow the advice." Yeah, right.
The fact that the author cites nothing by way of evidence is ridiculous. The fact that he covers himself in his own introduction by stating, I quote, "...you may sometimes find it difficult to imagine yourself following some of the advice...Such feelings are a signal that you must follow the advice." Yeah, right.
September 14, 2015
What's the best thing about your favorite NFL team falling behind badly in the first half of week 1? You've got time to catch up on reading!
This book offers practical, no-nonsense advice for navigating various situations in the workplace. On the whole, it is a worthwhile read, and it breaks it's subject matter down into short, specific chunks that you can reference as the need arises (I've got an interview coming up, I'm feeling stressed, I want to ask for a raise, etc). Of course, the advice offered would have to be tailored to your individual workplace and situation, but again, as general advice I think it stands up pretty well.
This book offers practical, no-nonsense advice for navigating various situations in the workplace. On the whole, it is a worthwhile read, and it breaks it's subject matter down into short, specific chunks that you can reference as the need arises (I've got an interview coming up, I'm feeling stressed, I want to ask for a raise, etc). Of course, the advice offered would have to be tailored to your individual workplace and situation, but again, as general advice I think it stands up pretty well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews