Product Description

Although it was first published more than thirty–five years ago, Up the Organization continues to top the lists of best business books by groups as diverse as the American Management Association, Strategy + Business (Booz Allen Hamilton), and The Wharton Center for Leadership and Change Management. 1–800–CEO–READ ranks Townsend’s bestseller first among eighty books that “every manager must read.”

This commemorative edition offers a new generation the benefit of Robert Townsend’s timeless wisdom as well as reflections on his work and life by those who knew and worked with him. This groundbreaking book continues to remind us not to get mired in all those sacred organizational routines that stifle people and strangle both profits and profitability. He shows a way to humanize business and a way to have fun while making it all work better than it ever worked before.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #116052 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 208 pages

From the Inside Flap

Up the Organization

Although it was first published more than thirty–five years ago, Up the Organization continues to top the lists of best business books by groups as diverse as the American Management Association, strategy+business (Booz Allen Hamilton), and The Wharton Center for Leadership and Change Management. 1–800–CEO–READ ranks Townsend′s bestseller first among eighty books that "every manager must read."

This commemorative edition offers a new generation the benefit of Robert Townsend′s timeless wisdom as well as reflections on his work and life by those who knew and worked with him. This groundbreaking book continues to remind us not to get mired in all those sacred organizational routines that stifle people and strangle both profits and profitability.

In today′s climate of seemingly endless incidents of corporate corruption, government fraud, and personal scandals, Up the Organization is more relevant than ever. Many of Townsend′s observations are as witty as they are wise. "There′s nothing fundamentally wrong with our country except that the leaders of all our major organizations operate under the wrong assumptions." "One of the most important tasks of a manager is to eliminate his people′s excuses for failure." "If you have to have a policy manual, publish the Ten Commandments."

In addition to the book′s advice that is striking in its candor, spontaneity, and integrity, this new edition includes essays from such leaders as James O′Toole, Bob Davids, and Robert Gottlieb, as well as a never–before–published transcript of Townsend′s Conference Board speech: "Townsend′s Third Degree in Leadership."

Read Up the Organization and discover why Robert Townsend served as role model for a generation of corporate activists.

From the Back Cover

"Townsend shouldn′t just be read, he should be memorized."—Tom Peters

"Bob Townsend′s words still ring true, truer than they seemed almost 40 years ago."
—Warren Bennis

"With this book, Robert Townsend punctured the secret, bureaucratic world of corporate complacency. It was ubiquitous then and still surprisingly prevalent now—and this book, based on his countercultural stint as Avis CEO, is still one of the best weapons against it."
—Art Kleiner, editor–in–chief, strategy+business

"Robert Townsend′s book continues to light up the business world with straightforward and practical management advice that is as pertinent today as when originally published. A must–read for all managers!"
—Ray Davis, president and CEO, Umpqua Holdings Corporation

"Townsend proves that the best business wisdom is timeless. In an era filled with business buzzwords and ethical misdirections, Townsend′s bluntness makes for refreshing and hilarious reading for the next crop of CEOs."
—Ben Casnocha, chairman, Comcate, Inc.; author, My Start–Up Life

About the Author
Robert C. Townsend (d. 1998) drew upon his early experiences as a banker at American Express Co. to redirect Avis Rent–a–Car as president and chairman. Under his leadership, Avis experienced a celebrated turnaround, fueled by the "We Try Harder" advertising campaign. Townsend also worked as an executive at 20th Century Fox and was director at several companies, including Dun and Bradstreet and Radica Games. Townsend was a celebrity in his own right, and a frequent lecturer and talk–show guest.

Customer Reviews

Entertaining, timeless business wisdom
This is a reprint of a classic best-selling book on business that has been widely copied but never duplicated. Yes, other successful collections of short, clever aphorisms have appeared and faded, but Robert Townsend had the ability to pierce the heart of the matter with stiletto sharpness. Just gloss over the small out-of-date references (like salary levels) and enjoy his ABCs of management. While some of Townsend's recommendations still seem radical, he lived by these principles, and was a very successful, popular executive with Avis and American Express. getAbstract cautions that this is a book of epigrams, not a narrative, so it might be a little choppy. Still, Townsend manages to balance a savvy, fun attitude with serious, strategic advice.

Bought 5 copies so far!
My father recommended this book to me as it had an influence on him during his student days. It's a truly refreshing and concise management manual for people who want to get on with their jobs rather than reading about over elaborate new 'management paradigms'.