- Unknown Binding: 158 pages
- Publisher: Pan Books; 11th printing edition (1970)
- Language English
- ASIN: B001NZD6WU
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 3,472,964 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
'A satirical review' it says in the review. Sure. And one of the most successfull endeavours at that ever undertaken. The theory of incompetence (we all tend to reach a level where we are ineffective and stay there in whatever we do) is so compelling that to me, after zillions of management books it still stands out for its clarity and power. Even the illustrations in the version I have are to the point and funny. Enjoy!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The central tenet of this book is that individuals rise to their level of incompetence. They could be perfectly happy, competent and skillfully fufilling their tasks but the push and pull of management and/or other organisational factors will propell them upwards until they meet with challenges which really are unassailable. They then get stuck at that point. Like the blurb on the back of the edition I have says "Ever wondered how that bunch of idiots got control of your office/factory/shop? They, as we all know, could not organise a booze-up in a brewery, but what we did not know was how they got to the top. The answer is supplied in The Peter Principle".
What I totally loved about this book was the wry and understated humour, it has been criticised for being too expansive on a single funny observation, however its a brilliant almost satirical analysis and to be honest its also a parody of a lot of management text books. This was clear to me from the outset with the blurb's promises of enlightenment, I felt that was a nice parody of a lot of big tent speaker style books which promise their readers all sorts of insights as a sales pitch. The author doesnt stop there, the book is repleat with lots of management jargon, some of the authors own invention, there's a glossary of key terminology provided also which I felt added to the comic effect. The book is also illustrated throughout, mainly with cartoons of a retro, victorian, "punch magazine" style. I have an older edition of the book and finding at the back a list of books available from the same publisher on effective business management and leadership was a cause for further, I'm sure unintentional, humour.
There's no index in this book and the chapters proceed as follows The Peter Principle; The Principle in Action; Apparent Exceptions; Pull and Promotion; Push and Promotion; Followers and Leaders; Hierachiology and Politics; Hints and Foreshadowings; The Psychology of Hierarchiology; Peter's Spiral; The Pathology of Success; Non-Medical Indices of Final Placement; Health and Happiness at Zero PQ - Possibility or Pipe Dream?; Creative Incompetence; The Darwinian Extension.
I wish I'd had this book years ago, I'd recommend it to the general reader or student and academic alike, it makes about as much sense as a lot of management or sociological gurus and it provides some wry humour and laughs along the way. I'm sure that everyone will find something in the book with which they can relate or identify, it is a book which is applicable far beyond the realm of the workplace and I suspect that the Peter Principle relates to some peoples dating, socialising or other habits, organising transport to the gig, even cooking or holding a dinner party.
Tell your friends, I was lucky enough to read about this on the website of one of my favourite bloggers, otherwise I wouldnt have known about it. Great book.
What I totally loved about this book was the wry and understated humour, it has been criticised for being too expansive on a single funny observation, however its a brilliant almost satirical analysis and to be honest its also a parody of a lot of management text books. This was clear to me from the outset with the blurb's promises of enlightenment, I felt that was a nice parody of a lot of big tent speaker style books which promise their readers all sorts of insights as a sales pitch. The author doesnt stop there, the book is repleat with lots of management jargon, some of the authors own invention, there's a glossary of key terminology provided also which I felt added to the comic effect. The book is also illustrated throughout, mainly with cartoons of a retro, victorian, "punch magazine" style. I have an older edition of the book and finding at the back a list of books available from the same publisher on effective business management and leadership was a cause for further, I'm sure unintentional, humour.
There's no index in this book and the chapters proceed as follows The Peter Principle; The Principle in Action; Apparent Exceptions; Pull and Promotion; Push and Promotion; Followers and Leaders; Hierachiology and Politics; Hints and Foreshadowings; The Psychology of Hierarchiology; Peter's Spiral; The Pathology of Success; Non-Medical Indices of Final Placement; Health and Happiness at Zero PQ - Possibility or Pipe Dream?; Creative Incompetence; The Darwinian Extension.
I wish I'd had this book years ago, I'd recommend it to the general reader or student and academic alike, it makes about as much sense as a lot of management or sociological gurus and it provides some wry humour and laughs along the way. I'm sure that everyone will find something in the book with which they can relate or identify, it is a book which is applicable far beyond the realm of the workplace and I suspect that the Peter Principle relates to some peoples dating, socialising or other habits, organising transport to the gig, even cooking or holding a dinner party.
Tell your friends, I was lucky enough to read about this on the website of one of my favourite bloggers, otherwise I wouldnt have known about it. Great book.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book shows conclusively that "In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence". Many a true word is spoken in jest...
Luckily, the book also explains how to avoid being promoted into a job you are incapable of doing well. Follow the advice and have a long and happy working career!
An often-quoted all-time classic.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Peter Principle
This isn't a new publication and I actually bought this copy for a friend, having read it myself some years ago. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Coxy
book
very useful and informative. an essential for those wishing to progress on the promotion ladder with an insight into the pitfalls and progress.
Published 8 months ago by Mr. George V. Judd
Fantastic Humorous Read
Anyone who reads the "Peter Principle" is sure to relate to the content. Although a serious matter I found the book to be written in a light hearted manner which raised many a... Read more
Published 13 months ago by avid reader
Some things never change
Amazing to see how despite the number of years that have passed since this was first published, nothing has really changed in the work place... Read more
Published 19 months ago by djiffou
Interesting, Amusing, and Quite Worrying Really
Talks about the incompetent bungling that is rife in every walk of life. Well written and amusing. Worrying that all these sort of things are going on in real life. Read more
Published on 28 April 2010 by Scott Whiskeye
Entertaining
The Peter Principle is the theory that people are generally promoted to their level of incompetence - and its described throughout with a wry sense of humour. Read more
Published on 18 April 2010 by A John
Another classic, straight to the point
Along with Parkinson's Law, another no-nonsense look at the greasy management pole and how ambition is wonderfully self-destructive. Required reading.
Published on 31 Mar 2010 by Mike H
The Principle of 'Wrong'
A brilliant book which I bought, and lost, many years ago. I consider it a definite 'read'.
Published on 3 Aug 2009 by Jon John
A very entertaining book.
I red this book when I was very young and I decided to read it again, because I remember it to be funny and sharp. It turned out i was right.
Published on 24 July 2009 by lordcris
Neither educational, nor funny.
Most people know the Peter Principle as a funny way of describing incompetence in an organisation. Very few people actually read the book, though. Read more
Published on 25 Oct 2005 by "apnielsen"
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