- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1 edition (27 Sep 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0273662716
- ISBN-13: 978-0273662716
- Product Dimensions: 21.2 x 13.8 x 1.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 148,675 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Review
"This is a definitive code for personal business success...Key points, concisely made, that can steer anyone through the minefield of office life."Management Today
This is the book to help you achieve all your career ambitions - Short List, May 2008
The Telegraph, 19 June 2008
Picked as one of the six best personal development books
Inside This Book
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Some of the rules are sensible: work hard, do more than asked, be diplomatic and nice with everyone. Others are like: dress smart and expensive clothing/accessories, learn to talk like the bosses, learn to walk like them (yes, he says even that), be friendly with the "herd" but don't go to holidays with your colleagues, remain cool, avoid office parties, donate for the red nose day, but don't make a fool of yourself by wearing one of those red noses (yes, it says that at some point). All is told in that crap style typical of self-help manuals or motivational quacks. All is exemplified by means of anecdotes, which are supposed to come from the author's personal experience, but which are evidently and annoyingly invented (none can possibly have happened such a variety of things and have moved through so many jobs).
My interpretation: if you want a successful career in a boring, formal working environment, were everybody wears the same sad suit and it's all about form, power, hierarchy, employee cuts and profits, read this book. If you happen already to be in such an environment and even like it, you have all my sympathy, read this book (better, just have a look while you wander at the bookshop, it isn't so worth a purchase) and maybe you'll realise that you don't want a successful career as a slave-in-suit after all.
I personally was initially curious, but no, not for me. I have always aimed at a different type of job, I don't need smart dress code, to prepare the coffee for the boss and all that rubbish. I like to do my job seriously, but also to wear the red nose, without fear to be judged a fool, for my bosses do it too. I can see that business people like Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg probably don't even own a suit and I suspect ever more businesses are becoming ever more informal and more concrete, even in UK.
Trouble is that most of jobs, whatever the form, are still authoritarian and most businesses, whatever their crap about mission statement or HR slogans, still care little about individuals, participation, opinions, feelings and desires. You can get a glance of what this means by reading this book (well, no, giving a look while in the bookshop is enough). But if you read "The Dilbert Principle", you'll get it even more and certainly you'll have more fun.
My interpretation: if you want a successful career in a boring, formal working environment, were everybody wears the same sad suit and it's all about form, power, hierarchy, employee cuts and profits, read this book. If you happen already to be in such an environment and even like it, you have all my sympathy, read this book (better, just have a look while you wander at the bookshop, it isn't so worth a purchase) and maybe you'll realise that you don't want a successful career as a slave-in-suit after all.
I personally was initially curious, but no, not for me. I have always aimed at a different type of job, I don't need smart dress code, to prepare the coffee for the boss and all that rubbish. I like to do my job seriously, but also to wear the red nose, without fear to be judged a fool, for my bosses do it too. I can see that business people like Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg probably don't even own a suit and I suspect ever more businesses are becoming ever more informal and more concrete, even in UK.
Trouble is that most of jobs, whatever the form, are still authoritarian and most businesses, whatever their crap about mission statement or HR slogans, still care little about individuals, participation, opinions, feelings and desires. You can get a glance of what this means by reading this book (well, no, giving a look while in the bookshop is enough). But if you read "The Dilbert Principle", you'll get it even more and certainly you'll have more fun.
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As someone who was approaching their first corporate job I found this book invaluable.
I can see how it may be of limited use to those who are progressing well, but if you are stuck in a rut, or entering a new field of employment I would recommend this book as a guide to help you on your way. It will help you see why you have been passed over for promotion, and show you what is really valued by senior managment.
If you are leaving school or university for your first venture into a 'proper' job you should buy this book. It will show you the path, the way you need to go.
29 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I thought I was good at my job, on my way up the ladder. This book showed me I was wrong. It is a "bible" that should be read over and over. I wasn't going to be promoted because I wasn't promotable. It's informative, interesting and often quite funny.
Anyone who works in an office will love it! Excellent !
Anyone who works in an office will love it! Excellent !
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
excellent
I am extremely happy with the service, posting and packaging and would happily do business with you again. Much appreciated
Published 5 months ago by Arizo
Easy to digest.
Each page of this book provides a 'rule', which is a suggestion for working well with your associates. It provides a small explanation for each rule. Read more
Published 10 months ago by J. Mcshane
All Good Would be Managers Should....
All good would be managers with a limited budget and time should invest in something else other than this book. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Dean Cowan
Makes a good read here and there...
Its a nice book, enjoyable and makes for good reading here and there. Every 2 pages is a section (or "rule") in the book which is really nice in layout and to the point. Read more
Published 17 months ago by thegoodraj
Lazy writing / Contradictory / Machiavellian
Richard Templar's book is full of folksy phrases and lazy grammatical errors. He continually uses the word ain't, often when its insertion makes no sense; this is painfully... Read more
Published 22 months ago by HayesRight Hand
Brings you to your senses
Be honest: you know you shouldn't get drunk with your colleagues, backstab, work insane hours, wear that stupid tie. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Digital Kati
Prescriptive advice for people who like to be told what to do
This book has been around for years and I remember flicking through it when it first came out but not buying a copy. Read more
Published on 22 May 2010 by R Freeman
The Reality of Office Life
For someone starting out on their career, wishing to move up the corporate ladder or seeking to clarify their attitude to work I recommend this book as a simple, but slightly... Read more
Published on 2 April 2010 by JibbityJobby
Interesting, but also pretentious and sanctimonious
This is one of a series of book that sets out various 'rules' that one needs to follow in order to be successful at work or in life generally. Read more
Published on 29 Dec 2009 by Marcus Laver
Better than expected
I'm not someone who reads alot of this kind of book but found 'the rules' a light weight way of reviewing a commen sense approach to conduct in the workplace. Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2009 by Yogi
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