Peter Drucker is universally acknowledged as one of the most influential business thinkers of all time. His theories on how organizations affect society and how to manage them effectively have profoundly shaped the way we live today. Here, his friend Jim Champy offers unique insights into his legacy.
If there were a pantheon for the geniuses of business management, my friend Peter Drucker's bust would loom front and center. Whenever I face a management conundrum, I try to imagine his solution. His quizzical smile-kindly but knowing-has kept me straight on many a crooked path.
In person he was every bit as dynamic and fascinating as his writings and reputation were. He awed people, including me. After all, he was arguably the most influential business thinker of the twentieth century. His eccentricities strengthened his legend. Disinterested in material wealth, he lived and worked in a modest Southern California ranch house that in no way reflected his renown as a one-man think tank. He was such an expert on Japanese art that you expected to find his house full of priceless objects. I don't think I ever saw a single one.
Customer Reviews:
Brief, but a good introJuly 16, 2010 A. J Metz(San Francisco, CA USA) I read this on my Kindle in no more than 30 minutes. It did make me download a preview of Drucker's '67 Classic, "The Effective Executive". Although it's by no means a thorough introduction to Drucker, it was enough to whet my appetite.
Light, refreshing readJuly 9, 2010 K.C. Jones 10 out of 10 found this review helpful
I've been reading Jim Champy's books for years. He always offers practical, eye-opening advice. It's so refreshing to see him write about how much his friend, Peter Drucker (one of the greatest business scholars of all time), has influenced his life and thinking. Champy also outlines the most important lessons he learned from Drucker and explains how you can apply them to your own organization. It's a true meeting of the minds with a sentimental twist. Well done!
