Clever as Serpents: Business Ethics and Office Politics

by Jim Grote and John R. McGreeney

Book Overview

Centuries ago Thomas Aquinas remarked that there can be no joy in life if there is no joy in one's work. Drawing upon the seminal insights of Rene Girard, "Clever as Serpents" confronts this timeless... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0814658679
• ISBN13: 9780814658673
• Release Date: November 1997
• Publisher: Michael Glazier Books
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.3" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Ethics for Business, Ethics for Life

Clever as Serpents is a wonderful book that elucidates the cause of human conflict. The ethical implications reach far beyond the business world. Using the insight of mimetic theory, the authors focus on the term "borrowed desire" to explain why we fall into conflict. Because we are social creatures, we influence one another in profound ways, including the objects we desire. We "borrow" the desires of others. This leads us into conflict for objects, but soon the conflict over the object turns into an intense rivalry to displace the other person. If both people are prominent, they will redirect their frustrations on someone else - a scapegoat. The authors use wonderful real life illustrations to explain this process. What is really great about this book is that the authors provide practical suggestions to ethical problems resulting from "borrowed desire." The discussion about the meaning of success was especially helpful to me. Clever as Serpents is inexpensive and at about 120 pages, it's a quick read. Helpful discussion questions are provided, so it would be a good book to read in a group. Highly recommended. www.ravenfoundation.org

Highly recommended

These men clearly are intelligent and well-informed on the topic. It's not a breeze to read, but I don't think it was intended to be. Fascinating analysis of business ethics. I've read other articles by Grote, and I'd love to see McGeeney publish something else. Highly recommended.