How Come Every Time I Get Stabbed in the Back My Fingerprints Are on the Knife?: And Other Meditations on Management

by Jerry B. Harvey

Book Overview

The role we each play in our own downfalls create the profound--and profoundly entertaining--basis for this series of linked "meditations" as the author of The Abilene Paradox takes another irreverent look at the nature of life on the job. In this work, Harvey explores the ethical, moral, and spiritual dilemmas we all face in the modern world of work. But he does it in a most unconventional way. His is an approach that mixes equal parts humor, philosophy,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0787947873
• ISBN13: 9780787947873
• Release Date: August 1999
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.19 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Harvey Tells It Like It Is

A must read! Harvey begins the book by relating and analyzing an event that happened when he was six years old. At once, the windows of my mind opened, and I began to be able to understand a lot of what has happened in my own life. I laughed out loud after reading on page 36 about the organizational back stabbing victim: "Blood flowing, he [ the Potential Victim] continues his journey into Real Victim status by retreating to the security of the organization's infirmary, which usually is located in the Human Resource Department, for an extended period of recovery." Been there, done that!

Interesting ruminations on ramanagement

The book centers on a key concept - we victimize ourselves. Work is a political place, but most of the time, we see problems coming. If someone stabs us in the back, usually we get a warning, but are complicit by not assertively contacting the person doing us in. This idea of defeating poor office behavior through open and honest discussion is developed in depth throughout the book. There are two downsides. First, this book perhaps has too much text for such a simple concept. Although this is good reading for a fan of Jerry Harvey (I am one!) the Abilene Paradox is a much more efficient (more ideas, less words) introduction to his material. Second, Jerry is perhaps oversimplifying the world. Office politics is best beaten by open book confrontation of problems, but life sometimes is more complex than that. That said, this is still a worthwhile read.

Only for those who think...

Jerry Harvey is great. The Abiline Paradox was wonderfully insightful and helpful and this one is also wonderful. His insights into spirituality, morality and human psychology are profound and helpful. This book is easy to read, it is fun and funny, but it is not a cookbook that tells you to do A, B, and C. It just helps you think deeply. If you want a cookbook there are a thousand books out there, I'm tired of them. Even the title of this book is thought provoking as is the rest of the book. Think for a change!

Jerry Harvey is right on the money

Jerry Harvey is sharp, quick witted, and perceptive. Anyone who interacts with other people at all should read this book. It is a rare combination of good writing and good lessons.

do you meditate on how you manage?

In a discipline filled with pseudo-scientific gurus, Dr. Harvey offers a fresh perspective through his insightful 'meditations'. If you're still looking for technique and how-to, you may not find it here. Dr Harvey critical and funny analysis give insights for you. You really got to read his experience after his heart surgery!