Snapshots from Hell: The Making of an MBA

by Peter M. Robinson

Book Overview

In the tradition of Liar's Poker comes an irreverent and hilarious story of one man's adventure at America's premier business school--Stanford. From his first harrowing days, through exams, and searching for a job, this journal-based book answers the question: What is business school really like? Written by a former presidential speechwriter.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446517860
• ISBN13: 9780446517867
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Warner Books (NY)
• Length: 286 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

It is as tough as hell

Okay, I just finished the first quarter at one of the top business schools. I come from an engineering background with stellar stats. I have found business school tough as hell in terms of the number of things one has to juggle. The material itself is not difficult. However, if someone is trying to make a transition to a completely unrelated (to prior experience) field then it will feel like hell. I understand that it gets better in the 2nd year but then the book mainly talks about the first year. Based on my personal experience as well as that of my close friend's, this book gets it right. The b-school is easy if: 1) You plan on going back to your industry. 2) You are not interested in recruiting for any reason 3) If you are at a top school, and are planning to go into fields like general management, corporate finance or marketing - the kind of jobs that are easy to get, coming from a top school. I find it laughable that some idiots here think that business school is easier than engineering school. They are right only if the above conditions are true or maybe these genuises went to soft schools like HBS, Kellogg, etc. If you are planning to go into Private Equity, Venture Capital, Asset Management, Investment Banking or Management Consulting, while not coming from those backgrounds, you will relate to this book.

Excellent!

Having only stumbled upon this book at my local library, my expectations were rather low. However, I was more than pleasantly surprised. It's not often that I finish a book wishing for a bit more, but in this case, I did. Mr. Robinson's portrayal of his "descent" into business school "hell" is very well written and heart felt. I especially appreciated his self deprecating sense of humor and laughed along with him as he described the numerous occasions where he found himself completely lost in classes and study groups. I can only imagine the reaction, however, of some of his fellow classmates and professors who he spoke of at times in rather colorful terms. This book is an honest and sincere reflection of his experiences, and I found it to be both entertaining and thought provoking. For anyone contemplating the trip to graduate school, I would recommend this book. His story of having to discuss his study group's conclusions concerning a dillema that a particular airline found themselves in (when the CEO of that airline has been asked to join the class by his professor as a suprise to everyone in the room) is well worth the price admission itself. Highly recommended!

SO SO TRUE!

Being a first year full-time MBA student is tough, demanding, and rigorous. This little gem summarizes the fact you'll have little left of your life when you start the program. Words of advice to MBA wannabes: 1. READ THIS! It's funny and too true. You'll see that he (like me) was unprepared for what was unleashed upon him. 2. Take an accounting and statistics class before you go! You'll save yourself some major headaches! 3. It's as tough as he describes but we're supposed to get through it...I hope! Go Maryland!

MUST-READ FOR ANYONE GOING TO BUSINESS SCHOOL!!!

"Snapshots From Hell" provides an inside look at Stanford, in the heart of Silicon Valley, which along with Harvard is one of the two or three top business schools in the world. Since the author's background was words, not numbers--Robinson was a White House speechwriter--he struggled with the course work, and he makes you both laugh and feel for him as he sweats his way through the work. At the same time, Robinson reports on classmates who found the workload easier than he did, providing a balanced look at what business school is like and giving you a feeling for the range of characters you'll meet there. Informative--and always entertaining (I read it in one day). The book to read before going to B-school!

B-school students would surely love this book.

Snapshots from Hell accurately captures what most first year MBA students go through. Coming from a top management school myself, I found myself connecting with most of the stories Peter Robinson relates. This is a no-regret purchase.