The Future of Success

by Robert B. Reich

Book Overview

If you think it's getting harder to both make a living and make a life, economist and former secretary of labor Robert Reich agrees with you. Americans may be earning more than ever before, but we're... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375411127
• ISBN13: 9780375411120
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

REICH: Book about Work from someone with NO REAL Job

THE TRUTH: THOSE CANNOT DO WILL TEACH. The old age wisdom says we should only preach about those things we know, have experience. Here we have an author, the Former U.S. Secretary of Labor writing about work. Has Robert Reich ever had a Real, TRUE job. He has spent his whole life in the "Ivory Tower" not the real world where individuals, companies have to provide products and services to the world. Look at Bill Klinton, what was his first job after law school, a professor at the University of Arkansas. What was Hilary RodHAM Clinton's first job, a law professor? After long hours as U.S. Secretary of Labor, what job did he run to: another phony, fake job as Economics professor at Brandeis University. How did these clowns think that to BS in front if 18, 19 years olds is real job. Look at what Al "2000 Loser" Gore do after the 2000 election loss. He got a teaching job at Tennessee State and Columbia Journalism School. Does the world really another academic to write another useless book. Much of the content of the book is Not new. First, there was agriculture. The raising of plants-animals has been the pre-occupation of humans for 8,000 years. With the Industrial Revolution of the 17th, 18th century in England and then Europe, industry has replaced farming. With the invention of the Transistor, microprocessor, PC and the worldwide, universal Internet, the world is now moving to a digital-service economy. The coming One (1) Billion transistor CPU will truly usher in a new era in the history of humans. Oil, Natural Resources still counts in the modern world. But Brain-Power, Brain-Products is really what matters in the 21st. century. To survive as individuals, groups or nations, we need to be producers before we can be consumers. Producers-consumers, consumers-producers is what the global markets is all about. Another useless book from an academic who has never had a real job is NOT what the new economy is all about.

Dissects the modern Work/Life balance problem

This was a great, insightful, enjoyable, well-written book. It clearly dissects the problem of why it's so hard to achieve a suitable work/life balance today, and clearly describes some underlying causes. For me, it certainly lived up to the praise it has gotten. In short, Reich's central idea is this: as consumers, we love the terrific products and deals we're getting in today's marketplace as a result of increased competition. However, the dark site of this is that we must work longer hours as employees and be more innovative to ensure our companies outpace the competition. These time pressures are fragmenting our personal lives as we reduce the time we spend with friends, family and community. Reich has many interesting insights and observations beyond this overall theme as well. Overall, I recommend this book -- reading it was time well spent.

Great Book, Great Thinker, Great Insights

A lot of people missed this book. Maybe it is not a best-seller.Maybe the book title, The Future of Success misled people, making them assume that this is just another cliche' self-help book.Not quite the case, if you have really read this book, and getastounded by its rigorous analysis on both future and presentsocial and economic trends.Actually a lot of people still don't quite get it! They questionwhy they have such a good education and years of solid professional experience, and yet they lost their jobs.Yes, depreciation of college degrees, oversupply of professionals, rise of Free Agents economy, death of job securityand staff loyalty,internet and information technologies eliminating non-value-adding jobs, and deep cuts on company expenses have all contributed to such a tough job market---which have also creatednegative impacts on social life, work life, and more importantlyfamily/marital life.This book is an eye-opener. It tells you how to cope with thechanging world, and has provided a road map for us to understandboth our work life and personal life better.Personally, I am a heavy books-consumer. I read at least 1 to 2books per week. I think, in recent years, this book" hits" memost, and have" Whack the Side of my Head" most.Read it, and I am sure Robert B. Reich will not disappoint you!

Employment Turmoil in the 90s

If you have changed jobs or careers willingly or unwillingly in the past decade, Bob Reich gives a splendid overview of the changes that have wracked the economy. If you are a conservative, please do not be put-off by the fact that Mr. Reich served in the Clinton cabinet. As an economist, he is both engaging and insightful, yet he never lets his text become overwhelmed by statistics. Highly readable. As a junior policy-wonk wannabe, I really enjoyed this fast read.

Not a good book -- a GREAT one

To use the word "visionary" would be to undersell this author. Robert Reich is perhaps the single key individual bridging the divide between the old and new economies. From his vantage point as former secretary of labor, a brilliant economist, and having written seven previous books, we are priveleged to see a clear picture of a new time, a new way of life, and myriad new opportunities. Reich has taken it upon himself to explain how the economy works to millions of Americans in clear, plain English. I have already bought this book for several friends and just today found a signed copy! I'm so excited. His joy of writing and communicating is so clear -- it's as much fun to read as it must have been to write. This is THE book of the year -- I don't care what comes next. If it doesn't change your perspective or give you more confidence in your decisions, e-mail me and I'll buy your copy from you. The Future of Success is perhaps the most underlined book i've finished reading in years.NOTE: I would love to meet Robert Reich. If you have any suggestions on how to meet him, please contact me.David Siegel, author