The Peter Principle: Why Things Always Go Wrong

by Raymond Hull, Laurence J. Peter, Dr Laurence J Peter and Raymond Hull

Book Overview

" The Peter Principle has cosmic implications." -- New York Times Back in 1969, Lawrence J. Peter created a cultural phenomenon with his brilliant, outrageous, hilarious, and all-too-true treatise on business and life, The Peter Principle --and his words and theories are as true today as they were then. By posing--and answering--the eternal question, "Why do things always go wrong?" Peter explores the incompetence that runs so rampant through our...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688275443
• ISBN13: 9780688275440
• Release Date: September 1998
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.3" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

THE PETER PRINCIPLE

GREAT BOOK EVEN IF I'M READING IT BY THE SECOND TIME AFTER 30 YEARS PLUS. THIS RE-EDITION MUST BE READ BY THE CURRENT CEO'S THAT WERE STILL IN DIAPERS WHEN THE BOOK WAS FIRST PUBLISHED.

Painful truth made fun of

The Peter principle is a small book about hierarchies and how people act within the hierarchy. The peter principle itself states that "in a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence". In the beginning, the book explains the law and it's difficult to actually determine the authors seriousness. The points he makes seem valid, at least according my person experiences. However, the way it's written and the some paragraphs clearly suggest a not that serious undertone. The further you read it the book, the more hilarious it becomes! In chapter 8 the author goes on to prove that Freud had actually reached his level of incompetence. Chapter 12 describes indicators for finding out if you've reached your level of incompetence, all having insane names. In chapter 15 he almost overdoes it when explaining that humans are hard on their way of reaching their level of incompence in the animal hierarchy... The book is extremly funny and well worth reading. I'd recommend that while reading, now and then put it aside and think about the things Peter has to say. It's hilarious and ... has some truth in it?

perfect couple

after enjoying Parkinsons law (by Parkinson), I loved to read this booklet. Not very scientifically but a lot of interesting knowledge considering the year of publication

Right on the money

In the first chapter of the book, after a few examples of his principle in action, Laurence Peter proposes his Peter principle: "In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence." He proceeds to take the reader on a journey through the nascent field of "hierarchiology," defining the necessary terms as he goes along. He provides superb insight into why the hierarchies and bureacracies of the world are so inefficient and are becoming increasingly so, why successful people are often unhappy in their jobs and why the most talented people often proceed through their careers without material reward. Peter's observations are funny, but alarmingly true. An excellent resource for the armchair sociologist - highly recommended.

The bell-curve proves this book is right!

Look at the bell-curve. Not the controvertial book by Herrnstein and Murray, but the statistical bell curve used in grading and whatnot. The bell curve proves two things:1) One half of the people you meet--that is every other person you meet--is below average.2) Only 1/4 of the people you meet are really smart--those of the upper quartile--and in a democracy they will always be out voted.Our hope is in that upper 25%, yet they will always be in a minority, with the lesser 75% of us misunderstanding them, or dragging them down.Now you see how this book makes sense!Keep in mind that a theory is only as good as it's data. Luckily, we can verify the Peter Principle rather easily. Just look around your workplace, and look at what goes on. You will see the Peter Principle in al it's glory.A painfully true book!