Design

"Design" by Tom Peters proves what the author is preaching...It is possible to redesign your business and everything in it. The book itself, without reading a word, makes the point. Every other business book is much the same in two unfortunate ways. First, most are "one trick" ponies that have a central theme that is repeated in mind numbing variations. Second, business books are just like most other books people don't finish...chapter, text; chapter, text; chapter, text...AHHHHH! Here, Peters (along with others he properly credits) has redesigned what a business book should be. The reader can open any page, anywhere in the book, read for 2 minutes and actually gain something from the experience. In fact, that might be the proper way to read this book...one bite at a time. Much of what he has to say is made the more compelling when the blandness of the marketplace is viewed critically as called for by Peters. Yes, the colors make a standard reading approach difficult. This book forces you to peer deeply to read fonts of every size and style. When was the last time you actually leaned into a book to glean some rare fact? You will here. The book forces the reader to consider why he is saying certain things directly, without mincing words from his self-proclaimed RANTS to every other get-out-there-and-stop-being-mediocre command. By the way, you don't have to be a "designer" to read this book. It is about designing EVERYTHING. Don't want to be challenged? Want to cuddle back into the books you read in your MBA program? Go ahead, but don't be surprised when your business goes the way of Montgomery Wards, Oldsmobile and the buggy whip.

"Design" is a bit overwhelming. The content is very helpful. However, the layout is confusing and at times difficult. Some pages are very hard to read because of the color combinations. The textual layout is at times jumbled. I feel that Mr. Peters has ventured into the extreme to make a point. That may be okay, but in doing so, he has driven the reader into bewilderment. The information is very helpful and very well developed. There are many great concepts and ideas presented. My only disagreement is the methodology and physical presentation.

TP has a way of putting things into perspective without a bunch of extraneous BS , aside of course, from that needed to convey enthusiasm.

I discovered this in an airport bookshop and it is a great read on a flight. I takes some of the most insightful trend study and boils it down so that anybody can get their arms around why design is the most important factor in your business today. Yes any bussiness. This is my hyperbole Tom is much better at stating the case. But when a management guru like Tom puts out a visualy interesting as well as well thought out book like this it is time to take notice. Read and use or be left in the dust.