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FROM: JUL-AUG 2009 ISSUE | BY MINDY ABRAMOWITZ
Remember being sent home with summer reading lists as a student? The tradition of working through (or starting and abandoning) a list of books mostly chosen for their edifying qualities remains a mainstay of pedagogy during the summer months. The work included in these lists usually covered a range from the fustiest classics to contemporary novels. A reading list devised along the same principles can offer the same benefits to businesspeople possessing an avid interest in their continuing development.
The Art of War and The Book of Five Rings
Both of these classic treatises on military strategy and tactics made their way onto the syllabi of countless MBA programs and into the lexicon of businesspeople everywhere around 30 years ago, though the texts predate the industrialized world. The Art of War is the product of a tumultuous and violent period in Chinese history over two thousand years ago during which the ruling class embraced Sun Tzu’s principles of competition and diplomacy along with his lessons in outsmarting enemies while avoiding direct conflict. According to legend, the samurai warrior, Miyamoto Musashi, achieved superhuman mastery of swordsmanship and combat in feudal Japan and went on to describe his techniques and philosophy in The Book of Five Rings. The Art of War and The Book of Five Rings have seen their ideas interpreted as corporate strategy and used as guides for navigating competitive business situations.
In our current business environment, the popularity of both books has declined in the face of widespread rejection of militaristic business models. Today’s captains of industry are less likely to intone maxims from The Art of War or practise cutting down opponents in samurai-style, but the philosophies set forth in these works have entered the collective consciousness and can contribute to a greater literacy in business rhetoric and strategy.
The Prince
Niccolo Machiavelli’s monograph on political power is a fixture on reading lists that survey the Western literary canon. The publication of The Prince in 1532 is cited by some as the beginning of political science as we know it and its most recognizable theme that the ends justify the means (though incorrectly attributed to Machiavelli) has been taken up by thinkers in almost all disciplines. Its central concerns are the acquisition, retention, and uses of political power for the achievement of what Machiavelli considered the greatest good: stability and sovereignty of state. Its analysis of statecraft translates seamlessly into a philosophy of business leadership where CEOs are like princes and business organizations approximate principalities.
Although many malign The Prince for its doctrines of opportunism and cunning, its impact on 21st century thought in the western world is undeniable. It draws its lessons from close observation of political machinations and offers pragmatic guidance to leaders on governance and competition.
Peter F. Drucker
One of the foremost theorists of business management and organizational behaviour in the 20th century was Peter Drucker, whose work encompasses 39 publications touching on such topics as interpersonal relations within corporations, the art of management, modern economics, and the role of knowledge workers. His writing and consulting career spanned more than 70 years resulting in a bibliography diverse enough to offer fascinating material to suit almost any reading list and influential enough to inspire further reading in a wide range of areas. Classics in the Drucker canon include Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices; The Practice of Management; Innovation and Entrepreneurship; andManagement Challenges for the 21st Century, but compilations of some of his most highly-regarded work appear in distilled form in The Essential Drucker and The Daily Drucker. Perfect for backyard or beach reading.
As professionals, the onus falls on us to direct our own learning and to choose how best to glean value from our leisure time. A summer reading list for professional accountants might serve the same purpose as those erstwhile lists: to keep us thinking and learning even while we relax.
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