The Elephant And The Flea: New Thinking For A New World - Softcover

Handy, Charles

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0099415658 ISBN 13: 9780099415657

Publisher: Random House Business, 2002

Synopsis

Fleas need elephants, just as elephants need fleas to keep them alert and dancing. This idea also applies to economies who need both, to business, which has to structure itself to allow fleas to co-exist with the elephants, to society, which needs to encourage individualism but needs the conformity of the elephant.

About this title

Review:

Charles Handy is always a delight to read, and The Elephant and the Flea--his autobiography-laced analysis of business over the past two decades--is no exception. In his 13th book, the United Kingdom's pre-eminent sage on commercial and industrial matters looks within and at education, marriage, religion and society in order to assess the changing nature of employment. His literate and knowledgeable tale begins in 1981, when Handy decided to exchange a safe but stifling life with a corporation (the "elephant" of his title) for the riskier but potentially more rewarding existence of an independent (or "flea"). Mixing diverse experiences with cogent observations on the evolving workplace, he sets the scene for plausible projections about where we might yet be headed. "Just as the signs were there 20 years ago for those who wished to see them, so I believe we can glimpse the shape of the new capitalist world even if it may take another 20 years to develop," he writes. "We may not like what is coming but we would be foolish to think that we can plan our lives, or our children's lives, without giving some thought to the shape of the stage on which we and they will be strutting". Intensely personal yet remarkably universal, the result is another provocative, illuminating and enjoyable book from the oil executive turned bestselling author.--Howard Rothman

Review:

"He makes difficult stuff seem easy" (Management Today)

"'In this very readable book Handy makes you think more about the impact of these diverse changes on the whole world of human endeavour, not just the world of work." (Human Resources Magazine)

"You will find yourself constantly returning to the book and quoting extracts to collegues...This latest offering is a joy to read. It is one of those rare things, a book by a management author that you want to devour at one sitting." (Ambassdor)

"This is an ambitious treatment of the future of everything." (Canary)

"It is classic Handy...It is entertaining, thought provoking, humanistic and wise in equal measures." (FMX)

About this edition

• Publisher: Random House Business
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0099415658
• ISBN 13: 9780099415657
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240