Book: Achievement The Greatest Business Minds on Success
Author: Various
Publisher: Speaking Tiger
Pages: 208;
Price: Rs 250
Books are classified in different ways, by genre, by binding, by design etc. One of the classifications is also based on point of sales. This book is for sale at book stalls, at bus stands and railway stations. Most of the time the buyer at these point of purchases are looking for a book to kill time. They are not interested in the author or publisher as much as they would be otherwise. They do not have much expectation from the book as the objective is to kill time and not gain much from the book.
The book neither has an author nor an editor. The basic information about the book is given on the back cover of the book and it says “the most legendary business leaders share their stories, insights and advice about creating immensely successful and sustainable businesses”.
The quote at the back cover gives the impression as if the businessmen have written something specifically for the book, while in reality it is not the case. The book covers five foreign businessmen and five Indian businessmen. Out of five Indian businessmen, book has excerpts from the speech of four and for fifth; publisher has taken extract from his book. While in case of foreigners, all are extracts from the books.
What surprises one is that the publisher thinks Napoleon Hill and Dale Carnegie were businessmen and has included the excerpts from their book. What can be more painful than a publisher confusing bestselling authors with businessmen. There is no coherence in terms of selection of businessmen in terms of era or business or issues they dealt with. Last 17 pages carry one or two quotes in each page from successful people but not necessarily businessmen.
Also, one can read all these excerpts, speeches in individual essays and articles in newspapers, magazines, internet etc. When a reader picks up a book, he looks for a structure, clearly defined outcomes, especially when the book is positioned as a guide to something, in this case “success in business”. On these counts, the book fails to deliver.
