How Come Every Time I Get Stabbed in the Back My Fingerprints Are on the Knife? : And Other Meditations on Management [Hardcover]

Jerry B. Harvey (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0787947873 | ISBN-13: 978-0787947873 | Publication Date: August 3, 1999 | Edition: 1

The role we each play in our own downfalls create the profound--and profoundly entertaining--basis for this series of linked "meditations" as the author of The Abilene Paradox takes another irreverent look at the nature of life on the job. In this work, Harvey explores the ethical, moral, and spiritual dilemmas we all face in the modern world of work. But he does it in a most unconventional way. His is an approach that mixes equal parts humor, philosophy, and insight to make us laugh, think, and examine organizational behavior in a brand new light. The twelve essays themselves carry such spirited titles as "What If I Really Believe this Stuff," "On Tooting Your Own Horn," and "Ode to Waco." Altogether, it's an enthralling collection of wise and witty parables that illustrate the redemptive value of the truth in a voice that is ultimately understanding of human shortcomings.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Harvey, an academic and researcher engaged in exploring ethical, moral, and spiritual issues of organizations, presents his theories on organizational behavior and effective management. Coming from a family of storytellers, he uses stories to cover a wide variety of topics, including a description of anaclitic depression, which is depression experienced by many in organizations that are incompetently led. He also offers thoughts on group behavior and the need to find scapegoats; the dynamics of standing for something rather than not getting involved; the role of prayer in organizational behavior; and the common human need to belong. His unusual approach to organizational issues captures a reader's attention and gives Harvey a platform to express his beliefs, which are worthy of consideration. As he promises, this is a far more effective presentation than offering a list of prescriptions for personal and organizational success. Mary Whaley

Review

"Jerry Harvey has the uncanny ability of observing the ordinary yet seeing the extraordinary. His insights are both provocative and useful, no common combination. Reading this book, you will learn to see the world through another lens." (W. Warner Burke)

"Here are real organizational worlds both terrifying and hilarious, where people say and do things that they don't do anywhere else, and feel things that they don't feel anywhere else, and fortunately Jerry Harvey is there, too, to record it, reflect on it, and help us learn from it. Bless him!" (Peter Vaill, professor and holder of the Distinguished Chair in Management Education, University of St. Thomas, Minnesota)

"A decade ago, Jerry Harvey's Abilene Paradox indelibly entered the lexicon as a metaphor for unproductive group behavior. Now, he's identified an equally damaging-and paradoxical-pattern of individual self-destruction. And, once again, he offers the same invaluable prescription: Tell the truth to everyone?especially yourself. Ah, if only this time we will listen." (James O'Toole, author, Leadership A to Z)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (August 3, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787947873
• ISBN-13: 978-0787947873
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #284,895 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars do you meditate on how you manage?, December 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: How Come Every Time I Get Stabbed in the Back My Fingerprints Are on the Knife? : And Other Meditations on Management (Hardcover)

In a discipline filled with pseudo-scientific gurus, Dr. Harvey offers a fresh perspective through his insightful 'meditations'. If you're still looking for technique and how-to, you may not find it here. Dr Harvey critical and funny analysis give insights for you. You really got to read his experience after his heart surgery!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Only for those who think..., August 1, 2004

By 

Lawrence M. Miller (Annapolis, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How Come Every Time I Get Stabbed in the Back My Fingerprints Are on the Knife? : And Other Meditations on Management (Hardcover)

Jerry Harvey is great. The Abiline Paradox was wonderfully insightful and helpful and this one is also wonderful. His insights into spirituality, morality and human psychology are profound and helpful. This book is easy to read, it is fun and funny, but it is not a cookbook that tells you to do A, B, and C. It just helps you think deeply. If you want a cookbook there are a thousand books out there, I'm tired of them. Even the title of this book is thought provoking as is the rest of the book. Think for a change!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting ruminations on ramanagement, December 29, 2004

By 

therosen "therosen" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: How Come Every Time I Get Stabbed in the Back My Fingerprints Are on the Knife? : And Other Meditations on Management (Hardcover)

The book centers on a key concept - we victimize ourselves. Work is a political place, but most of the time, we see problems coming. If someone stabs us in the back, usually we get a warning, but are complicit by not assertively contacting the person doing us in. This idea of defeating poor office behavior through open and honest discussion is developed in depth throughout the book.

There are two downsides. First, this book perhaps has too much text for such a simple concept. Although this is good reading for a fan of Jerry Harvey (I am one!) the Abilene Paradox is a much more efficient (more ideas, less words) introduction to his material. Second, Jerry is perhaps oversimplifying the world. Office politics is best beaten by open book confrontation of problems, but life sometimes is more complex than that.

That said, this is still a worthwhile read.