Customer Reviews

Doing Business by the Good Book: Fifty-Two Lessons on Success Sraight from the Bible

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Perhaps if someone less successful in business than David L. Steward and Robert L. Shook wrote this guide book, readers would chuckle over the concept that the Bible offers sage advice on business practices. Business ethics seems an oxymoron as the Golden Rule of Wall St. seems that them with the gold makes the rule (look at who has access to Mr. Bush, Mr. Clinton or those fiefdoms we dub Congress). However, cynicism aside, Mr. Steward and Mr. Shook makes a strong case that those who follow biblical guidance have a very high chance of success.

The authors break the self help book into fifty two topics such as good leadership, empowerment, networking, conviction, etc. Each chapter contains a brief definition, scripture quotes, and examples of success. The advice is solid as the topics are relevant and biblical citations and parables fit quite soundly in today's information age. This is an insightful and interesting book that encourages people to conduct business activities in a positive manner straight from the bible. Ye who doubt must not forget Abraham. He was the leading businessman of his time until he hears a voice in his head. Heeding the advice, he sells the business, relocates and gives the choice beach front property to his nephew. Following that lordly voice in his brain he becomes the leading businessman again.

Harriet Klausner

DOING BUSINESS BY THE GOOD BOOK is an inspiring collection of business truisms based on Biblical teachings. The author of the book, David Steward, is a very successful businessman and the founder and CEO of a billion dollar company called World Wide Technologies. Establishing his company in the highly competitive "tech" field was not easy, especially when there were countless naysayers who doubted that a small minority business could garner success in this area. However, Steward credits his commitment to God's principals as the driving force behind his corporate success. Already known as a dominant business leader, David and his wife were asked to teach a Sunday School class for business people. It is this Sunday School class, called Doing Business by the Book, which provided the material for this powerful book.

The lessons in the book are set up in an easily understood manner. Each of the 52 lessons has its own theme and includes a scriptural passage relating to the particular theme. The actual "meat" of the lesson includes the author's interpretation of the scripture and his own experiences with the theme. Steward provides readers with a wealth of information and willingly uses his own experiences as examples.

While this book is targeted towards a business audience, the lessons will motivate anyone who reads it. The book covers a broad array of subject areas, including planning, communication, networking, and flexibility. However, the most powerful message in the book is that our morals and values should be upheld in all aspects of our lives, including the professional arena. David Steward provides relevant, hard-hitting food for thought and his personal experiences are just as powerful as the Biblical lessons he teaches. DOING BUSINESS BY THE GOOD BOOK will provoke readers to examine themselves and consider the word of God before making decisions in their lives. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay

of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

In Doing Business By The Good Book: 52 Lessons On Success Straight From The Bible, Dave Steward (Founder and CEO of World Wide Technology, a privately held, billion-dollar company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri), draws upon his many years of personal experience and professional expertise to show his fellow Christians how they can succeed in building their business enterprise upon the solid foundation of Scripture. With the assistance of author Robert L. Shook, Steward has organized his presentation into specific chapters deftly addressing such issues as the entrepreneurial spirit and integrity, the concepts of delegation and adaption, finding a niche, providing good leadership in the service of others, building long-term relationships, taking a stand, the necessity for consistency, teamwork, risk-taking, operating a customer-driven company, handling confrontation, accountability, the role of praise and recognition, letting go and allowing God to work His will, and so much more. Doing Business By The Good Book should be considered "must reading" by all dedicated Christians in positions of managerial responsibility whether it be a local enterprise or an international conglomerate.

There is a handful of terrific books by terrific writers ... few are better than what Robert L. Shook and Dave Steward have put together.

David Steward's book should be required reading by all pastors and in all churches as well as in today's business world. It's wonderful! Easy to read, yet weighty in substance. Using biblical principles, David successfully shows a spiritually, mature integration of these principles and his faith with success and business workplace ethics. Churches could also benefit from this refreshing viewpoint of "doing business by the good book" and note that this "good book" is just as good for religous business. I see this book being used to teach biblical ethics and for bible study and Sunday School (one lesson X 52 weeks).

This book is the most inspiring how-to business book I have ever read! It is a must read for every principle centered business person. All business people can relate to the personal trials that David Steward overcame by faith. Thank you David for stepping forward and pointing to the source.

This book's subtitle, 52 Lessons on Success Straight from the Bible, captures its appeal but also indicates why it might turn away nonreligious readers. David L. Steward's ethical lessons are admirable. He divides his advice into weekly units, making it easy to apply. (This also reflects the book's roots in a weekly church-based study group). However, though Steward sees his lessons as straightforward, many readers might find his logic a little challenging. For example, he draws the lesson of niche marketing from Matthew 6:24, "No man can serve two masters." This makes interesting sense at first. However, while his later expansion into a second niche may offer a good business example, is it Biblical? Not as much. The chapter on the blessings of living in America seems even less scriptural, but many sections of the book do make good use of Biblical values as business guideposts. Steward's felicitous examples from his own successes make it easy to understand his points. We recommend his warm, inspirational guidebook to spiritually inclined readers who are interested in using their beliefs to reinforce ethical business practices.

This book is full of wonderful guidelines and principles to follow if your desire is to be successful in business. An easy and enjoyable read. A must have for any personal business library!

This book is co-authored by David L. Steward and he is a true success story! He has risen from humble beginnings, and confronted many personal setbacks to become founder and CEO of the largest African-American owned company in the United States. Doing Business by the Good Book is his personal story of the faith and perseverance that he credits for his success. Steward shares 52 principles from the Bible that he believes were intended to be implemented in business strategy and conduct. This is not simply a book that blandly presents 52 Biblical principles. It is David Steward's own story of how these 52 principles impacted his personal and family life to eventually build World Wide Technology, Inc., a privately held billion-dollar company. Doing Business by the Good Book is almost like reading a private diary. Steward discusses his own vivid experiences to teach about business management, ethics, strategy and personal leadership. At the heart of his value system are the Biblical scriptures frequently mentioned throughout the book. A central theme is his belief that giving and serving others is an essential ingredient to becoming highly successful. If an organization honestly serves its employees and customers, their response of loyalty will help achieve an impressive bottom line.



This book is organized into 52 short and readable chapters that can be read in one sitting, or digested as one chapter per week for an entire year. The chapters cover virtually every aspect of modern business and decision-making including integrity, delegation, adapting to change, teamwork, risk-taking, confrontation, mentoring, empowerment, accountability and many more. The foreword is written by former president of the United States, George H.W. Bush. Steward gives much credit and praise for his achievements to his supportive wife Thelma.



Doing Business by the Good Book is an outstanding publication to read whether you are religious or not. Steward doesn't preach or lecture. He simply and gently teaches from the perspective of his personal example and experience like a seasoned old professor who has "done it all". At weLEAD, we rarely call a book inspirational, but this book certainly fulfills that definition. This is a needed and timely book, especially when you look at the evening news and see many business executives being prosecuted for serious crimes and unadulterated greed.

A wonderful book for anyone interested in running their business, ministry or church using principles that will make you a better boss and a better person.

I highly recommend it to everyone.