Customer Reviews

FAT AND MEAN: The Corporate Squeeze of Working Americans and the Myth of Managerial "Downsizing"

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This was David Gordon's last book, as he was unfortunately felled shortly after its release by an untimely heart attack. The depth of scholarship and passion this man brought to "Fat and Mean" makes his passing especially sad. Gordon's book exhibits his twin strengths of intellectual acumen and the ability to write plainly, without much jargon.

Gordon's book should be read by partisans of both right and left, mostly because the typical book (ideological orientation aside) on economic policy is dismal. Its thesis--that US workers are being crushed by in a squeeze play by the American managerial class--is backed up by extensive references and research. If you are seeking a provocative look at the state of workers today, this book deserves your prompt attention.

This book is dated in many respects.
The strength of the book is its details, it is one of the few books that investigates the many possible causes of falling wages in the U.S.A.

David Gordon provided an index of "real spendable hourly wages" as a realistic measure of employee take-home pay.

He looked at "corporate obesity" and investigated the "reservation wage" which is the pay rate that some potential employees may consider to be too low when seeking employment.

He also looked at globalization, immigration, and "skills mismatch" and how they may possibly effect wage stagnation.

The author argues that part of the problem is the top-heavy nature of corporations.

"Fat and Mean" is a worthwhile read despite it's age. Another strongpoint of this book is the documentation that Mr. Gordon provided in the book for sources.

If corporate America is as bloated, inefficient, and hopeless as the author suggests, why not seize upon this opportunity to start your own business? Instead of an author teaching us how to cry he should stimulate his readers to take advantage of this company shortsightedness and create their own efficient, profitable, and exciting businesses. I know that this is a harder task than to just sit back and whine but such a skill makes the difference between a truly innovative book and one merely soaked with the reader's tears. Compare this book to "The Art of the Start" by Guy Kawasaki or "Hoover's Vision" by Gary Hoover. And remember Churchill's admonition: "The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

Insight into why bureaucracies are so hopelessly unmanageable can be gleaned from reading "The Excuse Factory - How Employment Law is Paralyzing the American Workplace" by Walter K. Olsen. Furthermore to learn how to avoid making the same missteps (that large entities commit) in your own company read "Every Mistake in the Book" by F J Lennon and "Whoever Makes the Most Mistakes Wins" by Richard Farson and Ralph Keyes. Regarding large corporations, c.f., "The Rule of Three" by Jagdish Sheth and Rajendra Sisodia or "The Profit Zone" by Adrian J Slywotzky and David J Morrison.

Be skeptical of glowing 5-star reviews from critics who find absolutely no fault with the books they are reviewing. "Before reading xxxx I knew absolutely nothing but after devouring this paragon of perfection I am now totally conversant with the subject of yyyy."