Customer Reviews

If Harry Potter Ran General Electric: Leadership Wisdom from the World of the Wizards

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If Harry Potter Ran General Electric is a bridge between the fantasy world of J.K Rowling's imagination and the world that business and professional people face every day. Both Rowling and author and public philosopher Tom Morris present us pictures of the ethical realities that both the young Harry and the rest of must address in order to be successful without losing our integrity.

Morris's book is more intentionally focused on leadership than his previous books. Whether you own a small business or staff a cubicle in a global corporation, there is something here for you. This isn't a formulaic approach to leadership. There is no leadership matrix revealed here, except that leadership is "always fundamentally a relational, interpersonal role"(p.152). Each chapter explores insights from the Harry Potter stories that illuminate the nature of leadership. Having spent two decades engaged with leaders and their development, I find Morris' perspective is right on the money. That perspective is that great leaders like Harry Potter and the headmaster of Hogwarts School, Albus Dumbledore, display the qualities of "high competence and deep character." (p.156). It is the deep character side of leadership that If Harry Potter Ran General Electric describes.

I've already bought two copies to give to young professionals who will be greatly encouraged by Morris' work. This is a book to share, discuss and celebrate.

This book is amazing! Morris has done it again, this time using his considerable talents to glean a ton of real-life wisdom and insight from Rowling's novels, without losing a bit of the fun. This is a top-notch philosopher who's also an obvious Potter fan, an incredible combination -- and the result is a highly readable and deeply enjoyable book. If you love either Harry Potter or philosophy, or if you want to learn a bunch of leadership principles applicable to just about any area of life, or if you just want to lose yourself in a great book and be challenged to think, you'll adore this book!

Tom Morris has done it again! His latest book, If Harry Potter Ran General Electric, is an inexpensive means of obtaining Morris's great wisdom. It is likely that Tom Morris will join the ranks of the great stoics. No wonder the book has already hit a couple of bestseller lists, including the Wall Street Journal List!

Those who thought the Harry Potter books are unfit for their children to read should see Morris' take on the books. Where some think only of the trickery of witchcraft and magic, Morris looks at the wisdom, character, and the morality to be gained from reading Rowling's works. It is a study that would make a better corporate environment for anyone who implemented Morris' lessons into their work and everyday life.

Morris touches just about every realm of the human mind with clarity. He takes into account the bad with the good and suggests a means of turning the bad into good scenarios.

My mother used to say, "Be a problem solver, not a problem maker". Apparently, Tom Morris and JK Rowling had some of the same type of education from their parents.

This book ranks six stars out of a field of five stars. Every board room in the world should have it available to their management personnel. It is a real winner. Don't miss out!

I bought this book in preparation for LUMOS 2006, because Tom Morris was one of the keynote speakers. The book is great - Tom is obviously a true Harry Potter fan. The book addresses the wisdom of the Harry Potter magical world and it's attributes within business leadership. I attended his presentation at Lumos and found out that he is a great speaker too! Tom does a lot of business speaking to huge companies and really knows how to hold an audience. Also, I was lucky enough to catch Tom in the hall and got his autograph inside the book! Accio Wisdom!

As a business person and a "Harry Potter Fan" I highly recommend this book to those who are looking for another slant on the magical world of HP or for those business folk who are interested wisdom, virtue and ethics in the business world - but are bored with the stodgy navy suited red tied perspective.

"Leadership Wisdom from the World of the Wizards" should read "Leadership Wisdom from the Wise and Intuitive Perspective of Tom Morris" as, in many ways it's one and the same.

Tom writes with an energy that contains the kind of 'magic' that captivates and grabs hold of your imagination. One can't wait to see the connections he weaves, creating magic in every day life.

If you integrate even a fraction of what you learn through his words, your world as you know it will be infinitely better and filled with a wealth of possibility.

This book is at the top of my list. I went out and bought two other Tom Morris books because I loved this one so much. I truly believe that every high school student should have to read this book, and here's why: This book isn't just about the business world and being a good leader, it is also about finding your place, staying true to yourself, and making ethical choices. For the first time in my life I read about the differences in lies- when you should and when you shouldn't lie. Students need to also learn how to admit their mistakes, instead of digging themselves deeper in a hole by continuing to cover it up. Another thing students can relate to and take away from the book is a respect for rules- when you should obey them and why you should analyze them in every situation since each situation may require flexibility. Loved it!

This was an inspiring book. For those who study both personal development and enjoy Harry Potter stories; this will be a fulfilling experience. Tom Morris has done a great job at teaching success and leadership principles while using Harry Potter and Dumbledore as the examples. I would recommend this book to anyone

This is one of the cleverest books I've ever read that, in some way, are Harry Potter related. The author, Tom Morris, has a very entertaining and sensible way of developing his reason over a specific subject.

The book can be interesting either you are a Harry Potter fan, someone with a personal interest in management or philosophy or simply a fellow looking for a clever reading.

Tom Morris provides, in detail, interesting analysis over several problems that affect an enterprise, taking into account the reality of HP Universe. From friendship, to leadership, to truth, to lies, to the nature of what makes a great leader, several different things are taking into account in Tom Morris analysis.

I strongly recommend this book!

Though a great idea, the book was not commensurate with the tone and expectations the title gives. It was like reading an old college textbook in philosophy. I wanted more of a 21st century pace and style. Good try but the content wasn't as catchy as the premise.