Never Give a Sucker an Even Break: W.C. Fields on Business [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Ronald Fields (Author), Shaun Higgins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 29, 2000

This presentation of business wisdom uses bits from the classic motion pictures of W.C. Fields, whose humour imports management lessons.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Start every day with a smile, and get it over with." "I don't drink water; it rusts pipes." "A man must believe in something. I believe I'll have another drink." There is no doubt that W.C. Fields, star of stage and screen, was a funny man. Unfortunately for his grandson, Ronald Fields (an Emmy award-winning screenwriter and author of W.C. Fields by Himself), and collaborator O'L. Higgins (an author and chairman and CEO of Print Marketing Concepts Inc.), not much of the comedian's life or times dealt directly with business. (Although we do learn that Fields patented a device for folding napkins.) Since it didn't, that leaves the authors searching through Fields's films for one-liners or situations that can be applied to business. It is not an easy task. After all, The Bank Dick, perhaps Fields's best-known movie, was not intended as a critique of the savings and loan industry. And even where they can find examples, such as Fields dealing with difficult people, the advice is more tongue-in-check--"Put [a blockhead in] charge, stupidity can be an asset"--than helpful. As a source of Fields's one-liners and filmography--both of which are used to pad this slight book--the book is helpful. If you are looking for it to be a source of management wisdom, you might be better off with a different film star, Winnie-the-Pooh. Photos. Author tour; radio satellite tour.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Ronald J. Fields is a best-selling author of, playwright, and Emmy Award-winning screenwriter for the show W.C. Fields Straight Up. He has been a staff writer for Marblehead Manor (an NBC comedy) and a head writer for the American Movie Classics cable channel.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 170 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall Pr; illustrated edition edition (January 29, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735200564
• ISBN-13: 978-0735200562
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,481,685 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Solid Effort!, April 2, 2001

By 

Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Never Give a Sucker an Even Break: W.C. Fields on Business (Hardcover)

W.C. Fields' grandson, Ronald Fields, draws on the comic's biography, movie plots and sayings to illustrate key business principles. He covers such topics as leadership, creativity and innovation, managing change, effective teamwork, delegation, budgeting, office politics and communication. Many of the ideas for business success are familiar - but the link with W.F. Fields makes them novel and entertaining. Appropriately, the book is written in a breezy style that makes it enjoyable to read, and Fields includes a summary of key principles at the end of each chapter. We at ... particularly like the collection of W.C. Fields' humorous sayings at the end of the book. Even though some ideas and, for shame, even some sentences are repeated, the book has broad appeal for anyone who likes business and loves to laugh. If you're thinking stocking stuffer or get-well gift, this'll do.

1 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Wyatt's review, October 9, 2003

By 

Tracye (Hiram, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Never Give a Sucker an Even Break: W.C. Fields on Business (Hardcover)

I just got this book,so I havent read it yet. I read what other people think about it however,and it seems like a pretty good book. I don't like to read but if I have too I want it to be a funny book or a book about cars. I think I am going to stick with this book.