Customer Reviews

The Peaceable Kingdom: Building a Company without Factionalism, Fiefdoms, Fear and Other Staples of Modern Business

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

There are more books written on the theory of 'boundaryless', non-hierarchical, adaptable organisations than good case studies of organisations that have consistently worked successfully that way. The Peaceable Kingdom is therefore especially welcome, particularly as it is so easy to read - even seductive.

It is a 'first person' account of the growth of a major Dallas, Texas based advertising agency and the continuing and successful efforts of the founder in (to quote the sub-title) "Building a company without factionalism, fiefdoms, fear and other staples of modern business". It is a story of continuing success over many years, and also a story of continuing effort over the same period to ensure that the principles and practices that fuelled the growth are not subverted by growth in size.

There is little or no 'management theory' in the book, just the views and experience of the author and his colleagues. While written in the first person, the book is a group effort, in which the skills of highly professional copy writers combine to produce an engaging, colloquial narrative that is extremely easy to read and conveys its very important messages lightly. I started to skim it for ideas and found myself reading the whole book for pleasure.

There is nothing remarkable about the philosophy and underlying principles themselves. They rest on: * a passion for quality, * a belief that others have the same passion and need the freedom to express that passion, * the application of humanity and common sense, * an insistence that 'management' is part of every job, not the special preserve of a special group, * the creation and maintenance of a loose, organic structure that retains the advantages of intimacy in a fast growing organisation, and * insistence that 'communication' has to be active, universal, frequent and direct.

What is remarkable is the consistent application of these principles and the way in which the conditions necessary to achieve the culture have been put and kept in place.

There are plenty of 'take-home' messages in the book, but it is not arranged as a 'seven step how-to-do-it'. Indeed, the emphasis throughout is on the holistic and systemic nature of building and maintaining a culture.

For a more conceptual treatment that rests on the same principles, see Lewin and Regine The Soul at Work: Unleashing the Power of Complexity Science for Business Success. It includes several case studies (including one of the English advertising agency St Luke's), and seeks to provide guidance on both theory and practice.

Two other books come to mind as providing case studies from other industries and the approach of other individuals to achieving the same goals. One is Dee Hock's extraordinary Birth of the Chaordic Age, the other is Ricardo Semler's Maverick! The Success Story Behind the World's Most Unusual Workplace (reviewed in 1995, short review only). Both are very different from The Peaceable Kingdom but rest on very similar principles.

A Master Degree level business book. So many business books are sooo '101' and dry and unimaginative. The Peaceable Kingdom is fresh and sounds a clear voice. Cleverly written but yet profound in thought. Just knowing that there are people in management and top CEOs that profess in following the principles in this book brings hope to an otherwise ego fear driven realm.

This is a good book, and as an agency owner, I found it plenty interesting. But Stan Richards can't seem to shake the "aren't me and we just too wonderful for words?" approach, and that's kind of a turn-off. You find yourself not WANTING to learn anything from this ego-maniac. And the sad thing is, he seems to have plenty to offer. Here's a hint: He portrays himself -- at 20 -- as arriving in Dallas as a young man loaded with work just TOO forward-thinking and wonderful for them. The only thing to do? Start his own shop and save the world -- or at least Dallas -- with work "they'd never seen before." Spare me.

Read the book. It's good. You'll also enjoy several contradictions -- like the chapter about how evil spec work is and how they're so good at it. It's also pretty clear he has a thing for GSD&M (did I get them in the right order?)when he whines about losing the Southwest Airlines pitch to the incumbent. Perhaps he wants to be the "Only Good Agency in Texas."

What the Hell. Go ahead and read it. Just wear some waders.

So many rumors have swirled around the brightest advertising star in the southwest, it's a relief to finally get the whole story from the horse's mouth. Mr Richards (or Rubinowitz or Schwartz or whatever he's going by now) has a keen eye for talent matched only by his keen feel for a brand's juicy center. And the insights just keep coming. Don't think this is the last we'll hear of this ad-slinger. Hells, no. Buy it. Treasure it. Heck, stop by and have him sign it. You won't be sorry.

I love Stan Richard's philosophy and approach to leadership.
If more CEOs adapted his approach maybe Gen Xers and Ys would have more "corporate loyalty".

This book seems suspiciously self-serving. (Witness the frequent use of `I'). Smart money says its true purpose is to keep The Richards Group's mindless drones in-line rather than offer useful insight. For a realistic example of The Richards Group "breaking down the walls" of conventional advertising look no further than their latest effort for the convenience store chain 7-11. In a surprisingly lazy, uniformed, and downright embarrassing attempt to connect with today's youth some misguided soul has horribly miscast a white, Rogaine-powered thirtysomething who screams illegible phrases at the camera along with his African American partner. One of the basic tenants of advertising is - know your audience. Much like his weak effort for 7-11, Richard's delusional ramblings miss the mark. Perhaps they'd play better to the Early Bird Special crowd at a Sizzler Steakhouse in Florida. If you really want to know how it's done, pick up Luke Sullivan's Hey Whipple, Squeeze This: A Guide To Creating Great Ads. And perhaps send a copy to Mr. Richards.

A pretty useless book from a pretty useless agency.

Everyone would do themselves a favor by studying just about any agency besides this one. The stories in the book reek of a self-serving quality. Its almost as if Mr. Richards wrote this so he could have an excuse to tell the world how wonderful his ideas are.

We'll unfortunately they are not great ideas. This book isn't really even about advertising. It's a primer for a philosophy from an aging robot of a creative.

Most books on advertising and creativity are pretty bad, and this one is no exception.

I wish for once we could have a creative who talks about process more than accomplishment. Instead, Stan Richards (and authors like him) spend many pages complimenting their own genius. Unfortunately they give us no insight into what supposedly makes them a genius.

Poorly conceived, and poorly written.

Just search Amazon for Stan Richards other book "The Land of Many Breasts". Trust me, it's much more fascinating than this one. And a more accurate depiction of his agency. I think you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

Whoah! It's ciesta time!

Never has advertising been so boring!

A poorly written book, by a poor creative. Instead of building a company I think Stan may have just created the world's most profitable police state!