Customer Reviews

The People Factor: Strengthening America by Investing in Public Service

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Despite the most significant economic crash of our time, we are still managing to reward bankers and investors more lucratively than those individuals who keep our country - and each one of us, in some form or another - moving ahead. It is time to begin thinking about new ways to value public service, and this book provides the pathway to that end. This is a must read for anyone interested in sustainable solutions to today's economic and societal challenges.

A great addition to any collection of books on management and strategy, and particularly timely given the increasing role of government employees in all facets of society these days (banking, insurance, the auto sector, etc.). Should be required reading for any public sector manager, but there are plenty of lessons applicable to the private sector as well. Despite the academic nature of the work, it still makes for a light and enjoyable read. With the recent "call to service" issued by the Obama administration, we will all benefit if the ideas in this book are put to good use in recruiting, motivating and managing the leaders of the future.

This is the single most important book to read if you work for the federal or state government or you want to. The author Scott Gould is now Deputy Secretary of the VA -- read this to get some insight on what he's thinking.

We are now depending on the federal government to fix practically everything in the US -- from the auto industry to housing to banking -- but who is going to fix the federal government itself? We all know its badly broken. David Gergen says it best on the book jacket, that this is "exactly the right book at exactly the right time -- a thoughtful, wise plan for overhauling government that will inspire a new generation of men and women to serve their country."