Mao in the Boardroom: Marketing Genius from the Mind of the Master Guerrilla (Paperback)

by Gabriel Stricker (Author) "We're Mao, Hahn, Bell, Larkin, Yarbrough and Associates..." (more)
Key Phrases: guerrilla strategy, guerrilla leaders, centralized leadership, Guerrilla Companies, The Chairman, Our Rules (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Stricker, who's identified as "a young marketing expert" on this book's back cover, asserts that before Steve Jobs, Ben and Jerry, and Richard Branson, there was Mao Tse-tung. He "may not have been a capitalist at heart, but he sure knew how to wage an underdog war against a better armed, better equipped, Goliath opponent." Stricker presents a pocket-sized, heavily illustrated-and heavily satirical-handbook to understanding the Chairman's approach to business. Tongue-in-cheek commentaries on companies who embrace guerrilla concepts (including Apple, Skyy vodka, Swatch and HBO) accompany photos of Mao in action (e.g., superimposed onto a 1984 Apple ad). Stricker then offers mini-profiles of guerrilla leaders, from RCN's David McCourt (like Mao, he "has a vision for the future") to The Body Shop's Anita Roddick (she "believes in fighting clean"). A curious amalgam of humor and business advice, Stricker's book should appeal to little guys thinking about going up against the big dogs.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"This book...will produce a whole new generation of underdogs who go on to outsmart the big fish."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1st edition (June 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312310854
• ISBN-13: 978-0312310851
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,446,017 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant work of management genius!, June 22, 2003

By	Avi D. Reader - See all my reviews

Even if you've never wondered how Chairman Mao would behave in today's U.S. corporate world, fortunately, this insightful author has. Stricker has provided us with a metaphorical manuscript that crosses all boundaries and includes all the wisdom any Wall Street Warrior needs.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Relevant, Useful and Chuckle-Out-Loud Funny, June 20, 2003

By A Customer

I already bought a copy and will be purchasing a few more for my colleagues and clients as gifts soon. This is excellent and entertaining reading for anyone who wants to learn how to be agile in a fast-paced market. And, when is the business world not fast-paced? If you stop adjusting, adapting, or don't keep fighting, you will lose opportunities and business, or simply fall behind and get lost among your competition. The book has modern, good-natured and useful reminders to keep you motivated just when you feel you're doing well enough or, maybe not well enough yet, such as: 'As long as we're still fighting, we are, by default, still winning.' The book includes case studies on brands we can't escape and seem to have no choice respecting or loving for their successes, even during the downturn -- AT&T, Tar-zhay, Maxim, eBay and HBO. So, these and the many others should be interesting to everyone. And, it's fun reading along the way. Well worth the money. If anything, this is a good book to put on your desk or coffee table to impress your smart, witty friends and intimidate co-workers passing through your office --yeah, a companion to your well-handled Art of War by Sun Tzu, showing them your knowledge goes way back and you're always at least three moves ahead.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Light on business jargon, heavy on creativity, June 25, 2003

By A Customer

This book is different.
We are given a new path from which to wander, without confusing or mis-marked signposts, without parental attendants constantly giving us outdated directions to our goal.
This book is different.
We are amused by the Chairman's childlike, whimsical manner and drawn to the stylish cover design, including the back cover that gives us the breakdown of the "nutritional" value this book will have on us. This book is designed so that a small child could pick it up and enjoy its design, and perhaps some content, yet gives weighty references and draws links to some very interesting ideas and business success using those ideas, that even the most business savvy could learn something.
This book is styled and hyped for success, and as it lives up to its content, you WILL be seeing it.