The Age of Speed: Learning to Thrive in a More-Faster-Now World (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: embracing speed, authentic purpose, authentic vision, Age of Speed, Bottle Rockets, Zinn Cycles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Business consultant Poscente employs velocity as a catchall term for explaining how to thrive in our hyperstimulated society. A former Olympic speed skier, he explains how people and organizations can best equip themselves to surf the endless assault of tasks and data familiar to any office worker. To him, speed both causes and solves the ambiguity surrounding high technology and the competing demands of career and personal life. But even if speed is the answer, this book doesn't uncover any insight that hasn't occurred to anyone who's ever stayed late tapping out e-mails. For case studies, the book wheels out long-suffering Eastman Kodak as an example of a Zeppelin that couldn't keep pace with new technology. Google, meanwhile, is a Jet that upped the ante. But readers who want to learn from that savvy company would be better served by other studies than this brief sketch. Poscente dallies on the Aligned Organization and the notion that work is no longer a place—it's a state of mind, but the result is a string of business clichés. With almost every other page left blank, Poscente's kind enough not to demand too much of his readers' time. But the lack of substance ensures that they'll forget it even faster. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"God bless Vince Poscente...a good counterpoint to all the handwringing that technology is sapping our very souls." -- Austin American Statesman

"Illustrates why harnessing the power of speed is the ultimate solution for those seeking less stress, less busyness, and more balance." -- Soundview Executive Book Summaries

"The trick isn't trying to slow things down but knowing when and how to speed them up." -- Chicago Tribune

"Thought provoking new book ...advocates coming to terms with --nay, savoring -- the `more-faster-now world'". -- TIME Magazine

"Presented briskly - and at times it's as light as a balloon, with its breezy call to turn speed into an advantage. And he helps us address the world more realistically, providing a glimmer of how to beat the tortoise or soar like a jet." -- Toronto Globe & Mail --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; Reprint edition (August 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345506197
• ISBN-13: 978-0345506191
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #282,949 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars There just isn't any usable information, October 1, 2007

By	Stephen Northcutt (Kauai, HI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Age of Speed: Learning to Thrive in a More-Faster-Now World (Hardcover)

I notice that most of the reviews are positive and am surprised that I have such a different view. Based on the strong reviews, I picked this as my latest airplane read. The book is divided into 36 short essays that are usually about two pages long. A lot of the material is redundant. The author has a fairly anti-blackberry bias, which is fine, I can certainly understand that, though my iPhone has been a real advantage to me in achieving speed.

He creates an easy to memorize taxonomy of people and businesses, Zeppelins that can't achieve speed, balloons that don't have to, bottle rockets, fast, but misguided, and jets which is what we want to be. It was a good start, but should have been developed more.

The book does preach against multi-tasking, something we are starting to see more of and those are valuable thoughts to consider, though I am personally not planning to give it up at this point.

My favorite essay was from the author's personal experience, racing across a tightrope, I would have loved to have seen that.

The bottom line, mildly entertaining, the author has lead an interesting life, but the book will not help you and the time spent reading it is better invested trying a different book.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for business and personal - A Must Read, September 5, 2007

By	Gary Walker (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Age of Speed: Learning to Thrive in a More-Faster-Now World (Hardcover)

I knew that The Age of Speed was a business book when I bought it but I kept applying the numerous examples and ideas to my personal life as well. We have three kids and I put in some hefty hours. Learning how to get balance things and get ahead of all the busyness is probably the most valuable thing I gained from reading Poscente's latest book. I just purchased one each for my staff because it is a fun, quick, informative read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Catapulting yourself into the sweet spot of your life., September 3, 2007

By	Greg A. Ray (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Age of Speed: Learning to Thrive in a More-Faster-Now World (Hardcover)

The journey begins with Vince Poscente relating and identifying the enormous pressure cooker speed creates in every venue of daily life. Whether speed is embraced, ignored or is creating havoc in our lives, we all have built a wall trying to shield ourselves from its effects, in one form or fashion. Through his experience in speed skiing, Vince, brings a paradigm change to the sweet impact speed can have upon our lives. He provides insight and practical concepts we all can apply personally and professionally that will not only create the paradigm shift, but will also catapult us into a place where order and peace reign amongst the chaos of the rest of the world.