Peter Principle [Mass Market Paperback]

Lawrence J. Peter (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“[The Peter Principle] has struck a throbbing public nerve... a minor cultural phenomenon and its title phrase, like Parkinson’s Law, is certain to enter the language.” (Life magazine )

“Ruefully delightful ... excruciatingly applicable--and fun to read” (Playboy )

“The Peter Principle has cosmic implications.” (The New York Times ) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description

This book caused a storm when first published in 1969, battering up the bestseller list to #1, charming readers from Topeka to Timbuktu, and finally, brilliantly, blessedly giving the world an answer to a question that nags us all: Why is incompetence so maddeningly rampant and so vexingly triumphant? The book and the phrase it defined are now considered comedic-yet-classic cornerstones of organizational thought, and in honor of the book's fortieth anniversary, Robert I. Sutton has written a foreword introducing the book to a new generation of readers.

The Peter Principle, the eponymous law Laurence Peter coined, explains that "in a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence." Everyone—from the office intern to the CEO, from the low-level civil servant to a nation's president—will inevitably rise to his or her level of incompetence, if it hasn't happened already. Dr. Peter's glorious revelation explains why incompetence is at the root of everything we endeavor to do—why schools bestow ignorance, why governments condone anarchy, why courts dispense injustice, why prosperity causes unhappiness, and why utopian plans never generate utopias.

With the wit of James Thurber or Mark Twain, the psychological and anthropological acuity of Sigmund Freud or Margaret Mead, and the theoretical impact of Isaac Newton or Copernicus, Dr. Laurence Peter and Raymond Hull's brilliant book explains how incompetence and its accompanying symptoms, syndromes, and remedies define the world and the work we do in it.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Bantam Books (November 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553233424
• ISBN-13: 978-0553233421
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,832,782 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Right on the money, July 29, 2005

By	Coup D'Amazon - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Peter Principle (Library Binding)

In the first chapter of the book, after a few examples of his principle in action, Laurence Peter proposes his Peter principle: "In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence." He proceeds to take the reader on a journey through the nascent field of "hierarchiology," defining the necessary terms as he goes along. He provides superb insight into why the hierarchies and bureacracies of the world are so inefficient and are becoming increasingly so, why successful people are often unhappy in their jobs and why the most talented people often proceed through their careers without material reward. Peter's observations are funny, but alarmingly true. An excellent resource for the armchair sociologist - highly recommended.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Looks satirical but is actually quite serious, July 19, 2000

By	Drifter Invisible (Estonia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Peter Principle (Library Binding)

This book's subject has been described as "satirical sociology". It's a rather short book that consists of made-up stories about administrative and business hierarchies. Some (if not all) of them are based on true events. Mr. Peter has given his characters funny names and the stories make you laugh frequently, but actually the message of the book is very serious. Mr. Peter demonstrates that endless climbing higher and higher is bound to lead your life into a dead end.

The book's fun to read and, in my opinion, delivers really valuable knowledge. It helps you to stand hold to the pressure from the environment that is telling you that when you are not successful with something, you just need to keep trying harder and investing more. Mr. Peter helps you realise why this won't work.

I have heard that some US government institutions are actually applying Mr. Peter's discoveries in their organization.

If you liked "Parkinson's Law", you'll enjoy this book as well. (And vice versa.)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Painful truth made fun of, January 27, 2007

By	Bas Vodde (Singapore) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Peter Principle (Library Binding)

The Peter principle is a small book about hierarchies and how people act within the hierarchy. The peter principle itself states that "in a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence".

In the beginning, the book explains the law and it's difficult to actually determine the authors seriousness. The points he makes seem valid, at least according my person experiences. However, the way it's written and the some paragraphs clearly suggest a not that serious undertone.

The further you read it the book, the more hilarious it becomes! In chapter 8 the author goes on to prove that Freud had actually reached his level of incompetence. Chapter 12 describes indicators for finding out if you've reached your level of incompetence, all having insane names. In chapter 15 he almost overdoes it when explaining that humans are hard on their way of reaching their level of incompence in the animal hierarchy...

The book is extremly funny and well worth reading. I'd recommend that while reading, now and then put it aside and think about the things Peter has to say. It's hilarious and ... has some truth in it?