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A review by dlberglund
Screw Business As Usual by Richard Branson
3.0
2.5 stars.
Full disclosure: I read this to fulfill a specific reading goal, as this isn't my typical genre. (The whole point of reading challenges, really.)
Reading this did improve my impression of Richard Branson. I do believe that he really is trying to change the soul of business and improve life on our planet. I was impressed by many of the initiatives he discusses in the book, which cover a really wide range of social and environmental issues. Anyone trying to reduce the carbon footprint of multinational businesses deserves some credit.
My first problem with the book is not actually his fault, but mine in reading it now: it is already 8 years old. It made me want to fact check. So, this company had this really impressive plan in 2011...did they follow through? Did they meet their goals, reduce or increase their whatever by 201X? If they didn't, the whole vignette loses its power, and during the entire reading I was aware of the follow up rabbit holes I could get lost in doing research.
My second issue, however, was of style and ego. The book was one huge name drop and pat on the back after another. Here's the template:
I was talking to my good friend Celebrity A while we were on my private island, and he said this thing that inspired me. I said, “You know what? Let's do it! Screw business as usual, and let's make this organization/initiative/company/conference/press release to make the world better!” Celebrity A totally agreed with me, and we worked together on this project. [Insert details and story about project.]. This other time, I was at a conference where I talked with World Leader B (who I call Buddy because that's his family nickname and we're such close buds) and Business Leader C. They were talking about the important issue X. One of my amazing staff members happened to know someone who has a start up dealing with this same issue. [Insert side story about how I met amazing staff member and recognized their genius.] We got together and helped the start up in these detailed ways. Now they're very impressive. [insert details and page long quote from either World Leader B or Start Up Entrepreneur.]
Repeat.
Do you see how that can start to grate a little? Some of the stories were truly inspiring, but there was such an odd tone of self aggrandizing and also trying to use really casual language at the same time. I'm not sure who the real audience for this book was. Small business owners? Fortune 500 CEOs? People who want to be awed by celebrity and feel like they're doing some social good? I'm not really sure. It didn’t inspire me to read more business books, that's for sure.
Full disclosure: I read this to fulfill a specific reading goal, as this isn't my typical genre. (The whole point of reading challenges, really.)
Reading this did improve my impression of Richard Branson. I do believe that he really is trying to change the soul of business and improve life on our planet. I was impressed by many of the initiatives he discusses in the book, which cover a really wide range of social and environmental issues. Anyone trying to reduce the carbon footprint of multinational businesses deserves some credit.
My first problem with the book is not actually his fault, but mine in reading it now: it is already 8 years old. It made me want to fact check. So, this company had this really impressive plan in 2011...did they follow through? Did they meet their goals, reduce or increase their whatever by 201X? If they didn't, the whole vignette loses its power, and during the entire reading I was aware of the follow up rabbit holes I could get lost in doing research.
My second issue, however, was of style and ego. The book was one huge name drop and pat on the back after another. Here's the template:
I was talking to my good friend Celebrity A while we were on my private island, and he said this thing that inspired me. I said, “You know what? Let's do it! Screw business as usual, and let's make this organization/initiative/company/conference/press release to make the world better!” Celebrity A totally agreed with me, and we worked together on this project. [Insert details and story about project.]. This other time, I was at a conference where I talked with World Leader B (who I call Buddy because that's his family nickname and we're such close buds) and Business Leader C. They were talking about the important issue X. One of my amazing staff members happened to know someone who has a start up dealing with this same issue. [Insert side story about how I met amazing staff member and recognized their genius.] We got together and helped the start up in these detailed ways. Now they're very impressive. [insert details and page long quote from either World Leader B or Start Up Entrepreneur.]
Repeat.
Do you see how that can start to grate a little? Some of the stories were truly inspiring, but there was such an odd tone of self aggrandizing and also trying to use really casual language at the same time. I'm not sure who the real audience for this book was. Small business owners? Fortune 500 CEOs? People who want to be awed by celebrity and feel like they're doing some social good? I'm not really sure. It didn’t inspire me to read more business books, that's for sure.