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Summary: You will be the Peter Principle if we don't read this book.
Review: "The Peter Principle; why things always go wrong" by Dr. Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull, William Morrow & Company, Inc., New York, 1969, 179 pages in paperback. The Peter Principle: In a Hierarchy Every Employee Tends to Rise to His Level of Incompetence. The author provides an insightful analysis of why so many positions in so many organizations seem to be populated by employees who exhibit signs of incompetence. A most disturbing concept since we all tend to all rise to our own level of incompetence. This concept is likely to be ignored by most senior managers and consultants since to admit it is to admit that we may also be at our own level incompetence. Ignorance is bliss? The end result is that non-growing companies are more likely to have incompetent employees at many levels of the organizational structure whereas growing companies add new positions and employees so fast that the inevitable results of the Peter Principle may be forestalled as long as growth continues. "Employees", as the author points out, "do not want to be incompetent", but when management offers promotions that put the employees into their level of incompetence, the employees have no way of knowing that ahead of time. After all, if the offer is made it is because management "knows" the employee can do the job competently. Many managers are at their level of incompetence thus they make these poor selections.
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Summary: Brilliant, original, and wiser than one may think
Review: Dr Peter's very on target analysis of rising to the level of incompetence is presented with great wit. The originality, so in contrast to the "positive thinking" which Dr Peter deplores, gives one much food for thought. The entire work is highly entertaining and enjoyable, the principle one that we'd be wise to observe. Excellent.
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Summary: Understanding why we as a nation fail so much
Review: I read the Peter Principle years ago and have read through it frequently ever since. My first time was while still in the military and it explained to me, a great deal of the things I saw go wrong. It left an impression upon me that lasted throughout my career and which still helps me today. It explained clearly why I was so frustrated with the way things had begun to deteriorate so badly once I was into the second half of my career. And it helped me to make certain career choices that I still believe to day were the most beneficial decision I could have made at the time, and I was glad I had that knowledge to consider.Dr. Laurence and his associates hit the nail right on the head in describing the failing principles, due to the Peter Principle of our Political system, our Judicial System, and much more. On the whole we do promote to incompetence and it is our number one failing. From the military point of view there are quite a few additional contributing factors, all Peter Principle related, which resulted in a decline in the American Military. Which include the radical feminist movement, promoting for gender rather than merit, the radical quota promotions, promoting by race, rather than merit, and our leader's failure to stand firm for core values. The up or out policy is the epitome of the Peter Principle, as is the guaranteed promotion policy, and the reenlistment bonus program which has been a great failure. Of course this book applies to all walks of life and even applies to our Present White House occupant and many of our congressional members. And will apply to many of those running for political office today. The Peter Principle is a must read for the student of our American social, political and judicial decline and what horror is in store for us in the twenty first century if we do not recognize the beast and kill it before it becomes unstoppable, which it may already be. A great read.
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Summary: the peter principle
Review: I read this book in the '70s when it first came out. It says it all!!! NEVER, did I know, how many times I would see this principle be exhibited; from the supreme court justices to the lowliest worker. It's so frightening it me nauseas. This small book is absolutely the most important book ever written.If all people could learn from "the peter principle" and "the road less travelled" and put the knowledge to practice, we would be a 100% different world than we are today. By all intensive purposes, I am a well read person, however, these two texts, make all things learned, viewed with a greater awareness.
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Summary: Good until the end
Review: I read this book with great enthusiasm, having heard so much about it. And sure enough, the first few chapters were great. But the ending was kind of a letdown. I feel that Dr. Peter built up my expectations and then failed to deliver what I really needed: how to avoid the P.P.
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Summary: quite humorous and ironic, but realistic
Review: I think that most people will view this book with an apprehensive nature. Why? Simply because almost all readers know the basic theme of this work: that people in the business world, not matter what field or area, rise naturally to their own level of incompetence.
I think most would consider their jobs quite productive, especially if they are working in their chosen fields. I cannot imagine that many people work their ways up the chain of command simply to be less productive. (And according to Dr. Peter, denial is one of the symptoms!)
I really enjoyed the book, which is full of humor and irony, but I worry that readers will either not take it seriously or either go to the other extreme and consider the principle to be an all-inclusive unavoidable trap. It does not help that Dr. Peter in his quirky way, offers no real solution to the dilemma.
So I suggest that readers give much thought to the evidence that the book presents (each example does after all make quite a lot of sense). It had me identifying related cases in the jobs I've had.
Finally, The Peter Principle is an easy read, divided by chapters and subdivided by categories with several examples. Quick readers should able to read it thoroughly in around two days, especially if the sarcastic wit holds them.
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Summary: Enlightning ... to a certain extent
Review: It is true: this books is quite humorous and intriguing.
The first time I read it I was fascinated by the whole idea. I was able to relate this to many other ideas used in problem solving and critical thinking. However, upon a second reading I started to see some inconsistencies, and a couple of things started to annoy me.
However, the book is great in that it gives great cohesion and logic to the justification and mechanisms of incompetence in the world. His ideas are very engaging and, in more than a way, sadly funny at the same time.
As is my experience, this book should be read at least twice.
For the thorough reader, three times is recommended. Why?
Because the ideas are very appealing at first, but on a second pass you will start to notice certain inconsistent ideas.
Very worth reading, and if you should read it just once, it is more than worth the try.
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Summary: JD
Review: Look at the bell-curve. Not the controvertial book by Herrnstein and Murray, but the statistical bell curve used in grading and whatnot. The bell curve proves two things: 1) One half of the people you meet--that is every other person you meet--is below average. 2) Only 1/4 of the people you meet are really smart--those of the upper quartile--and in a democracy they will always be out voted. Our hope is in that upper 25%, yet they will always be in a minority, with the lesser 75% of us misunderstanding them, or dragging them down. Now you see how this book makes sense! Keep in mind that a theory is only as good as it's data. Luckily, we can verify the Peter Principle rather easily. Just look around your workplace, and look at what goes on. You will see the Peter Principle in al it's glory. A painfully true book!
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Summary: The bell-curve proves this book is right!
Review: Look at the bell-curve. Not the controvertial book by Herrnstein and Murray, but the statistical bell curve used in grading and whatnot. The bell curve proves two things: 1) One half of the people you meet--that is every other person you meet--is below average. 2) Only 1/4 of the people you meet are really smart--those of the upper quartile--and in a democracy they will always be out voted. Our hope is in that upper 25%, yet they will always be in a minority, with the lesser 75% of us misunderstanding them, or dragging them down. Now you see how this book makes sense! Keep in mind that a theory is only as good as it's data. Luckily, we can verify the Peter Principle rather easily. Just look around your workplace, and look at what goes on. You will see the Peter Principle in al it's glory. A painfully true book!
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Summary: Finally understand the roots of incompetence in higher ranks
Review: The author hit the nail on the head when he discovered this principle! After years of pondering whether it's just me or if there really is such a thing as companies with huge percentages of incompetent managers, I finally feel relieved to know that I was not 'just imagining' things. The book made me take a hard look at myself and question whether I had reached my own level of incompetence, and based on the case studies in the book I started analyzing what WOULD make me reach my level. One thing I would have like to read more about is how those of us who have not yet reached their level of incompetence, can better manage the struggle with those who have reached their level and make our work days miserable.
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