Rating: 
Summary: Handy's Best Work .... A Gem of a Masterpiece
Review: Charles Handy is one of the most literate and eloquent writers in the English language. A lifetime of business experience and a tremendous intellectual depth make his books a tremendous pleasure to read. I've always found his books about 10 years prescient of profound trends in society. The Hungry Spirit gave me an important insight into interesting books I have not read, spiritual insights I had not yet confronted and in the end, a glimpse of spiritual strength I have not yet achieved. A rare and beautiful book. Scholars for several decades will look back on publication of this book as an important event.
Rating:
Summary: If you have been split too thin in any business, read it.
Review: Don't complete your reading too fast with this article. Take a break from time to time, for reflection within you now and then. You may discover something meaningful, which existed, yet faded away with your busy life.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully challenging
Review: Handy is an incredible author. Reading this book was like sitting at the feet of one of the elders at the gate. He's incredible insightful and thought provoking. I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Advisory inspiration for my life
Review: I don't like a kind of philosophy-book very much. That's because that kind books is not practical but emphasizing obsolete way of life.However as soon as I opend this book 'hungry spirit'by chance ,my fixed thinking as above have been all changed. 'hungry spirit' is so practical and helpful for the pragmatist like me.I dare to recommend it to you. Once you begin to read, you will know the reason why...........
Rating: 
Summary: An interesting look at what capitalism could/should be.
Review: In this book, Charles Handy lays out a thoughtful philosophy of how we should shape capitalism if we want to lead more meaningful lives.This is yet another reminder that communities have to form around some larger purpose than mere economic exchange. His references to the British think tank Demos is particularly interesting.
Rating:
Summary: A Strong Buy for anybody interested in management
Review: Managers, who have not yet read this book, should rush to read it from cover to cover. Hungry Spirit should be included in the reading materials for all MBA programs.
Rating:
Summary: Thought Provoking!
Review: Mr Handy has some very thought provoking ideas about capitalism, work and meaning of life. It was his 'Personal Preface' that attracted me to buy the book. As he said in the conclusion, "Life without hope is dismal."; I wanted to find out what he meant. In Part A of the book he talks about the impact of capitalism on the capitalist society . He explores the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the marketplace and competition. It is in Part B where the main substance of the book is. It is about the self and how individuals should respond. He profiles the changing world of work over the years and its impact on individuals. In reading the section on self-knowledge and self-awareness, I found the 'obituary exercise' took a new meaning in the context of what I had read; although I had done this exercise several times previously. Learning to live with others and discovering connectivity with society is an important aspect of living. This is very vividly brought out by Mr Handy. It is here I found hope that we could live more meaningful lifes. In Part C, there are some possible solutions to the dilemmas we face. It is in this part, Mr Handy elaborates on the 7 cardinal principles of trust. In the context of career management, the idea of of a school for life and work is a valuable concept. His chapter on the role of government mentions about the I's - information, involvement, individuality and infrastructure. He concludes in the epilogue with seven trends and indicators for the future. I would consider the book as required reading for anyone who wants to add value or meaning to their life, actively contribute to society or is interested in people. Unknown to us, I think all us have a 'Hungry Spirit' within us. Mr Handy's book may meet some of this hunger!
Rating:
Summary: Thought Provoking!
Review: Mr Handy has some very thought provoking ideas about capitalism, work and meaning of life. It was his 'Personal Preface' that attracted me to buy the book. As he said in the conclusion, "Life without hope is dismal."; I wanted to find out what he meant. In Part A of the book he talks about the impact of capitalism on the capitalist society . He explores the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the marketplace and competition. It is in Part B where the main substance of the book is. It is about the self and how individuals should respond. He profiles the changing world of work over the years and its impact on individuals. In reading the section on self-knowledge and self-awareness, I found the 'obituary exercise' took a new meaning in the context of what I had read; although I had done this exercise several times previously. Learning to live with others and discovering connectivity with society is an important aspect of living. This is very vividly brought out by Mr Handy. It is here I found hope that we could live more meaningful lifes. In Part C, there are some possible solutions to the dilemmas we face. It is in this part, Mr Handy elaborates on the 7 cardinal principles of trust. In the context of career management, the idea of of a school for life and work is a valuable concept. His chapter on the role of government mentions about the I's - information, involvement, individuality and infrastructure. He concludes in the epilogue with seven trends and indicators for the future. I would consider the book as required reading for anyone who wants to add value or meaning to their life, actively contribute to society or is interested in people. Unknown to us, I think all us have a 'Hungry Spirit' within us. Mr Handy's book may meet some of this hunger!
Rating:
Summary: A Powerful and Inspiring Work. An Eye Opener for Everybody.
Review: Once again Charles Handy has put into beautiful words a message of hope based upon learning. Learning who we are and what our mission is. This work is powerful because it connects a humanistic perspective to the understanding and improvement of our daily lives at work, at school and at home. The concept of Proper Selfishness has a tremendous strenght because it contains the sense of responsibility, opportunity and continued learning that are key to our present and our future.
Rating: 
Summary: Inadequate Understanding of Contemporary Capitalism
Review: The Hungry Spirit is often confusing. The author freely acknowledges that modern capitalism operates according to the unrelenting market demands of efficiency and competitiveness, which maximizes the self-interests of an upper layer of market players but is detrimental to the financial and psychological well-being of the less well-placed who have either remained under corporate umbrellas or who have been discarded as redundant. Yet, on the other hand, he suggests that 'anyone with any intelligence and a bit of get-up-and-go can make money.' And for those who don't succeed, it must be because they have failed to develop 'an eye for a customer, the market, and a useful skill.' This is the understanding of an individual who early in life received both an elite education and a lucrative job posting for which he was admittedly mostly unqualified who has now decided in later years to both mildly point out the flaws of capitalistic society and chide those who haven't single-handedly overcome those economic forces. The author attempts to fuse an emphasis on personal sovereignty, or what he sometimes calls 'proper selfishness,' and the need for community especially within business enterprises. Recognizing that it is increasingly likely that he or she will be left to fend for themselves in the harsh environment of free markets, the individual should not seek employment, per se, but should develop 'employability.' Of course, backpedaling, the author recognizes that the educational system as well as other institutions does little to develop and sustain a society of entrepreneurs. The 'one-shot' chance at an education of forgettable facts is largely useless to those who desire/must operate service businesses. But this harsh reality is not all bad; the author insists that there is a widespread 'hunger' for personal growth that will be a part of developing employability. Work that has a greater purpose will increasingly be sought. Does walking the dogs or trimming the grass of elites qualify? This line of thinking also has ramifications within corporations. These newly 'inner-directed' employees will reject being regarded as 'human resources' or managed as some kind of business cost. They will settle for nothing less than being viewed as citizens of their companies with 'rights of residence, justice, free speech, a share of the wealth ', and a say in the governance of their [companies].' The author correctly acknowledges that the democratic reorganization of companies seems like a 'trade union manifesto,' which does not comport well with his expressed anti-union convictions. Other than through the insistence of these newly redirected employees, the author is unclear as to how the major redistribution of power that will be required to establish 'companies of citizens' will occur. Of course, the compelling question is why the author is concerned about businesses as communities. Properly selfish, self-employed, citizens no longer need to work for corporations, right? Despite the fact that the author generally regards laissez-faire economics as troublesome for the greater society, he seems unwilling to advocate for political processes to exert much control over its excesses. In fact, he suggests that major issues are best decided outside the political process beyond the level of the nation-state by pressures from global markets or by international economic (WTO) and military alliances. Citizens/voters should confine themselves to local issues of roads and schools and police and hospitals. This minimalist view of politics and government is hardly adequate to address the effects of the 'bottom line' thinking of modern capitalism for which the author expresses concern. The revamping of educational systems to include life-long learning with replacement income during schooling and the restructuring of corporations will require greater, not lesser, political intervention. As a critique of capitalistic society, this book is marginal at best. The author's focus on the drive for money and the workings of market forces doesn't begin to explain the structure of capitalistic societies. Absent are virtually any descriptions of the power structures in society and, most importantly, the domination of contemporary culture and the control of information by media empires. It is clear that the author has little appreciation for the profound role of citizen empowerment whether that is through the political process or such bodies as unions that will be necessary to counter the forces of modern capitalism. The idea that half of society becoming entrepreneurs trying to sell services to each other or to a layer of elites without significantly countering present economic forces will represent a general advancement for society is dubious at best. If anything, it seems a certain path for a First-World country to become a Second- or Third-World country.
| 
