A veteran management consultant explores the issue of abuse of employees by superiors, categorizing the various types of tyrannical managers and the reasons for their behavior and offering ways to transform the environments in which they thrive.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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From Publishers Weekly
As American corporations accelerate their downsizing and proclaim their dedication to "leaner" staffing, the pressure on bosses increases: they are ordered to do more with less. Therein lies the issue confronted by Hornstein (Social Intervention), a psychology professor at Columbia University and a psychotherapist, after eight years of work and interviews with more than 1000 workers. He opens by listing the eight deadly sins bosses can commit: deceit, constraint, coercion, selfishness, inequity, cruelty, disregard and deification. Then he classifies brutal bosses as executioners, dehumanizers, blamers, rationalizers, conquerors, performers and manipulators, some because they are neither sensitive nor introspective, others because they are bullies; many of them, he reports, are backed by their superiors or peers. Of three conceivable remedies?changing the victims, changing the abusers and changing the system?he views only the last as feasible and then presents six survival skills to help the abused.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
A psychotherapist, professor of social-organizational psychology, and senior management consultant, Hornstein writes not as an impartial observer of human behavior but as someone who has obviously had his fill of tales of employer abuse. Much of his book is a passionate, and painfully repetitive, indictment of a corporate culture that turns a blind eye to and/or explicitly condones the abuse of employees by "brutal bosses." Although this is a timely and important topic, the book's impact is diminished by the redundant narratives of anonymous employees recounting their personal on-the-job horror stories. Such anecdotal reports, paired with descriptions of the atrocious managerial behavior of real-life CEOs, grow tiresome after five chapters. The book's relative strength lies in its final two chapters, which describe solutions to employee abuse, but this is not the heart of the book. Managers, employees, and management consultants may find the subject matter interesting, but they'll likely forgo this work in favor of more substantive solutions and recommendations.?Alan Farber, Northern Illinois Univ., DeKalb
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By ML MARTI
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The whole idea of taking back control of your professional life is explored in this short (149 pages) book. It has anecdotal feel to it and a list of types of abusive personalities as well as a questionnaire. Reads fast. Check out the extensive Bibliography. Can see how this type of book could be helpful to some of our clients in trying to identify their sense of betrayal after a poor match in their careers. I do not like the "victim" approach to anything, so I found it a little bit hard to accept that I could be in a position where I am not responsible for some of the results/outcome. I loved The Eight Daily Sins I could actually relate to them in a True Colours way i.e.: The green boss, out of esteem, in "Deification: Implying a master-servant status....they feel themselves to be superior people". I would use some of the type of bosses descriptions (i.e.: Conquerors, Performers, Manipulators, etc.) in a one-on-one situation to get clarification on how my client got the feeling of oppression or to help give name to a toxic situation. I also liked the Six Survival Skills particularly No.1 "Do not accept The Eight Daily Sins as natural ingredients of relationships at the workplace". In other words respect yourself.... So be it.
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This book is very good at identifying and describing subtle abusive techniques used by some people in the workplace today. We have all worked with them, and sometimes don't realize what type of people we are dealing with until it's too late! Unfortunately, it seems that hard work and integrity don't always help you get ahead. However, I think realizing what we are up against is the first step to making a difference. This book challenges the reader to evaluate his/her own behavior at work, and to identify abusive behaviors of bosses (and coworkers). If you have any suspicions that someone is bullying you, backstabbing you, or manipulating you at work, I would recommend reading this book. I'd like to see this book updated for 1999.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.3 out of 5 stars
3 reviews
37 of 38 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enlightening, gives a name to subtle abusive techniques
Jan 2 1999
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This book is very good at identifying and describing subtle abusive techniques used by some people in the workplace today. We have all worked with them, and sometimes don't realize what type of people we are dealing with until it's too late! Unfortunately, it seems that hard work and integrity don't always help you get ahead. However, I think realizing what we are up against is the first step to making a difference. This book challenges the reader to evaluate his/her own behavior at work, and to identify abusive behaviors of bosses (and coworkers). If you have any suspicions that someone is bullying you, backstabbing you, or manipulating you at work, I would recommend reading this book. I'd like to see this book updated for 1999.
21 of 28 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
You can teach an old dog new tricks
Aug 29 2000
By ML MARTI
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The whole idea of taking back control of your professional life is explored in this short (149 pages) book. It has anecdotal feel to it and a list of types of abusive personalities as well as a questionnaire. Reads fast. Check out the extensive Bibliography. Can see how this type of book could be helpful to some of our clients in trying to identify their sense of betrayal after a poor match in their careers. I do not like the "victim" approach to anything, so I found it a little bit hard to accept that I could be in a position where I am not responsible for some of the results/outcome. I loved The Eight Daily Sins I could actually relate to them in a True Colours way i.e.: The green boss, out of esteem, in "Deification: Implying a master-servant status....they feel themselves to be superior people". I would use some of the type of bosses descriptions (i.e.: Conquerors, Performers, Manipulators, etc.) in a one-on-one situation to get clarification on how my client got the feeling of oppression or to help give name to a toxic situation. I also liked the Six Survival Skills particularly No.1 "Do not accept The Eight Daily Sins as natural ingredients of relationships at the workplace". In other words respect yourself.... So be it.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
This book was okay but...
May 29 2003
By Betty A. Ludwig
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book had some helpful information in it. However, if you really want a great book on bad bosses buy The bully at Work by Gary and Ruth Namie.
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Go to Amazon.com to see all 3 reviews
3.3 out of 5 stars
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