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Reviews
The Amazon Way: 14 Leadership Principles Behind the World's Most Disruptive Company by John Rossman
abelikoff's review against another edition
4.0
The book is basically an advocacy brochure for Amazon Leadership Principles. As far as the Principles go, I am a big fan - they are honest, emphasize the right traits and suggest really robust behavior patterns. I definitely find myself reviewing them and checking my decisions against them on a regular basis. So from that aspect, this book is highly recommended.
I do disagree however with the Author's insistence, that these Principles are inextricably linked to the "gladiator pit" corporate culture (at least the way I see it based on many external and internal accounts). The Author is constantly trying to explain and excuse the tongue lashings, "beatdowns", and cross-team Darwinian survival as the essential traits, that both support the Principles and also allow Amazon.com to constantly push the bar higher. I do believe that strong leadership doesn't have to be based on war mentality. But that is a completely different topic.
Finally, the two appendices (one on "self-service," the other on "platformization") feel somewhat irrelevant to the topic and artificial. I don't think they contribute much to the overall narration.
Bottom line: in my taxonomy it falls under a "reference" category. It is a really good book - as long as you focus on "what" and "why" and ignore war stories. As such, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone working in pretty much any capacity - not necessarily in Technology or for a large corporation. The Principles are solid and the book is concise enough to grant a high signal/noise ratio. Get this book!
I do disagree however with the Author's insistence, that these Principles are inextricably linked to the "gladiator pit" corporate culture (at least the way I see it based on many external and internal accounts). The Author is constantly trying to explain and excuse the tongue lashings, "beatdowns", and cross-team Darwinian survival as the essential traits, that both support the Principles and also allow Amazon.com to constantly push the bar higher. I do believe that strong leadership doesn't have to be based on war mentality. But that is a completely different topic.
Finally, the two appendices (one on "self-service," the other on "platformization") feel somewhat irrelevant to the topic and artificial. I don't think they contribute much to the overall narration.
Bottom line: in my taxonomy it falls under a "reference" category. It is a really good book - as long as you focus on "what" and "why" and ignore war stories. As such, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone working in pretty much any capacity - not necessarily in Technology or for a large corporation. The Principles are solid and the book is concise enough to grant a high signal/noise ratio. Get this book!
antifragile_tactical's review against another edition
4.0
Good concise summary of Amazon’s values
This is a quick read. I finished it in a single sitting. That said, if you’re interested in how Amazon works it may be the most accessible way to understand the company’s internal culture. I came away with a much deeper respect not just for Bezos and Amazon’s early corporate team, but for every worker who’s managed to persevere there over the years. I also learned a great deal more about the best aspects of Amazon’s famously “gladiatorial” method of getting things done, especially in the context of its obsessive focus on the customer. If you’re not ready to tackle one of the longer, more in depth reads on Amazon and Bezos this is a great, easy-to-consume substitute.
This is a quick read. I finished it in a single sitting. That said, if you’re interested in how Amazon works it may be the most accessible way to understand the company’s internal culture. I came away with a much deeper respect not just for Bezos and Amazon’s early corporate team, but for every worker who’s managed to persevere there over the years. I also learned a great deal more about the best aspects of Amazon’s famously “gladiatorial” method of getting things done, especially in the context of its obsessive focus on the customer. If you’re not ready to tackle one of the longer, more in depth reads on Amazon and Bezos this is a great, easy-to-consume substitute.
burtchintus's review
4.0
guess this is now out of date as of two days ago https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/two-new-leadership-principles
disruptivepj's review
5.0
Good insight into the leadership principles that guide the most innovative company in America today.
averyj's review
3.0
Good overview of the Amazon principles and some great first hand stories - if you have read Amazon core values you know most of it, but I love first hand stories.
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