flexmentallo's review

3.75
informative sad

Less immediately gripping than the similarly-themed When McKinsey Comes to Town, which takes a much more focused approach, The Big Con nevertheless finds its own niche by examining the wider world of consulting corruption and examining the way outsourcing everything impoverishes all of us. 
informative medium-paced
challenging informative medium-paced
informative medium-paced

An informative and well-researched book on the consulting industry, and the negative impact such 'value creation' can have both on our public sector as well as planet. While I agree that such skills and brain drain is detrimental in the long term, I'm not sure only developing in-house skills or seeking expert advice from academics is the answer either. Some of this is touched upon in the conclusion, but felt slight dissatisfaction in terms of solution building.

paddybishop's review

4.0

Interesting critique of the Big Consultancy space
challenging informative slow-paced
wouterkaas's profile picture

wouterkaas's review

3.0

Interessant en belangrijke inzichten, maar die worden eigenlijk al voldoende gedeeld in alle artikelen en podcasts die dit boek besproken hebben. Het boek is de moeite waard als je het fijne ervan wilt weten en dat wordt dan ook uitvoerig beschreven. Gaandeweg had ik zoiets van: ik geloof het allemaal wel.

fmpereira's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 18%

Really uninterested view of the consulting business overall. I understand the historical background but move on please. 
kimaroundtown's profile picture

kimaroundtown's review

5.0

Should be read by the very public sector worker and all university students (especially MBA and commerce students).

vleblanc's review

4.0

Recommended reading/listening (I listened as an audiobook) for anyone who works in government. Especially relevant in Canada in light of recent discussions of the huge sum being spent with particular consultancies.