| | |  | Andy Sernovitz | | Home » | | | | | | | Product Promotions: | | | | | Description: | | First-time author Mackay has produced a "how-to" book that is different. Offering a series of lessons with titles like, "If You Don't Have a Destination, You'll Never Get There," or "Make Decisions with Your Heart and What You'll End Up with Is Heart Disease," he tells parables that make the point more by example than by just giving advice. How Mackay got Morrow to print 100,000 copies of his book and give himan unknown writera six-figure advance and a $150,000 promotion budget is as interesting as how he outflanked Calvin Griffith to keep the Twins in Minnesota. Highly recommended for most public and academic libraries. Michael D. Kathman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Collegeville, Minn.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. | | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Harvey B. Mackay | | Paperback:
| 288 pages | | Publisher:
| Collins Business | | Publication Date:
| February 01, 2005 | | ISBN:
| 006074281X | | Package Length:
| 7.9 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.3 inches | | Package Height:
| 0.8 inches | | Package Weight:
| 0.5 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 44 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
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 MUST READ for all my employees-associates!May 31, 2008
I first bought a copy of this book when it came out in the 80's. It's somewhat dated now (there's no references to email or the internet) but it really is my BUSINESS BIBLE! I buy used copies where ever I find them and any time I like an interviewee I give them a copy and explain the importance of reading this book before the 2nd interview. Some do, some don't...some get hired and some don't... they don't last 5 minutes into the 2nd meeting. I tell people, "Want to know how to deal with me? Want to know what to expect from me? It's all in this tome!" How about a re-write for the new century Harvey? Now on my 50th+ purchase.
If you value practical business advise and classic books, this one is a keeper.Mar 20, 2008
You might think that a business book where the typical chapter is only one or two pages makes for very light reading. However when it comes to Harvey Mackay's, "Swim With The Sharks", you would be wrong.
The book is a quick read, but you may not catch all of the insights the first go round. Mackay passes the majority of his insights along in the form of stories, anectdotes and tips you can use right away.
Some readers may dislike his "folksy" style (he is from Minnesota, not the coasts), while others may think the book is unlike many other business books somewhat "light". Mackay is not an academic, consultant or theorists, but the owner of a manufacturing entity (Mackay Envelope) battling it out on the frontlines of Capitalism.
That is the true value of the book, he is a business man, running his own business. Something many business authors cannot claim.
Read it once. Re-read it. Then read it all over again.
Part business wisdom, part motivation, all good business sense.
Recommended.
Bernie
very basic, very essentialJan 09, 2008
I'm amazed books like this aren't part of a college pack of books to read prior to graduation. I learned maybe 1/3 of what's in this book from my parents, and experience- and was fascinated with the rest. THis is a book I give to relatives starting out in the work world. All of MacKay's books are good. No it doesn't cover everything, but it's useful
Pragmatic, informative, inspiring book of business know-howDec 15, 2007
Unlike many successful businessmen who had a new product or technological innovation create their success, Harvey Mackay had only envelopes. As the owner of an envelope manufacturer, he had to make his success by selling well, building relationships, and always coming through on his promises. His experience is invaluable to anyone in the business community. His advice on networking and sales is excellent. Overall, this is a no-nonsense, pragmatic book on how to succeed in business.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Uncle Harvey Sets Us StraightOct 04, 2007
Wily ol' Harvey MacKay is a prototypical midwestern multimillionare. This means that even at his most Machiavellian, he comes across as a charming, down-to-earth folksy everyman - just the sort of person James Stewart used to play. This is Mr. MacKay's first book and it's well-worth reading for anybody who'd like to know more about why some people succeed in business while most fail. Some may dismiss many of Mr. MacKay's advice as merely 'common sense' but given that so many of us fall short of financial and personal success I doubt that the knowledge in here is all that common.
On the positive side, we have a successful business leader who stresses the importance of ethics, personal integrity, and steady hard work. I've rarely encountered a management or business-oriented author who stressed strength of character as much as Mr. MacKay does. He also tells personal anecdotes with a refreshing lack of swagger. This book may have first been written in the 1980s but Harvey MacKay does not reflect the Era of Greed at all. It's little wonder he's in demand as an inspirational public speaker, and that he still publishes a weekly advice/inspiration column.
Of course, in any book this old, there are bound to be dated sections and those are the only real negatives. Mr. MacKay's hiring practices (in which employees are visited and interviewed in their own homes so that he can learn more about their family values, yet in which no one calls to verify personal references) would raise a lot of eyebrows today. There's also an over-reliance on sports analogies. Other reviewers have noted this but I would like to add that Mr. MacKay's love of sports anecdotes reflects his age, because sports heroes and coaches of the past were not the money-driven free agents of today.
In sum, this would be a good graduation gift, or a welcome present for anyone beginning a job within the corporate world. Unlike many advice books, I left this one not only with good advice but also with a sense of who the author really was. And, I have to say, I enjoy Harvey MacKay a lot.
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