Book · 1982 · Industrial management
In search of excellence
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The death knell of the golden age of capitalism was heralded by books about business that started to get really popular like in search of Excellence by Thomas Peters and Robert Waterman Jr.
The best things said about it
There's a very famous book in the 80s called In Search of Excellence. And In Search of Excellence is sort of this Jack Welchian GE management mantra of like what you do, you stick to your knitting.
Why people recommend it
In Search of Excellence by Thomas J. Peters and Robert Waterman Jr. is a widely recognized 1980s business management book that shaped corporate strategies during the era. The publication has drawn both historical analysis and critique on various podcasts. On an episode of the a16z Podcast, the host Stephen referenced the book to describe the prevailing management philosophy of the 1980s, comparing it to Jack Welchian General Electric mantras that encouraged companies to stick to their core competencies and outsource other tasks. However, Stephen also offered a critique of the book, arguing that its framing could mistakenly lead readers to believe that complex global manufacturing trends, such as Apple's reliance on factories in China, could have been easily halted at any point. In a different context, Robert Evans cited the book on Behind the Bastards, characterizing works like Peters and Waterman's as a cultural herald marking the death knell of the golden age of capitalism as business management literature surged in popularity. These discussions collectively illustrate how the book remains a benchmark for analyzing corporate strategy, capitalist history, and the evolution of modern organizational management.
Every mention
Robert Evans the death knell of the golden age of capitalism was heralded by books about business that started to get re… 1
“the death knell of the golden age of capitalism was heralded by books about business that started to get really popular like in search of Excellence by Thomas Peters and Robert Waterman Jr”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker2
“There's a very famous book in the 80s called In Search of Excellence. And In Search of Excellence is sort of this Jack Welchian GE management mantra of like what you do, you stick to your knitting.”
“And that's one of the differences I have with the book. The book is clear. It wasn't on purpose, but it still makes it seem like we could have stopped it at any point.”