Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant - a must read for future bankers
Review: A truly inspirational insight into the creation of the corporate culture of Bear Sterns, one of the most successful US investment banks. Put simply, the book is a collection of memos passed around the office, written by the ubiquitous Ace Greenberg. His fascination with saving on paper clips and lighting expenses should be a lesson to us all. At the time I read the book, I was so impressed with the content that I wrote to Mr Greenberg personally, and asked him for a job - need I say any more!!
Rating: 
Summary: Absurd -- but it worked!
Review: Ah - a book that recalls the days when people wanted to work for corporations! As a former employee of Bear Stearns who received some of the memos in this book, I can say that those memos created an atmosphere of comraderie and humor during the recession of the early '90s. Back then, Bear Stearns was considered a great place to work. Of course, Mr. Greenberg is not running the company anymore. At that time, BSC was one of the largest banking institutions in the world, and every level of employee was very proud of his or her role in the success of the company. I recommend this book for managers who need to remember who is really doing the work!!
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Summary: It's Great!
Review: Fabulous read! Check it out!
Rating:
Summary: Good Read
Review: Good book, quick read. I finished it in about two days and thoroughly enjoyed it. Although it's a little repetetive on cutting costs, Greenberg, HAC, and Nookie make some very good points. At times they do seem quite greedy and money-centric but Greenberg says, "I hate throwing money out the door." The lesson I took away was to not waste rather than to be greedy.
P.S.: Keeping with the spirit of the book, save some money and buy it used although I have no plans of selling my copy anytime soon.
Rating:
Summary: Good Read
Review: Good book, quick read. I finished it in about two days and thoroughly enjoyed it. Although it's a little repetetive on cutting costs, Greenberg, HAC, and Nookie make some very good points. At times they do seem quite greedy and money-centric but Greenberg says, "I hate throwing money out the door." The lesson I took away was to not waste rather than to be greedy.
P.S.: Keeping with the spirit of the book, save some money and buy it used although I have no plans of selling my copy anytime soon.
Rating:
Summary: Pithy sayings from a fertile imagination
Review: If you can weather a few cultural references that not be cheered in these days of political correctness, you will be treated to a book full of "ACE" Greenberg's exhortation to keep your eye on the ball. Mr. Greenberg makes his points to the "troops" by focusing on the smallest detail. In one case this is paperclips, and so it goes on from there. Several mythical characters live in Greenberg's memos, and so keep the reader's interest. All this is window dressing for the main point, cut costs, even in good times, and you will keep the wolves at bay when things get soft. An easy read, but worth the time.
Rating: 
Summary: Excrement
Review: Insulting, board room drivel. I used to work at Bear Stearns and am deader inside for having done it.
Rating:
Summary: Excrement
Review: Insulting, board room drivel. I used to work at Bear Stearns and am deader inside for having done it.
Rating:
Summary: A very nice example of clear and inspiring communication
Review: Memos from the chairman is a nice example of influencing the morale of the troops (i.e. workforce) and staying focused on basic rules of a company. The humorous and direct communication Alan C. Greenberg uses can easily be criticized, but leaves little room for speculations. Something only few true leaders understand to use as an asset for their business. Even for not native Americans the clues that are included in the memos can be very useful.
Rating: 
Summary: In sum: Cut expenses
Review: Say 'cut expenses' over and over and you get the point of this common-sense book. Also, tie knots in your rubber bands. But lick only half of an envelope so someone else can reuse the envelope and lick the other half? And did I mention that you should cut expenses? How can firms pay those absurd mulit-million-dollar bonuses and expect everyone to adopt these draconian measures. Most of us have been doing what Mr. Greenberg suggests--and more--as a matter of survival in a day when jobs come and go. BTW, to one-up Mr. Greenberg, I'm suggesting my firm go to once-a-day toilet flushings beginning 1/02. We also asked employees to only use two tines on a fork at lunch and share the other two with a co-worker, but we saw an adverse effect on our health premiums.
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