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| Author: Philip Delves Broughton
Publisher: Penguin Press HC, The
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy New: $17.13
You Save: $8.82 (34%)
Rating:  37 reviews
Sales Rank: 20590
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 1594201757
Dewey Decimal Number: 650.07117444
EAN: 9781594201752
Publication Date: July 31, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 This book is a joke! August 18, 2008
11 out of 48 found this review helpful
Not only is this book written to amplify the negative and hide the positive, but the author's entire experience seems predicated on looking for one-off stories to write about his classmates. It's not only not the full-story, but also misleading to the point of being a fairytale. Perhaps next time the author is unhappy with his own life he should focus on actually trying to improve it, not on cutting down the successes of others.
 A Journalist's Take on Harvard Business School's MBA Program September 22, 2008
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
Philip Delves Broughton was on top of the journalism world as the Paris bureau chief for The Daily Telegraph of London when he got itchy feet and decided he wanted to go to business school. Setting his sights on Harvard, he was pleased to get in. The book's title refers to the grading system at Harvard and alludes to the competition to get a leg up on other MBA students in gaining a lucrative job.
I attended Harvard Business School while in law school many years ago. I was surprised to find out how many things are similar to when I attended. The student complaints were similar, too.
I thought that Mr. Broughton did an excellent job of explaining what the case system is all about and what occurs in preparing for and during a class. If you've always wanted to go to HBS, here's a chance to take a peek.
The book's strength is in exposing the values behind HBS, people seeking the highest-paying jobs despite the personal cost to family life and one's own soul. Mr. Broughton made some half-hearted attempts to seek out such opportunities, but ended his two years at Harvard with a large loan to show for the experience . . . and no job.
The book's weakness comes in Mr. Broughton's desire to teach you some of the basic concepts about business management. I doubt if you are interested. He doesn't always get it right, either.
I found myself comparing Ahead of the Curve to One L, Scott Turow's brilliant description of the bad old days of being a first-year law student at Harvard. One L is a better book. But both are powerful in explaining what it feels like to be a student in the middle of the gigantic forces moving to shape you like a vise into a new form that will be attractive to employers.
Loved it. August 8, 2008
9 out of 16 found this review helpful
Loved it, loved it, loved it. This book is about much more than 2 years at Harvard. It's a well told story about making life decisions and trying to determine how much is enough. Very funny and enjoyable read that will likely speak to a much larger audience than just those interested in Harvard. An absolute must read for anyone thinking about getting a top tier MBA.
Sour grape book..... August 10, 2008
9 out of 99 found this review helpful
As you know, the French culture is different from ours. In Paris, you pass by the street cafe. Three Frenchmen debated with one another at 10 am. By 4 pm, there are still there debating on the same subject. Any time you said something good, then the French will say it is bad, or vice versa. The whole country is generally negative toward anything that is American.
I taught two groups of French college students in New York (40 total). They claimed that the French fashion and wine were the best. They are very proud to be French. Coming to USA for jobs? No way, over their dead body!
The author has a good job in Paris. He came to HBS for two years of study. He never tried to fit in. He was always a French. He spent a lot of money, made sacrifice, and got his MBA. He was interviewed at McKinsey and Google. Guess what, he did not fit in. I am not surprised.
What else can he do? Of course, write a book to vent his anger.
Go back to Paris. We do not need another bashing French in this country.
The essense of business education August 20, 2008
6 out of 9 found this review helpful
A definite must read for anyone thinking about going into MBA program. This book is highly intelligent, very entertaining and true to the soul (if there is one) description of "experiential" learning which forms the core of HBS case-based education.
It also can serve as a quick refresher on major topics, from corporate finance to negotiations techniques. It even has few good hints for solving classical business cases which are studied practically at all business schools. I wonder if that would cause an ethical problem, though. However, the author should be congratulated for this fine work.
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