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Title: Thought-provoking concept, poorly executed
Review: Although Arnott creates a striking comparison between cults and major corporations, it seems that he is trying to spin corporate life to fit his thesis -- like fitting square pegs in round holes. There is a certain defensive tone to his writing that I find oddly childish, given his credentials.I discovered several factual errors in the book, and I think his visits to the companies he mentions and the employee interviews he conducted were more "whistle-stops" than fact-finding missions. (I feel sorry for the Southwest Airlines employee he dismissed after using the word "we" -- isn't it possible she was talking about her family and not her workplace?) And to cite USAA as an example of "separation from community" is laughable. Anyone in this city knows that USAA is an integral part of the community, not an ivory tower.Too bad -- with better research, this book could've provided a interesting counterpoint to all the books about excellence in the workplace.
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