Synopses & Reviews
What does classical philosophy have to offer modern business? Nothing less than the secrets to building great morale and productivity in any size organization.
This is the message that Tom Morris will deliver this year to thousands of executives of leading companies such as Merrill Lynch, Coca Cola, Bayer, and Northwestern Mutual Life.
In If Aristotle Ran General Motors, Morris, who taught philosophy at Notre Dame for fifteen years, shares the knowledge that he garnered from a lifetime of studying the writings and teachings of history's wisest thinkers and shows how to apply their ideas in today's business environment. Although he frequently draws on the wisdom of Aristotle, Morris also finds inspiration in the teachings of a wide array of thinkers from many different traditions and eras. Throughout these pages we're invited to pause and consider the words of Confucius, Seneca, Saint Augustine, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Abraham Lincoln, and many others.
By looking at the inside workings of various kinds of businesses-- from GE to Tom's of Maine-- Morris shows why any company that is serious about attaining true excellence must adhere to four timeless virtues first identified by Aristotle more than two thousand years ago: Truth, Beauty, Goodness, and Unity. Morris makes clear that the most successful companies encourage a corporate culture that ensures that all interactions among colleagues, employees, bosses, clients, customers, and suppliers are infused with dignity and humanity. Moreover, the book provides clearly stated strategies for how everyone who works can make these qualities the foundation for their everyday business (and personal) lives.
If Aristotle Ran General Motors presents the most compelling case of any book yet written for a new ethics in business and for a workplace where openness and integrity are the rule rather than the exception. It offers an optimistic vision for the future and a plan for reinvigorating the soul back into our professional lives.
Review
"A fascinating read. It is Morris' hands-on management wisdom that managers will find invaluable."--
Executive Book Summaries"Morris delivers a compelling case for a business ethic where openness and humanity are the rule, not the exception."--Rocky Mountain News
"Tom Morris integrates the timeless wisdom of Greek philosophy-- the four transcendent verities: Truth, Beauty, Goodness, and Unity-- into the greatest asset of any business, the spirit of its people."--Stephen R. Covey
Review
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If Aristotle Ran General Motors goes to the heart of what makes people and organizations successful. Tom Morris' message is a guide to achieving the highest level of excellence in your company and your career."—Daniel Tully, chairman, Merrill Lynch
Synopsis
Since its hardcover publication in 1997, If Aristotle Ran General Motors has been one of the year's most talked about books, not only in the United States but around the world, where it has been translated into many languages. Author Tom Morris has emerged as one of America's most popular motivational speakers, bringing his inspirational message of ancient wisdom in modern business to thousands of employees at major companies like AT&T and Merrill Lynch. In 1998 Morris will give more than 100 keynote speeches at corporate seminars to further establish If Aristotle Ran General Motors as a must-read for anyone doing business today.
About the Author
Tom Morris was a professor of philosophy at Notre Dame for fifteen years. Since leaving Notre Dame in 1994, he has gone on to become one of the most sought-after motivational speakers in the country. Each year he is invited to give keynote addresses at major gatherings of executives at hundreds of the leading companies around the world. The author of
True Success: A New Philosophy of Excellence, he is also chairman of the Morris Institute for Human Values in Wilmington, North Carolina, where he makes his home.