Synopsis

When Philip Delves Broughton abandoned his career as a successful journalist and joined Harvard Business School's prestigious MBA course, he joined 900 other would-be tycoons in a cauldron of capitalism. Two years of taxing case studies and excel shortcuts lay ahead of him, but he couldn't have told you what OCRA was, other than a vegetable, or whether discount department stores make more money than airlines. He did, however, know that Harvard Business School's alumni appeared to be taking over the world. The US president, the president of the World Bank, the US treasury secretary, the CEOs of General Electric, Goldman Sachs and Proctor & Gamble - all were bringing HBS experience to the way they ran their banks, businesses and even countries. And with the prospect of economic enlightenment before him, he decided to see for himself exactly what they teach you at Harvard Business School. Two years and 500 case studies later, he had met the worlds' most influential entrepreneurs and analysed the biggest business conundrums. But he and his fellow students faced a bigger question still - how would they juggle their lives, their jobs and their bank balances

What the Critics Say

INDIAreads Review

This is an ironic and witty account of the author’s experience of graduating from the Harvard Business School. Revealing a glimpse into the life of a Harvard Business student and the culture of entitlement that top business schools are often criticized for, Broughton provides many laugh-out-loud passages in alongside some more serious analysis and queries.
This could very well be the book every Harvard Business School student wishes they had written. Highlighting a lot of the things that we take for granted in our daily lives and just accept as part of the norm, Broughton offers a pretty balanced account of both the rigorous aspects of business life and the expectations of a work/life balance. The one lesson that stands out in this book is to keep from deferring personal goals to some yet-to-be-defined future time.
The book surely lives up to its title as author’s narrative complements the traditional business school-education with common sense and a straight forward approach. As an author, Broughton is able to draw a fresh perspective and present ‘heavy’ topics such as business curriculum and presentations as entertaining topics for reading. While some of the ideas may seem obvious to an experienced executive, the lessons are great examples of different methods of approach which either make or break business relationships. Even those new to the world of business in terms of facts or vocabulary will find this quite book quite easy to follow.
Another reason why many people will enjoy this book is because it offers a peep into a world most of us will never know–the Harvard MBA experience. However, Broughton himself is clearly ultimately torn regarding his experience at HBS, offering both criticisms and praises of various facets of HBS. Light, yet pretty accurate with its sweeping generalizations, this is a must read for anyone looking for something from the non-fiction section to relax with.