I have tried several times since I received this book, but I cannot push myself to finish reading it. There are a few gems of knowledge among what I have read through, but overall I am not impressed with this book. ( )

As one who manages people, I enjoyed this book. As a historian, I really enjoyed this book.

This is the first book on business I've read that looks at 100 years of industrial research, points out where initial conclusions were not accurate, explains how data, though, is still useful and can be re-interpreted in a different light. Now. I didn't get to management through academic study, I rose through the ranks, as did my manager. Yet working in a Fortune 500 company, one can see how some of the evolution In industrial sciences led to where we are today. At least in terms of managing people within this country. Overseas I think is still largely in the dark ages and only because it is cost effective not to evolve to a more modern standard.

I learned a lot about industrial research -- not so much about applied management where I am a product of my current environment, which in turn follows standard practices outlined in this book. Unless you are a manager that holds all of the cards, not everything discussed is even practical (such as granting financial incentives to employees). I've always been a proponent of working within your means to achieve desired outcomes, and Bassett does offer good advice that in my case, validates what I already do. A large portion of the book is managing a different environment that I'm used to: factory workers, for example, and I found it interesting to read of the common challenges in that environment and compare it to the white collar management style my own field (IT) requires to achieve similar goals. ( )

I have to confess I gave up on page 136. Not that the information in the book wasn't interesting or useful --I found myself several times wondering how I could apply Bassett's analysis to teaching and other areas in which I act as a leader. The essential challenge, for both managers and teachers, is to get the employee/student to be internally motivated to give the best performance s/he is capable of. Alas, the writing was deadly. Just deadly. Dull, monotonous, pedantic, passive, a true slog. For short scholarly works, Bassett's style would be entirely appropriate; for a longer work such as this one it just becomes a tedious litany of results and advice and records of business practice studies, and why they were or were not scientifically valid. Who has time for this, even if the content is solid and important? ( )

What a great short read about business practices! What I love best about the writing is that it gives history, the evolution of management and how to's! Many authors say that is what they are doing, but in the end you have to cut through lots of writing to find the pearls of wisdom. Not so in The Manager's Craft. Dr. Bassett tells you what you need to know, how to do it and why in many cases. For a new management person, I think it is essential. For someone more seasoned, it is a good refresher and motivator of what and why we do what we do to lead people today. ( )

As a manager for over 9 years, I really enjoyed this book. That said, some of the information contained within is just simple common sense. However, it is a well written book that looks at the true "job" of a a manager. If you are or want to be a manager, give this book a read. ( )