The Age of Paradox

If you are interested on the ideas of capitalism and whether or not it is a best solution the book provides some real insights. Take for example Handy's simple explanation about Adam Smith and The Wealth of Nations. Having personally done some reading on the subject, Handy was the first to inform me that Smith was actually a professor of moral philosophy. He thought that the market would work, but it would require social responsibility on the part of society. I think this simple point is rarely discussed when using Smith's invisible hand in defense of capitalism.

As an avid reader who gets disinterested after the first chapter of most books, this is the first one in a long time worthy of being finished. Handy has an amazing ability to incorporate our experiences in life: love, money, work, family, etc. into a model which serves to explain it all. While I'm sure Handy himself would agree that his model is incomplete, the thought excites me and I can't wait to see what "age" he publishes next.

This book may not be the newest book out there, but it is certainly one of the best.


Excellent Read for the MBA student!   May 5, 2000
Mark Gilbert (New York)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

Handy does an excellent job of defining key business and personal paradoxes. The best section was on the intellectual paradox which future managers need to know how to anticipate and deal with.


Extremely Relevant in Today's Turbulent Times   August 22, 2010
Andre J. Lukez
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

While the Age of Paradox was written more than 15 years ago, it is just as relevelant today as it was then - perhaps even more so. Charles Handy makes engaging arguments as to how individuals and businesses should conduct themselves. While the book has a philosophical bent, it is also a practical guide.

Charles Handy frames up many emerging trends that were less clear in the early 1990's but in many situations have come to fruition during the last decade. I had to chuckle when he described the turbulence of the times (1990's). Looking back, it all seemed pretty tame compared to today.

His discussion on The Sigmoid Curve and the need to create new Curves as you go through life is fascinating. Equally compelling are his discussions about the purpose of a business. The book points out that profit for the sake of profit is destructive in the long-run. But profit as a means to make things better, more abundant, and create long-term wealth is the best model. As you read his words, you can appreciate how a culture of short-term profit maximization during the last decade led to not only a destruction of shareholder wealth but crippled this nation's competitive advantage on the global stage.

This book is a classic masterpiece that will help you gain a better appreciation of who you are or can become both as a human being and as a person in business.






Must Read for Leaders   March 21, 2008
David L. Neidert (Indiana, USA)
Handy, one of he world's foremost business philosophers, provides an important work that all leaders must read or at minimum acknowledge the concepts he espouses. As a leadership writer and instructor, Handy's work is a staple for my students. His chapters on the Sigmoid Curve and Doughnut are alone worth the price of the book.


REVELATIONARY   January 5, 2000
anand sivashankar (Pune, India)
3 out of 6 found this review helpful

A book that attacks the very core for some of our most reverential beliefs, exposes our modicum of understanding about the rationale in doing some of the things we do(assuming there is one)and puts across some eye-opening,some egregious thoughts without rancour or religious fervour in a cogent and organised manner

But I must add in the same vein that in my opinion, the most difficult thing to do after wooing an audience is assuring that one's attention remains unequivocally rivetted to the machinations of the author's thinking. To that extent, Handy flounders as his line of reasoning gets more and more nebulous. Even then, for sheer novelty, impact and articulate ratiocination, The Age of Paradox takes some beating