Here are two words you don’t often see in a positive light in a business publication: Ralph Nader.
Nader may not be a friend of business, but this book will help you,entrepreneur, executive or anyone,be a better person.
The book is 17 concise chapters on elements of ethics, some of which (independent thinking, solitude, health) are easily linked to Nadar. Some are more generic (listening).
Other subjects include the family table (remember that?), education, discipline, reciprocity, work, patriotism and, yes, even business.
The presentation is of course great for time-strapped folks, reading on planes, and so on. It’s also packaged nicely: the small hardcover has become a staple of the gift book category.
The weird thing is how often I found myself agreeing with a guy I’m not supposed to like.
Sure, gadflies have a noble heritage from Socrates on down, but when did they start being recognizably right in their own time?
My quibble: amid all the talk of family, there is nary a word of Nader’s own personal life. There is way too much of that out there in bookdom, but here I expect it.
(I did enjoy learning of his childhood, and his family’s deep work ethic and emphasis on personal relationship.)
Meanwhile, Nadar biodocumentary “An Unreasonable Man”,came out on DVD on June 12.
The title is from a George Bernard Shaw quote asserting all progress depends on unreasonable men, because the nebbishes are busy agreeing with the status quo.
By that measure, Nader qualifies as eminently unreasonable, choosing dissidence even at the expense of political viability and friendship.
,
Paul Hughes
