Proponents of February, as a month, insist that it isn’t bad at all, that in the Western Hemisphere, February isn’t even as cold as January. Even our proofreader thinks this is the case, but the cat is now out of the bag: we hate February.
So, to lighten the darkness that is Month #2 of the lunar year, we bring you two new book reviews. Meanwhile, Happy Valentine’s Day, Happy Mardi Gras, and Happy Ash Wednesday.
The Peter Principle
by Dr. Laurence J. Peter & Raymond Hull
Profile Books Ltd., 2020 edition
Published for the first time in 1969 by Canadian sociologist Dr. Laurence J. Peter and writer Raymond Hull, The Peter Principle is considered a classic of business management. In fact, it’s still referenced today, by organizational and HR consultants all over the world. Most importantly, the book provides an answer to the question asked by those working in highly hierarchical organizations: Why is my supervisor so incompetent?
In the course of his research on work organization and management, Dr. P has identified the pitfalls of a convoluted company, which led him to formulate the following theory:
In a hierarchical organization each employee advances in his or her career until he or she reaches his or her level of incompetence.
Here’s what happens: Employees usually start working at the lowest hierarchical levels…but when they demonstrate competence in their assigned tasks, they’re promoted to a higher level. This process of climbing can go on indefinitely, until the employee in question reaches a position–usually a management position–in which they are no longer competent.At this point, the process grinds to a halt. Because ironically, companies rarely demote people, even though said people would feel better-utilized and happier in non-managerial roles.
Don’t be fooled by this serious topic. The Peter Principle is a very humorous book, as funny as the Dilbert Principle and less nerve-racking than Murphy’s law. Plus, it comes complete with suggestions and solutions.
Complement this classic read with a more contemporary one: You can’t make this Sh*t up: Tales from the HR Crypt, by Denise Messineo.
Artificial Intelligence
A Guide for Thinking Humans
by Melanie Mitchell
Penguin Books Ltd (UK), 2020
“Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans” by Prof. Melanie Mitchell, is a comprehensive and insightful introduction to the world of artificial intelligence. The author, a renowned AI expert, has done an exceptional job in presenting the complex concepts of AI in a manner that is accessible and easy to understand for a general audience.
Throughout the book, Prof. Mitchell explores the history of AI and its evolution into the modern age. She also delves into the various branches of AI, such as machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing, and explains how they work. The author also touches on the ethical and societal implications of AI, such as the potential for job loss and the need for responsible AI development.
Yes, the pair of incredibly boring paragraphs you just read were “authored” by the much-applauded, flavor-of-the-month technology ChatGPT. If you were fooled into thinking a human wrote them, I recommend you read Professor Mitchell’s book. Or at least watch this video, in which she talks about “Why AI is harder than we think.”
And, because I want you to have a nuanced view of this complex topic, I’m adding The Equality Machine, by Orly Lobel, to the booklist. (Book talk available here.)