Small Is the New Big: and 183 Other Riffs, Rants, and Remarkable Business Ideas

This is a collection of brief, yet profound thought starters about business, marketing, and success in the post-industrial economy. Through his constant perceptiveness, he's assembled a wealth of examples that he uses to prod his audience to think differently than they've been trained. The format encourages the reader to pause and consider each "riff" rather than plowing through them in sequence. For me, the overall theme is that, despite the way old corporations and new "channels" dominate our attention, business has changed to a more natural set of dynamics. Care for customers and their needs matters more than ever. Technology merely serves as an accelerator and an equalizer. Phoniness is quickly detected, and positive relationships show more can be formed with anyone, anywhere. show less

Seth Godin is borderline brilliant. Subscribe to his daily blogs. They are short and on target regarding life in the 21st century. Great reads for anyone interested in people and the organizations in which they live.

There are so many great examples in this book that anyone who isn't inspired after reading it would have to either be a little short on common sense, paralyzed by fear or drunk on the corporate Kool-Aid (r).

Among included selections are favorites that brought back memories, like the What Did You Do in the 2000's? Fast Company column that, like the magazine itself, inspired me to transform the work I had into the work I wanted to have.

See what else is on my radar--Visit my lens on www.squidoo.com/susan_reads.

Actually, I tried listening to this on CD and found it so god-awful, I couldn't finish it. the author has a self-important manner which is off-putting. It's as if he's trying too hard to come up with witticisms or deep-yet-catchy aphorisms. Not recommended.

Very inspiring and entertaining. Spurns creative thinking. Good book on staying on top of change. Some really good short essays. Again, so much to learn about yourself and your business with Seth Godin's writings I highly recommend.

What ages would I recommend it too? – Fifteen and up.

Length? – Three days read.

Characters? – None.

Setting? – Real World Marketing (Or upper class marketing).

Written approximately? – 2006.

Does the story leave questions in the readers mind? – Somewhat unrealistic in start up funds ideas.

Any issues the author (or a more recent publisher) should cover? Start up funds need to be covered more. A few updates would help, as it is nearly ten years out of date.

Short storyline: Lots of short stories about marketing before the last economic downturn. Still mostly applicable. However, he does have updated blog information on the website, as that has changed the most. And Google search rank has changed the way SEO does, or doesn't, show more work.

Notes for the reader: Lot's of fun interesting stories. Not truly applicable to the writer though. show less