Mao in the Boardroom

the long version

Stricker, who's identified as "a young marketing expert" on this book's back cover, asserts that before Steve Jobs, Ben and Jerry, and Richard Branson, there was Mao Tse-tung. He "may not have been a capitalist at heart, but he sure knew how to wage an underdog war against a better armed, better equipped, Goliath opponent." Stricker presents a pocket-sized, heavily illustrated-and heavily satirical-handbook to understanding the Chairman's approach to business. Tongue-in-cheek commentaries on companies who embrace guerrilla concepts (including Apple, Skyy vodka, Swatch and HBO) accompany photos of Mao in action (e.g., superimposed onto a 1984 Apple ad). Stricker then offers mini-profiles of guerrilla leaders, from RCN's David McCourt (like Mao, he "has a vision for the future") to The Body Shop's Anita Roddick (she "believes in fighting clean"). A curious amalgam of humor and business advice, Stricker's book should appeal to little guys thinking about going up against the big dogs.