| | |  | Career Books | Home » » Nuts! Southwest Airlines' Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success | | | | | | | Description: | | Twenty-five years ago, Herb Kelleher reinvented air travel when he founded Southwest Airlines, where the planes are painted like killer whales, a typical company maxim is "Hire people with a sense of humor," and in-flight meals are never served--just sixty million bags of peanuts a year. By sidestepping "reengineering," "total quality management," and other management philosophies and employing its own brand of business success, Kelleher's airline has turned a profit for twenty-four consecutive years and seen its stock soar 300 percent since 1990.
Today, Southwest is the safest airline in the world and ranks number one in the industry for service, on-time performance, and lowest employee turnover rate; and Fortune magazine has twice ranked Southwest one of the ten best companies to work for in America. How do they do it?
With unlimited access to the people and inside documents of Southwest Airlines, authors Kevin and Jackie Freiberg share the secrets behind the greatest success story in commercial aviation. Read it and discover how to transfer the Southwest inspiration to your own business and personal life. | | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Kevin Freiberg | | Paperback:
| 384 pages | | Publisher:
| Crown Business | | Publication Date:
| February 17, 1998 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0767901843 | | Product Length:
| 5.5 inches | | Product Width:
| 0.94 inches | | Product Height:
| 8.18 inches | | Product Weight:
| 1.06 pounds | | Package Length:
| 8.1 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.5 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.0 inches | | Package Weight:
| 1.15 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 82 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 82 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 37 found the following review helpful:
 A new Southwest Airlines employee agrees. . .Oct 14, 1998
I have read the reviews about how this book is "mushy." I think maybe because they can't believe that a company this good really exists. I am a brand-new employee to SWA, and this book is given to every new employee at the day-long welcome class. After participating in the class, reading this book, and experiencing the SWA culture first-hand, I can safely say that the book does NOT exaggerate! The feel-good style emphasized over and over in the book is a reality. People care about each other. Everyday (as shown in the book) everyone is made to feel valuable--and it makes you want to work harder, work smarter, and spread the LUV. Others may "say" that's what they are doing, but somehow it always comes back to "the rules." Herb Kelleher and crew are breaking the rules--and showing the others how to make a profit while caring about the dignity and welfare of the SWA family. Great and easily read book. Highly recommended.
20 of 21 found the following review helpful:
Good Book on ManagementDec 23, 1999
By Srinagesh
This is a good book on management. The authors discusses how SouthWest Airlines manages problems under tight constraints and intense competition. The book emphasises how "out of box" thinking helps achieve the results faster. It shows how the rules can be re-defined and make impossible to happen. It gives a whole new perspective on how Airlines should operate. It sets new records to be surpassed by itself. Gives good insights in to the corporate recruiting and retention of the employees. On a personal level, it is a good book on how to manage in difficult times, how to manage with limited resources, how to be optimistic, how with courage, determination and constancy of purpose one can overcome heavy odds in personal life to fulfill one's dreams. Every 15 days I read a new book on management/self-help. But this is the only book I continuously refer to again and again. It has changed my attitude altogether. I feel every corporation wishing to transform the work culture from dull and boring to interesting work place should give this book to every employee.
17 of 18 found the following review helpful:
An excellent read about an excellent companyJun 26, 1999
If you've wondered how this small Texas airline outsmarted the larger giant airlines, read it all here. After reading this book, I was left with many ideas about how to incorporate more fun into my own work life, while increasing productivity. The corporate culture of Southwest is so ingrained into the employees! Fly with them, and notice how different their people are, and how they each seem to enjoy their job! I can't recommend this book highly enough.
9 of 10 found the following review helpful:
 A Nice Overview of a Great AirlineJan 08, 2004
By James Sadler
This book does provide a nice overview of what is probably the greatest success story in the airline industry. The thing is, I wish the authors had dug a lot deeper. Other airlines have been jealous of Southwest's success and its relationship with its customers and employees for years. And no noe seems ot be able to get to the bottom line of what they do oprationally and financially that makes them a success. Maybe there is nothing more, it's all just a matter of oeprating efficiently and keeping employess and customers happy.In fact, many start-up airlines now use Southwest as their template for operating. The authors do a good job of reviewing the history of the company (at least up to the point of publication) and discussing the operations of the airline, but they just don't seem to dig deep enough. Maybe what is needed is someone with a strong financial background to do a comparison of Southwest's methods directly with those of its competitors, because I would really like to see the difference from a financial analysis standpoint (then again, that might be an awfully boring book). My only other negative criticism of the book is that it almost turns into a fluff piece, cheerleading a little too heavily for Southwest. But that is almost understandable. After all, Southwest has rarely made a misstep in all its years of operations. Regardless, this is a very good look at a truly wonderful operation. Well worth reading if you have an interest in the airline industry.
9 of 10 found the following review helpful:
A Southwest Employee writes Read this BookJul 08, 1999
Well being with Southwest for several years, I must say the notion of a entire book being devoted to a airline does seem a little too much. But after reading I have recommended it to alot of people in the business world. There is alot that can be learned from job satisfaction. I as well as my co-workers feel like a family each and every day we go out of our way to make OUR customers feel welcome as well as making sure we get them to where they need to go. Everything you will read about is true. These two authors researched our Culture really well. Herb is like a Dad to all of us, If you fly Southwest thanks we luv your business. ---JB
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