Health Care Management in Mind--Eight Careers
Author: Anthony R. Kovner
List Price: $35.95
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ISBN: 082611315X
Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. K (05 May, 2000)
Sales Rank: 811,469
Average Customer Rating: 5 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
Witty Advice, Clever Lessons
A candid writing style complements a steady flow of advice in a fantastic new book by Anthony Kovner, Ph.D. His Health Care Management in Mind: Eight Careers is an elegant story on many levels. First, one can read this book simply as an autobiography of one of health care's most successful and brightest leaders. The book is designed as a story of Dr. Kovner's resume. Each chapter is devoted to the eight respective careers that Dr. Kovner has held, each filled with a detailed description of what it means to be an administrator, a consultant, an academic, respectively, in various organizations. Second, each career proves to be simultaneously easier and harder than the previous or next one. This is made clear by Dr. Kovner's ability to lend insight with a welcome but heavy dosage of wit (e.g. a manager in a difficult situation can best be labeled as "having as much chance as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest"); advice ("network, network, network"); and a "lessons learned" segment within each chapter ("I would encourage any manager to pay attention to timing and questions of tone.") Tying these thoughts together, and reading in-between the lines, one can read past Dr. Kovner's clever wit and openess to understand: 1.) That a successful career is one that is a mixture of skills and experiences where one can be a "gentleman" who completes his work with passion and merit; 2.)That one needs to fail in some jobs to be ultimately successful in other, more challenging ones; 3.)That friends and mentors help enhance one's ego, mind, and temperament; 4.) That every manager needs to keep his eyes focused, his ears open, and his sense of humor ever present; and 5.) That it is fun to look back on one's career and be able to tell anecdotes and managerial tidbits. Each chapter ends with a checklist of questions that current and future managers can answer honestly about themselves, all based on the themes of the chapter. Ever the professor, Dr. Kovner concludes each chapter with a "Practical Exercise" segment that allows the reader to ask and look into questions that helps her own career. With humor, classic academic rigor, and fine storytelling, Dr. Kovner paints of picture of eight careers that are fun, practical, insightful, and most importantly extend a lesson. I highly recommend this book to young managers who need a mentor and to experienced managers and academics who can share in the experiences of a fellow leader. As a young administrator myself, the next time I want to serve as a consultant, become a CEO, work with a billion-dollar foundation, or teach graduate school, I think I'll check back with each respective chapter and see what may come my way in way of expectations, rewards, lessons, and, of course, work. For this I remain thankful, as will any reader.
Rating: 5 out of 5
A Rare Insight into Career Decision Making
This book is a fascinating look at the evolution of a career in management. It is notable for the author's honesty throught his 8 careers -- moving at first haphazardly, and then with more direction, a reader can follow his decisions. As a MBA student, I found his description of careers heartening and engaging. The guides at the end of each chapter serve as a more formal learning guide for readers pursuing health management careers. Overall a great read, and educational to boot!
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