An interesting book review in today’s WSJ caught my eye – not so much for its position against the world of consulting, but for the profound compliment it pays to those of us who were brave enough (or naïve enough) to spend our university years pursuing knowledge instead of marketability. Matthew Stewart, author of Bogus Theories, Bad for Business is paraphrased as saying:
“Don’t go to business school, study philosophy. The secrets of business, are to be found in history, literature and the classic ruminations on life and existence, not in the half-baked ramblings of business academics, consultants and gurus.”
As a former student of literature and theater who now works in the world of marketing, I have to admit I find it secretly satisfying when someone tosses a proverbial elbow in the face of conventional business protocol. After all, referencing business theories and textbooks is all well and good, but being able to think never hurts either.
Filed under: Marketing, Marketing Communications, Professional development | Tagged: critical thinkers, liberal-arts, techno marketers
As a business professional with a B.A. in English Literature currently working on my M.A. in Humanities, I have to agree with your sentiments.