FAST COMPANY'S GREATEST HITS: The Book!

"Since 1995, Fast Company has been not only reporting business and cultural trends, but actually helping to shape them. This engaging collection contains articles that still resonate as much today as they did when they were first published. Even Fast Company devotees may be surprised by the magazine's sometimes uncanny prescience, as they re-visit the anticipation of the digitalization, globalization and democratization of business and culture.

Arranged in chronological order, this collection includes Daniel Pink's "Free Agent Nation," "In Search of Courage" by John McCain, Tom Peters's "The Brand Called You" and Ana Marie Cox's (aka Wonkette) "Wide Awake on the New Night Shift."

Also included are compelling essays on buzz-worthy figures like Malcolm Gladwell and Craig Newmark of Craiglist.

The introduction discusses the magazine's ideals of intelligence, creativity and conscience in business writing-values that come across again and again throughout this brilliant and thought-provoking collection.


For Fast Company readers and anyone interested in a cultural cross-section of the past ten years of business and marketing."

--From Kirkus Reports, May 2, 2006

From its first issue in late 1995, Fast Company brought a fresh perspective to an extraordinary period in our national life. The magazine was born in a time of optimism about where business could take us, of exuberance and impatience about getting there, and of passion about taking the voyage.

Many things have changed since that first issue hit newsstands. But the greatest business ideas of the last decade are still relevant and powerful. And the magazine's best work will endure for years to come, when the Internet boom and bust are a distant memory.

In this collection of 32 of Fast Company's greatest hits, you'll find a treasure chest of insights: how to lead people, manage your career, think more creatively, overcome obstacles, cope with failure, and much more. You'll find well-reported, fun articles about organizations from JetBlue to a bomb factory to Cirque du Soleil to West Point. And you'll find entertaining profiles of people like U.S. Navy captain Mike Abrashoff, track coach John Smith, iPod designer Jonathan Ive, and "titan of the teakettle" Michael Graves.

Other highlights include:

"Everything I Thought I Knew About Leadership Is Wrong"-a CEO's lessons for building a great business without steamrolling employees and customers.

"The Brand Called You"-Tom Peters's controversial call to stand out or suffer the consequences.

"Free Agent Nation"-Daniel H. Pink's much-debated piece on a new breed of independent workers.

"Are You on Craig's List?"-one of the earliest articles about one of today's most interesting companies.

"Built to Flip"-Jim Collins's denunciation of the greed that perverted the dot-com boom and would soon bring it down.

"But Wait, You Promised . . ."-a fresh look at the eternal problem of lousy customer service.

"How to Give Feedback"-Seth Godin's powerful advice on a basic business skill that most of us get wrong.

"The Thrill of Defeat"-how scientists at Pfizer cope with the nearly impossible odds against developing a blockbuster drug.

"The Accidental Guru"-how Malcolm Gladwell, a self-effacing journalist, became the hottest business thinker of our time.

As Jim Collins advises us: "Read. Absorb. Reflect. Enjoy. Renew."

Since 1995, Fast Company has been the place to turn for cutting edge business ideas and profiles of amazing companies and their leaders.

Mark N. Vamos is the current editor of Fast Company.

David Lidsky is a senior editor at Fast Company.
Check out his personal website here ww.davidlidsky.com

They both live in New York City.