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Bo Burlingham
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Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big, 10th-Anniversary Edition Kindle Edition

by Bo Burlingham (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 579 ratings
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How maverick companies have passed up the growth treadmill — and focused on greatness instead.

It’s an axiom of business that great companies grow their revenues and profits year after year. Yet quietly, under the radar, a small number of companies have rejected the pressure of endless growth to focus on more satisfying business goals. Goals like being great at what they do, creating a great place to work, providing great customer service, making great contributions to their communities, and finding great ways to lead their lives.

In Small Giants, veteran journalist Bo Burlingham takes us deep inside fourteen remarkable companies that have chosen to march to their own drummer. They include Anchor Brewing, the original microbrewer; CitiStorage Inc., the premier independent records-storage business; Clif Bar & Co., maker of organic energy bars and other nutrition foods; Righteous Babe Records, the record company founded by singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco; Union Square Hospitality Group, the company of restaurateur Danny Meyer; and Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, including the world-famous Zingerman’s Deli of Ann Arbor.

Burlingham shows how the leaders of these small giants recognized the full range of choices they had about the type of company they could create. And he shows how we can all benefit by questioning the usual definitions of business success. In his new afterward, Burlingham reflects on the similarities and learning lessons from the small giants he covers in the book.
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  1. Print length
    264 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Portfolio
  4. Publication date
    October 11, 2016
  5. File size
    1165 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Burlingham crafts a beautiful collage and analysis of companies that focus on being the best instead of growing like cancer into huge corporations...Bigger is not better, and this book proves it." —Tim Ferriss, in The 4-Hour Workweek

"In short, Small Giants is a Large Masterpiece. Bo's reporting is stupendous, and his writing and storytelling skills make the book equal parts fun and profound." —Tom Peters, author of In Search of Excellence

"Small Giants is one of the most relevant and articulate argumetns for staying bold and creative, intimate and manageable as I have ever read." —Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop

"Small is the new big. If that feels like an offbeat idea to you, you need this book!" —Seth Godin, author of Purple Cow 

About the Author

Sean Pratt (AEA/SAG/AFTRA) has been a working actor for over thirty years. Sean was a company member at the Pearl Theatre, an Off-Broadway classical repertory theater, and has also performed at numerous regional theaters around the country. He has appeared in major films, including Gods and Generals, Tuck Everlasting, and Iron Jawed Angels, and has hosted HGTV's Old Homes Restored and held supporting roles on the hit television shows Homicide, The District, and America's Most Wanted. An eight-time AudioFile Earphones Award winner, Sean has narrated for twenty years and has recorded over 850 books in just about every genre. He also teaches classes on and writes articles about the business of the Biz.

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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B010N18JVC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Portfolio; Anniversary, Revised, Updated edition (October 11, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 11, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1165 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 264 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 579 ratings

About the author

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Bo Burlingham

Bo Burlingham

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Bo Burlingham is currently a contributor to Forbes where he produces the magazine's annual Small Giants section. Previously, he worked for 33 years at Inc. magazine, as senior editor, executive editor, and editor at large. He is the coauthor, with Jack Stack, of The Great Game of Business and A Stake in the Outcome and, with Norm Brodsky, of The Knack (renamed Street Smarts in paperback). He is also the author of Small Giants and Finish Big. The popularity of Small Giants led to the creation of the Small Giants Community where business leaders learn and share practices and systems they can use to make their companies great, whether or not the businesses are big.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
579 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book very good and well-written. They also say it's insightful, thought-provoking, and energized by the ideas presented. Opinions are mixed on its effectiveness, with some finding it useful and legitimate, while others say it offers stories but not strategies they can actually implement.

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ReadabilityInsightEffectiveness
22 customers mention "Readability"22 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very good, insightful, and easy to read. They say it's well-written and worthwhile to read.

"I really enjoyed this book. It is well written and the stories of the companies are compelling...." Read more

"I liked the book, the concept and the overall reading journey...." Read more

"...Excellent book in easy to read story lines.Warm regards,Michael R. Hagy[...]" Read more

"Book is good, for us, small entrepreneurs, but it offers stories, and not strategies we can actually implement. Overall, good read." Read more

21 customers mention "Insight"21 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, energized by the ideas presented, and worthwhile. They say it's interesting and inspiring. Readers also mention the book is wonderful about belief systems and bringing in personal beliefs and values into business.

"...The profiles of a disparate variety of businesses is both enlightening and inspiring...." Read more

"...by the less-than-rigorous methodology, but also energized by the ideas presented...." Read more

"I really enjoyed this book. It is well written and the stories of the companies are compelling...." Read more

"Wonderful book about belief systems and how bringing in personal beliefs and values into a business can positively affect the success and impact of..." Read more

5 customers mention "Effectiveness"2 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the effectiveness of the book. Some mention it's useful and legitimate, while others say it offers stories and not strategies we can actually implement. Overall, readers are satisfied with the potential but fail in the execution.

"...I came away somewhat disappointed by the less-than-rigorous methodology, but also energized by the ideas presented...." Read more

"Bo Burlingham provides an understandable guide for achieving effective, high performing companies...." Read more

"This is a book with a world of potential but sadly, fails in the execution...." Read more

"Useful and legitimate but Repetitive..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

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Ashley King
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2024
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Bought for a class that I ended up dropping so it was lowkey a waste of money but the shipper sent it fast and the book was in great condition upon arrival.
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Alan L. Chase
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and inspiring - a business can be small and great
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2015
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In "Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big," author Bo Burlingham has done for small businesses what Jim Collins did in "Good To Great" for large, publicly traded companies. Mr. Burlingham's criteria for profiling a "small giant" were that the company must be privately held, successful over several years, and the owner must have passed up opportunities to sell or to take the company public.

The profiles of a disparate variety of businesses is both enlightening and inspiring. From a chain of restaurants in NYC, to a Brooklyn-based storage warehouse to a Michigan bakery, the common thread that appeared in each story was that the men and women who own and run these businesses have a passion to give great service to their customers and to create a wonderful place for their employees to call home. No matter the size of the company being profiled, there always emerged a sense that there was an intimacy created among the owner, employees and customers.

This is a book that should inspire any business owner to reach for greatness regardless of the size of the business. The book is a welcome addition to the literature on the search for greatness in the business world.
One person found this helpful
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J.4
4.0 out of 5 stars Decent Examination of the Small-Scale, but Lacks Figures & Facts
Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2007
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After reading Jim Collin's seminal work Good to Great, I became enamored with the idea of "scope" as it pertains to business success. I recalled hearing about Gore, the company, and how they do not allow any one of their offices to grow beyond 250 people - setting 250 as the magic number, above which intimacy, norms of reciprocity and mutual assistance are not possible. I started to crave a book that might address those very ideas from a Collins-esque standpoint. After some search, I found a book that Jim Collins had reviewed: "This well-written book should inspire thousands of entrepreneurs to reject a mantra of growth for growth's sake in favor of a passionate dedication to becoming the absolute best. Bo Burlingham reminds us of a vital truth: big does not equal great, and great does not equal big."

That was enough of an endorsement for me, and I dove right into reading. I came away somewhat disappointed by the less-than-rigorous methodology, but also energized by the ideas presented. Burlingham does not use the same exactitude in selecting the companies he features (largely because the financial reports are not public for the private groups he chose to focus on). Thus, it is difficult to appreciate his findings in the same way as I can appreciate Collins'.

However, Burlingham writes like the capable and clever journalist that he is (editor at Inc. magazine) and the pages turn easily. His chapters are divided as logically as possible, given the lack of concrete data. Much of what he presents is based off feeling, interviews, observation, and contemplative conclusions. He does not hesitate to label the success of these businesses as "mysterious" - following from "mojo" or (my preference) "spiritual terroir."

Read this book if you want to read some incredibly articulate leaders talking about their perspective on business. It is one of the best compilations of leader interviews I have read. The book groups the commentary together when appropriate, or allows one leader to dictate the chapter content entirely. Either way, Burlingham does a marvelous job of letting these men and women speak for themselves and their hard-won success. It is refreshing. The owner and CEO of Anchor Brewing, Fritz Maytag, is downright moving in his eloquence. Jay Goltz, head of Artists' Frame Service is brazenly pragmatic, but uses stories to speak to the underlying support of this leadership approach (managing is "also about learning how not to demotivate [your people]").

Do not read this book if you are looking for applicable solutions or step-by-step recommendations.
10 people found this helpful
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Mateo Buriticá
5.0 out of 5 stars Buenas historias de negocios con proposito
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2024
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Un excelente libro que nos muestra que es posible ser muy exitoso en los negocios y crear sistemas que le den sentido a nuestra vida y la de los colaboradores.

Nos muestra que un negocio no solo es enfocarse en el crecimiento, sino en la rentabilidad, cultura y sostenibilidad, eso es una trabajo de toda la vida y puede estar lleno de propósito y satisfacción para todos los involucrados.
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Adam J. Loewy
3.0 out of 5 stars Average Read - There Are Better Business Books Available
Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2015
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This is a book with a world of potential but sadly, fails in the execution.

The most important thing to know from the onset is the author admits in the closing that he cannot really give a prescriptive analysis on what makes a small company great - that is, there is no surefire roadmap he can offer. While his candor is admirable, I suppose, it really refutes the hype surrounding this book. This is NOT remotely close to any Jim Collins' books, even though the book is marketed this way.

The book also rambles a lot - he analyzes specific companies but goes down rabbit trails and starts discussing irrelevant information.

I really wanted to like this book but I found it quite boring after the initial few chapters. IT isn't bad - there are just other books that are more interesting.
8 people found this helpful
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Jennifer S
5.0 out of 5 stars Well written and strong insights
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2018
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I really enjoyed this book. It is well written and the stories of the companies are compelling. I found the insights the author gained into what works well and the challenges these "small giant" companies face very helpful. I read the 10th anniversary edition and really liked the way the author shared lessons that could be learned from watching what happened with the companies. The chapter on How Small Giants Fail was invaluable, as were those called Pass It On and The Art of Business.
8 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Cody Charles
5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended by Tim Ferris
Reviewed in Canada on December 24, 2019
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I bought this book because it was recommended by Tim Ferris in his books and YouTube program, it was totally different from what I expected, it’s about taking a counter intuitive approach to building a business, putting the focus around employee satisfaction and gains rather than building the company to the sky.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I've read.
Reviewed in India on September 27, 2019
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Unique insights and much needed for people who want to run successful companies but in a managable way.
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Raro
4.0 out of 5 stars Bom livro para quem acredita na ideia
Reviewed in Brazil on July 24, 2017
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Para quem tem uma pequena empresa e está na crise do crescer ou não, é uma boa leitura, pois apresenta os benefícios de permanecer pequeno. Porém é um pouco frustrante no final quando o autor revela 10 anos depois o que aconteceu com as small giants da primeira edição.
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Happy Threads
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 22, 2017
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great book
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hemlock
5.0 out of 5 stars small is beautiful and can be different
Reviewed in Germany on October 3, 2016
Verified Purchase
The book describes many different approaches how and why to keep a company small.
It is very interesting to see how different operators find ways to create and preserve value without compromising integrity.
The book shows how to operate a business by seemingly deviating from the classic mba model.
A Very refreshing and inspiring read.
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