Steven A. Silbiger
1 Not worth it
As an MBA, I can assure you that just knowing the lingo and getting a quick overview is not going to do it. Business school provides much more than just that. You also get the in-depth analysis, networking opportuniites, the judgement of your peers, and proof you can committ to something that is long, tough, and time consuming.
Otherwise, if you just want an overview, don't waste your time. [...]
2 For Entrepreneurs who don't have time for school
Even if it's hard to believe one book is capable of teaching what one learns in a two year MBA program, you will be amazed at how much knowledge is packed into this book. Written in a clear and lively style, the Ten-Day MBA offers chapters on essential business courses, thereby creating a solid foundation of knowledge on which to apply in the real world.
My copy of this book is heavily marked from all the annotations and insights I stumbled upon as I read the book. As a person with limited patience for dry, academic material, I greatly appreciate Mr. Silbiger's ability to concisely deliver the fundamental elements of each topic, while dispensing with the fluff.
The Ten-Day MBA consists of (you guessed it) ten chapters as follows:
1) Marketing
2) Ethics
3) Accounting
4) Organizational Behavior
5) Qualitative Analysis
6) Finance
7) Operations
8) Economics
9) Strategy
10) MBA Mini-Courses on Research, Public Speaking, Negotiating, and International Business.
For Aspiring Entrepreneurs, the Ten-Day MBA should provide you with more than enough knowledge to compete effectively. Used as a reference tool, this book will help you combine your passion and real-world experience to transform ideas into reality.
[...]
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Michael Davis - Editor, Byvation
3 Good Overview of MBA Concepts, Ltd.
I bought this book as kind of a "Business Speak for for the Computer Geek" self-study course. It's worthwhile from that standpoint, well written, and probably about as entertaining as such a book can be. But it is limited.
That's not saying anything about the tome's quality, though. There is a limited amount to what you can learn from any single book, and Silbiger's book is no exception. Generally, there is only one example given to explain every concept, and for some concepts, that's not enough.
For instance, I came away from his explanation of double-entry bookkeeping totally baffled, and had to go to the web for help. You also won't get the repetition, practical exercises, interaction with classmates and teachers, and pacing that you'd find in a real classroom.
"The Ten-Day MBA" won't replace two years in B-school. But it's useful if you want to learn the lingo, and if you know enough to know what you don't know (and are persistent enough to seek the explanations from other sources.)
4 Cool self MBA course!
Hi Quang Nguyen Huu,
If you dont read this book, please do it in next 15days, cause you should lose quarter of life.
Your bro,
Hung
5 MBA Cliff Notes
This book is nothing more than a highlight of what an MBA candidate can expect to study. This book in no way will provide you with solid tools to perform adequately in your career.
Studying for an MBA takes research, writing, dialogue, case study and practicing time and again applying your education to your real world trade. Silbiger simply writes a nice college "bulletin" on what to expect before diving in.
6 A worthy effort
Silbiger does a great job of simplifying those subjects with a circumscribed body of knowledge i.e. accounting, economics, marketing, Quantatative analysis, and finance. He imparts to the reader the jargon and the definitions that one needs, to engage in conversation with those in the business "know."
This book would be great preparation for a student initiating an MBA course at a distance learning, online school such as Grantham University or the University of Phoenix, where their dollars would go farther and their education could proceed more quickly (depending on their work habits). This in itself is reason enough to spend the money and read this book.
However, as a venture capitalist (VC) who invests in for-profit schools let me say that good operators, the future Captains of industry, are born more than made. Those who do well in school often become their lieutenants.
Much time is spent by VC's pushing discounted cash flow numbers (DCF) around in optimization models when it might be better spent learning how to recognize the character traits of capable operators. It's like selecting wives or husbands, one small mistake in character reading up front can lead to a long expensive journey as you untangle the mess.
But for now, we've only got the business case-study past to peruse and for most that will have to be enough. As for the few who have the capacity for unblinkered analysis, balanced judgement, adaptiveness to the unpredictable and the unknown, character, intelligence, organizational and leadership skills, and the focus, dedication, persistence and determination to execute a plan and see it through, to those will go the BIG rewards. Find one and grab on, either as a worker or as an investor (or as a potential mate.)
A worthy book!
7 Ultimate quick reference book
I had only two years of university business schooling, and later found my self writing business plans for start up companies, this book provided a perfect reference guide for all those acroynms everyone loves to hear, along with all the important paradigms and lessons in the business world that you tend to forget over time.
8 If you're even thinking about getting an MBA, read this!
I'm a software developer who's always had a mind for business. I've worked for a few start-ups and even started a few myself. My wife has an MBA and I had been thinking of going to school for an MBA when I found this book. My wife read parts of it and confirmed that it is the same material in an MBA program. Now I won't claim this book will teach you everything you'll learn in an MBA school (obviously), but I will claim this is a great book for anyone considering an MBA as well as for anyone who has one and wants to brush up on the material. The author presents the most important information tought in business schools, at a high level although full of real examples. What I liked most was how he gave specific real life examples, sometimes true and sometimes ficticious. For example, one that I remember off the top of my head, he explains how Quaker bought Snapple when it was popular but couldn't win the battle against Coke and Pepsi and ended up selling it at a huge loss. There's tons of real life examples like that. I like the style of the book, because he presents the material at a high level and if you want to go into detail you can pursue the subjects that interest you on your own. I also like his touch of humor, which keeps the book interesting. Overall I cannot recommend this book enough!
9 Practical learning and reference book
Great information - good for students that have not even started an MBA - also great reference guide for those who have.
10 Ok, but this is basic stuff
I thought I would be getting a jump on my future courses by picking up this book. Unfortunately, the material covered in the Economics and Accounting segments I already knew AND I CURRENTLY ATTEND A COMMUNITY COLLEGE. I am guessing the other chapters will give me a nice advantage on my UNDERGRADUATE work in the other topics such as finance, marketing, management, and quants. If you think you will have MBA knowledge after this read, you won't. The locol college will teach all this.
11 A Great Refreshing Course
I have read the "Ten Day MBA" and found it a great refresher on many, many of the topics that I covered years ago at the Now-How Foundation Business Course. It was very easy and fun to read, and brought back a lot of valuable information to me. There were also many new topics that I had never covered back in Business Course. All the important areas are covered here: marketing, accounting, organizational behaviour, quantitative analysis, finance, operations, economics, strategy, research, public speaking, negotiating, international business, business law. The book covers a whole MBA course. Each topic was clearly presented, had real world examples, and didn't overcomplicate the subject. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn quickly what it takes two or more years to learn at business school. I can recommend that book to everyone, who has a business or economics background.
12 Excellent guide to MBA concepts, jargon, and skills
Highly recommended. Gives the reader a good working knowledge of management concepts, tools, and formulas. This should be mandatory reading for any new employee, regardless of industry or expertise. Some highlights:
1) Break even unit volume (how much to produce to break even) = fixed costs / selling price of product - variable costs
2) A balance sheet is a snapshot of the company's holdings at any time. Assets = Liabilities+ Owner's equity. If the records do not balance, then there is a mistake.
3) Overview of quantitative analysis: how to calculate EMV (expected monetary value), cash flow modeling, net present value, IRR (internal rate of return), and probability distributions.
4) A major drawback of the corporation is double taxation: taxation as an entity, and also taxation on dividends.
5) CAPM (capital asset pricing model) determines the rate of return necessary to compensate for that inherent risk of a particular investment. (e.g. is that stock worth buying)
6) Even if you do not work in operations, it will help you to understand the meaning of key acronyms: MRP (master resource plan), BOM (bill of materials), SPC (statistical process control), CPM (critical path methodology), EOQ (economic order quantity)
7) Good history of economic thought: Keynes (positive effect of government fiscal spending), Friedman (government should only focus on money supply), Smith (invisible hand), Schumpeter (creative destruction), Laffer (supply side)
8) "Strategy is the most exciing course in the MBA curriculum because it gives you the chance to put all your new skills to work. Strategy classes place students in the chairman of the board's chair, and MBAs love that feeling." (pg 297)
9) The author recommend these two books as compulsory business reading: Michael Porter's [Competitive Strategy] and [Competitive Advantage].
13 Worth reading
Rather good book - easy to read and digest, and easy to read in a non-linear fashion. The section on ethics was a bit light, and possibly this is because the author's MBA program did not cover this very thoroughly. Very good foundation for further study.
14 ok
there are two errors in the statistics chapter and it offers a basic MBA/ theoretical approach to business, ie it assumes you have good knowledge of your product and market and can analyse it on that basis, which in my experience hasnt been relevant since once I got to understand a market I didnt need to analyse it more. So this or I guess an MBA is better for aspirant managers in mature buinesses, or people like me wanting to get a theoretical overview to help support more native decision making.
15 Excellent primer for business school
This book represents an excellent supplement to an MBA Program and covers many of the key topics addressed at the graduate level in business schools across the United States. The structure and organization of the book are well suited to MBA Programs that stress an 'integrated' curriculum in which many topics and subjects are covered in tandem.
The concepts covered in this book are quite useful outside of an MBA Program as well, and should prove useful to anyone engaged in the affairs of business.
16 Nice overview
I was thinking about applying for an American MBA course, and picked up this book since it seemed to be aimed as an overview of the standard course material. It reads like my old college revision notes, and is probably not much use as a standalone book. It is great at what it does though - and I'd definitely recommend to anyone considering taking an MBA as a good way to get a flavour of the course and topics covered.
17 The right picture
This is a very good book I read before I started my MBA program. However it will not replace books on specific subject or an MBA education
18 Excellent overview/reference book
This is a great overview of MBA topics for those work with MBAs, or are thinking of grabbing an MBA degree in the future. After a read, it also serves as a good reference for many key concepts. However, topics are not given in lots of detail, so if you need to learn more about a particular area, be prepared to do additional reading elsewhere.
19 Perfect Primer
I just started an MBA program. This book was the perfect primer for my courses.
20 Good cost-benefit ratio
Do not expect this book to be a Ten day MBA. It does very good for its value but only cites the main tools taught at MBA schools. It is very good to give you an idea of what an MBA program is all about.
21 Got MBA? Yes! - Get this Book. No, but planning! Get it!
If you are in a business school, this book provides a bird's eye overview of many important aspects of business covered in business school.
If you just finished your MBA this book is a good refresher -- easy and concise.
If you are planning to get into business school -- take a look at this book and find out the stuff you'll be getting into. See if the material interests you before you actaully jump into an MBA Program.
Makes a great gift to students and those who run and business but don't have an MBA.
Highly recommend!
22 Good book for starters
I think it is an excellent book. I feel that it is especially useful to me because of experience over the last 5 years in business. If you are a detail-oriented person and are looking for a step-by-step book don't buy this. If you have business ability and can improvise with the concepts and mold them around your situation you will benefit from this book. This is a great book for those not beneath starting with the fundamentals.
23 Great Book, Worth the Price of Admission
This books gets right to the point for an impatient reader. Some topics are covered in depth, such as creating an MBA marketing plan that can be used to solve a real world need, while others that are simple, but are required MBA jargon, are given a paragraph and an short example. In the accounting chapter, a subject that I consider rather complex, was presented that so that anyone can figure out the basics. Although not a substitute for a two year education and the resume credit, it comes as close to the real thing as you will get in a book.
24 Waste of time.
This book was poorly written, and presented most of its subjects in a cursory, unintuitive manner. The treatment of the technical subjects amounted to little more than a bulleted list of formulae. The author justified this by continually making the point that MBAs need only a high-level understanding of topics such as finance and economics, but the book does not even give the reader that. All in all, a grave disappointment for someone who wishes to learn about business.
25 An after-the-fact
I think this book is better for those people who have completed the MBA or in the middle of it to read as a refresher. It simplified a lot what you learned in the classes. However, I still do not think by reading this book alone will give you all the knowledge that an MBA has. Otherwise, everybody should just buy this book and forget about attending the school....
26 Don't get too excited......
As a scientist attempting to gain insight into the world of finance and business, I must say this book is somewhat "light" reading. I do not think someone could read this book and then go secure venture capital, but I am sure most newly minted Wharton MBAs couldn't either. However, it does offer insight into the various topics one faces in business environments. In summary, I liked the book for its ability to offer a picture of what an MBA program and curriculum may be. However, I dislike the book for the fact that it is just that, a picture. For someone looking for a deeper understanding of say Finance or Marketing or any other business subject, I suggest looking into either taking the actual courses or buying something like the Barron's Review Series of that particular topic.
27 A definite short cut to getting an MBA!
Silbiger has done it, ie. carefully structuring the contents into digestible parts. Just right for people like me who has always yearned for a business degree, yet limited by current resources. It's light at the end of the tunnel for me - I loved this book and how it is packed. "By learning about all the MBA disciplines at once, you have the opportunity to synthesize MBA knowledge the way you would at the best schools." Well put. If you don't mind, may I engage myself in some "MBA babbles" now?
28 Refresh your MBA knowledge!
For me that book was a great refreashing course! I can recommend that book to everyone, who has a business or economics background. The book covers a whole MBA course very, very intensivly!
29 If you have an MBA: OK, otherwise: skip it
I bought this book before I embarked on my MBA. I tried and tried to make sense of it, no luck (I may be imbecille, but I don't think so). It manages to skip over introductary materials, fails to explains the importance of different topics, have a focus on accounting and is in my opinion extremely boring to read.
After having re-read it recently, I believe it is an excellent refresher for many MBA topics and refreshingly witty, but as a starter book: no. As to living up to its title: get real, this wont accomplish you getting nearer an MBA or even getting the hang of the jargon. Buy Gorman's CIGt MBA Basics if you need to learn some jargon.
30 All the fundamentals are covered in one concise volume
The 80/20 rule applies here. This book covers 80% of what one needs to know in business world in 20% area of space. The 20% is well organized, systematic, concise and extremely informative. All the important areas are covered here:marketing, accounting, organizational behaviour, quantitative analysis, finance, operations, economics, strategy, research, public speaking, negotiating, international business, business law. Although this book is packed with information, it is easy to read. Most importantly, the information is easy to retrieve and can be quickly reviewed. This book should be a valuable addition to your library.
31 Great Book!
I have read the Ten Day MBA book and found it a great refresher on many, many of the topics that I covered years ago at Columbia Business School. It was very easy and fun to read, and brought back a lot of valuable information to me. There were also many new topics that I had never covered back in B-School, especially in the strategy chapter. Each topic was clearly presented, had real world examples, and didn't overcomplicate the subject. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn quickly what it takes two or more years to learn at business school.
32 Uninspiring and oversimplified
I bought this book yesterday, and plan to return it today in the hopes of finding something written more effectively, and at a higher level. I am, quite frankly, puzzled by the high reviews given earlier (unless they are "plants"). I recognize that my opinions are in conflict with many of those stated above. Part of this may be background; I am a scientist, and while I am not completely oblivious to the ideas of business, I am certainly not an expert (hence my interest in this type of book). However, I found the level at which the author treats the topics to border on the absurdly oversimplified. I have found very little so far (~150 pages) that would not likely be obvious to the average college graduate. In addition, the organization makes it a poor choice as a reference text. Finally, the writing style is quite uninspiring, in my opinion.
In summary, for someone who has *absolutely* no idea of any basic business concepts at all, this might serve as a useful primer (although I imagine one could do better, even in this market). However, for an educated and reasonably aware person, I cannot recommend this book.
33 Ten Days, Ten Weeks, Ten Months...Whatever
There is a major development now underway in the publishing world (eg "Chicken Soup for Dummies Who Want to Make Billions in E-Commerce") which explains my apprehension as I began to read Steven Silbiger's book. In fact, it is an excellent piece of work. He organizes most of the material within ten "daily" segments. For those unwilling and/or unable to earn an MBA degree but who wish to strengthen their business knowledge and skills, I highly recommend this book. From my perspective, it provides at least three major benefits:
First, the quality of writing is quite high: Silbiger does NOT "talk down" to his reader. Dim-wits and knuckle-draggers will derive little (if any) benefit from this book.
Second, as thoroughly as time and space allow, the material is presented (exactly as promised) as a "step-by-step guide to mastering the skills taught in America's top business schools."
Third, however long it takes to absorb and digest the information provided (ten days, ten weeks, or ten months), the reader will gain a sound working knowledge of subjects which include marketing, ethics, accounting, organizational behavior, quantitative analysis, finance, operations, economics, and strategy. Silbiger also includes several "MBA Mini-Courses" and then brief discussions of research, public speaking, negotiating, international business, and business law. In his Introduction, Silbiger observes: "My goal is make you familiar with the significant MBA tools and theories currently being taught at the leading business schools and to help you understand and develop the MBA mind-set." He achieves his goal. Can this book take the place of an MBA degree? Of course not. Can this book increase substantially a reader's business knowledge and skills? You bet. It has already done so for more than 200,000 readers and it will continue to do so for many others in years to come.
If you decide to purchase this book, take very seriously the learning opportunities it offers. (Why else buy it?) Proceed with rigor and focus. Highlight key points and take notes along the way, then review them at the conclusion of each "Day." Stick to the study schedule you deem most appropriate for you. Maintain a journal in which you record your reactions and reflections as you learn. Perhaps one day Silbiger will write a "Fieldbook" to accompany this one. Meanwhile, let a journal become your own "Fieldbook." Record in it your experiences when applying what you have learned. In doing so, you may well create for yourself a decisive advantage when competing with those who so proudly possess an MBA degree from one of "America's top business schools."
34 Talk the talk MBA-style
I just read the 320 page book in 4 days because I wanted to quickly know the knowledge base of the typical MBA. Mission accomplished! Now I can talk about NPV (Net-present value) and IRR (Internal Rate of Return) and so many other MBA concepts. I can't calculate these things but at least I know they exist. Most importantly, I now have a complete understanding of the many parts of a business.
I highly recommend the book. The author has a clear style.
35 very good
Very interesting & aplicabl
36 Excellent introduction to an MBA's thought process
Coming from a technical background and techie work environment, and finaly moving on to a marketing role. I realised I needed to know about the business aspects of the company, and found this book a single source of what a Business Manager would require. The language is easy to understands with lots of practical examples and real-life experiences. But what I value most about this book was it actually prepared me to take up the challenge to pursue my MBA
37 Very Good, Very Good.
The points are simple, but just right what you need. The contents are well organized and rich. Good book!
38 For anyone interested in an MBA program An excellent PREVIEW
A one-stop shop for getting a sneak-peak at the kind of stuff taught in a typical business school. I finished my MBA and it's a good review for me. It is also an excellent gift for those who are considering joining a business school. It may help you decide if Business school is meant for you!!
Thanks to the authors -- simple yet great idea!!
It is like getting hold of precious class notes from a top scholar who just graduated :-)
39 The best MBA book I have read of seven over 20 years.
Excellent. Steven Silbiger summarizes the MBA program and skills taught in a clear, concise, complete, organized and well-written manner. In key areas, he provides worked-out (often simple) examples, not just anecdotal ones, to ensure that you learn the key skills and can to apply them later from an MBA's prospective. He laughs at the jargon and peels off the MBA myth. While he makes a few good-natured pokes at fellow CPAs, the not-so-hidden message is that accounting is important. You better follow up here and with computer spreadsheet skills. His CPA background gave him the insight to write this book in its format. He has written with wit.
40 the true way to run a business
Steven Silbiger has a unique method to explain and present his ideas.In his book one finds the true side of what is going on in the business today.The purchase of this book is the answer and solutions to many of your problems on a logical basis.AND THIS IS VERY USEFULL.In addition to the above you one understands that some of the things you learn at business schools have no practical meaning and won't help you improve your work.Furthermore one understands that there are no ready answers for your problems.At last but not least you will find out what only matters: TO BE SMART,TO THINK AND TO WORK VERY VERY HARD. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO BECOME SUCCESFULL.
41 The best business book I've ever read!
I highly recommend "The Ten-Day MBA". It contains a wealth of valuable business information presented in a very easy-to-understand manner. I've successfully utilized many of the ideas; and the book has given me greater insight into many areas of business that I was previously not very familiar with. Unlike many other business books, it is also very entertaining, contains great examples, is easy to read-----and is a lot cheaper than two years of graduate school!
42 A concise, but thorough discussion of major MBA topics.
If you are looking to gain a perspective on ideals taught in major MBA schools across the nation, you would benefit from reading this book. I am a senior finance major at the University of Texas at Austin, and I have found the readings informative and refreshing. I have given a copy to several fellow employees that have had no formal business education and they have commented on how enlightening it has been.
43 The best business book I ever read!
I highly recommend "The Ten-Day MBA". It contains a wealth of valuable business information presented in a very easy-to-understand manner. I've successfully utilized many of the ideas; and the book has given me greater insight into many areas of business that I was previously not very familiar with. Unlike many other business books, it is also very entertaining, contains great examples, is easy to read-----and is a lot cheaper than two years of graduate school
