New Normal, Radical Shift

Reviews / Votes

'It would be easy to conclude that today's economic problems - inequality or the financial or environmental crisis - are too complex and intractable for any individual to tackle. Neela Bettridge and Philip Whiteley will convince you that everyone involved in corporate leadership must and can take personal responsibility. This book will set business leaders on the path toward addressing these profoundly important questions.' Diane Coyle, Director, Enlightenment Economics, and author of The Economics of Enough 'Bettridge and Whiteley present a compelling indictment of conventional measures used to gauge leadership performance in public and private enterprises. Stressing the illogical emphases on measures such as growth in GDP or quarterly earnings as consistent with long-term sustainability they bring substance to the much-ballyhooed catchphrase of sustainability that is more often than not part of the feel-good lexicon of corporate and governmental leaders. George Bernard Shaw aptly described the thesis of New Normal: Radical Shift when he wrote that all progress depends upon the unreasonable man. Bettridge and Whiteley dare to be unreasonable in offering a prescription for avoiding the recurring lessons of accounting scandals and asset bubbles of the 21st century by adoption of leadership assessments more in sync with today's dynamic global economic and political climate.' Jim Neal, contributing writer, Newsweek, founder of The Agema Group and candidate for US Senate 2008 'Whiteley and Bettridge have written a challenging but highly readable book. Thankfully, they go way beyond a ritualistic denunciation of "business as usual" to offer some practical ideas about how business can change for the better. There is no doubting the urgency of the argument they make. Come with an open mind and be prepared to have your assumptions tested.' Stefan Stern, director of strategy at Edelman and Visiting Professor at Cass Business School, UK and formerly FT man