Confessions of a Civil Servant: Lessons in Changing America's Government and Military
Confessions of a Civil Servant: Lessons in Changing America's Government and Military
Overview
Stone shares interesting and often entertaining anecdotes about his long career in government, during which be became known as the 'Energizer-in-Chief' for his efforts to help the military and civilian agencies run more efficiently. Stone explains how he overcame challenges in his own career and ends each chapter with a section listing several lessons learned. (Amelia GruberGovexec.Com)Great concepts here for supervisors everywhere--in governments, in the military, and in the business world. Read and heed. You'll be happy you did. (General Bill Creech)A handy how-to handbook about what managers can do to move the mountain that is the government. Students and scholars alike will find it a provocative guide for transforming theory into results. (Kettl, Donald F.)This is, simply, the best text ever on 'making it in government.' That is, getting BIG Things Done That Matter. This may also be the best text ever on large-scale organization change. Anywhere. (Tom Peters)Bob Stone has been there and done that. Yet he came away from 30 years of federal service not as a cynical ex-bureaucrat, but as an idealist, full of ideas for reinventing government, some of which he put into practice in the Clinton-Gore White House, and the rest of which he put into this book. (James Pinkerton)When I got to the Pentagon and met Bob, I found that this 'nerdy engineer' made great sense and what he was advocating was not heresy but a healthy dose of common sense. I became a fan of his and vowed that I would do everything possible to support his crusade for eliminating dumb regulations. No one I know understands the issues of transforming the military better than he does. If you are a military professional who truly cares about troops, then this book is especially for you. (General Dennis Reimer)For any officer who aspires to senior leadership in the military services one of the things to be learned and mastered is to understand how bureaucracies work and how to unleash the creative power of both the civilian and military workforces you will be called upon to lead. Bob Stone's book is a compelling first-person account of the work that has been done over the last eighteen years. It is an excellent primer. In an era in whichtransformationis the big buzzword, it is useful to see what has and has not worked in the past. I highly recommend this book to officers, government civilians, and academics who want to expand their understanding of the military and the government. (General Ron Fogleman)Stone's entertaining memoir also offers practical lessons in large-scale organizational change drawn from his 30 years in government service. (The Business Reader)Stone's entertaining memoir also offers practical lessons in large-scale organizational change drawn from his 30 years in government service and his tenure as head of Al Gore's Reinvent Government initiative. (Baltimore Daily Record)Each chapter presents entertaining stories and offers a summary of practical managerial lessons that individual public servants can learn. (Public Administration Review)Stone's book demonstrates that bureaucracies are not immovable and that with persistence and good humor a public servant can make a real difference to improve our government and our democratic society. Several of my students reconsidered their career paths after reading it. (Catherine Burke)Why does a chemical engineer embedded in the Pentagon wage guerrilla warfare against bureaucracy? How does he do it? Read this candid, engaging, and funny account to understand--and to join the ranks. (Richard Danzig)A 'must-read,' hard to put down. The lessons Bob learned can be applied almost anywhere. A refreshing, instructive addition that will be of value to those who simply cannot live with the status quo. (David Luther)Bob Stone's work in Reinventing Government broke new ground in managing big change. This valuable book captures what Bob learned. (James Champy)Description
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Overview
Stone shares interesting and often entertaining anecdotes about his long career in government, during which be became known as the 'Energizer-in-Chief' for his efforts to help the military and civilian agencies run more efficiently. Stone explains how he overcame challenges in his own career and ends each chapter with a section listing several lessons learned. (Amelia GruberGovexec.Com)Great concepts here for supervisors everywhere--in governments, in the military, and in the business world. Read and heed. You'll be happy you did. (General Bill Creech)A handy how-to handbook about what managers can do to move the mountain that is the government. Students and scholars alike will find it a provocative guide for transforming theory into results. (Kettl, Donald F.)This is, simply, the best text ever on 'making it in government.' That is, getting BIG Things Done That Matter. This may also be the best text ever on large-scale organization change. Anywhere. (Tom Peters)Bob Stone has been there and done that. Yet he came away from 30 years of federal service not as a cynical ex-bureaucrat, but as an idealist, full of ideas for reinventing government, some of which he put into practice in the Clinton-Gore White House, and the rest of which he put into this book. (James Pinkerton)When I got to the Pentagon and met Bob, I found that this 'nerdy engineer' made great sense and what he was advocating was not heresy but a healthy dose of common sense. I became a fan of his and vowed that I would do everything possible to support his crusade for eliminating dumb regulations. No one I know understands the issues of transforming the military better than he does. If you are a military professional who truly cares about troops, then this book is especially for you. (General Dennis Reimer)For any officer who aspires to senior leadership in the military services one of the things to be learned and mastered is to understand how bureaucracies work and how to unleash the creative power of both the civilian and military workforces you will be called upon to lead. Bob Stone's book is a compelling first-person account of the work that has been done over the last eighteen years. It is an excellent primer. In an era in whichtransformationis the big buzzword, it is useful to see what has and has not worked in the past. I highly recommend this book to officers, government civilians, and academics who want to expand their understanding of the military and the government. (General Ron Fogleman)Stone's entertaining memoir also offers practical lessons in large-scale organizational change drawn from his 30 years in government service. (The Business Reader)Stone's entertaining memoir also offers practical lessons in large-scale organizational change drawn from his 30 years in government service and his tenure as head of Al Gore's Reinvent Government initiative. (Baltimore Daily Record)Each chapter presents entertaining stories and offers a summary of practical managerial lessons that individual public servants can learn. (Public Administration Review)Stone's book demonstrates that bureaucracies are not immovable and that with persistence and good humor a public servant can make a real difference to improve our government and our democratic society. Several of my students reconsidered their career paths after reading it. (Catherine Burke)Why does a chemical engineer embedded in the Pentagon wage guerrilla warfare against bureaucracy? How does he do it? Read this candid, engaging, and funny account to understand--and to join the ranks. (Richard Danzig)A 'must-read,' hard to put down. The lessons Bob learned can be applied almost anywhere. A refreshing, instructive addition that will be of value to those who simply cannot live with the status quo. (David Luther)Bob Stone's work in Reinventing Government broke new ground in managing big change. This valuable book captures what Bob learned. (James Champy)Description
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
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