How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (book)
Encyclopedia
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: The Dastard's Guide to Fame and Fortune was a humorous 1952 book by Shepherd Mead
. It inspired a successful 1961 musical of the same name
, which was made into a movie
in 1967.
. How to Succeed satirizes contemporary office life in the United States in the guise of a self-help book. Its subtitle is "The dastard's guide to fame and fortune."
advertising agency, which he joined in 1936 as a mail-room clerk, eventually working his way up to a vice-presidency. During his journey up the corporate ladder, Mead wrote the book in his spare time — before work and on weekends. The book was a best-seller.
and a libretto by Abe Burrows
, with minor input by others. The musical differs significantly from the book. It satirizes Mead's own career by depicting the rise of eager young J. Pierrepont Finch ... a window-washer who joins a huge corporation by starting in the mail room, and becomes chairman of the board a week later. The musical starred Robert Morse
as the young striver J. Pierrepont Finch, Rudy Vallee
as the company president J.B. Biggley, and Charles Nelson Reilly
as Biggley's perpetually peeved nephew Bud Frump.
The musical was a smash hit, with a Broadway run of 1,417 performances between October 1961 and March 1965. It won eight Tony Awards and the 1962 Pulitzer Prize
for best drama. It was adapted into a movie, also starring Morse and Vallee with Anthony 'Scooter' Teague
as Frump, in 1967. It was successfully revived on Broadway in 1995, starring Matthew Broderick
as Finch, and again in 2011 with Daniel Radcliffe
playing the role.
catalogs this title as non-fiction under "business books", with the subject headings "Success in business", "Management", and "Career development".
Shepherd Mead
Shepherd Mead, born Edward Mead, , was an American writer. He is best known as the author of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, which was adapted into a hit Broadway show and motion picture....
. It inspired a successful 1961 musical of the same name
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead's 1952 book of the same name....
, which was made into a movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
in 1967.
Description
The book is a satire of an instructional manual, very similar in form and subject matter to Stephen Potter's GamesmanshipGamesmanship
Gamesmanship is the use of dubious methods to win a game. It has been described as "Pushing the rules to the limit without getting caught, using whatever dubious methods possible to achieve the desired end"...
. How to Succeed satirizes contemporary office life in the United States in the guise of a self-help book. Its subtitle is "The dastard's guide to fame and fortune."
Inspiration
How to Succeed was inspired by Mead's corporate experiences at the Benton & BowlesBenton & Bowles
Benton & Bowles was a New York-based advertising agency founded by William Benton and Chester Bowles in 1929.-History:The agency's success was closely related to the rise in popularity of radio. Benton & Bowles invented the radio soap opera to promote their clients' products, and by 1936 were...
advertising agency, which he joined in 1936 as a mail-room clerk, eventually working his way up to a vice-presidency. During his journey up the corporate ladder, Mead wrote the book in his spare time — before work and on weekends. The book was a best-seller.
Musical adaptation
In 1961 the book was adapted into a musical with songs by Frank LoesserFrank Loesser
Frank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for...
and a libretto by Abe Burrows
Abe Burrows
Abe Burrows was a Tony and Pulitzer-winning American humorist, author, and director for radio and the stage.-Early years:...
, with minor input by others. The musical differs significantly from the book. It satirizes Mead's own career by depicting the rise of eager young J. Pierrepont Finch ... a window-washer who joins a huge corporation by starting in the mail room, and becomes chairman of the board a week later. The musical starred Robert Morse
Robert Morse
Robert Morse is an American actor and singer. Morse is best known for his appearances in musicals and plays on Broadway. He has also acted in movies and television shows. His best known role is that of J. Pierrepont Finch in the 1961 Broadway musical, and 1967 film How to Succeed in Business...
as the young striver J. Pierrepont Finch, Rudy Vallee
Rudy Vallée
Rudy Vallée was an American singer, actor, bandleader, and entertainer.-Early life:Born Hubert Prior Vallée in Island Pond, Vermont, the son of Charles Alphonse and Catherine Lynch Vallée...
as the company president J.B. Biggley, and Charles Nelson Reilly
Charles Nelson Reilly
Charles Nelson Reilly was an American actor, comedian, director and drama teacher known for his comedic roles in theater, movies, children's television, animated cartoons, and as a panelist on the game show Match Game....
as Biggley's perpetually peeved nephew Bud Frump.
The musical was a smash hit, with a Broadway run of 1,417 performances between October 1961 and March 1965. It won eight Tony Awards and the 1962 Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for best drama. It was adapted into a movie, also starring Morse and Vallee with Anthony 'Scooter' Teague
Anthony 'Scooter' Teague
Anthony Teague , also known as Scooter Teague, was an American actor and dancer.Anthony 'Scooter' Teague was born Edwin Ardell Teague in Jacksboro, Texas....
as Frump, in 1967. It was successfully revived on Broadway in 1995, starring Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his...
as Finch, and again in 2011 with Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Jacob Radcliffe is an English actor who rose to prominence playing the titular character in the Harry Potter film series....
playing the role.
Classification
The Library of CongressLibrary of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
catalogs this title as non-fiction under "business books", with the subject headings "Success in business", "Management", and "Career development".
Editions
- London : Cedar Book, 1955 (reprint)
- New York : Simon & Schuster, 1995 (reprint), and 2011 (reprint)