'Peter's Key' tells the story of the Irish patriot and politician, Peter de Loughrey, who masterminded the daring escape that sprang De Valera from Lincoln Jail in 1919. It was the most creative jail escape of all time, reports of which knocked stories off the front pages of newspapers throughout the world.

David Collins, a well respected scholar of management gurus proves a critical reappraisal of the very influential work of Tom Peters. This volume examines his key works and reviews his detractors, offering an analysis of his contributions to the field of management that goes beyond the simple chronological model that has previously been used. Collins focuses on the changing narratives of Tom Peters and proposes a four-fold narrative typlogy to explore this guru's evolving account of the business of management. The book argues that Peters' success as a guru derives from his abilities as a storyteller. The author notes a decline in Peters' storytelling and an increasing reliance on certain story types. Furthermore he observes that this guru now tends to place himself at the centre of his narratives of business and change. On the strength of this analysis Collins concludes that Peters has 'lost the plot' and argues that new and more appropriate, narratives must be sought and developed. Critical and compelling, this excellent book is a must read for all students and instructors working across the management spectrum, especially in the areas of management, organizational behaviour, change management and corporate strategy.

"When asked about the qualities needed to be an effective CEO, the answers are, to me, quite basic: Respect for, and ability to get along with, many different kinds of people, including those that do not share your views; The will to honor promises that one makes to his family, and the understanding that work and home life must be balanced." -Gerard J. Arpey, CEO, American Airlines "Be positive about challenges you encounter, for no matter how successful you are, you will encounter them." -William Clay Ford, Chairman, and CEO, Ford Motor Company "In the real world, leaders are rarely faced with a simple choice between right and wrong. Leaders can't avoid ambiguity, but must learn to be decisive in spite of it." -Sy Sternberg, CEO, New York Life "I think anyone willing to work hard for their goals, learn from their mistakes, and care about others has the "markings" to become a wonderful Leader." -Gary Kelly, CEO, Southwest Airlines "Find the right people and the right information to help you get the job done." -Ronald A. Williams, CEO, Aetna "Understand opportunities don't come in an envelope labeled "opportunities"; create value; be honest; have a vision; work hard." -Edward Zore, CEO, Northwestern Mutual "Success requires envisioning, embracing and driving change. The only way to turn potential into higher levels of achievements is to continuously change." -Susan M. Ivey, CEO, Reynolds American "Surround yourself with people smarter than you: People make it happen and great people are necessary to make any idea come alive." -Maggie Wilderotter, CEO, Frontier Communications "I believe hard work, dedication, and the willingness to take calculated risks, not only in my personal life, but in my career as well, have contributed to my success. Have a passion for whatever you do." -Robert A. Reynolds, CEO, Graybar Electric