Snapshots from Hell - Book Review

You remember Murphy's Law "When you want something bad, you sure would not find it "

Well, that was exactly the case with how i read SFH; Pre-MBA days was when i was highly recommended this book as a eye-opener to MBA life, but somehow this book was never the ones to be found across the Land-marks or the cross-words and hence this tale of a fabled Stanfordian poet had eluded... until till last week, when i just chanced upon this book (with a BLACK binding) when i was aimlessly perusing through the book list in my college library.

Serendipity or cosmic connection, i must say one thing.... this book makes a lot more sense if you read if after you experience an entire year of slogging in a typical B-School, for couple of reasons; Mostly for the part that the book does get a bit technical in a few portions and you really don't want to doze off reading something arcane even before you understand their depth; later on another advantage to read as a post-MBA is that you personally emote with P.Robinson's narration when you read the experiences of many of his characters who get lost in the rigmaroles of the B-Schools; and finally the real reason why i would suggest that you read this book after you finish your first year at any B-School so that you can Mock-Pump your Hands in Victory feeling that even Standford students grow the same misery and pain as good old self in a B-School.

In the irreverent and entertaining tradition of Liar’s Poker, Peter Robinson’s Snapshots from Hell is a hilarious and enlightening insider’s answer to the paramount question every prospective student asks: what is business school really like?

During his first frenetic year at Stanford Business School, Peter Robinson began keeping a journal of his day-to-day impressions which evolved into this book, the writing of which he came to see as a "simple act of decency, like going back to the last calm bend in the river and nailing up a sign that reads ‘Waterfall Ahead’." From his first harrowing days at "maths camp" through the dizzying phalanx of core courses, the frenzy of exam week, the pitfalls and triumphs of the interview process (including a surreal interview with Robert Maxwell!) to being wined and dined by some of the most prestigious companies in the world, Robinson’s story is witty, candid and peopled with a remarkable cast of characters.

A must read for all aspirational "Masters of the Universe" as well as MBAers, Snapshots from Hell is a fast-paced, first-hand account of the nightmare world of getting a top business school MBA, one of the glittering prizes of the ‘90s.

Do check out these links about the Author (who himself was a speech-writer for President Reagan before joining Stanford University) PETER ROBINSON

Couple of articles : Book reviews