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Ahead of the Curve (2 Years At HBS): A Monkey's Review
 

In The Flesh's picture
HF
(Neanderthal, 2,792
 
Points)
 on 3/9/13 at 1:00pm
ahead of the curve.jpg

“Absurdly profitable company seeks journalist with ten years’ experience and a Harvard MBA for extremely highly paid, low stress job in which he can wear nice suits and loaf around in air-conditioned splendor making the very occasional executive decision. Requirements: an acute discomfort in the presence of spreadsheets, inability to play golf, poorly concealed loathing of corporate life, knowledge of ancient Greek.” – The Help Wanted Ad I Sought But Never Found

We spend a lot of time on WSO talking about business school, wondering whether it is right for us. And it seems that for most folks, we don’t really know whether a business school like Harvard is a smart choice because we are unsure of what we ultimately want out of our careers.

Author Philip Broughton (“P.D. Bizzle” to his b-school friends) was the Paris bureau chief of The Daily Telegraph before he decided to make the jump into this legendary New England institution, and by his own admission he definitely wasn’t exactly sure why he was there to begin with. But luckily for us fortunate readers, he had the time to write down his experiences and viewpoints after two years at this most hallowed of elite institutions, so we can see and decide for ourselves.

If there’s one word that can describe this memoir, it is “sobering.” There are a few funny moments, but overall you wouldn’t want to read “Ahead of the Curve” if you don’t like having your pre-existing conceptions shattered. Broughton describes the hellishness of recruiting, the surprisingly childish theatrics and arguments that went on in the classroom, and the scathing epidemic of “FOMO” (fear of missing out) that paralyzed and depressed many.

Granted, Broughton is in a different place personally and professionally than most of the student body by the time he arrives at HBS: he is in his 30s, married with a family, and wasn’t really gunning for investment banking or consulting (which would form the majority of his class’s offers after graduation). But his Wall Street-outsider perspective is one that is so sorely needed for a book like this, because frankly most of his classmates have the blinders on and don’t seem to obtain the happiness they seek.

“Harvard is a factory for unhappy people,” one of his friends observes.

Granted, it was a different time (before 2008, after all), and don’t mistake his observations for nonstop doom and gloom. Treat it as a way to introduce yourself to the questions that you need to answer at some point before you get to business school: what do I want? What kind of life would I be happy with? How much is enough? Yes, these questions are uncomfortable, but better to think about them now than when the recruiting cycle is over and you’re pretty much the only student without a full-time offer (as he was).

There are fascinating looks into the classroom discussions, the famed case method, the many startups and small businesses that sprang up, and the prestigious professors and guest speakers that came to campus (including Warren Buffett and Jack Welch). There is also much appreciation shown for the camaraderie and network that he developed with his classmates.

But be aware before you start that this is a questioning, striving kind of memoir. Those who are dead sure that they are exactly where they want to be both personally and professionally, who have no doubts about where they will be over the next few years, and know everything they need to know about the world will probably find it boring.

But for the rest of us human beings, this is a must-read, and not just for HBS hopefuls, for anyone considering business school.

Read up, monkeys, and special thanks to WSO user chicandtoughness for lending me her copy of this book.

Monkey’s Review 1: Barbarians At the Gate
Monkey’s Review 2: The Financier
Monkey’s Review 3: Decision Points
Monkey’s Review 4: Debunkery
Monkey’s Review 5: When Genius Failed
Monkey’s Review 6: Monkey Business
Monkey’s Review 7: Death Of The Banker
Monkey’s Review 8: A Journey
Monkey’s Review 9: Damn It Feels Good To Be A Banker
Monkey’s Review 10: The Quants
Monkey’s Review 11: All About Hedge Funds
Monkey’s Review 12: The Unlikely Disciple
Monkey’s Review 13: Adventure Capitalist
Monkey’s Review 14: The Hedge Fund Book
Monkey’s Review 15: Investing In Hedge Fund of Funds
Monkey’s Review 16: Hilarity Ensues
Monkey’s Review 17: The Prince
Monkey’s Review 18: Markets Never Forget (But People Do)
Monkey’s Review 19: The Money Culture
Monkey's Review 20: An Empire of Wealth
Monkey's Review 21: The New Tycoons
Monkey's Review 22: A Bold, Fresh Piece of Humanity

Head of Metal Website: www.headofmetal.com https://twitter.com/headofmetal2012
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Comments

Amphipathic's picture

In before brady

(Gorilla, 745
 
Points)
 on 2/19/13 at 3:02pm

In before brady

mbavsmfin's picture

I read the book a while back

(Orangutan, 370
 
Points)
 on 2/19/13 at 3:05pm

I read the book a while back and thought it was well-written and mildly entertaining. I recently met a HBS alum who was in the same section as Broughton. He told me that him and most of his classmates thought Broughton wrote the book out of frustration and bitterness since he was pretty much the only person in his section who did not have a full-time job lined up when graduating. Keep in mind that this was 2006, one of the most bullish job markets in modern U.S. history. One does wonder whether he would have written this exact same book or a book at all, if he had received offers from top firms.

CaR's picture

mbavsmfin: I recently met a

O
(Gorilla, 643
 
Points)
 on 2/19/13 at 4:53pm
mbavsmfin:

I recently met a HBS alum who was in the same section as Broughton. He told me that him and most of his classmates thought Broughton wrote the book out of frustration and bitterness since he was pretty much the only person in his section who did not have a full-time job lined up when graduating. Keep in mind that this was 2006, one of the most bullish job markets in modern U.S. history. One does wonder whether he would have written this exact same book or a book at all, if he had received offers from top firms.

Considering he began writing the book--or at least announced he was writing it--before he arrived at HBS, that sounds a little apologetic to me. Haven't read it though, and my HBS buddies rave about the place, so that is an interesting thought.

I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different.
Kurt Vonnegut

mbavsmfin's picture

CaR: mbavsmfin: I recently

(Orangutan, 370
 
Points)
 on 2/19/13 at 5:04pm
CaR:
mbavsmfin:

I recently met a HBS alum who was in the same section as Broughton. He told me that him and most of his classmates thought Broughton wrote the book out of frustration and bitterness since he was pretty much the only person in his section who did not have a full-time job lined up when graduating. Keep in mind that this was 2006, one of the most bullish job markets in modern U.S. history. One does wonder whether he would have written this exact same book or a book at all, if he had received offers from top firms.

Considering he began writing the book--or at least announced he was writing it--before he arrived at HBS, that sounds a little apologetic to me. Haven't read it though, and my HBS buddies rave about the place, so that is an interesting thought.

Sure. He may have planned on writing it all along, but i don't think he wrote the bulk of it until he was out of school. Anyways I'm just reporting what this one guy told me. And from reading the book, Broughton sounds bitter about getting dinged after interviews.

HBS is great, but so are a lot of other top schools. I also think current students and alums VASTLY hype how much fun they're having in b-school and the quality of the overall experience.

SlikRick's picture

mbavsmfin: HBS is great, but

CO
 
Points)
 on 2/19/13 at 5:26pm
mbavsmfin:

HBS is great, but so are a lot of other top schools. I also think current students and alums VASTLY hype how much fun they're having in b-school and the quality of the overall experience.

Wait, you mean a stint at HBS isn't the best life-changing, mind-altering, pussy-slaying years of one's life? That's not what my sources tell me...

mbavsmfin's picture

SlikRick: mbavsmfin: HBS

(Orangutan, 370
 
Points)
 on 2/19/13 at 5:32pm
SlikRick:
mbavsmfin:

HBS is great, but so are a lot of other top schools. I also think current students and alums VASTLY hype how much fun they're having in b-school and the quality of the overall experience.

Wait, you mean a stint at HBS isn't the best life-changing, mind-altering, pussy-slaying years of one's life? That's not what my sources tell me...

Um, not sure if you're being facetious. 2 of my best friends from college are first-years there right now. They like it, mostly because they're not working full-time and had a chance to meet some really cool people. But I wouldn't say they're going crazy socially or doing things you can't do if you're not in b-school.

ladubs111's picture

mbavsmfin: SlikRick: mbav

IA
 
Points)
 on 2/19/13 at 6:15pm
mbavsmfin:
SlikRick:
mbavsmfin:

HBS is great, but so are a lot of other top schools. I also think current students and alums VASTLY hype how much fun they're having in b-school and the quality of the overall experience.

Wait, you mean a stint at HBS isn't the best life-changing, mind-altering, pussy-slaying years of one's life? That's not what my sources tell me...

Um, not sure if you're being facetious. 2 of my best friends from college are first-years there right now. They like it, mostly because they're not working full-time and had a chance to meet some really cool people. But I wouldn't say they're going crazy socially or doing things you can't do if you're not in b-school.

I think most people like going to b school because its college 2.0 for them. Partying, drinking, no work stress. I can't even hang with my b school buddies at the bars anymore because they developed their college days tolerance back.

ozymandias's picture

The discussion about

CD
 
Points)
 on 2/19/13 at 7:01pm

The discussion about "financial aid Beamers" was particularly eye-opening. People would drain their bank account by buying a BMW so that they could qualify for financial aid. PDB might have a chip on is shoulder about not getting a FT offer, but he didn't make up his facts about the shenanigans that go on at HBS.

"It doesn't matter where you are or where you came from: it's about where you're going."

mbavsmfin's picture

ozymandias: The discussion

(Orangutan, 370
 
Points)
 on 2/19/13 at 8:37pm
ozymandias:

The discussion about "financial aid Beamers" was particularly eye-opening. People would drain their bank account by buying a BMW so that they could qualify for financial aid. PDB might have a chip on is shoulder about not getting a FT offer, but he didn't make up his facts about the shenanigans that go on at HBS.

Sure. He definitely did not fabricate anything. The guy I talked to confirmed that everything PDB said was accurate. Actually this alumni was mentioned in PDB's book, which was pretty funny.

The shenanigans that go on at HBS have gotten worse since PDB was there. MUCH worse, or crazy/fun, depending on how you look at it.

In The Flesh's picture

mbavsmfin: One does wonder

HF
(Neanderthal, 2,792
 
Points)
 on 2/19/13 at 8:52pm
mbavsmfin:

One does wonder whether he would have written this exact same book or a book at all, if he had received offers from top firms.

Probably, but he knew enough about himself that he understood he wouldn't be happy in one of those traditional front office roles. Of course the question then is why he was so upset over why he didn't get one.

Head of Metal Website: www.headofmetal.com

https://twitter.com/headofmetal2012

In The Flesh's picture

ozymandias: The discussion

HF
(Neanderthal, 2,792
 
Points)
 on 2/19/13 at 8:53pm
ozymandias:

The discussion about "financial aid Beamers" was particularly eye-opening. People would drain their bank account by buying a BMW so that they could qualify for financial aid. PDB might have a chip on is shoulder about not getting a FT offer, but he didn't make up his facts about the shenanigans that go on at HBS.

Disgraceful and wrong. And this coming from an institution with a permanent endowment...

Head of Metal Website: www.headofmetal.com

https://twitter.com/headofmetal2012

mbavsmfin's picture

In The

(Orangutan, 370
 
Points)
 on 2/19/13 at 9:00pm
In The Flesh:
ozymandias:

The discussion about "financial aid Beamers" was particularly eye-opening. People would drain their bank account by buying a BMW so that they could qualify for financial aid. PDB might have a chip on is shoulder about not getting a FT offer, but he didn't make up his facts about the shenanigans that go on at HBS.

Disgraceful and wrong. And this coming from an institution with a permanent endowment...

Oh, there's much worse stuff going on at top b-schools such as rich internationals completely gaming the admissions process and people working at various "startups" and non-profits, grossly exaggerating stuff on their resumes. I could go on and on about these types of cases from people I personally know and hearing stories about their classmates. Although I applied to mba programs, I have very little respect for the admissions process or the culture and academic environment in general.

mbavsmfin's picture

In The

(Orangutan, 370
 
Points)
 on 2/19/13 at 9:01pm
In The Flesh:
mbavsmfin:

One does wonder whether he would have written this exact same book or a book at all, if he had received offers from top firms.

Probably, but he knew enough about himself that he understood he wouldn't be happy in one of those traditional front office roles. Of course the question then is why he was so upset over why he didn't get one.

I don't buy it. Sounds like a classic defense mechanism to me, similar to when a guy gets dinged by a hot girl, and he tells others that she was not a "good fit" for him.

In The Flesh's picture

mbavsmfin: In The

HF
(Neanderthal, 2,792
 
Points)
 on 2/19/13 at 9:13pm
mbavsmfin:
In The Flesh:
mbavsmfin:

One does wonder whether he would have written this exact same book or a book at all, if he had received offers from top firms.

Probably, but he knew enough about himself that he understood he wouldn't be happy in one of those traditional front office roles. Of course the question then is why he was so upset over why he didn't get one.

I don't buy it. Sounds like a classic defense mechanism to me, similar to when a guy gets dinged by a hot girl, and he tells others that she was not a "good fit" for him.

Intense pressure and competition for jobs does things to people. For him, it made him completely forget about why he had come to HBS and what he was looking for in the first place to chase something just because that was what everyone was "expected" to do. Not making excuses, just giving his reasons from the book.

Head of Metal Website: www.headofmetal.com

https://twitter.com/headofmetal2012

ozymandias's picture

Re: why he was unhappy with

CD
 
Points)
 on 2/20/13 at 10:28am

Re: why he was unhappy with FT recruiting, two words: Social pressure. It's hard to be told "this is what you have to do with your life after HBS," while not actually wanting to do front office work at a bank, PE shop, or consulting firm. Half convincing yourself is really destructive: when you don't get the job, you feel like you failed, and if you do get the job you're left dissatisfied.

PDB seems to have a new job at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which would definitely be a better fit for someone with his background. Pretty sure that if he writes a new afterword, it would be more charitable to HBS though despite the ridiculousness that's already been mentioned.

"It doesn't matter where you are or where you came from: it's about where you're going."

mbavsmfin's picture

ozymandias: Re: why he was

(Orangutan, 370
 
Points)
 on 2/20/13 at 1:35pm
ozymandias's picture

mbavsmfin: ozymandias: Re:

CD
 
Points)
 on 2/20/13 at 8:20pm

"It doesn't matter where you are or where you came from: it's about where you're going."

mbavsmfin's picture

ozymandias: mbavsmfin: oz

(Orangutan, 370
 
Points)
 on 2/20/13 at 9:56pm
In The Flesh's picture

mbavsmfin: ozymandias: mb

HF
(Neanderthal, 2,792
 
Points)
 on 2/23/13 at 3:32pm

Head of Metal Website: www.headofmetal.com

https://twitter.com/headofmetal2012

Amphipathic's picture

I read (well, skimmed a lot)

(Gorilla, 745
 
Points)
 on 2/28/13 at 11:03am
CompBanker's picture

I read the book while I was

PE
(Almost Human, 8,504
 
Points)
 on 3/6/13 at 10:31pm

CompBanker

APAE's picture

I enjoyed the book. I took

(Neanderthal, 3,660
 
Points)
 on 3/7/13 at 12:12am

A lot of people do certain things to add days to their life. I do things to add life to my days.

futurectdoc's picture

My only comment on the book

IB
(King Kong, 1,675
 
Points)
 on 3/7/13 at 1:20am
DBCooper's picture

Someone FedEx a copy to

RE
 
Points)
 on 3/9/13 at 3:32pm
DCDepository's picture

ozymandias: The discussion

O
 
Points)
 on 3/9/13 at 5:16pm
DCDepository's picture

mbavsmfin: In The

O
 
Points)
 on 3/9/13 at 5:26pm
mbavsmfin's picture

DCDepository: mbavsmfin:

(Orangutan, 370
 
Points)
 on 3/9/13 at 5:35pm
In The Flesh's picture

CompBanker: I read the book

HF
(Neanderthal, 2,792
 
Points)
 on 3/9/13 at 8:59pm

Head of Metal Website: www.headofmetal.com

https://twitter.com/headofmetal2012

In The Flesh's picture

DBCooper: Someone FedEx a

HF
(Neanderthal, 2,792
 
Points)
 on 3/9/13 at 8:59pm

Head of Metal Website: www.headofmetal.com

https://twitter.com/headofmetal2012

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