Smartly funny. Bing has mortared his bricks of humor with undeniable truths.

The elephant in question is the boss himself and Mr.Bing provides charmingly cynical advice. The nuggets within are golden.

The answer is yes, if that elephant is your boss. Can anything be done about these enormous, gray, and sometimes smelly beasts?The answer is yes, if you know Business Zen. For thousands/of years, Zen masters have plumbed the secrets of the universe while wearing comfortable clothing. Now you, too, can learn the wisdom of the ancients and win valuable prizes.  

It may be easier than you dare to imagine. Don't you already spend a good part of your day sitting and thinking about nothing for hours on end? That's Zen! You're already doing it!

In this simple little handbook, Throwing the Elephant, Stanley Bing the master of Machiavellian meanness, offers the nicest possible way to manipulate one's executive elephant to achieve enlightenment -- and power.

Foreword: What This Book Is About

Preface: On Elephants, and How They Are

  Different from People

Introduction: Buddha in Business

Personal Preparation

The Four or Five Truths

The Ninefold Path

Enlightening Up!

Zen and the Art of Managing Up

Basic: Handling the Elephant

  Before the Elephant Arrives: You

  Before the Elephant Arrives: It

  Before the Elephant Arrives: It, Part 2

  Meeting the Elephant

  Greeting the Elephant

  Learning the Elephant Tongue

  Following Along after the Elephant

  Feeding the Elephant

  Watering the Elephant

  Polishing the Elephant's Tusks

  Complimenting the Elephant: Level One

  Rejoicing with the Elephant When It Is Happy

  Jollying the Elephant When It Is Sad

  On the Importance of Enthusiasm

Intermediate: Managing the Elephant

  Trusting the Elephant

  Obeying the Elephant

  Disobeying the Elephant

  Complimenting the Elephant: Level Two

  Educating the Elephant

  Presenting Alternative Strategies to the Elephant

  Convincing the Elephant That It Was the

  Elephant's Idea

  Informing the Elephant of Bad News

  Getting Credit from the Elephant for Work

  Well Done

  Giving Credit to the Elephant for Work It Did

  Not Do

  Having a Nice, No-Agenda Chat with the

  Elephant

  When You and the Elephant Are out of Town

  Getting Drunk with the Elephant

  On Elephant Humor

  Playing Golf with the Elephant

  Facing the Angry Elephant

  Leaving the Elephant Alone

  Frightening the Elephant with Mice

  Criticizing the Elephant

  Fighting with the Elephant

  Fighting Side by Side with the Elephant

  Ignoring the Elephant in Spite of His Size and

 Weight

 Showing Gratitude to the Elephant

  Protecting the Elephant from Harm

  When Elephants Collide

  When the Elephant Has Gone off You for a While

  When the Elephant Seems to Have Gone offYou

  for Good

  Transcending Love and Hatred of the Elephant

  Exchanging Your Old Elephant for a New One

Advanced: Throwing the Elephant

  Some Prefatory Remarks

  Getting a Leash on the Elephant

  Leading the Elephant

  Mounting the Elephant

  Riding the Elephant

  Leveraging the Elephant

  Throwing the Elephant

Epilogue: Finding the Elephant in You