Nuts! Southwest Airlines' Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success

Twenty-five years ago, Herb Kelleher reinvented air travel when he founded Southwest Airlines, where the planes are painted like killer whales, a typical company maxim is "Hire people with a sense of humor," and in-flight meals are never served--just sixty million bags of peanuts a year. By sidestepping "reengineering," "total quality management," and other management philosophies and employing its own brand of business success, Kelleher's airline has turned a profit for twenty-four consecutive years and seen its stock soar 300 percent since 1990.

Today, Southwest is the safest airline in the world and ranks number one in the industry for service, on-time performance, and lowest employee turnover rate; and Fortune magazine has twice ranked Southwest one of the ten best companies to work for in America. How do they do it?

With unlimited access to the people and inside documents of Southwest Airlines, authors Kevin and Jackie Freiberg share the secrets behind the greatest success story in commercial aviation. Read it and discover how to transfer the Southwest inspiration to your own business and personal life.

Customer Reviews:

A new Southwest Airlines employee agrees. . .

By A Customer - October 14, 1998

I have read the reviews about how this book is "mushy." I think maybe because they can't believe that a company this good really exists. I am a brand-new employee to SWA, and this book is given to every new employee at the day-long welcome class. After participating in the class, reading this book, and experiencing the SWA culture first-hand, I can safely say that the book does NOT exaggerate! The feel-good style emphasized over and over in the book is a reality. People care about each other. Everyday (as shown in the book) everyone is made to feel valuable--and it makes you want to work harder, work smarter, and spread the LUV. Others may "say" that's what they are doing, but somehow it always comes back to "the rules." Herb Kelleher and crew are breaking the rules--and showing the others how to make a profit while caring about the dignity and welfare of the SWA family. Great and easily read book. Highly recommended.

Good Book on Management

By Srinagesh - December 23, 1999

This is a good book on management. The authors discusses how SouthWest Airlines manages problems under tight constraints and intense competition. The book emphasises how "out of box" thinking helps achieve the results faster. It shows how the rules can be re-defined and make impossible to happen. It gives a whole new perspective on how Airlines should operate. It sets new records to be surpassed by itself. Gives good insights in to the corporate recruiting and retention of the employees. On a personal level, it is a good book on how to manage in difficult times, how to manage with limited resources, how to be optimistic, how with courage, determination and constancy of purpose one can overcome heavy odds in personal life to fulfill one's dreams. Every 15 days I read a new book on management/self-help. But this is the only book I continuously refer to again and again. It has changed my attitude altogether. I feel every corporation wishing to transform the work... read more

An excellent read about an excellent company

By A Customer - June 26, 1999

If you've wondered how this small Texas airline outsmarted the larger giant airlines, read it all here. After reading this book, I was left with many ideas about how to incorporate more fun into my own work life, while increasing productivity. The corporate culture of Southwest is so ingrained into the employees! Fly with them, and notice how different their people are, and how they each seem to enjoy their job! I can't recommend this book highly enough.