When McKinsey Comes to Town: The Hidden Influence of the World's Most Powerful Consulting Firm

Wow, this was a disturbing journey through the dark heart of corporate greed. I was particularly floored by the chapter on Disney and how McKinsey’s cost-cutting recommendations allegedly compromised ride safety. It’s terrifying to think that a few PowerPoint slides could lead to such tragic real-world consequences. The book is exhaustively researched, and the authors' backgrounds in investigative journalism really shine through in the level of detail provided. Not gonna lie, I had to take breaks because the content is so infuriating. If you want to understand why the gap between executive pay and worker wages has exploded, this is the book for you. Absolutely essential reading for 2024.

As someone who worked in a firm that hired 'The Firm,' this book rang incredibly true. The authors perfectly capture that specific brand of intellectual arrogance that allows consultants to ignore the moral context of their work. The chapter on the insurance industry and Allstate was particularly enlightening and confirmed many of my own suspicions about how claims are handled. It's a dense read, but the prose is sharp and the stakes feel incredibly high on every page. Personally, I think this should be mandatory reading for every MBA student. It exposes the hidden plumbing of global capitalism in a way few other books have managed to do.

Not what I expected at all, in the best way possible. I thought this would be a dry business history, but it plays out more like a high-stakes thriller. The way the authors managed to get around those NDAs to uncover the internal dissent within the firm is nothing short of brilliant. Seeing the contrast between their stated 'values' and their actual client list is breathtaking. From the tobacco industry to the opioid crisis, the pattern of 'profit at any cost' is undeniable. It’s a heavy read, but the short chapters help you digest the information. Truly a masterclass in investigative journalism that everyone needs to check out.

Finally got around to reading this expose, and while it's deeply researched, it leaves you feeling quite cynical. The authors do a fantastic job tracing the firm's influence through the opioid crisis and their work with ICE, showing a pattern of prioritizing efficiency over human lives. Frankly, the sheer scale of their reach is staggering. I appreciated the specific details regarding the Purdue Pharma situation, which remains the most damning evidence presented in these pages. However, the prose can be a bit dry at times, almost like reading a very long series of newspaper articles stapled together. It is an important read for anyone interested in how modern power works, even if the writing lacks a certain narrative flair.

After hearing about 'matrix management' for years, it was fascinating to see its origins and subsequent failures detailed so clearly. The book moves quickly through different industries, which keeps the momentum going even when the financial details get dense. I especially liked the sections on the Houston Astros and how data analytics can be used for both innovation and, potentially, unethical edges. My only gripe is that the middle section drags a bit with repetitive themes of cost-cutting. Still, the reporting on their work with authoritarian regimes is eye-opening and deeply concerning. It’s a solid, hard-hitting piece of work that definitely earns its place on a business school's 'what not to do' list.

The chapter on executive compensation alone is worth the price of admission. It perfectly explains how we ended up in a 'race to the top' where CEOs earn hundreds of times more than their employees. I found the book's look at the NHS particularly depressing, as it shows how these efficiency models often fail when applied to public service. My only real criticism is that the tone can be a bit one-note in its outrage. However, when you’re talking about the stuff they’ve been involved in, a little outrage is probably justified. It’s a fascinating, if somewhat cynical, look at the world's most influential company.

Ever wonder if the hype is actually worth it? After seeing this all over Twitter, I expected a groundbreaking insider look, but instead, I found a collection of stories most news junkies already know. To be fair, having all these scandals in one place—from tobacco marketing to the South African corruption cases—is useful for reference. But the analysis felt a bit thin. It often felt like the authors were stretching to blame McKinsey for systemic issues that would have happened regardless of which consultants were in the room. It’s a decent primer if you’re new to the topic, but it doesn't offer the 'smoking gun' I was hoping for.

To be fair, the research here is obviously deep, but the structure felt disjointed. It starts strong with the human impact of McKinsey's advice, but then it transitions into long lists of executive names and compensation figures that lose the emotional core. I wish the authors had spent more time talking to the actual victims—the doctors, the railroad workers, or the patients affected by the NHS changes. Instead, we get a lot of focus on the lavish lifestyles of the partners. It’s an interesting read, but it lacks the cohesive 'big picture' narrative that someone like Patrick Radden Keefe might have brought to the table. Good, but not great.

Picked this up because I wanted to understand the 'secret society' vibe surrounding the firm. While I learned a lot about their involvement in Saudi Arabia and China, the book often confuses 'providing advice' with 'making decisions.' It’s a bit of a stretch to say McKinsey is responsible for the 2008 financial crisis just because they produced some slides for the banks. The writing is pedestrian—standard newspaper style—which makes it a quick read but not a particularly memorable one. It’s a fine book for a flight, but don't expect a deep philosophical dive into the ethics of consulting. It’s mostly just a list of bad things that happened nearby McKinsey.

The authors' backgrounds as NYT journalists are painfully obvious here, for better or worse. While the reporting is technically thorough, the book suffers from a clear partisan bias that undermines its credibility. Every problem in the modern world, from climate change to border security, is laid at the feet of this one firm with a tenuous chain of causation. It felt less like a rigorous business analysis and more like a progressive list of grievances. Truth is, companies hire consultants to do exactly what McKinsey does—optimize for profit. Blaming the consultant for the client's choices feels intellectually dishonest. I found it mostly unbearable to read due to the constant scapegoating and lack of nuance.