WILL UNWOUND #233: Will’s Mystery Project – “Might as Well be Dead” by Rex Stout
September 25, 2010Management…there are many different books and many different theories on how to do it.
A famous coach, a successful CEO, a celebrated academic, or a clever pop psychologist….take your pick. One of the above may very well be the author of the next “all the rage” management du jour theory. In my 35 year management career, I probably was subjected to 35 different management theories, one for each year, but I never found a management guru better than Tom Sawyer. His ability to get the kids from the hood to whitewash his fence tells you pretty much everything you need to know.
Basically, management is getting other people to do the work. That’s the fundamental principle that many managers never quite master. Why? Simple. They rose to a management position because they were the best at what they did and when they got into management, they didn’t understand that their job was to step back from the work and organize, motivate, instruct, coach, evaluate, reward, and leave the grunt work, which they did so well, to others. But sometimes it’s hard to let go especially when they were so good at the grunt work.
Why am I bringing all of this up in a mystery review? Because when it comes to management, I have finally found an equal to Tom Sawyer. His name is Nero Wolfe, and he is the unique and unforgettable creation of Rex Stout. I loved Might as Well Be Dead for all the right reasons…sparkling prose, breathless plot, cliffhanger ending, and an unforgettable cast of characters. Stout plies his trade with an intricacy and a sophistication rare for this genre.
But as a retired manager guy, what really turned me on to this book was Wolfe’s ability to use his staff (everyone from the cook to his number one private eye, Archie Goodwin) to solve a difficult mystery. This is all you need to know: Wolfe never leaves the friendly confines of his comfortable Manhattan brownstone. He relies on everyone else to do his leg work, which is a good thing because he weighs a “seventh of a ton,” which to my rough calculations is a little under 290 pounds.
Like any good manager Wolfe is good at giving directions and assimilating the information gathered by his loyal staff. While they are running all over the big city collecting clues, Wolfe is busy in his 4th floor greenhouse garden tending his prize orchids. It’s the perfect place for him to do his thinking. Wolfe is a brilliant, highly cultured genius who can untie the knot of the tightest conundrum.
What a wonderful contrast to all the stressed out, hard boiled detectives running themselves ragged on the streets of danger. Orchid growing is so much more civilized.
I give Might as Well Be Dead 5 stars (out of 5).
Will, I hope that reading MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD will start you on all of Rex Stout’s books featuring Nero Wolfe. One of my favorites is IN THE BEST FAMILIES, in which Wolfe sets out (literally – he leaves his brownstone, orchids, and Fritz Brenner’s cooking) to destroy Stout’s answer to Sherlock Holmes’s nemesis.
There is also a NERO WOLFE COOKBOOK, in case you want to prepare some of Fritz’s signature dishes
Sue…eating…that’s the one thing I didn’t bring up. Everyone eats well at the Nero Wolfe brownstone. And yes…I do plan to read all of the Wolfe books once this little mystery project of mine is over.
Been swamped with work and no time for leisure reading…haven’t ever read any of the Nero Wolfe books, but now you’ve whet my appetite to try a morsel or two. Thanks!
p.s. Will, dear, you can’t ever skip a Fantasy Friday again!
Elizabeth…glad you missed it. Good feedback!
They come no better than Nero Wolfe. there’s a reason that Sherlockians believe that his father was Holmes and his mother was Irene Adler.
Dave Duncan has done a brilliant 3 books series set in Renaissance Venice based on Wolfe, with a relative of Nostradamus in the Wolfe role and a marvellous apprentice in the Archie role, complete with a courtesan as Lillie and an archivist as Len Cohen.
Sounds awesome! Thanks, Bill!
I’m so glad you read this one. I loved Might as well be dead–I think the premise is just dandy. I think Archie Goodwin is just as wonderful a creation as Wolfe himself. You really should treat yourself to the entire series one day. There’s hardly a lemon in the group and A FAMILY AFFAIR, the last book is just as strong as the earlier ones.
I don’t want to be tedious, but I have a suggestion for another mystery. You don’t have any Ruth Rendell in your project. She’s a wonderful writer that somehow gets overlooked a lot. She has one series–about an Inspector Wexford or Wrexford–and has also written several single mystery books. I’d like to recommend one of them, A JUDGEMENT IN STONE, because it deals with an issue near and dear to the heart of every librarian. I’d rather not say what; it might be a spoiler. But the book is worth giving a look.
Beth…thanks for the tip. Rendell is on my list now.
Ruth Rendell is one of the best of the modern authors. I especially enjoy the Wexford stories. They are more traditional mysteries, where her others are more psychological and terrifying.
I don’t think of myself as a mystery reader, but I did read all the Nero Wolfe series. I envy Archie’s total recall – if only I had half as much!
Amen.
I’ve never read a Nero Wolfe, now I really am going to have to move them up my very long to read list.
A former supervisor once compared me to Tom Sawyer – it was my favorite ever work compliment.
Jessica…you will love Nero Wolfe!
Nero can annoy but I love Archie. Smart and sassy. He’s a master at the snappy comeback and I enjoy his humor. I especially like when he’s annoyed at Nero and they’re bantering, but then get reconciled with each other. The plots are always challenging also.
[...] WILL UNWOUND #233: Will's Mystery Project – “Might as Well be Dead … Dave Duncan has done a brilliant 3 books series set in Renaissance Venice based on Wolfe, with a relative of Nostradamus in the Wolfe role and a marvellous apprentice in the Archie role, complete with a courtesan as Lillie and an . [...]