Nicole's Reviews > Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business

2.5/3 stars

Normally, I enjoy biographies, especially when they're read by the author. If I didn't have to finish listening to this for work, it would've dropped into my abandoned pile faster than a hot potato.

Meyer has some valuable points on hospitality and service, but they are drowned out by an intense amount of context and promoting his business-portfolio. It was like looking for gems in mud.

1) I would've preferred more specific case studies THAT GET TO THE POINT. This felt like reading Henry James, where one sentence lasts for a paragraph.

2) This could've been summed up in an article or blog post

3) Where are your employees' stories? (The best parts were the examples that centered around the day-to-day.)

What's more, the amount of white male privilege and classism was almost nauseating. (I say as a middle class, white enby librarian.) If he included more discussion of these topics, he'd be demonstrating his values more than talking about them. (In my opinion.)

My opinions are informed by a profession where it is predominately white and female, with men in positions of power. In my workplace, I am fortunate to work with some amazing people every day, with women/femmes [ I'm not 100% of how they identify] in the director, assistant director and supervisor roles.