The Wal-Mart Effect

By: Charles Fishman

Narrated by: Alan Sklar

Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Drawing on unprecedented interviews with former Wal-Mart executives and a wealth of staggering data - such as that Americans spend $36 million an hour at Wal-Mart stores - this is an intimate look at a business that is dramatically reshaping the American economy.

Wal-Mart is not only the world's largest company; it is also the largest company in the history of the world. Though 70 percent of Americans now live within a 15-minute drive of a Wal-Mart store, we have not even begun to understand the true power of the company and the many ways it is shaping American life. We know about the lawsuits and the labor protests, but what we don't know is how profoundly the "Wal-Mart effect" is shaping our lives.

Fast Company senior editor Fishman, whose revelatory cover story on Wal-Mart generated the strongest reader response in the history of the magazine, takes us on an unprecedented behind-the-scenes investigative expedition deep inside the many worlds of Wal-Mart. Fishman penetrated the secrecy of Wal-Mart headquarters, interviewing 25 high-level ex-executives. He journeyed into the world of a host of Wal-Mart's suppliers to uncover how the company strong-arms even the most established brands. And he journeyed to the ports and factories, the fields and forests where Wal-Mart's power is warping the very structure of the world's market for goods.

Wal-Mart is not just a retailer anymore, Fishman argues. It has become a kind of economic ecosystem, and anyone who wants to understand the forces shaping our world today must understand the company's hidden reach.

©2006 Charles Fishman (P)2006 Tantor Media Inc.

Critic reviews

"In the end, Fishman sees Wal-Mart as neither good nor evil, but simply a fact of modern life that can barely be comprehended, let alone controlled." (Publishers Weekly)
"He brings to light the serious repercussions that are occurring as consumers and suppliers have become locked in an addiction to massive sales of cheaper and cheaper goods." (Booklist)

Amazing

Since I work at Walmart I have found this book so interesting. I am only half way though it and am captured by all the ways in which Walmart started. I also know the day to day routine of Walmart so I am hoping the last half of the book will detail my daily life. As with all jobs it's a 50/50 kind of place to work, I am thankful they hired me since I am an older person but find they are all talk and no action. I hope more will listen to this book and learn from it. I have also purchased the book for my hearing impaired friends to read....

Well done, balanced analysis

This is a very thorough, well done, and balanced analysis. It looks at the good and bad, financial and human impact of Wal-mart. It will validate some of your assumptions, but also provide insight into a surprising side of a retail giant that touches all of our lives, even if you don't shop there (at least according to the book). I found it went quickly for a download of this size, largely because of the case study format.

A fun, well balanced, informative story

A very instructive, informative and entertaining look at Wal Mart's massive impact on the world. Alan Sklar is great as always and I flew through this book because it was lots of fun. Not life altering or anything, but definitely a cut above the average audiobook in terms of keeping my interest while teaching me about the world at the same time. Highly reccomended.

How Does Walmart Really Effect You?

Would you listen to The Wal-Mart Effect again? Why?

Yes, I would to get the facts and stories correct in order to share with others about the real Walmart Effect.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Wal-Mart Effect?

Learning how fast Wal-mart grew and how the basic mission of Sam Walton was "low prices everyday is reflected and carried out today. .

Have you listened to any of Alan Sklar’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

If you could give The Wal-Mart Effect a new subtitle, what would it be?

..It is real and growing

Well Written

Changed my view on Wal-Mart. Now I still believe WalMart is somewhat evil, but at the same time is only a product of capitalism. WalMart isn't all bad, and has most likely been a benefit to an American's quality of life.
It was not an extremely biased view of walmart, either positive or negative, the author merely did his best to explain how walmart does business based on some very specific examples.
This book confirmed for me that there are items that are OK to buy at walmart and others that are not.

The Wal-Mart Effect Explained

This was very interesting and informative. Most people have an instant association with Wal-Mart, either positive or negative. This book provides a balanced look at the Wal-Mart effect, citing both the advantages and disadvantages of having Wal-Mart. I had always heard that Wal-Mart forces smaller businesses to close and takes away jobs, but I never saw any studies to support this one way or the other....until now. The author also raises some issues and points that I never thought of before, such as explaining Wal-Mart's actions in terms of its mission to provide lower prices and some of its techniques to achieve this. And yes, there is also some of the low-down, gritty stuff, such as how Wal-Mart treats it suppliers and how many of those associated with Wal-Mart, both past and present, are fearful to speak out.

What an Effect!this

The author simply and effectively explained how Wal-Mart has changed the world. In my opinion, the growth and policies of Wal-Mart along with the cooperation of local governments has made it into something that has become too big too fail. That's not good. The book should be read by people interested in business and political leaders thinking of inviting Wal-Mart into their communities.

Excellent--Fun to read and very informational.

Very entertaining, well written, and easy to listen to. Kept my interest throughout the entire book. The newly update afterward by the author was a delightlful surprise.

Charles Fishman, always a great choice!

Yet another thoroughly researched book by a great author. Presented in an easy to understand format that invites the reader to think about the topic at hand.

When Wal-Mart Moves In

We are currently facing a Wal-Mart Super Center invasion in our town. At first, I thought it would be nice to have a Wal-Mart near by--nearer than the three other Wal-Marts which are each 20 minutes away. But after listening to this book, I changed my mind.

Even if you're not a mathematician, the author presents the data in perfectly, logical and understandable ways. The real-world examples of how company's benefit ("Makin' Bacon") and suffer (Huffy bicycles) because of Wal-Mart is eye-opening.

Both the examples and numbers are staggering! And they're non-stop! The comprehensive facts and figures in this book will leave you with your jaw on the floor. For instance, Wal-Mart sells more goods by St. Patrick's Day than Target, its nearest competitor, will sell all year!

Like a previous reviewer states, this book is a very balanced presentation. However, what seemed obvious to me is that the good that Wal-Mart apparently does, eventually leads to bad things. The way Wal-Mart permeates everything in the world...no that's not an overstatement...it makes Ma Bell pale in comparison. Why Wal-Mart isn't investigated as a monopoly is beyond me...just my opinion.

I cannot praise Charles Fishman enough. Listening to this book took more than 9 hours...it felt like 9 minutes. Everyone should get a copy of the "Wal-Mart Effect", whether you shop at Wal-Mart or not. Think of this book as the cheapest class you can take to become a truly informed consumer. Learn all about how the retail industry operates...or rather how Wal-Mart forces the retail industry to operate.

Long and short of it is, for or against Wal-Mart, if you listen to this book, you will NEVER look at Wal-Mart the same way again.