The Rise of the Naked Economy by Ryan Coonerty & Jeremy Neuner - Book review

The Rise of the Naked Economy

How to Benefit from the Changing Workplace

By: Ryan Coonerty, Jeremy Neuner

Published: July 9, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 0230342191
ISBN-13: 978-0230342194
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan











"This book is about stripping work down to its bare essence and rethinking our economy in a way that takes advantage of changes in technology and priorities, and of the unmatched power of simple face-to-face human interaction", write co-founder and Chief Strategist for NextSpace, Ryan Coonerty; and co-founder and CEO of NextSpace, Jeremy Neuner, in their visionary and thought provoking book The Rise of the Naked Economy: How to Benefit from the Changing Workplace. The authors describe how society will be reordered dramatically through the rise of what they call the Naked Economy, and how those changes will provide people the opportunity to reconnect with each other and with their own fundamental humanity.

Ryan Coonerty (photo left) and Jeremy Neuner recognize that the previous social contract between employers and their employees is not only no longer in effect, but is also out of step with modern employment realities. Because of the need and desire for flexibility in the workplace, women, younger and older workers have other priorities outside of the work environment.

At the same time, the traditional social contract is completely outside of reality for the vast majority of the global workforce. The author suggest a radical reassessment and approach to the social contract that considers not only the economic factors, but also technological imperatives, different collaborative employment relationships, and new personal priorities.

Jeremy Neuner (photo left) and Ryan Coonerty understand well that different skill sets and forms and structures of organizations not only exist now, but are constantly evolving to fit the needs of the new Naked Economy. The authors see the emergence of Super Specialists and Smart Generalists as the drivers of the new workplace forms and structural models. The new model will put people first, regardless of location, and to have them engaged to be more creative, innovative performing at high levels.

The authors present their concepts for the re-imagining society in general, and the workplace in particular in four overarching sections. The four parts of the book break the principles of the Naked Economy into process that rebuilds the workplace into one that works for people and for their humanity.

* The cubicle pensioner: The traps and trappings of work
* A specialist and generalist walk into a bar..get drunk and start a company
* Wi-fi, work, and water coolers: How work is changing and people are not
* Conclusion: What to expect when you are expecting the Naked Economy

For me, the power of the book is how Ryan Coonerty and Jeremy Neuner combine a comprehensive overview of the changes in the economy and the workplace, with a practical road map to navigate those changes successfully. The authors take what they consider a radical position on change and workplace transformation. The provide evidence of a revitalized workplace infrastructure based on people, place, and policy. The concepts place people, and their dreams and engagement, at the forefront of the revolution.

As a result, leaders will have no choice but to develop and implement innovative new strategies to accommodate the different aspirations of the new workforce. Work is no longer a physical activity, even in terms of location, but one of the minds and ideals of the people involved in the fresh values and goals. To illustrate their concepts as they are appearing in the real world, the authors share interviews with leaders in the new emerging Naked Economy.

I highly recommend the ground breaking and inspirational book The Rise of the Naked Economy: How to Benefit from the Changing Workplace by Ryan Coonerty and Jeremy Neuner, to any corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, visionaries, public policy makers, employees, futurists, trend watchers, and anyone interested in the rapid and exhilarating changes taking place in the modern workplace. The authors demonstrate that if this transformation is done correctly, there will be a bright future for entrepreneurs, managers, and team members in the new Naked Economy.