Compassionate Capitalism

Recently there has been a deluge of books on managerial theory, ``how-to'' scenarios and inspirational tomes about the ``good life,'' but rarely can an author combine these genres. DeVos, co-founder and retired president of Amway, does so effectively with this study of how to be entrepreneurial, successful and compassionate. Offering dozens of emotional anecdotes about struggling and then successful people he knew at Amway, DeVos develops an intriguing 16-part ``Credo for Compassionate Capitalism'' that draws heavily on the Judeo-Christian ethical tradition, then melds its precepts with those of capitalism. His thoughts on helping others, racial and religious toleration and the environment are impressive, as are his positions on credit availability and business behavior. Of obvious interest to Amway's two million distributors, his book should also have strong appeal for general readers. (Apr.)