When McKinsey Comes to Town by Walt Bogdanich and Michael Forsythe

The Hidden Influence of McKinsey & Company

When McKinsey Comes to Town immediately caught my attention with its sharp, investigative edge, turning what I expected to be a straightforward look at consulting into an unfiltered exposé on McKinsey’s influence across industries and governments. Walt Bogdanich and Michael Forsythe take readers behind the closed doors of one of the world’s most powerful consulting firms, and the revelations were far more striking than I’d anticipated.

What struck me most was how this consulting giant, often portrayed as an emblem of professionalism and expertise, has been involved in some of the most controversial decisions affecting industries and even national policies. I was both surprised and skeptical—could one firm really exert such significant control over decisions that affect millions? As I read deeper, I became increasingly curious about how McKinsey’s recommendations, strategies, and market shifts ripple out, affecting everything from public policy to corporate ethics.

One of the most intriguing aspects was how Bogdanich and Forsythe outline the consequences of McKinsey’s “profit-first” approach. This isn’t just a look at their consulting strategies; it’s an exploration of how their advice has led to cost-cutting measures that sometimes compromise ethics or sideline societal impact. I found myself questioning the broader implications of this approach, especially as the authors revealed instances where McKinsey’s counsel led to layoffs, environmental issues, or policy changes that favored corporations over communities.

I found When McKinsey Comes to Town not only compelling but unexpectedly revealing. Bogdanich and Forsythe’s meticulous research and hard-hitting storytelling shed new light on a firm I thought I understood, exposing the power dynamics that influence decision-making on a global scale. The book left me with a renewed curiosity about the ethics of consulting and a deepened perspective on how corporate influence shapes our world. Overall, it was a riveting and thought-provoking read that challenged my assumptions about corporate power and accountability.