The Accidental Scholar

The Accidental Scholar offers a vision of a life well-led and what can happen when you combine passion with hard work, principles, and adaptability. This is a profound work!

-- Marshall Goldsmith

"The Accidental Scholar is a fascinating history of ideas tracing the academic and professional journey of a world marketing and management legend, Dr Jagdish Seth. It is an inspiring book for marketing students and a must-read by any academic wishing to make a difference as a successful scholar and university leader."

-- Dr Tan Chin Nam

"Professor Jagdish Sheth is a brilliant and talented scholar in consumer behavior, strategy, and marketing theory. The most amazing part of the story is Jag’s insightful account of how he became what he is, a huge influence in marketing and business, by accident."

-- Dr Tan Chin Tiong

"Some autobiographies fit in the category of pure storytelling and others in the genre of wisdom literature. Always between the lines of the Jag Sheth’s storytelling about his personal and professional life is his confidence that seeking what is good and needed will, not surprisingly in his view, also make for lasting contribution and genuine success. This is wisdom literature."

-- James W. Wagner

"What a great journey! I know it will inspire others. I have enjoyed our friendship of three decades."

-- Azim Premji

"Jag Sheth is a world-renowned scholar and thought leader. All of us have benefited from his wisdom and advice. The Accidental Scholar is a very inspiring journey of the making of a scholar. It is full of wisdom."

-- Ram Charan

"Jag Sheth is one of the great minds in marketing. His life journey serves as an inspiration for others to achieve their full potential. I am honored to call him a friend and know you will enjoy the great insights he provides in business and in life in this wonderful book."

-- Ralph de la Vega

"Dr Jagdish Sheth is a well-known management scholar and educator. Besides the USA, he has worked across several countries and is widely respected for his extremely sharp analytical mind. He has been particularly active in India and this book will be received with wide acclaim by practitioners across the country."

-- Ashok Ganguly

"Many readers will find inspiration in this well-told tale of immigration, education, and academic entrepreneurship by the marketing legend Jag Sheth."

-- Alvin E. Roth

"This book takes the reader on a fascinating journey that epitomizes the many dimensions of Dr Sheth. Written with great authenticity, it is the story of a scholar and his contribution to the evolution of consumer behavior, strategic marketing, competitive strategy, and relationship marketing as academic disciplines, together with the sub-text and context that shaped this evolution. What is particularly inspiring is the passion and hard work that have distinguished Dr Sheth as an academic, consultant, coach, and philanthropist. His energy and agility in spotting emerging patterns provides a refreshing perspective right through, as do interspersed nuggets like "markets don’t plateau, managers do."

-- Vinita Bali

"Jagdish Sheth has truly lived the dream, moving from India to become one of the leading marketing scholars in the world and a successful academic administrator to boot. Sheth’s biography offers important lessons for anyone in any field trying to chart their career course."

-- Jeffrey Pfe