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Acts abrasive in class, but is helpful outside of class time.

Gets you thinking for yourself. Interesting lectures. Big paper assign.

Class vague to say the least...

Intelligent can be confused with eccentric... Harmatz is a prime example.

interesting class

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Still unsure what the class was about, nice fellow, lots of laughs.

wasn't a huge fan of his until I understood his sense of humor- Truly a nice guy

Very odd man, interesting, nothing he doesn't know, if you can think critically you will do well in his class,if not well.....

he's a very smart man. very good prof but he's too smart for second-year students. if you have an opinion, your in!

One of the best. Is very bright and has an interesting way of thinking. those who do bad in his class are generally those who drop out or don't attend lectures.

Extremely intelligent, interesting guy, lots of fun. However, the papers and tests are tough but you actually learn something that you CAN apply in the future. If your a talker (and have a brain), it's an easy B or B+ with Harmatz.

you should see him dance

Great prof. Extremely interesting class - always managed to wake me up after MIS. He wants his students to come out of University with a brain. Nice break from conventional classes. I liked his teaching style.

very good prof, unique and fun.

Howy is an excellent professor!Those who believe there is no structure to the class are correct, that is the point of the class!His goal is to stimulate your analytical thinking skills, so prepare to be lost and confused.It does pay off to spend a few minutes talking to him one on one after class!

His classes were always very interesting. He is very intelligent, and his teaching style is very effective. I learned alot from his class. You either will hate him or love him. He's crazy!

Very good Prof. One of the only classes I did not get bored in. His class was always fun and interesting. He taught me more about life in general than Business/Government relations!!

Awesome prof. A little unorthodox in his approach, but is able to convey his message is such a way that students feel they have discovered something on their own. He is the only one teaching this course, so you might as well adapt to his style and enjoy the ride. I certainly did.

I ain't going to lie - it's a tough course, but it is very interesting. For the first week of the term I thought Howard was a pretty egotistical guy, but then I realized that's his style, to get you involved in the class. Got to put a lot of effort into this class if you want to get anything above C

I took the course in the summer over three weeks. It was insane!! The course has a lot of ambiguity; you never know what he wants. By the time you figure out how to approach the class, its over. He expects everyone has the skills needed to do well in the course. But not many people do. Its the toughest course I have taken at univ.- i have graduated

Want to do well? Take an interest in the course and go see him during office hours!!

You'll either hate him or love him, I loved him; one of the best profs around and definetly the smartest prof in the faculty. Some advice: #1 take it in summer, #2 get to know him so that he remembers you; that's the key to doing well since everything is so subjective...

the smartest and most controversial prof you will ever meet. Seriously listen to what he has to say, he just may change your entire way of thinking and looking at the world. A bit tought to figure out at first, but interesting and fun! And don't wear a hat to class!

Very interesting and engaging professor. Testing materials are out of left field and complex. Just get to know him and make sure he knows you and you will do well. There's a reason he wants names, not student numbers.

WOULD YOUR GRANDMOTHER CONSIDER PROSTITUTION? Awesome course. He'd start a class with a jaw-dropping, controversial opening line, and the discussion would errupt. Who cares about the grade, they don't matter anyway. This course completely changed my way of thinking. My granny is now locked somewhere safe! Thanks Harmatz! CR

To all those students who don't appreciate the value of a prof like Harmatz - **** and complain all you want but the truth is that he wants you to think about the world around you.Mindless zombies don't like him...

An amazing prof, Illiciting students through unconventional methods. Truly an inspiring professor very rare. Many who think poorly of him dont understand that he wants to open your mind to think to use that tool called a brain.

Although I didn't like some of his methods I thought that Harmatz was one of the best profs that I had. He challenged students to think rather than to memorize, which I think too few professors do these days. I learned a great deal in his class about questioning what you learn and becoming a more critical thinker.

Brilliant.

Call me prejudiced, but I knew he'd be different the first day of class when I saw this grinning bald guy with a bowtie stroll in! Jokes aside, Harmatz us an excellent teacher. Shy or unconfident students will suffer since he questions EVERY ARGUMENT you make. The end result: some students come out bitter, some learn to think critically! A+

I took this class in fall 2005. I heard horror stories and feared for my GPA... but ended up doing very well. Harmatz really stresses critical thinking. He gives grades based on class participation, taking chances and higher-level thinking. You won't get much for memorization of the text. Most important is your group project! He can be rude & overb

I don't see why everyone has such negative comments. It's funny to watch students justify an "unfair exam" when a course is curved. The prof's approach is a little different to what most commerce students are used to. He is not rude, he is merely being provocative to stimulate discussion. He is hilarious, and i thought he was great

Great prof! He won't put up with the typical BS we students like to dish out these days, but you will learn a thing or two about it (he makes you read a book on BS). Keep an open mind and don't get offended when he pushes you.

The most eccentric professor at the Asper School. He is hilarious and petrifying at the same time. Attendance is essential in order to obtain a good grade. Speak up early or you will go unnoticed for the term. Don't take him seriously, he's joking 99% of the time. Joke around with him and don't take it seriously when he makes fun of you.

One of the best. interested in actual thought, not the ability to memorize a textbook. rare indeed in this faculty. Has a brain the size of a watermelon and so is very intimidating, but crack some jokes with him and have a time. don't worry it will all be over in an hour and a half and you can turn your brain off in HR.

This guy really makes you think. Don't listen to what others say about him being the worst prof. The course may be difficult for some as it is a change from the way the usual university class...but it is a great change. He makes you question things and really gets you to think for yourself. Other profs can learn from his teaching style...A+ prof!!

This guy is great! he is very entertaining and makes you think.

Howard is a no bs kinda guy. He accepts arguments of high quality only. He demands that you distinguish assumptions from analyzed concepts - a strong analytical foundation for any argument. He is fantastic.

BUS GOV and Managerial Economics with him... in one term. He's one of the hardest profs I've ever had. You learn a TON in his classes if you're up for thinking. One of the best profs I've ever had. He puts you on the spot a lot and makes fun of you if you so much as word your sentence incorrectly... but worth it for the exceptional courses!!!

At first he is somewhat intimidating. But this is to get you out of your comfort zone...very important. He is forcing you to think on your feet and for students who make an attempt to understand the class, he is pulling and stretching your mind in ways naive young people haven't thought before. For that I am grateful. Glad I don't have him anymore.

It is hard to determine whether the readings are important, most people said to me that they were not, although for exam purposes the reserves are somewhat helpful. Try to stay caught up as best you can. His lectures are interesting, but he doesn't talk about much material that he examens.

He is the best teacher in the faculty

I was a student of Prof Harmatz many years ago - 1980. He was great. I remember we used to ask him "what's going to be on the exam?" to which he would always answer "On my exams the answers are all the same; it's only the questions that change". Cheers to a challenging professor and a really good academic experience

This guy is awesome!! The first class I was a little nervous as he comes across kind of scary but later on I could not wait to go to class because he is so funny! He knows who to pick on and usually can pick out the talent in the class. Lastly, his fashion sense is unrivaled!

I had Harmatz several years ago, I believe it was in 2001. He is challenging and will not allow for weak arguments and the weak students who are not able to think on their feet will feel picked on by him. He will call on you, so be prepared for class. As a graduate student now at McGill Univ. I now realize how good of a professor he is.

At first attending this class I felt really intimidated and nervous. By the end I was excited for his class. He comes across tough but is harmless. I learned knowledge that was not just textbook material or memorization; the skills taught on analysing contemporary events were more relevant. Hilarious prof and a quality course.

He is fun. Interesting material. Challenges students to speak up. Don't wear hat in class. He knows a lot about Economics. Ask him about Great Depression.

GREAT PROF! He teaches so well! As well he is very nice and accommodating to students. Great human. Not to mention he is pretty cute in his own way!

I hate to go to class, his speech is slow, but honestly, I learned lots by going to the class. Buy the text!!!!! You will need it!!!! I recommend this prof to everyone. Lots of my views have changed after this course. Amazing prof. 5 star!!! Thumbs up!!!

His goal for the class is not necessarily to teach you about business-government relations, but to change your perspective on how you see things. He is very successful at this! Course starts out a little scary but as the term goes on he warms up to everybody (also helps that he hammers into your head what he's looking for in essays). Good prof.

Harmatz is a great prof if you're smart and can keep up with him. A bit eccentric and students often don't know how to take him at first but he gets you thinking and keeps you on your toes. No question the best prof I've had at UofM. Would do my MBA if he taught courses for it.

The socratic teaching method he uses doesnt work for this course, as most students know next to nothing about policy, and little about economics. He tries to initiate critical thinking about topics, but students have no background and as a result, learning stalls. Reading the assigned chapters for each class is a must. Midterm avg was 32. Good luck

Best prof ever.

Awesome prof. The reason lots of people don't like him is because he pushes students out of their comfort zone. This is good though - it's the only way students grow. Speak up in class if you want a good mark. Overcome your shyness. Harmatz also dedicates a lot of work towards student causes such as JDC West because he knows how beneficial they are

He is quite intimidating the first month, however after that he really warms up to you. If you engage yourself in discussion and make an effort in his class he will go out of his way to help you. He pushes you out of your comfort zone, which is good. You can really tell he loves his job, great prof!

You will either like him or hate him. There is no questioning though that he is intelligent, makes you think and you can learn a lot from him if you put your mind to it. He will challenge you and call you out but remember that he does it to everyone. His questions are often loaded and unfair but everyone is in the same boat. Don't drop.

It really is your decision. If you decide to like him, then you listen to his lectures, then you do the essays. It's really easy after that. He's also really understanding.

This class was conducted way differently than any I have encountered before. Harmatz was interesting during lectures and really got to know the students which was great. Good prof, course isn't too bad. Textbook not necessary.

I think Professor Harmatz is great. He definitely challenges his students to think critically. He may seem unorganized, but trust that there is a method to his madness and all eventually becomes clear. I've never had a prof engage me so much in his teachings. I found myself thinking about topics even when the class was over. GREAT PROF!!!!!!

Harmatz is definitely my favourite Asper professor. He is very intelligent and his goal is to help you learn, not just memorize something for the semester. Took this class in my final year of university, and it was possibly one of the most useful classes/best professors I have experienced.

Best Proff in asper. Has his own style that assumes you are intelligent and capable of critical thinking. If you aren't capable of this, you won't like him. The lessons he teaches you in class might be the best lessons you can learn while at Asper.

Best professer in Asper, really makes you think. Speak up in his class and you'll be fine. Its all about critically thinking for him. Textbook is a waste of money DO NOT BUY IT. also don't bother with the readings, just pay attention and engage in classroom discussions.

Harmatz is definitely one of the best profs at Asper. Get involved in class discussions because you will learn a lot and you'll catch on to details required for the assignments. It is an interesting class and you learn about current events. He is a funny prof. I recommend taking a course with him.

Very good prof. Teaches you skills you need to know not useless definitions. DON"T buy the text, completely useless, borrow it from the library and take a few notes and you'll be fine. Very dry reading. Classes are interesting, take simple notes for assignments papers and tests. I'd recommend Harmatz for Business and Society!

Harmatz was a great prof. I'm looking forward to taking another class with him next year. The mid terms and final are essay based questions. He is a very funny guy. Don't be afraid to participate in class discussions.

He can be a little intimidating but give it a few weeks with an open mind and he will be your favourite prof!Textbook is useless, he even admits it, dont bother with it. Come to class, do your readings and be sure to THINK. Thats all he wants from you. Form well thought out ideas and don't spew opinions. His markers are hard on exams.

Harmatz's fave thing is intimidating students. His second fave thing is making sure you know that only his opinions are the correct ones. Other than that, he's a cool prof. To do well in his class make sure he knows you're name and loves you by answering all his questions in class. His markers mark essays HARD, don't take the writing lightly.

Do not buy the book, don't bother with the assigned readings. Show up to class, pay attention in class (the most obvious topics that are discussed in class are the essay topics for the midterm and the final). I won't lie, I thought he was crazy at first and tried to get out of the class, but he is now my favourite prof. Stick it out.

Harold was a great prof, tough as nails & very opinionated, but if you think about the point he's trying to make, you'll learn a lot. Attend class - Make sure to be critical when writing papers - use your knowledge you've gained from the text and from his lectures. Overall I would definitely recommend - just tough it out and don't let him scare you

Very good prof, if you participate in class he will like you and mark you more easily. Really makes you think! Great prof

Not a really easy class, but Harmatz is a good prof. He can be a bit intimidating at first, but if you participate in class he really likes you, which helps. He really makes you think! Don't buy the textbook, I never used it.

He is nothing to worry about. He gives full marks for assignments most of the time. Papers are marked a little harder. He likes it when students think outside the box. Overall an interesting prof. Textbook and readings are useless. No need to study for exams, still got an A

Comes across as slightly intimidating but really just wants students to participate. Didn't use the textbook much but it's necessary for some stuff on the exams. Approachable outside of class and takes a genuine interest in his students.

One of the best profs I have ever had. Super nice guy inside and outside of class if you understand where he is coming from. He wants you to critically think, and if you do you will be rewarded with a good grade. I didn't bother with any of the readings or the text book but participated actively in class. doing readings would help with the final.

Harmatz is a great prof. He can be very intimidating and come across as harsh. Best thing I learned from his class is be involved. HE LOVED THIS and will remember and call on you all the time! Required reading not very useful(1 chapter needed for class). Couple assignments very straight forward. Exams use your head and previous knowledge.

Prof seems very intimidating in the beginning of the course but in the end I am glad I completed the course with him because he gets you thinking critically and teaches you how to approach big issues in society.

He was intimidating at first but I ended up really enjoying his class. I didn't use/read the textbook but the readings and assignments combined with class discussions were great practice for the way of thinking and analysis that he wanted you to use on the papers and exams. Make sure your assignments are the required length if you want full marks!

His sense of humour is a bit hit or miss, some find him funny, some annoying. His markers don't give great feedback, but you generally know how you could improve after he talks to the class. Textbook was never used, even though he said he loved it. Would take another lass with him

Professor Harmatz is the best teacher i have encountered thus far. He is SUCH a bright man and is more than willing to pass down his knowledge! After taking his class, i feel much more confident as a person, especially when it comes to assessing information. You will think critically like never before! Great guy!

Prof. Harmatz is one of the best prof's I've ever had. His wisdom and ability to take you outside of your comfort zone helps you build character. He constantly challenges you to critically think, a skill he believes is lost among people today. I've learned more from him as a person than I have from anyone or anything else in my life. Amazing class!

Took it in May with Harmatz. HIGHLY recommend taking the course with him. He's a good prof for this course as he keeps classes interesting. Sit at the front and PARTICIPATE. Participating will help you understand the concepts that he will test on exams and papers. Makes a lot of good jokes. One of the better profs here at Asper.

Harmatz was honestly the best and most inspirational prof I've ever had, he really opened my eyes to how I should be living my life and caring about issues. If you're lazy and just looking for an easy A this class isn't for you. If you want to really learn something and improve your critical thinking skills, then you'll definitely enjoy this class.

This guy is one of the best profs at the UofM. Very intelligent guy open to anything you throw at him. Feedback and guidelines on what to do is superb.

The guy is incredibly intelligent and has an opinion on almost everything. For the most part his lectures are interesting but, he is extremely intimidating. Lectures were mostly class discussion so if you didn't show up the class would be pointless.

Participation is a pretty big part. If nobody volunteers to answer questions somebody in the class will be called on to answer, even if you have no idea.

The summer course didn't have a final exam; just three papers and a 10-min. video presentation. He tries to get the class to think about things outside of what we learned until that class. He really does care about his students, especially when you talk to him one-on-one. He does pick on people to answer questions if there are no volunteers.

Many find Harmatz to be intimidating because of the way that he calls out people to answer questions that rarely seem to have a correct answer, but if you sit in the front row, though you are guaranteed to get wrecked, he will teach you how to think critically which is an invaluable skill that is difficult to learn. Can get A if effort is put in.

A class with Harmatz is a real adventure. Be ready to think critically, but don't take it personally if he picks apart your argument. He just enjoys doing that. But all in all, he's actually quite inspiring, as his class is focused heavily on making individuals and society better, inside of information comprehension. Would recommend.

You either love him or hate him. Seminar with Harmatz is an extremely laid-back class. It's a seminar class so be prepared to talk. I don't think anyone took a single note in the class. You write 4 papers and make a short video, no final. You get out what you put in, I recommend this class.

Howard is amazing, I wish he taught more courses than just the few. He cares about his students and wants to bring out the best in everyone. He does tend to call on people that sit from the middle to the back of the class. He has a little dry sense of humour and wears bow-ties almost every class which is a great touch.

Professor Harmatz focuses on discussion in class, and writing for graded material. He genuinely cares for students that take an interest and will make you a better academic not just help you get a good grade.

He's an amazing prof! He knows a lot and can talk forever!! I agree that he makes it seem like your answers are never correct, but he's probably one of the few profs at Asper that prepares you for the real world. He doesn't really put an emphasis on grades, but helps you to enhance your critical thinking and ethical approach. I highly his class!

The absolute best prof in Asper. Super insightful course, you learn a lot. If you've never taken a class with him before, he isn't afraid to grill you or challenge you, but you're a better student and person after his class. Lots of writing for the 3 papers, and 1 video that is kinda silly. All together, the best. Highly recommend it. Best prof!

One of the most dividing profs at asper, you either love him or hate him. You will learn more from him than any course at asper, but he will make it work for it. If you have good writing and critical thinking skills his course is no problem. Fantastic lectures regardless of course taught. He will challenge you using the Socratic method.

Harmatz is the absolute best. The people who dislike him are people who are not capable speakers or intellectually competent enough to handle his discussions. If you talk to the guy and attend his classes, you will leave as a better, smarter, wiser person, not to mention a better writer and thinker. Wish I could take another class with him.

Harmatz will have you questioning the state of the world and your power to change it. He teaches you to be more introspective and a REAL crititcal thinker. I leave EVERY lecture awe-inspired by his well-articulated words of wisdom. Your understanding/definition of a REAL teacher/prof will change after taking a class with him.

Great Prof, very opinionated, rewards those that show interest and put in the effort. Two large papers and essay exams.

Good guy. Leave your ego at the door; he will rip any argument you present to shreds--not out of malice, but because he's trying to help you think a bit more critically. We didn't use the textbook ever, but the final exam did include some material from it. Attend lectures with an open mind and you could learn some real-life applicable skills.

This professor is one of the handful of instructors that legitimately care for your education. It's important to know the book and the dozens of papers he wants you to read, but the fundamental goal going into this course should be to get the mindset and ability to argue needed of a business student. Debate/philoso. exp. helps, but not necessary.

Harmatz is an absolutely brilliant professor and is one of the beams of light in academia. This course is intellectually rigorous and uncomfortable to make you justify your existence(especially your place in university) like no other. If you take the discussions seriously, you will be able to THINK, WRITE, and SPEAK much more articulately

Great professor. Really teaches you how to critically think, will engage you in arguments and pick at your points. Overall course is not too difficult, final and midterm are easy as he is very straightforward with what will be tested on them. Essays are alright, require some work and make sure to follow instructions.

Great prof who cares about his students doing well. You dont really use the textbook to much so just listen to his lectures. Attendance isnt mandatory but I would recommend it since the class is so small. His lectures were actually pretty interesting and I learned some new things. Not the easiest marker though

For this class he was good to take it with. Really interesting lectures that make you think about your views and the world/society, you'll definitely learn something from a class with him. He makes you write quite a bit and gives a decent amount of work (nothing too bad), but if you put in some time you can do well.

Very chill class. You have to read 3 books and write 3 papers. No midterm or final. He's a really nice guy, the grading criteria is just not that clear. Wish he would give the instructions a little earlier to have more time to actually write the papers. Overall I really liked this class and you don't need to take notes. He was very caring.

You will remember Howards class. Theres 3 papers to write about 3 books you read, no notes or exams. The lectures have little to do with the papers and can get off track but they overall interesting and held my attention. He will make you really think. Be present in class because he will pick on you and drill you with questions. Overall great class

You get out what you put into this class. If you attend class, participate, work hard, and ask/answer questions, Harmatz will change the way you think in a way no other class can. No textbook use, really, and exam/paper were not too similar to class content. That's the intention - training you to think, and asking you to apply it in new contexts.

Harmatz is disliked by many, but I'm not sure why. He was amazing this term, you can tell that he is in it for the right reasons and he really wants everybody to succeed. Also his lectures were awesome and he really made you critically think.

Harmatz is an excellent professor. He made the course material interesting with great lectures, and wants his students to think critically and form their own opinions on different issues. Assignments are essay-based, which I didn't mind but may turn others off. If you participate in class, you'll do great and Harmatz will change the way you think.

Howard is a wonderful professor if you allow yourself to think about what he's saying in his lectures. There's a few short essays to write throughout the course, as well as a short paper & a long paper. He randomly calls on students during the lecture and looks for an answer based around how you think, rather than just reciting a textbook answer.

Howard is a interesting professor. The class has mandatory attendance. His lectures are interesting and keep you engaged he makes u think rather this memorize facts. Doing the readings for this class will give u a extra boost but a lot of it is common sense. There are several mini assigments, 2 papers, midterm, and final all essay style.

Howard was a great prof, gets you involved in class, challenges your thinking and helps you grow as thinker.

Lectures are usually entertaining, he is quite the character. Pretty easy class, would generally recommend

Professor Harmatz's lectures are entertaining, but you'll need to put in the work. The essays and exams can be tough, so I found unstuckstudy AI really helpful for study prep. Stay engaged in class, and you'll get a lot out of this course.

My bro made a practice quiz to try out the lockdown browser, and the first question was "How do your feet feel today?". He also told two people in class to have a wrestling match. He also asked someone if they have a sock drawer in the middle of class.

Howards lectures are compelling and insightful, it is expected of you to participate in them and he will pick on you to do so. He doesn't ask you memorize anything focusing more on developing your critical thinking skills. I found he marks fairly on the two papers however the exams are very challenging. Overall a excellent prof.

He's a true mentor, and he spends the time to care for students. Just make sure you work hard.

You have to care and pay attention to class. Just by doing that and make effort it will be easy. Do all you have to do and you'll pass

Okay, professor Harmatz is not for everyone. He is eccentric but a genuine educator and mentor, he really cares for his students. The course is very paper heavy as I assume he wants to evaluate how you interpret the various material. Do not take this course if you want an easy grade, take it if you want to be a better student.

Not for everyone but he can certainly help develop great critical thinking skills and business insights. He will often call on you during class and put you on the spot with a question, it may seem frightening at first but it helps with how you think in the moment and process your thoughts. The assignments aren't hard and there isn't many.