Book Description

History has remembered J. Pierpont Morgan as a complex and contradictory figure, part robber baron and part patron saint. Now this magisterial biography, based extensively on new material, draws a definitive, full-scale portrait of Morgan's tumultuous life both in and out of the public eye.Morgan earned his reputation as "the Napoleon of Wall Street" by reorganizing the nation's railroads and creating some of its greatest industrial trusts, including General Electric and U.S. Steel. At a time when the United States had no Federal Reserve System, he appointed himself a one-man central bank. He had two wives, three yachts, four children, six houses, mistresses, and one of the finest art collections in America. In this extraordinary book, award-winning biographer Jean Strouse vividly portrays the financial colossus, the avid patron of the arts, and the entirely human character behind all the myths.

Brilliantly crafted, epic in scope, Morgan reveals a man we have never seen before, offering new insights on the culture, political struggles, and social conflicts of America's Gilded Age.

Reviews (31)

A Decent Biography
Jean Strouse has tackled a fascinating biographical subject in this book, John Pierpont Morgan. Morgan was the kingpin of the fledging American financial industry from before the Civil War until his death just before World War I. Morgan's firm helped to bring European capital to the United States that helped financial the great industrial boom of the later 19th Century and constructed huge corporate mergers like U.S. Steel in 1901. Morgan's sound financial dealing led to be highly respected both on Wall Street and off. In 1907, his stature with leading financial institutions helped him engineer a stop to a panic that threatened Wall Street. Morgan was an extremely wealthly man and later in life used that wealth to finance the Metropolitan Museum of Art and to build his own extensive art collection. Morgan had more of a European attitude toward marriage and after his own marriage began to deteriorate in 1880 or so, kept mistresses for the remainder of his life. He was also very involved with the Episcopal Church, taking three weeks out of his busy schedule every three years to attend the Church meetings, and in yachting, helping to finance several America's Cup winners.

Strouse obviously spent a tremendous amout of time researching her subject. In an interview she said that she had gained access to previously untapped copies of letters and diaries of both Morgan and his inner circle. Her book details Morgan's life in almost painstaking detail - from his financial dealings to his art acquisitions to his affairs to his relationship with his father. The author also does a good job and giving us background information about the period in which Morgan lived - the social conditions, the progressive movement and various presidential elections. This is important because all of these factors effected how Morgan conducted his business and how he was viewed by the press and public at the time.

Unfortunately, for all of her research, this is not a very readable biography. The writing is some what bland and uncolorful. The author does a serviceable job trying to explain the complex financial dealings that ruled Morgan's world but often bogs the reader down in figures. I felt as if I needed a degree in finance just to understand the way Morgan shifted around stocks and bonds. It was push for me to finish this book, often times I had trouble wanting to pick it up and continue.

There are few recent biographies of this important 19th century character available, which is why I was excited when I saw Strouse's biography of Morgan. Morgan is a man shrouded in the myth and legend of his financial dealings and I was hoping this biography would shed some light on the man. One cannot fault Strouse's extensive research into her subject however her writing style bogs down the information and makes the book difficult to complete.

Insightful!
Author Jean Strouse presents an in-depth historical account of J. Pierpont Morgan's life and times as a preeminent financier during the expansion of the American economy in the late 1800s and early 1900s. She details the deals he engaged in to raise capital in Europe, help the railroads overcome bankruptcy, and provide bonds and loans to clients. She also details his role in working with other financial leaders and government officials to stabilize markets and - at a time when the U.S. had no national bank - to set up many of the corporate and financial structures we now take for granted. We at getAbstract.com were particularly interested in Strouse's descriptions of the political, economic, and social history of each period as a backdrop for Morgan's life. Morgan comes alive in her descriptions of his family life, travels, and art collection. This excellent, comprehensive biography will intrigue executives, managers, historians and anyone who appreciates war stories about a master dealmaker.

Thorough Biography
Jean Strouse's thorough biography on J.P. Morgan was...thorough. Strouse must have gone through a tremendous amount of work to put together this almost 700-page book. The result of her toil was an in-depth study of J.P. Morgan's life. The biography is divided into four parts, which makes it easier if one would prefer to skip around and concentrate on only certain aspects of Morgan's life and career. I most enjoyed Part I, which discussed the formation of his character. This section went through extreme detail of his parents and his childhood. What a surprise to learn that Morgan was a relation to Jonathan Edwards and Aaron Burr! Even though the biography was a great length and did become rather boring at parts, it is a must read for those who wish to learn more about J.P. Morgan. Without him, America would not be what it is today.

A in-depth look at America's financial genius
In her book, "Morgan: American Financier" Jean Strouse has made a bold attempt to capture the essence of the man whose ideas shaped America's economy from the Civil War up through, at least, the New Deal. While the style of the writing of "Morgan: American Financier" may seem "dry", we have to remember that Ms. Strouse is not writing a biography of a colorful person like Nellie Bly or William Randolph Hearst. Still, she captures the tensions behind high-stake financing, plutocratic rivalries (Morgan vs. Andrew Carnegie, for example), and the ambitious attempt to rein in the wild speculation of railroad magnates. What makes the text of this book engaging for those not inclined to read these types of biographies, is that Strouse never lets you forget how much is at stake, not just in terms of dollars but in terms of the future of America's economic stability and growth.

For me, the chapters on JP Morgan's relationship with his father, Junius, and the internal struggles he had with traditional financing versus the role of financer as corporate director were at times touching and admirable. Specifically, the chapters entitled "Family Affairs and Professional Ethics" and "Fathers and Sons" were the most successful and enjoyable. Bottom line: if you enjoy biographies/histories of the people who shaped American capitalism, this is a wonderful book. But even if that isn't your cup of tea, there is a lot of the human element to make this great reading.

Morgan: American Financier
The presence of J.P. Morgan looms large over the financial and economic landscape of the Gilded Age. Either castigated for wielding economic clout or praised for providing stability to the industrial order, Morgan has remained a mystery. Although recent scholars V. Carosso and R. Chernow have studied the financial activities of the House of Morgan, there have been few biographies of Morgan. Making use of new archive sources and the extensive collection of Morgan materials in the Pierpont Morgan Library, Strouse fills this void with a masterful biography. She carefully depicts Morgan's taciturn personality, his financial tutelage under a critical father, and his relations with both wives and his children. Strouse provides a balanced evaluation of Morgan's financial activities, carefully articulating his role as the nation's unofficial central banker. He attracted European capital to American enterprises, organized new corporations to promote efficiency, consolidated bankrupt railroads, worked to stabilize financial markets when crises arose, and established new business structures. While Morgan was frequently demonized for his activities, Strouse argues that he often acted in the nation's best interests (and his own). His role as art collector is also examined. Students of the Gilded Age will find this biography essential reading. Highly recommended for all economic and business history collections. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Rebel with a Cause is the straightforward memoir of an unconventional teacher turned businessman who founded the for-profit University of Phoenix despite enormous opposition from the traditional academic establishment and, in the process, helped permanently transform America's system of higher education. Beginning with his birth in a backwoods log cabin and life-changing experiences as both a merchant marine and union organizer, the book thoroughly recounts the many obstacles that John G. Sperling overcame as he evolved from an unhappy Cambridge-educated professor into a rookie middle-aged entrepreneur who parlayed his $26,000 life savings into a company that now boasts more than $500 million in annual revenues and a market capitalization of nearly $3 billion. Along the way, it reveals Sperling's decidedly unorthodox views on corporate social responsibility, education's role in the global economy, business practices in general, and even the legalization of marijuana. "I'm still an opportunist, still get into a lot of conflicts, and still find risky ventures exciting," explains Sperling, now 79. Some may find it a challenge to wade through his blunt, just-the-facts-ma'am prose, but those who persevere will discover a first-person saga that paints an enlightening picture of this iconoclastic executive as well as the industry-altering enterprise that he almost single-handedly built. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A great story
John Sperling's story of his upbringing, and of his evolution into the Ceo of the University of Phoenix, the largest university in America, for-profit or otherwise, is a fascinating tale of struggle and perseverence. The bright-line antagonist in this saga is found in the intransigence and utter meanness of the entrenched academic establishment in California. Kay Henderson, the reigning head of the California post-secondary system, seems sent from central casting in this seeming story of good versus evil, and Henderson is one evil guy. He keeps coming back, like Freddy in the "Nightmare on Elm Street" or Jason of Friday the 13th fame, to visit continuing indignities on Sperling's efforts to make a college education for the over-25 adult learner more affordable, accessible and accountable.

Sperling, who began his career at 53 years of age, is now a member of the Forbes 400-richest, and a true latecomer (and self-made man) to entreprenurial success,. Per usual, he exemplifies the adage that change only comes to an industry from the outside. And thus, he began on a shoe string and succeeded because academia, then and today, remains bloated with unnessessary costs while ignorant and unconcerned with the outcomes of its graduates.

While the Univ of Phoenix has grown mightily, students at traditional colleges are going broke on ever higher tuition rates and concommitantly increasing student loans while professors continue to jack up their annual salaries and benefits far beyond the annual CPI index increases. Of note is that such increases have closely paralleled the explosion in Title-IV government loan appropriations to the point where state governments and the U.S. Congress are jointly searching for new ways to control these out-of-control expenditures.

Sperling tells a story of life changing bifurcation's as good as any "cliff-hanging" tale of fiction. His narrow misses and perilous good fortunes culminate in a 30-year old company with a $12 billion dollar market-cap on NASDAQ and a growth rate surpassing that of almost any dot.com on the board. With no-debt and loads of cash Sperling's University of Phoenix is bringing the lie to the whiners who run establishmentarian academic institutions as they flail about attempting to defend their delusional and profligate ways.

The new models of for-profit, post-secondary education such as those exemplified by Phoenix look alike Grantham University, a 4-year degree granting, low cost provider, all-online, 50-year old engineering and business school, will continue to follow in Phoenix's footsteps as the for-profit crowd ratchets up the pressure on the hollow reasoning of indifferent and out-of-touch academics who continue in charge of our nations non-profit institutions of higher learning.

John Sperling is a hero to the working men and women of America and his story needs to be told near and far. Just as the sand pile of chaos theory begins to collapse when the slope becomes too steep, establishment academia has begun to feel the inevitable hand of self governing criticality in its non-linear system of business. Indeed, this phenomena can be found in all the cycles of history where continuing excess leads to collapse and renewal. Sperling is just the latest of magnificent catalysts to accelerate this process in this latest of instant cases.

Rebel, rebel, you've outdone yourself!
If you are in your forties and have not yet been wildly successful, take heart. John Sperling, once an unhappy 52 year old Cambridge-educated history professor with $26,000 in savings, grew into an enormously successful entrepreneur. Now in his early 80s, Sperling is a billionaire, and heads the Apollo Group, a holding company whose main component is the University of Phoenix (UoP). UoP is revolutionizing access to business education for working adults in N. America and abroad. Rebel With a Cause is Sperling's personal memoir of his long struggle against the educational establishment to found and develop the for-profit UoP, transforming American education in the process. Sperling's background differs from that of many successful entrepreneurs. Born in a backwoods log cabin, Sperling started as a socialist and successful union organizer. Throughout his changing roles, the opportunistic, energetic, and apparently indefatigable Sperling thrived on adversity that would make most give up. In stolid but personal writing, Sperling reveals the details of the endless conflicts and triumphs, up to and including his new fights with the establishment over the legalization of marijuana. Still iconoclastic and entrepreneurial in his ninth decade of life, Sperling is now developing innovative new ventures including the Kronos age management clinics, and Seaphire, a project for developing aquaculture. Good reading for anyone facing adversity as they pursue their vision of something both worthwhile and potentially profitable.

The subject is interesting, but watch out for the writing.
This book is a bit puzzling. Looking at the title, you feel that the book is a biography of John Sperling. Reading the subtitle, you would think he is going to focus on the University of Phoenix and the growth of the Apollo Group. After reading the book cover to cover, I am not sure what the author wanted me to take away from this.

Some parts of his life get rather detailed (like his childhood sickness and early schooling) and could be interesting. His tone makes me think of someone on a pulpit trying to get me to acknowledge his past. I would not question the effects of his past if he didn't fly through other parts of it (all the quick affairs/relationships/friendships) which he mentions. His son is part of his company, so I was puzzled to see that there was little mention of him.

Given the sections that Sperling highlights for us, am I supposed to be awed by the rough start and many love affairs? Am I to be astounded by his success because of this?

I personally liked the history of the University of Phoenix. He does go into great detail on the political and legal wrangling with the accrediting board. He touches on the help from some people, but will then mention later that the person no longer had the "fire" and was let go from the company. It sounds like the university is his quest and he will not let marriage or friendship get in the way.

In the last sections of the book, Sperling talks about other projects he is passionate about. How did he decide to cover these? The Kronos Group took me by surprise. I saw no mention of this in the book until the very end. I have the feeling that the publishers were trying to make the book longer, so they just added some other thoughts in there. It does make for a very coherent picture of Sperling.

I have listened to the author speak before and find him fascinating. Reading the book gives me a different picture of him altogether. Either way, I would recommend the book for readers wanting a background on the creation of the University of Phoenix. Even though this is by Sperling, I would not read this for a good understanding of him. I believe some objectivity would be necessary for that.

He IS a Rebel and the book is FIRST RATE!
"Rebel With A Cause," by Dr. John G. Sperling, is part memoir, part social critique, and part business history. Though Sperling begins at the beginning - his birth in log cabin in the Missouri Ozarks in 1921 - he mainly focuses on his personal and profession battles over the past 20 years to build a university catering to the needs of working adults. The result of his efforts - the for-profit University of Phoenix - is now one of the largest accredited universities in the world, as well as the source of Sperling's considerable fortune.

Speaking of which, Sperling must be one of the few people on the planet ever to make real money in education (he parlayed a $26,000 investment into a $4 billion company). This alone is a remarkable and significant achievement - not just for Sperling and his investors but for their thousands of customers as well. Yes, "customers" is how Sperling refers to UOP students; I can't help but recall that not once in my own Ivy League education did any administrator use the words "customer service" and "higher education" in the same sentence ("Donation" and "probation" were used frequently, but that's another story.)

Sperling describes numerous obstacles on his long and winding road to "overnight success", including dastardly accreditation bureaucrats, disloyal employees; gratuitous FBI harassment, as well as the usual personal detritus of broken marriages, illnesses, etc. Perhaps the biggest potential hazards that Sperling had to overcome - "harness" is perhaps more precise - was his own penchant for risk-taking coupled with his low threshold of boredom. In fact, Sperling begins his tale by exhorting his readers "to strenuously avoid most of the behaviors that made me successful" - the very opposite of the message of most business books. Add "cautionary tale" to the list of Rebel's parts.

Reading some of the other Amazon comments on Sperling's book, I can't help but wonder if we're all reading the same book, or - perhaps more to the point - if Sperling's critics have ever read another book by a businessman. I had to chuckle in particular at the knucklehead who chided Sperling for abandoning the general "theme of business books where ethics is very important and that it is important to support your fellow human being." I suppose there could be a new business book by the Dalai Lama, but most are written by self-promoting consultants pushing obvious insights and simple-minded formulas. Those few business authors who've actually founded or run large companies tend to produce highly-sanitized success-filled tomes completely devoid of the real carnage, cowardice and occasional brilliance of business.

Though readers seeking mainly to learn the history of UOP as an educational and social phenomenon will not be disappointed, it's the arc of Sperling's life and the honesty with which he recounts it that impressed me most. To quote one of countless juicy examples: The day young Sperling's abusive father died, he "rolled in the grass squealing with delight." Now seriously, would Kenneth Blanchard have the guts to admit such a thing? With reference to the infidelities of one of his wives, Sperling writes, "I was too cowardly to bring her to heel and I lacked the needed sophistication not to care." This quote highlights the deep source of Rebel's appeal: at 79, Sperling is finally sophisticated enough (and rich enough) not to care what anyone thinks about him personally - which makes for engrossing prose (though his life does occasionally resemble a train wreck).

In the last few chapters of Rebel, Sperling focuses on his current pet projects, which include health and longevity clinics, an aquatic agriculture company, an animal cloning venture and a very successful political campaign against the federal government's War on Drugs - a war that Sperling argues is already lost. The pride and hope of these chapters contrasts somewhat with the weariness with which he recounts his earlier struggles, and this contrast highlights what is ultimately so inspiring about "Rebel": This is the story of a man who simply never gives up - but instead keeps fighting, building, and leading.

Winners Never Quit!
Not the first to have grown up poor or the child of a lazy, abusive father, the difference in Sperling's story is that he acquired two things most do not: A desire to understand the economics of a world in which some go hungry while others do not, and a "nothing to lose" attitude that prevails throughout his life, both in his business dealings and personal relationships. Sperling survived his childhood, but it's not the Cambridge education, career in acadame, his years as a union leader, or the trail of broken relationships that draw the reader in. During his tenure at San Jose State, Sperling began to focus on a problem no one else wanted to bother with - the barriers to working adults who wanted to return to school. And so this is the real story - his unrelenting determination to create the University of Phoenix, a for-profit institution for working adults that is now the largest private university in the U.S. These chapters, sometimes a little heavy, leave the reader dumbfounded as to the lengths which his detractors will go to quash his efforts. (And isn't it funny? Most of the traditional universities in the country now copy his model for adult education.) Although at times it seems his determination grew as a result of so many wanting him to fail, it becomes obvious that his sole intent was not the pursuit of wealth. Yet wealthy, he became - albeit in his seventies! It was interesting to learn that contrary to the status quo, acquiring wealth was not the end of his story. Not only does he still play an active role in the continuing evolution of adult education, he's a proponent of drug law reform, and is investing in numerous other projects destined to change the world; seawater agriculture, anti-aging medicine, and the storage of pet DNA for future cloning. Does he hope to get rich from these ventures as well? You bet he does! Sperling makes no apologies for his "take-no-prisoners" attitude - he's learned something about economics today's nouveau rich will never get. You can only buy so many toys, but if you make money trying to make the world a better place, it gives you the ability to keep trying to make the world a better place. I highly recommend this book. This is a great story - honest, fast-paced, thought provoking. His story is certainly proof of the old addage that "winners never quit." With all Sperling has accomplished - and at 79, still hopes to accomplish -this is one book that motivates you to put down the remote, get up off the sofa, and start making a difference. ... Read more

Book Description

Named one of the best books of the year by the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Business Week, and GQ, THE CHIEF: THE LIFE OF WILLIAM RANDLOPH HEARST is "an absorbing and ingeniously organized biography . . . of the most powerful publisher America has ever known" (New York Times Book Review). Drawing on papers and interviews that were previously unavailable, as well as on newly released documentation of interactions with such figures as Hitler, Mussolini, Churchill, every president from Grover Cleveland to Franklin Roosevelt, and movie giants Louis B. Mayer, Jack Warner, and Irving Thalberg, David Nasaw completes the picture of this colossal American "engagingly, lucidly and fair-mindedly" (Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.)."Outstandingly researched, elegantly but not flamboyantly written, and fair in its conclusions about Hearst"s astonishing career" (Wall Street Journal), THE CHIEF "must be regarded as the definitive study . . . It"s hard to imagine a more complete rendering of Hearst"s life" (Business Week). ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Very Strong Biography with Few Flaws
Nasaw does a very good job in turning the life of William Randolph Hearst into the subject of this popular biography. A strong writing style and a balance between section detailing the business, political and personal parts of Hearst's life keep the reader engaged. It's hard to believe the power one man had and harder still to believe that flexed it so often and so unsuccessfully on many occasions. Students of modern politics will find an instructive history about a man who is in many ways the precursor to Michael Bloomberg, Steve Forbes and Ross Perot. Students of journalism will find a man unlike any in the modern, more-or-less objective world of multinational media monsters.

The book only falls short at its end, when Hearst's final years are covered in a rushed manner and his attitudes and opinions regarding World War II and the early Cold War are barely discussed. Also, at no point does Nasaw say when or why Hearst became known as "The Chief." And the chapter on "Citizen Kane," while necessary, is not too well written.

This book is not quite as good as Smith's biography of Colonel Robert R. McCormack, but it again shows that the great newspapermen of the past were far more important than many realize.

Fairly balanced and informative
For most people who know Hearst only through "Citizen Kane," this will be an informative book. Thankfully, Nasaw keeps his discussion of "Kane" restricted to a somewhat brief chapter towards the end of the book. In the larger context of Hearst's life, the "Kane" episode is a minor chapter at best.

I suppose enough bad things have been written about Hearst that Nasaw did not feel the need to write about all of the warts. He seems more sympathetic than is necessary towards a man who, among other things, was not a particularly good father, held whatever political views were convenient for him at the time, and who was wastefully excessive to a stunning degree. When writing about Hearst's bankruptcy and subsequent re-organization of assets under a trustee, Nasaw almost seems to feel that Hearst is being treated unfairly at times.

The one thing missing from the book that I would have enjoyed is a more thorough discussion of the competition between Hearst and men such as the Pulitzers, McCormick, and Ochs. The source of the man's influence was his newspapers, after all. A more in-depth discussion of the newspaper industry would not have been out of place.

All in all, this is an informative book, as Hearst becomes more a part of history.

a fantastic life of matriarchy, castles, movies and money
WRH had interested me as a lesser (and later) addition to the robber baron lists. After reading Nawaw's work I have different picture - that of a man dominated by his mother yet domineering of others, at ease with maintaining a wife on the east coast and mistress on the west, obsessive with his material belongings yet neglectful of his children, never mindful of money yet never short of it, and a defender of personal privacy yet addicted to the spot light. A robber baron? Not so sure about that, but WRH was a baron (in the monarchial sense) no doubt. He lived like a medieval king - constantly pointing out flaws in others and ruling on those where he could, seemingly ignorant of his own contrary ways.

The book can be a battle - Mrs H senior was tiresome and WRH did take a long time to reach his stride, but it is never dull and at the end I realised I had finished the most amazing story, all the more so as it is true.

Truely the Man who had it all....
If you are at all interested in this man, this is the book to read. My interest started with Orson Wells and led me to "W.R." Mr. Nasaw has pin-pointed the essence of this man and what made him tick, without all the rhetoric of Thomas Ince or the battle over "Citizen Kane." Don't miss the chance to know William Randolph Hearst. A great read.

All the facts, but still lacking.
Nasaw's biography of William Randolph Hearst is an easy read. That alone is quite an accomplishment. Like many biographers, you get the sense that the author is in sympathy with his subject, too much so for great chunks of so large a book. We hear detailed accounts of Hearts' continuous aquisitions, from art to newspapers to newspapermen, but Nasaw rarely seems to question Hearsts' grander motives. Was this really a man with a mission, or simply a rather large, intelligent brat? At the root of Hearst lies this question - How could one of the richest men in America declare that he only ever acted in the people's interest. Nasaw appears to swallow Hearsts' own political claims without a problem, that he was free from political affiliations and therefore free of obligations. Yet Nasaw ignores his own evidence. Again and again, we are confronted with Hearst acting out against individuals, corporations and governments with nothing but his own interests at stake. This degree of hypocrisy and selfishness are fascinating aspects of Hearsts' character, but barely addressed by an author more concerned with staking a strong claim for his subject among the crowds of 20th century historical figures. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent Read!!!
This book is finest, most comprehensive, and exciting biography ever written about Carnegie. No Carnegie biography, before or since, has ever approached the excellence of Wall's masterpiece.
In fact, this might even be one of the greatest books ever written. Despite the fact that it runs to more than 1100 pages, Wall manages to tell the story and not waste a single word. This is not just a biography of Carnegie. It is also a window into another world. We see the Industrial Revolution up close and we meet the characters who actually shaped and maintained Carnegie's empire, including Henry Clay Frick, Captain William Jones, and Charles Schwab. Carnegie's relationships with contemporaries such as Herbert Spencer, J.P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Mellon, and at least seven US Presidents are explored as well. The reader will be fascinated with the story, which reads like a work of fiction. Carnegie's rise conincides with the rise of the US as a world power. His success mirrored the nation's and he contributed in no small way to the propserity of the republic in which he thrived. A must read for any Carnegie student and a strongly recommended read for the novice as well.

A brilliant look at a man and his times
Joseph Frazier Wall's one-volume biography "Andrew Carnegie" is a "must read" for anyone interested in early American industrial development. However, just as Carnegie's life was much more than simply the story of steel production, so too is this biography. It is a fascinating look at the half-century of American history between the Civil War and World War I.

Andrew Carnegie was one of the most intriguing characters of late nineteenth century America. Born into a politically active although socio-economically humble family in Scotland, Carnegie possessed a passion for advancement and material wealth that propelled him to the forefront of the industrial world. Rising from Pittsburgh telegraph message boy to protege of Pennsylvania Railroad executive Tom Scott to capitalist investor and finally steel magnate in a decade-and-a-half, Carnegie was the very embodiment of the Horatio Alger hero popularized at that time.

Although he shared the same business philosophy of using retained earnings for growth rather than dividends as John D. Rockefeller and other titans and he exhibited a personal drive and sense of destiny common to other leading trust-builders, Carnegie was in one particular way very different from his peers. He was a deeply cerebral man, very well-read and able to compose thoughtful essays on some of the most pressing and challenging political and economic issues of his time. His written defense of the gold standard was used by Mark Hanna to promote McKinley's stance against the bi-metallism of William Jennings Bryan in the crucial 1896 election; his thoughts on central banking influenced Wilson's policies in creating the Federal Reserve System; and Carnegie was one of the very first argue for a permanent League of Nations to work for arbitration of international disputes. His close personal friends were British liberals, renowned philosophers such as Herbert Spencer and other members of the intellectual elite on both sides of the Atlantic, not fellow industrialists or business associates like Henry Clay Frick or Henry Phipps who cared little for politics and even less for the recondite subjects that intrigued Carnegie.

Wall weaves these diverse cords of Carnegie's life into a masterful biography that succeeds as much as a social, political and business history of his time as it does in critically examining the complex character, beliefs, and relationships of an extraordinary man. Wall is certainly sympathetic to Carnegie and his achievements, but overall "Andrew Carnegie" is extremely objective and the author doesn't hesitate to highlight his subject's personal foibles, convenient lapses of memory, and vanity.

At over one thousand pages in length the paperback is physically imposing and can at times bog down in detail, but Wall's lucid writing style and often sardonic wit make it a fast and enjoyable read.

A rare biography
Exhaustively researched, well written. This book starts a little slow but as the biography plays out you understand why the author took the direction he did and applaud. By the end of the book you not only understand why Carnegie did what he did but have a unique picture of life in the gilded age. One of the few biographies I have read where the author is insightful but does not interfere with reality. If you are interested in the robber barons, the gilded age, Carnegie or just unique human beings, start here. You will be rewarded.

Not an Easy Read
The book is informative but I found it a difficult read. Its as if the author got too bogged down with detail. Its a hard book to start and stay with it.

Outstanding story of one of history's greatest business men
This book is an outstanding account of the life of Andrew Carnegie, one of the greatest philanthropists and capitalists ever. The book is long but brilliantly written and an enthralling read. Wall has painstakingly researched Carnegie and added considerably to knowledge of the man. His central thesis is that Carnegie's life was a continuing attempt to reconcile his radical Scottish childhood with "the paramountcy he achieved within the American plutocracy as an adult". Wall's approach is generally sympathetic but he is not afraid to be critical when needed, especially over the Homestead strike. The whole of Carnegie's life is in this book, and each part of his life story is properly placed in its historical context. I learned an enourmous amount about the politics and economics of USA and Britain in the late 19th and early twentieth century, but most of all I learned about Carnegie, a man who got as rich as Bill Gates in his day and gave it all away. When you consider that he sold his interest in Carnegie Steel for over $250m in 1901 and start to think about inflation since then you will see what I mean. Read this book and find out how he did it. It is hard to believe that one man could achieve so much in one lifetime. I am not an academic and only have a lay interest in history but would recommend this to anyone. Haven't you ever wondered about Carnegie Hall, Carnegie Libraries or Carnegie Trusts? I now want to visit Pittsburgh and Skibo to see where it all happened. ... Read more

Book Description

" Many a starry-eyed megalomaniac has followed the siren song of Wall Street. Money, prestige, and power await them as they waltz off into the promised land...or so they think. They soon discover that the seductive sirens are actually a band of bowlegged sea hags. The promised land, it turns out, is always one more twenty-hour workday and another lap dance away. MONKEY BUSINESS is the hilarious confession of two young investment bankers, John Rolfe and Peter Troob, of what it's like at ground zero on The Street. Forget what you've read, forget what you've heard, forget what you've been taught. MONKEY BUSINESS pulls off Wall Street's suspenders and gives the reader the inside skinny on what working at an investment bank is all about.

Fresh out of Wharton and Harvard business schools, the authors ran willingly into the open arms of investment bank Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. Once there, they discovered themselves foot soldiers in an investment banking army of overworked and frustrated lemmings furiously trying to spin straw into gold. Escaping with their sanity only partially intact, John and Peter have perfectly captured the chaotic essence of the Wall Street carnival and the outlandish personalities that make it all hum.

Uncensored, unsanitized, and uncut, MONKEY BUSINESS is as riotous as Animal House. It's more fun than a co-ed slumber party, and it's the smartest, most entertaining investment that you'll make this year." ... Read more

Reviews (248)

Monkey Business is a first-class act!
Monkey Business is the first good book on investment banking to hit the shelves since Michael Lewis' Liar's Poker. As a friend of a friend of the authors I was able to get my hands on one of the first copies printed, and I shall be eternally grateful for this fact. Before reading the book I was contemplating between going into investment banking or becoming a veterinarian, and the book left no doubts in my mind: I prefer to treat animals than to be treated like one, which is apparently the norm in the investment banking industry. Not only did this book chart my furture, it gave me a bundle of laughs along the way. We're talking humor at its best, the kind of humor that has you laughing aloud even in public places. The book raises the definition of entertainment to new levels. It is delightfully descriptive and informative, and the authors' frequent, unsanitized allusions, similes, and metaphors are so clever and honest that they become charming and sweet . Rolfe and Troob managed to give me that fly-on-the-wall feeling, bringing me inside the actual rooms of the investment banking firms. Monkey Business is a must read for every business school student and a highly recommended read for anyone who can read and is looking to be informed and entertained.

Money, Power, Glitz, and Glamour!!
First, a confession. Another reviewer posted a scathing review of this book and said it was so bad he would send it for free to anyone who wanted it. I took him up on his offer and promised to write a similar review if I felt the same way. The problem is... I really liked this book!

I wanted to read Monkey Business as I used to consider investment banking as a career and wondered if the tremendous investment of time and money was worth it. The answer, according to authors Rolfe and Troob, is a resounding "NO." You will probably make a lot of money once you do get in. But ultimately it's not worth it, not by a long shot.

Written during the height of dot-com mania, the authors pull no punches in proceeding to lambaste almost every aspect of the house of money formerly known as Donaldson, Lufkin, and Jenrette, as well as the entire investment banking industry. It's an episode of "Behind the Music - Wall Street", that strips away the Hollywood notion of the wealthy, jet-setting investment banker and exposes the underbelly of tedious boredom, bureaucracy, posturing, and incompetence that make up this awful work environment. The book is so strong in its criticisms that I'm surprised Rolfe and Troob weren't sued for libel. Given all the Wall Street scandals making the headlines lately, they'd probably get their money back.

Colorful language is an understatement. By the end of the book, the guys are doing calculations to determine the "expected value" of attempting to bed a banking assistant at the holiday party versus the "present value" of a sure thing at the local strip club. The chauvanism, vulgarity, racism and anecdotes comparing co-workers and bosses to everything from dung beetles to excrement might lead you to believe they're exaggerating just to trash their former employer. However, the numerous reviews on this site exclaiming, "Yes! This IS life at (-insert investment bank here-)" could indicate they may not be far from the truth.

Ironically, my latest read, Frank Partnoy's F.I.A.S.C.O., describes the investment banking division (IBD) as follows: "In IBD, young associates spent twenty-four hour days preparing 'books,' the bound presentations senior bankers flipped through during meetings with corporate executives. You took a job there at your peril. After several years preparing these flip books, you would either be fired or promoted, assuming you were still alive. After several more years you would be allowed to carry the books to meetings, and at some point you might even be permitted to speak... I wanted to steer clear of IBD."

Ultimately, I believe the authors succeeded in writing a book that provides an honest account of the business. Those in the industry are sure to get a good laugh out of it and those considering this career should definitely read this book first.

Hope the review helped.

Hilarious and witty
It's not often that a book can make me laugh outloud but this one did just that on multiple occasions. The authors' descriptions of their lives as associates gives a different perspective on what's viewed by most outsiders as a glamorous job. The book is engaging throughout and is a quick read. I highly reccomend it to anyone with even a passing interest in the inner workings of the I-banking world.

I couldn't finish it.
Wow. Such blatant mysogeny is surprising in the 21st century. I was getting annoyed by it, and then the language suddenly turned extremely vulgar and borderline homophobic, too. Unapologetic descriptions of company sponsored visits to strip clubs and sexual harassment are what made me eventually decide it was not worth any more of my time.

Hillarious!!!
This book made me laugh out loud several times. It is very entertaining but sometimes gets graphically vulgar so it should be rated R++. A great guys book and an eadsy read. I looked forward to my treat each evening of getting to the next pages. ... Read more

Book Description

The follow-up to Victor Niederhoffer's critically and commercially acclaimed book The Education of a Speculator has finally arrived. Practical Speculation continues the story of a true market legend who ran a hugely successful futures trading firm that had annual returns of over thirty percent until unforeseen losses forced him to close operations. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Niederhoffer returned to the world of trading stocks, futures, and options, with a new colleague and a new approach and found success. Order your copy of this compelling story of risk and survival today. ... Read more

Reviews (84)

Sumptuous fare for a hungry trading mind
Leonardo da Vinci, generally is known to the common man as an artist -- the painter of Mona Lisa. The understanding of the ratios and measures into human anatomy and the spirit of scientific and philosphical enquiries that emanated from his approach are known to fewer who have delved deeper into him.

Niederhofferwho is a champion in seven diverse fields of human activity brings this book as a sequel(Education of a Speculator) and as an independent compilation of the meticulous implementation of the spirit of scientific enquiry applied to markets in particular.

A hungry mind that is grappling to figure out the scientific method behind the art of trading would find this to be one of the most sumptuous meals offered ever.

The Science behind Mona Lisa, if Da Vinci was to explain in the same way as Niederhoffer and Kenner go into explaining the methods of the art of trading, would feed the hungry mind as much as the beauty of Mona Lisa feeds the hungry visual senses.

TWO THUMBS DOWN......
Can't believe they actually published this book....Victor Niederhoffer truly shows how confused he is about using the most elementary technical market tools...Especially chapter on candle stick charting proves once again he is doing a so called research about a subject that he doesn't even understand, and more comically he proceeds and finds a publishers that will actually print his book....What is more extraordinary to me is, Victor once actually run an investment company....And instead of going back and trying to understand and learn from his mistakes, Victor prefers to put his head into the sand, and trying to convince everybody that most of the technical indicators that are out there are basically useless....My time reading this book was totally wasted, save yours....

One of the worst investment books!
If you are looking into some advice on 'practical speculation' then, contrary to what this book title suggests, you will not find it here. After finishing this book I cannot think of anything useful I read there. The book mostly is a tribute to Victor Niederhoffer' various skills (mathematics, squash, etc.), which quite frankly I do not care about. The criticism (or bashing, should I say) of various famous investors or prominent figures of the investment world borders on ridiculous. I am not saying that these investors are right in their approaches and Niederhoffer is wrong - honestly, I don't know. But the way Niederhoffer deals with it is very condescending and lacks of any real proof. In very few cases when the author tries to support his words with some statistical calculations I found such calculations to be totally unconvincing and taking completely out of context. The only reason I gave it two stars instead of one (that this book definitely deserves as a financial education tool) is some amusing stories and facts I found there. Overal it is still a waste of time.

Don't waste your time or money
I bought this book based on the title, description of it's content, and a few abriged excerpts.And after reading half of it, I realized that I was learning nothing, and was wasting time that I could use reading something useful about investing.This book is not about investing, nor trading.And it's definitely not about the practical speculation of financial markets.It seems much more like a Wall Street Journal, Barron's, or CNBC feature that got out of hand, or a graduate students thesis paper.

Take your trading and investment lessons from those who make a lot of money from professional trading and investing, not from professional writers who make a living writing.

A wonderful fun book
Speculation is how we live our lives: we make educated guesses under uncertainty everyday; we have no other choice because this is the way that our reality is structured. The authors take this simple but profound observation and tie it to the market and the scientific method of testing a proposition to see if it can be falsified and then draw some tentative conclusions about the data and the market. This is not so much a how to do market analysis book, but more a how to think about market analysis.

The writing is stellar and fun. The writers are obviously well informed and very honest and smart. This is a very enjoyable book that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in trading, in market analysis, or in just a very good read. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Softwar is a biography of Larry Ellison and his company, Oracle. As such, it's simultaneously a portrait of a clever and driven man, a case study of a successful software development company, and a tableau of the commercial software industry from its beginnings, through the dot-com craze, and into the present era. Matthew Symonds, who began this project while working as the editor of the excellent technology section of the Economist, has done a great job with all three elements of his project, thanks in no small part to the tremendous access he was given and to his close collaboration with Ellison.

Collaboration is very nearly the right word, as Ellison reviewed Symonds' manuscript before publication and, while he did not alter it, he did make a large number of comments, which appear in the book as footnotes. As Symonds is a good journalist who attributes most of his material, Ellison is able to take issue immediately with statements other people make about him and his company. The overall effect is hypertextual, and represents an important new biographical technique that other writers should imitate. Softwar succeeds because Ellison has a fantastically interesting life, tremendous experience, and carefully considered opinions, and because Symonds communicates them with clarity and style. --David Wall

Topics covered: The life, times, acquaintances, tastes, toys, and opinions of Larry Ellison, the database entrepreneur and CEO of Oracle Corporation. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Highly Recommended!
This book is a comprehensive, detailed collection of Larry Ellison anecdotes and quotes from people around him. Author Matthew Symonds occasionally interjects himself, but mostly lets his sources talk. Perhaps for fairness, he quotes many people who disagree with each other about important decisions at Oracle. Perhaps for journalistic objectivity, he generally refrains from judgment. This shows the reader every perspective, even if it doesn't define context, chronology or direction. You get all of the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, though you may want a clearer box top picture. Some of the technology coverage will intrigue only tech industry buffs, but overall you will learn a great deal of interesting information about Ellison and Oracle.
We also found that Ellison's character came most into focus when the book entered the world of yacht racing, his passion. The author also includes poignant, revealing anecdotes about Ellison's childhood and candid reports about his personal life. Larry Ellison was allowed to review the manuscript and his comments appear as counterbalancing footnotes on many pages. That guy, he always does things a new way - as you will see.

Why I Read This At Starbucks
I've been drinking a lot of coffee at Starbucks while reading 'Softwar.' It's such a great read, I can't put the book down (and don't want to go to sleep). I have read a few books and articles about Larry Ellison and Oracle and this book is the most insightful and interesting piece of work. Larry's footnotes, which counter, clarify or expand on the authors passages are a unique and worthwhile addition - adding credibility to this title. 'Softwar' comprehensively covers both the business of Oracle and offers a surprisingly intimate view of Larry's life and thinking. At the same time, Matthew Symonds presents a balanced portrait of the man who admits in his footnotes to making some mistakes, but who also demonstrates a keen intellect, foresight and a sense of humor.'Softwar' is an extraordinary book about an extraordinary man and his enterprise - a must read for those who want to be inspired and have a better understanding of business, technology and human nature.

Master of the poison, master of the cure
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, it was an open secret that if you were what was called then "one of the freaks" and you had, perhaps, taken a few physics or math classes involving computer usage, you could get work for any number of banks, insurance agencies and other mainframe users. The boss was grateful for your work, and, you could pretty much control the conditions.

It appears that Larry Ellison was one of these early programmers, whose maturation is documented in this book. But as with any maturation, it includes the acquisition of blind spots.

For while I in general support Larry's goal of eliminating "islands" within organizations of isolated and contradictory data and code, I am more pessimistic than he as to whether it can be accomplished.

The well-known and by now well-worn theme of Derrida, that of the undecidable gap between writing and speech, means that the ultimate grand vision, of "one" data base, may never be attained.

Larry is right about the Internet: it is the Last Big Thing. This can be proven apriori. For given two or more networks, and given zero cost and high benefit in their connection, whether through a narrow gateway or broadband, then we can say that the two networks "want" to become one network and instantaneously, at warp speed, shall do so. In the late 1980s, several networks operated in academia, government and privately did just this because there is, absent security considerations, a seemingly irresistable craving on the part of networks to join other networks and indeed to become the Internet.

This is the synthetic apriori argument, for both the existence and unity of the Internet as a given. However, and as soon as it is constructed, the reverse, analytic argument against the Internet's usability by the corporation may be constructed, which will return us to Mr. Ellison: for I fail to see how the possibility, of constructing a single logical path to a single data base for the organization, means it can be actualized.

I fail to see this because this has long been an unmet promise of ultimate managerial control within organizations (the "executive dashboard" being one such foolish idea), a control which manages to dismiss the fact that an organization consists of the labor of intelligent beings all the way down...to the person who picks up the trash.

I fail to see this because as a form inescapably of writing, data systems imply their own multiplicity. The "scribe" in all societies develops his own agenda and there is no check on him available to power as such, because power as such relies on the self-interested "scribe" to transmit its will and an almost (but not quite) mathematical problem results in the self-reflexivity.

The crisis is in Mr. Ellison's genuine concern with the way in which data and human intelligence systems failed to predict September 11, a concern which I happen to share. Indeed, I believe that September 11 starkly fulfilled a dismal prophecy of the late hero computer scientist Edsger Dijkstra.

Unlike many highly-placed figures in the computer science establishment, hero computer scientist Dijkstra was concerned, all the way down, about the quality and even the basic correctness of the data systems being designed over his lifetime, and he said at one point that he feared that organizations would collapse under the cumulative overcomplexity of their unmastered data systems. The stark images of a collapsing center for symbol processing on September 11 may be the fulfillment of this prophecy.

One of the FBI field agents assigned to investigation of terrorism prior to September 11, Colleen Rowley, testified before Congress that she did not even have the capability to enter Boolean format queries in the FBI data base, for example of the form "terrorist association and attends flight school".

Of course, Oracle data bases of the sort Larry and his company provide, provide this capability in mass quantities. At the same time, their very complexity (which may be unavoidable) generates scribal bureaucracies which are in both Plato's and Derrida's sense pharmakon, poison and cure, and, in general, the hair of the dog.

It is clear that these sorts of scribal bureaucracies at the FBI felt that some sort of extension or hack to provide rapidly the needed capability at the FBI was a "hard" problem, because these scribal bureaucracies reproduce themselves by insisting that such problems are "hard", and that the CEO is too busy to involve himself with writing...in a stark, if completely unconscious, replication of Plato's account of writing.

The result today is that a great deal of social inequality, created in part by fortune-seeking by the scribal class, means that it's impossible to create a unified written "intelligence" for policy making, and the result is an out of control foreign policy which as I write is creating preconditions for further terrorism.

Symonds breathlessly notes that Larry and his wife are both big fans of Donald Rumsfeld. Bush, and Bush's war, have deep roots in the self-interest of the new, successful American elite.

This elite marched and protested its parent's war in Vietnam, and, Ellison was a supporter of Robert Kennedy's fatal bid for the 1968 presidential nomination. Rumsfeld, for that matter, was an anti-war Republican under Nixon.

However, it appears that Larry may be blind to realities in much the same way that middle-aged managers were blind to the downside of enormous mainframe computing in the early 1970s. He views the future as one of large corporations competing, especially in his own industry, for a diminishing pie.

However, large corporations are composed of intelligent agents, who act from a unique combination of self-interest and complete irrationality, and, just as Ellison's own generation constructed its own reality in the form of microcomputer and micro culture, the next generation may prove him wrong. Or, Dijsktra's prophecy may come true, in which case we'll be busy gathering firewood and not worrying about SQL.

Highly Recommended
This book is a comprehensive, detailed collection of Larry Ellison anecdotes and quotes from people around him. Author Matthew Symonds occasionally interjects himself, but mostly lets his sources talk. Perhaps for fairness, he quotes many people who disagree with each other about important decisions at Oracle. Perhaps for journalistic objectivity, he generally refrains from judgment. This shows the reader every perspective, even if it doesn't define context, chronology or direction. You get all of the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, though you may want a clearer box top picture. Some of the technology coverage will intrigue only tech industry buffs, but overall you will learn a great deal of interesting information about Ellison and Oracle. We also found that Ellison's character came most into focus when the book entered the world of yacht racing, his passion. The author also includes poignant, revealing anecdotes about Ellison's childhood and candid reports about his personal life. Larry Ellison was allowed to review the manuscript and his comments appear as counterbalancing footnotes on many pages. That guy, he always does things a new way - as you will see.

A Great Book about a Very Interesting Company
A fascinating book. I should note that I worked at Oracle for 12 years (1989-1991), though much too far down in the hierarchy to have had dealings with Larry Ellison himself. But when Symonds writes about the people that I did know and work for and with, he hasn't struck a single false note. He has captured very accurately the Oracle culture--a lot of very bright and very driven people, with of course a few inevitable mistakes thrown in.

In this book, Ellison comes over as one of the most insightful leaders in SV in the 80s and 90s. I wasn't always able to see this side of him, as I kept hearing negative reports from those who had been subjected to his (earlier, and admitted by him in this book to have been wrong) MBR (management by ridicule) approach.

I believe Symonds has done an accurate evaluation of Ellison, and Ellison, in his footnotes, comes over as a thoughtful person able to admit where he was wrong. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Prospective entrepreneurs may think they know everything there is to know about starting a business in Silicon Valley. They can draw up business plans, have meetings with venture capitalists, maybe even get funded and actually launch a start-up. However, in The Monk and the Riddle, Silicon Valley sage Randy Komisar reasons that's only half the equation for success. And it may not be the important half. Komisar has worked with a number of companies--Apple, LucasArts Entertainment (the gaming division of George Lucas's empire), and WebTV among them--and has come to a rather startling conclusion: if you can't see yourself doing this business for the rest of your life, don't start it. In other words, he wants to see passion and purpose in business, not just spreadsheets and a by-the-numbers business model.

To illustrate, Komisar takes the reader through a hypothetical Silicon Valley start-up, with an eager entrepreneur named Lenny trying to get funding for an online casket-selling business. As Komisar helps Lenny find the real purpose of the business, the passion behind the revenue projections, he reflects back on his life as an entrepreneur. Komisar emerges as a master storyteller, the kind of guy you'd feel honored to share a bottle of wine with. And you believe his conclusion: "When all is said and done, the journey is the reward." It's great if you've made billions on the journey, but the important thing is that you do something you can truly throw yourself into. --Lou Schuler ... Read more

Reviews (100)

Insightful ... but incomplete.
The insights offered in this book go beyond merely "educating" a silicon valley entrepreneur as suggested by the hardcover title. I like the paperback title better - "The Art of Creating a Life While Making a Living".

The book explains the difference between oft-confused words: passion & drive, management & leadership, risk & uncertainty, comfort & fulfillment, the deferred life plan & the whole life plan. These differences are explained with the example of a business plan that is progessively improved from the initial "Better-Faster-Cheaper" look to a "Brave New World" look.

The book is well-written and easy to read. Those who have read "The Goal" will find a similar organization of ideas in this book. After flipping through the last page, I found myself thinking about the best answers to many questions looming in my mind. These are all good signs about the book!

However, in continuously driving the idea of getting out of complacency and into a 'brave new world', the book did not provide insights on how one may balance the two. Komisar speaks from personal experience in the book and recalls the turning point of his life when he decided that he wouldn't be a lawyer by profession any more. He says that a lot of what he did upto that point was living "The Deferred Life Plan" (do what you have to do now, do what you want to do later). The reader is left with the impression that Komisar even viewed his Harvard education in this light. But would he have been where he is today if he hadn't got an education from Harvard? The progression of events in our life is a related one. Your past actions definitely impact the future. His Harvard education led him to a good job at a law firm where he added to his network of contacts.

In this context, Komisar failed to address the issue that we all *have* to do certain things in our lives. Not everything can be what we *want* to do - e.g., is it wise to pursue a 'brave new world' idea when you're 13 years old? Or if you're old enough, but do not have enough savings to sustain yourself through failure? Maybe, maybe not. There is always a goal we have to accomplish (pay off our debts, take care of our obligations) before we can do what we *want* to do. It is upto each person to realize for themselves that they're living "The Deferred Life Plan" when they truly don't *have* to, anymore. Only then will it make sense (and be more fulfilling) to switch to "The Whole Life Plan". The book would have been complete if Komisar had provided his insights about how one might attempt to balance the two points of view.

That's the only reason I cut out 1 star from my rating.

Bottom line: Get it!

A pinch of philosophy and a cup full of practical advice
There is no better way to learn than by story telling. In the tradition of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintainence, Komisar and Lineback deploy an absorbing narriative to explore a complex topic. The parable explores all the ins and outs of raising capital for a tech start up.

I have been reading and editing business plans for several years, and I will make this book required reading for anyone I work with in the future. There is a discussion of the importance of defining the targeted market for a business plan that is the best I have ever read.

At the same time, the book offers a fine philosophical inquiry about the ultimate purpose behind each business plan. The authors draw a distincution between being driven and being passionate that is very valuable. We are driven to objectives, which may or may not be important in themselves. On the other hand, we are pasisonate about things that matter deeply. Ultimately, the lesson here is that passion should fuel our business objectives.

Badly written, Boring & Little (or no) value
Randy tries to present an old concept in an old way. There are tons of books that tell you to do what you feel passionate about, how to succeed in investing and how to love life.

Randy fails miserably in delivering his story that is a mix of all of the above.

With less than 200 pages and big font, there's not much space to say in the book.

Randy, get a lesson on collecting thoughts before you write a book.

Great Perspective
Could you be happier in your work? In your life?

Reading this book provides an opportunity to step back from the day to day muck and gain perspective on both life and career. Althought the book takes place in and around Silicon Valley, it provides a means of reflection for anybody no matter where they live or the size of their employer.

An extremely worthwhile read.

Took a while to get into, but captured me afterwards
This book by Silicon Valley legend Randy Komisar, beginning with its title, took me a while to get into, I have to admit. I was way into it (page 60+ or so) and still wondering what the big deal about it was. This is the reason why I give it four stars: it takes a while to hook you. But if you stick to it, Komisar has a wealth of experience to share with you, from his first days in the East Coast, litigating, all through his experiences with tech giants such as WebTV, Tivo and Apple.

The main idea presented by Komisar is that you don't need to postpone your life's dream for later, by playing it safe and engaging in what he calls the Deferred Life Plan. To convey this idea, he presents the reader with the process through which he takes Lenny (an entrepreneur at heart, driven by money, who comes to him for advice) in his pursuit to push his Business Plan for Funerals.com into the attention span of some Silicon Valley VC that Komisar knows. Initially a great idea conceived as a community-building scheme, leveraging the Web to assist those in grief due to the loss of a loved one, Funerals.com had evolved into a very basic money-making scheme that didn't have much of a spark to it, tied to the sale of cheaper caskets by leveraging the efficiencies that the Web can bring about.

In the end, if you take away the Silicon Valley specifics, Komisar's point remains not just valid, but a healthy proposition to lead life driven from within, by passion for what you do and pride rooted in leaving a legacy behind you, instead of ambition and short-term gratification. Highly recommended reading for those who are searching for their mission in life, as well as those who are considering pursuing the entrepreneurial path in their lives. ... Read more

Book Description

The inspiring autobiography of James Dyson, the countrys leading entrepreneur and inventor, and how he succeeded against all the odds.Dyson's freewheeling account of his struggles, failures and successes is interspersed with his insights on how to turn an inspired idea into a household name.Also includes an updated chapter that reveals the details of the latest TOP SECRET Dyson appliance.Against the Odds will inspire engineers, inventors, and entrepreneurs and appeal to readers around the world. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Astonishing perserverance
This man had it SO HARD in business, was STABBED so often - and had only SHREDS of money, yet he perservered and created a business fortune of over $750 million. This book can be like a medicine of fortitude to anyone, in business or not; more inspiring than any Sylvester Stallone Rocky movie. This deserves best-seller status and probably will never get it, because it is seen as a business book, instead of its greatest power - to motivate ordinary folks, like he was, to perservere against all viciousness and make a personal dream into a bustling reality. Get the book and read it next weekend.

A Great Read
I just finished reading a really great book that I think that anyone would enjoy. The name of the book is "Against the Odds" and the author is James Dyson. I bought my copy from Amazon.com.This book has everything and was hard to put down. It is a recent (2002) well written fascinating autobiography of Dyson who took huge risks and overcame tremendous difficulties to rise from poverty to become Sir James and a billionaire by inventing the very successful cyclonic vacuum cleaner and other products. The book is about innovation, what makes people resist innovation and act against their own interests, business principles and organization, marketing in different cultures, education, etc. and is a great story especially when you are in need of a little inspiration. Read what he did when he was told "Your product can't be any good because if there was a better way to make a vacuum cleaner, Hoover would have already done it".

exceptional
A wonderful story, well-written about a tireless inventor who overcomes great difficulties to create a very successful business, doing it "his way". Proof of his genius is that almost every American vacuum cleaner manufacturer has shamelessly knocked off his design. Shame on them. Bravo to James Dyson! Write another book Mr. Dyson.

a must for all designers
How creativity can also be learned outside Design Schools, business can also be learned outside business schools?..... How the real world is a great place to learn whatever one desires to learn? and How with patience, persistance and preserverance can one develop oneself into a revolutionary designer and a successful enterprenuer? is what this book is dealing with.

Unique and an inspiring way of "walking through" a lifestory of a successful struggle.

A Man Of Genius: James Dyson
James Dyson is one of only two men ever honored with having the vacuum cleaner they invented named after them. James Kirby and James Dyson Jim Kirby did not work for the Kirby Company - so the Kirby vacuum was not really his. Mr. Dyson designed new technology, perfected it, manufactured it, and successfully sells it all over the world. This book details the struggles of the 'average' man who has a brilliant idea and is constantly knocked down with every turn. That the Dyson vacuum exists at all is a miracle, as this book clearly illustrates. Mr. Dyson's personal battles to see his invention brought to life are fascinating and horrifying at the same time. How could one man survive so much rejection and yet triumph in the end? This book has all the elements necessary for transformation into a wonderful movie. A loveable lead character, constant uphill battles for justice, and a satisfying ending that will make you want to know more about this brilliant and wonderful man who has changed the way we look at cleaning our homes. For the first time in the 100 years of the vacuum cleaner, it finally works the way it should. Without a Bag. ... Read more

Book Description

Robert Goizueta created more stockholder wealth than anyone in history. Here's how he did it...

The late Roberto Goizueta helped catapult the successful but stagnant Coca-Cola into the world's most powerful brand and one of the greatest generators of stockholder wealth in history. At the time of his death, he was hailed in papers around the world as one of the most innovative and successful CEO's of our time. Yet little is known of this corporate maverick. This is his story. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Coca-Cola's History
Maria Kozak
per.4
3/22/02
Economcs
Mr. Jimenez

I LIke To Buy The World A Coke, David Greising
John Wiley &Sons, Inc., 1997, 304 pages

David Greising- is the Atlanta bureau cheif of Business Week magazine. He is also an author of: "Brokers", "Bagmen& Moles: Fraund and Corruption in the Chicago Futures Market".

The main idea of this book is to show the reader a life history of a Roberto Goizueta

The book, "I Like World To Buy A Coke" by David Greising gives us very detailed information on Coke Compnany history. Robert Goizueta, CEO of the Coca-Cola was a Cuban imigrant. Thanks to his ambitious character he was able to start a new better life in United States of America. He menaged to live through all the obstacles of an immigrant and become most succesful CEO. Thanks to his possition and strength he changed Coca-Cola into the most profitable corrporation. Who knew that Coca-Cola was loosing its market for Pepsi? If you want to learn more about Coca-Cola you've got to read this book!

"Some of the materials were repeated" (A reader from Malysia).
"This is unauthorized bibliography and the author makes some assumptions and leaps of faith that are not substantiated sufficiently" (A reader from North Carolina).

How Coke Became an Emperor
"I'd Like the World to Buy a Coke" provides a glimpse into the life of one of the world's most recognized names: Coke. David Greising does an excellent job in describing the life of Roberto Goizeuta, CEO of the Coca-Cola Company. He lays out the strategies that Goizueta used to reorganize Coke into the money making machine that it is today and describes the conflict presented with each. For example, do you know what Goizueta meant when he said that "there are no sacred cows"?
I have always thought of Coke as dominating the soda market and so it was surprising and intriguing to learn that at one point, Coke was on the verge of loosing its supermarket sales to Pepsi for good. Greising also explains the failure of New Coke, Coke II, Coke III, (remember these?) and other failed marketing campaigns and what exactly caused the consumers to reject the ideas. The marketing of New Coke, for example caused more uproar by the consumer than I would have ever thought to be possible over a soda.
Greising also takes great pains to describe the everyday toils that one must go through as CEO of a worldwide company. For instance, what do you do when Pepsi launches something like the nation wide Pepsi Challenge? The drive, commitment, and passion that are necessary to end up with a $2 million paycheck per week and what the end result of this is. For instance, what do you do when Pepsi launches something like the nation wide Pepsi Challenge?
Overall, I found the book to be very interesting, simply because Coke is one of the names that everyone knows, but hardly anyone knows anything about. "I'd Like the World to Buy a Coke" serves as a looking glass into one of the world's largest companies and reveals some of its secrets. Do you know what caused many countries to temporarily boycott Coke before the 1996 Atlanta Olympics? What made Diet Coke and Cherry Coke successful, but failed to be applied to Coke II? Read to find out!!!

Now i want to buy Coke
"Goizueta is a great leader and helped out the company in a great way.
Greising is a great author and portrayed Goizueta's leadership well."

coca cola mmmmmmmm
the book is really ambitious and portrays Mr.Goizueta as very goal oriented and eager to accmplish what he sets his mind to. The book does a good job of letting the reader know how great of a leader Roberto Goizeta really was.

Portrait of the American Experience
Roberto Goizueta was the manager in Cuba when Castro took over and nationalized all private businesses. (That little fact is rarely mentioned in all the praises to the "worker's paradise".) It so happened that he memorized the entire range of equipment and capacity and was able to recite this back when it came time to compute how much Castro had looted.
This is an insider's story of the corporate world, the tensions and alliances, the rewards and penalties for both hard work and luck, the demonstration of the idea that if you work hard enough you can make it. Goizuela's rise occurred amid an upheaval in the soft drink industry. There was the disastrous "New Coke", the challenge by Pepsi, the much-heralded secret formula, the introduction of juices and water....all are featured in detail.

A great book about a great man - reading about his funeral had me grinning and whistling along. ... Read more

Book Description

The very night that Sanford "Sandy" Weill, the chairman and chief executive officer of Citigroup, was being feted on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange as CEO of the Year, the television screens above the floor were flashing danger: A congressional panel was tearing into Jack Grubman, the $20-million-a-year telecommunications analyst who worked for Sandy. Had Grubman and Citigroup favored corporate clients at the expense of average investors? Was Citigroup recommending stocks of troubled companies to get their business? The worst scandal of Sandy Weill's long career was breaking around him.

Here, from its very beginning, is the riveting inside story of how a rough-edged kid from Brooklyn overcame incredible odds and deep-seated prejudice to put together Citigroup, the world's largest financial empire, and to transform financial services in America -- for better or worse.

Tearing Down the Walls provides an unprecedented look at how business and finance are conducted at the highest levels, with extraordinary insight into the character and motivations of powerful men a