Book Description

Reviews (4)

I enjoyed this ghost story ...
This was exactly what I was looking for: a nicely written, page-turning ghost story. The perfect summer beach vacation book --- or anytime, for that matter. Just don't read this before going to bed.

A Must Read for Anyone Interested in the Gold Coast
Add a star if you are from Glen Cove or the local area. This book is not what I expected. I purchased thinking it would be an historical account of the mansion and its occupants but it turned out to a compelling ghost story. It was enjoyable and informative.

Interesting Account of the Gold Coast
This book is interesting in its account of the Woolworths and their haunted mansion. However, I was not impressed with the historical details in this book. This books seems more like a fictionalized account of a woman's experience in a haunted mansion than a non-fictional account. The fact that I learned very little of the life of the Woolworth and his life left me at a loss at the end of the book.

Ghost Story Memoir
This book is a memoir, yet chronicles a haunted house. Its very interesting and the author does a great job describing the "Gold Coast" of Long Island. The history of the area, however, does not overwhelm the story, which according to the author is true. Read this book if you are interested in the history of Long Island or ghosts. ... Read more

Amazon.com

George Soros was once described as "the only private citizen [of the U.S.] who has his own foreign policy." In this penetrating biography, Michael Kaufman explores the multifaceted life of a man who instead describes himself as "a financial, philanthropic, and philosophical speculator."

Like Intel chairman Andrew Grove, whose memoir Swimming Across touches on some of the same territory, Soros grew up as the scion of a Hungarian Jewish family, many of whose members did not survive the Holocaust. Inclined toward philosophy (a field in which he sometimes writes even today, though many philosophers wish he would not), Soros escaped to England, and later America, and put his sharp mind to work making a huge fortune. Not content to live a leisurely or unexamined life, Soros put more than $1 billion to use in bettering the lives of citizens of formerly totalitarian regimes--and even in hastening the end of dictatorships around the world.

Former New York Times columnist Kaufman delivers a respectful account, closeted skeletons and all, of Soros's life and work, and his book will interest a wide range of readers. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Not bad...perhaps a bit unbalanced
The book basically divides Soros' life into three phases:
1. Childhood survival against the Nazis in Hungary during WW II
2. Financial successes and philosophical failures
3. Philanthropy

What I found puzzling is how much of the text was spent on Soros' philanthropic activities. They deserve a significant portion of the text, but well over half of the text is devoted to this. I would have been interested, for example, in seeing some experts from Soros "Burden", and trying to understand a bit better what issues Soros was trying to describe in his own book, but could not.

Having said all this, this was a well researched, well written, well referenced biography. This is not a trading book, and those seeking trading advice should look elsewhere.

Very readable and informative.
A book written in a flowing, readable style, well researched and full of information, even for one who has read Soros himself. Indeed too much was dedidicated to Soros' misguided charity but then, Soros himself would rate that as his most important activity.

As an observer, I came away with the portrait of a tragic figure. A man who has done what Freud termed "identification with the oppressor". Expelled from Hungary and humiliated there, the first country to received huge sums of his money was Hungary. Other countries with equally rich antisemitic pasts receieved no less. Another way explain this would be as what is termed in Anthropology, following Marcel Mause in the Spirit of the Gift, "inflicting gifts" or giving to humiliate.

I kept thinking while reading the book that a man who made most of his money within walking distance from Harlem should look in his own backyard for noble causes first. And talking about his own back yard, isn't it pathetic that he never gave anything to his own people?

And yet, the boyish smile of the man is endearing and heart warming and even heart breaking.

And again, the writer, a pleasure to read.A minor technical detail: he should have given his manuscript to a native Hungarian speaker to edit the spelling and also to tighten some of the explanations which refer to the lnaguage or the culture or the country. (I am just being pedantic here, I know)

Though not new, read it if you have not done so yet.

Soros was convicted of insider trading in 2002
The life and times of a man convicted of insider trading in Societe Generale stock.

a book about his personal life (not financial life)
I was disappointed. Even if you do want a book about Soros' personal life, the presentation was boring. It was doubly boring for me because I was hoping to learn something about his financial history. There is Shamefully little of that in there. Even the 1/3 of the book entitled "Making Money" was not about that. There are enough uncritical biographies written about his personal life. When is someone going to write a critical account of his financial history? That is the interesting part. There is the story. Too much about his philanthropy...this book had an agenda.

The Life and Times of a Messianic Billionaire
Kaufman (New York Times journalist) chronicles George Soros's life and wide-ranging accomplishments as creative hedge fund manager, destroyer of foreign currencies, innovative philanthropist, and promoter of open societies and democracy. The author traces his youth growing up in Hungary, hiding from the Nazis, taking a degree at the London School of Economics, and working in London at an initial salary of seven pounds a week. Soros departed to America at 26 for a job on Wall Street with a five-year plan to accumulate $500,000. By 1973 he left his lucrative Wall Street position to set up Soros Fund Management and attracted wealthy investors. Every $100,000 invested grew to $353 million by 1998, and the value of his Quantum Fund reached $6 billion. In the 1970s Soros commenced philanthropic activities, strongly influenced by the "open society" ideas of Karl Popper but motivated somewhat by the reduction in estate taxes. Kaufman describes the foundations and Open Society programs Soros established in Eastern Europe, China, Russia, the former Soviet republics, and the US. See also Robert Slater's Soros (CH, May'96). This biography of the remarkable life of an eclectic billionaire is recommended for public, academic, lower-division undergraduate and up, and professional library collections. ... Read more

Book Description

This provocative history of the world's most famous anti-Semite--a Detroit Free Press and New York Post bestseller--examines the origins, methods, and consequences of hatred.

How and why did this quintessential American folk-hero and pioneering industrialist become one of the most obsessive anti-Semites of our time-a man who devoted his immense financial resources to publishing a pernicious forgery, The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion? And once Henry Ford's virulent media campaign against the Jews took off during the "anxious decade" following World War I, how did America's already splintered Jewish community attempt to cope with the relentless tirade conducted for ninety-one consecutive weeks in the automobile manufacturer's personal newspaper, The Dearborn Independent? What were the repercussions of Ford's Jew-hatred extending deeply into the 1930s?

Drawing upon previously uncited oral history transcripts, archival correspondence, and family memoirs, Neil Baldwin answers these and other questions; examining the biases of the men at the inner circle of the Ford Motor Company and disentangling the painful ideological struggles among an elite Jewish leadership reluctantly pitted against the clout and popularity of "The Flivver King."

As the Ford Motor Company celebrates its hundredth anniversary, with anti-Semitism resurgent in Europe and Islamic fundamentalists reading The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, Henry Ford and the Jews is a riveting biography with new relevance for anyone interested in contemporary history. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

The Last To Know.....
I think I was the last person in the United States to become aware of Henry Ford's anti-semitism.

I make it a practice to study one person a month and I decided as a business builder, Henry Ford was worthy of my attention and study.

I found this particular biography and thought, "OK, this has a completely different approach, let's try it on."

I found Baldwin's passion and zealousness for his topic and his particular slant to be very powerful. As is frequent in such writing, it also became a barrier because every action Ford took became, through Baldwin's eyes, a matter of Ford being the Personification of Evil.

I am not condoning Ford's thoughts, beliefs or behaviors. I am believing that not every action he took was a result of some undercurrent of Anti Semitism.

That said, this book is worth a read due to the level of research Baldwin has done both in this biography and the biography of one of Ford's friends and role models (and less rabidly Anti-Semitic although there was some there) in Thomas Alva Edison.

I just had this thought: I wonder how many business leaders remain staunchly racist... yet it has gone deeply underground in this age.

I wonder how many business (and political leaders) continue to harbor less than transformed thought?

Something to think about... and continue to stand against.

A Comprehensive Examination of a Man and a Problem
Neil Baldwin's look at Henry Ford and his anti-semitic views is an important one. Most people know something about Ford's anti-semitism. However, with this book one gets a full picture of the nature of his prejudice, the way it was expressed, and it's root causes. In addition, Mr. Baldwin has added to the value of this story by covering, in some detail, the responses of various members of the Jewish community to this very big problem. Mr. Ford was an extremely influential American, and as such, it was very important for Jewish leaders to respond to the outrageous and harmful ideas that were expressed in publications (such as The Dearborn Independent) that he was associated with. However, leaders differed with regard to how to best deal with this problem, and indeed it was something that had to be handled carefully.

In some ways, this is a very sad story, for it shows us some of the worst aspects of a man who was and still is revered by many. It also reminds us of how prevalent anti-semitism was in America during the first few decades of the twentieth century. Nevertheless, this is an important story, and Neil Baldwin has told it in a book that combines good writing with outstanding scholarship. I don't think that it will disappoint the serious reader.

Ask yourself these questions
Is Baldwin a Jew?

How it then possible for this text to impartially represent the truth?

When listening or reading it is vitally important to understand the motives of the source before forming your own opinion.

Well worth a read
Neil Baldwin's "Henry Ford and the Jews" is a compelling look at how a genius at one thing --- the mass production of a good automobile --- could become such a dangerous buffoon when it came to another thing --- the mass production of an idea. At some point, our title character ceased to be just "Henry Ford, automaker" and instead became Henry Ford, wealthy and powerful symbol of international antisemitism. Baldwin's portrait of Ford in all his horrible glory is fascinating.

A True History of Henry Ford!
This book by Baldwin gave a searing history of automobile icon
Henry Ford.Baldwin very capably shows one of the pioneers of
American industry to be devoutly anti-semite.Ford himself was the
financier behind a anti-Jewish newspaper that was published in
Michigan.Ford was a fan of Adolph Hitler. Hitler had a portrait of Ford on thew wall in his office.Henry Ford received an award
from Hitler and showed up in person to receive it bringing with him many guests.Charles Linberg and Thomas Watson of IBM declined
the same award.Ford was also able to sell Ford products to the
Nazis receiving a monopoly on the Nazi vehicle market in the military.This book is packed with documented of Henry Ford's
anti-semite activities.Read this you will become better informed.
This is a good book. Buy it. ... Read more

Book Description

The world tries to keep up when JACK WELCH SPEAKS:
"Jack Welch has long been one of my heroes. When you read this book you will understand why." -Warren Buffett Chairman, Berkshire Hathaway.
"Jack Welch is a management genius who attacks life as he does business-with unconventional flair, a restless intellect, and no tolerance for phonies. And I'd say that even if he weren't my boss!" -Tom Brokaw Anchor and Managing Editor, NBC
"Jack Welch describes himself as 'just a man in a room.' Janet Lowe takes us into this room by letting the man speak for himself. Through his own words, it becomes clear why he is listened to and emulated all over the world. Big man, big room." -Sam Nunn Former U.S. Senator; Partner, King and Spalding.
"All too often, the journalistic adulation heaped upon business leaders is misplaced or vastly overstated. In the case of Welch, he's even better than his press." -Larry Bossidy Chairman and CEO, Allied Signal Inc.
"Jack Welch Speaks shows business at its most fascinating. It gives the reader a valuable insight into the mind and personal philosophy of one of America's keenest, most effective business leaders." -Ely Callaway Founder and Chairman, Callaway Golf.
"The gold standard against which other CEOs are measured." -BusinessWeek.
"The most acclaimed SOB of the last decade is the most acclaimed CEO of this one." -Industry Week.
He is one of the most praised, perhaps the most feared, and certainly one of the most confounding and controversial bosses in America-a complex, intensely private man, revered as the manager's manager. As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General Electric, Jack Welch has been at the forefront of the reconstruction of American industry. From the moment he assumed his position 16 years ago, Welch sought dramatic and swift change. He quickly realized the demands of the new, global, high-tech environment, and met the challenge with decisive action and, in the opinion of many, ruthless determination. He broadened corporate America's vocabulary with words that still strike terror in the hearts of many an employee: restructuring, downsizing, rightsizing. In the process, Jack Welch turned an aging, albeit highly respected and historic, business icon into what is considered by many today to be the best managed company in the world and, above all, one of the most profitable.
Now, Janet Lowe, author of the bestselling Warren Buffett Speaks, presents in Welch's own words the insights, vision, passions, and persuasions of a legendary leader. Here's just a sample of what you'll find inside:
* "We're going to demand from you earnings growth every year. . . . Those are the rules of the road. . . . You take charge of your destiny. If you don't, we will."
* "As I went to bigger pieces of GE, I found bigger bureaucracies, layers and all that stuff and it wasn't friendly. Business was very serious-turf-boxes. Business isn't that. Business is ideas and fun and excitement and celebrations, all those things."
* "When you're running an institution, you're always scared at first. You're afraid you might break it."
* "If someone tells me 'I'm working 90 hours a week,' I say, 'You're doing something terribly wrong.' I go skiing on the weekend, I go out with my buddies on Friday and party. You've got to do the same or you've got a bad deal."
* "Speed is everything. It is the indispensable ingredient in competitiveness. Speed keeps business and people young. It's addictive, and it's a profoundly American taste we need to cultivate." ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Better than Staight from the Gut
Janet Lowe does a great job of distilling the essence of Jack Welch's business wisdom.The quotes, which were often used by Welch for motivation, are very powerful.This makes for a more compelling book than Jack Welch's autobiography, Straight from the Gut.

Jam packed with great stuff from Jack!
I've read (studied) most of the books written about Jack Welch and felt this particular book was well worth a review too. As an inspirational children's book author I love books that inspire, teach and have messages that I can use to make life better. All of Jack Welch's wisdom, management messages and lessons are all packed into this book. In this book you'll learn about how managers shouldn't muddle but lead by exciting and inspiring their team. The importance of speed, simplicity and self-confidence. It goes into Sigma Six, Workout Sessions and more. My book shelf has just about every book ever written about Jack Welch. I call it my "Jack Pack." If you are like me you will want to read them all! I am looking forward to reading "Straight from the Gut" and would highly recommend you read Jack Welch's new book as well.

Eloquent and Practical Wisdom
This is the best single source of comments by Jack Welch, at least that I am aware of, as he approaches the conclusion of his illustriuous career at GE. Lowe deserves great credit for her editorial skills. Her selections are outstanding and well-organized. For me, this book offers a rare opportunity to share Welch's insights re subjects such as setting proper priorities, allocating resources, anticipating and then preparing for an uncertain future,responding to unexpected crises, healing self-inflicted wounds, eliminating deadwood, adjusting or abandoning ineffective strategies, and -- meanwhile -- remaining committed to non-negotiable core values. When Welch "speaks", all of us should listen very carefully. This book probably comes as close as any single source could to maximize the value of such an interaction.

Excellent
This is an excellent book that gives readers a quick insight into the highly successful management style of Jack Welch with GE.Well written, and doesn't take a lot of time to read.

Jack Welch Speaks....in a nutshell!
Jack Welch Speaks is a quick glimpse into the mind of an outstanding manager and leader.Don't expect to be drawn in by complex philosophies and diagrams.You wont find "covey-like" principles on timemanagement or introspective looks at goal setting principles.What youwill find is short quotes and stories from Welch that gives you a taste ofhis straight forward, reality-check management style. His basic principles:An energized vision, create the same level of competition withindepartments and managers as there is in the global market, communicatehonestly and frankly with the workforce, find ways to develop new ideas andof course, be the best or be gone! ... Read more

Book Description

Critical Praise for NO BULL

"Michael Steinhardt rode bull and bear markets to great success for himself and his investors. Since closing his fund in 1995 he has continued his successful streak in more philanthropic enterprises. But what is ultimately compelling about Steinhardt is his drive, no matter the endeavor. No Bull is a highly readable inside look into the man, his successes, and his motivations."–George Soros, Chairman, Soros Fund Management, and Chairman,

The Soros Foundations Network

"Michael Steinhardt has written a fascinating history of his experiences in the tumultuous economic times of the last forty years. His reflections are endlessly interesting, totally candid, very instructive, moving, warm, and in many ways, inspirational. No Bull is an important resource for anyone interested in markets, the evolution of a key player, his ideas and strategies, and his deeply felt personal philosophy."–Laurence A. Tisch, Co-Chairman, Loews Corporation

"Michael Steinhardt has penned a joyous book about his rich (in every way) experiences on Wall Street, filled with angst . . . and reminiscent of a World of our Fathers as only Steinhardt would know. I always knew he was the world’s best money manager but I didn’t know that he could write, and he writes better than he trades!"–James J. Cramer, Markets Commentator for TheStreet.com and CNBC

"Michael Steinhardt long ago earned Wall Street’s highest accolade, ‘money maker.’ With this fine memoir, he earns a new accolade, ‘story teller.’"–James Grant, Editor, Grant’s Interest Rate Observer

"No Bull is a memoir rich in language, in detail, and in self-awareness. It is good that this is so because the life about which he writes demands it; it is not only a deeply complicated narrative in its own right but one that touches public issues of concern to us all. Do not be mistaken: Steinhardt is more than a money manager."–Marty Peretz, Editor-in-Chief, The New Republic ... Read more

Reviews (21)

No Help
This hedge fund manager's investment advice can be summed up in his phrase "variant perception" which means, if you can develop an intellectually sound investment thesis at odds with the prevailing Wall Street view, you have an idea that will likely make you money. That's it. In other words, be a smart contrarian. Most of "No Bull" digresses on Judaism and Mr. Steinhart's rags-to-riches life story, which, no offense, is a snooze--he lists the rungs of his ladder of success but never gives a sense of what was driving him or how, exactly, he succeeded. I would say he chalks a lot up to innate ability, and I have no argument there. The tone of the book is that of a travelogue or the transcript of a psychoanalytical session. Or maybe just the words of an aging man trying to come to terms with the meaning of his life. I was troubled by the sentimentalization of his father, especially late in the book, when he repeats his saintly funeral eulogy, yet earlier the author made it clear that the elder Steinhardt was an absentee parent and had led a life of crime, fencing jewels, and not hesitating to attack a fellow who had violated the "laws of the streets," whatever that means. I would say he is conflicted, or given to romanticising the past. Also--how can one say that a religion is central to his own personality, as Mr. Steinhardt does, and yet admit (over and over) to atheism? It would seem to reduce the Jewish faith to a brotherhood something akin to the Rotary. The theology of this escapes me--and, to his credit, the author struggles with it. Mr. Steinhardt writes as a gruff but lovable grandfatherly type, and since he made such astounding returns, he feels entitled to explain his religious views, his democratic-centrist political opinions, and his love of animals, including one odd story in which he says he would introduce acquaintances to a bird that liked to chase people--then chortle as the unsuspecting fled in fear (I kid you not). In short, I had hoped he would shed light on his investment methodology, but like the awful Niederhoffer book (Education Of A Speculator), Mr. Steinhardt is more intent on telling us he is a man of the arts (his taste in paintings, his foray into movie-making), a sensitive fellow (who lists many of his generous charitable gifts) with vast interests (horticulture--wait, maybe that's what Judi, his wife, likes) and unlimited family love (how his family supported him in trying times). He's making the case that he's more than a man of money, and assumes the reader is interested. I am not, though his occassional show of humility does earn the book one more star than it merits as an investment text.

Steinhardt the Blowhard...
Dull, pompous pablum - with surprising little insight into both the markets and Steinhardt's reasoning for the trades he describes in his book. This gives credence to the likelihood that Steinhardt is nothing more than an outlier along the curve (in other words, extremely lucky) Given the amount of money this guy made, his philanthropic "vision" is extremely narrow and self-serving. Pass this one by...

Excellent review of a brilliant career on Wall Street
In his book, Michael does an excellent job of explaining his success on Wall Street, from his tenancity and sharp intellect to some of the good and bad luck which his firm encountered. He also delves into some more interesting discussion surrounding the opportunities that wealth and success can bring to any individual. While his career was indeed legendary, I think Michael tells his story with an amazing amount of self-deprecation and humility. I really enjoyed reading it.

Interesting but Unfocused
Steinhardt's extraordinary investment record deserves a book in and of itself. However, I found myself struggling to read this book because I wanted much more detail of his trader life, of which No Bull provides only passing glimpses. This book provides a broad view of his life without a lot of detail about any particular aspect of it. The problem is that the hedge fund world and its firms are rich with colorful personalities and stories, and this book provides only very brief and basic accounts. As a former investment professional, I found the most interesting aspect of this book is Steinhardt's admission that despite his unparalleled success in the hedge fund business, he felt as if he had yet to make a difference in the world - a theme far too common in our business, and a primary reason why I retired from it.

I

Insights
As a speculator I learned to take the best from books and ideas without arguments (many readers seem to be training to be shallow critics)--good insights are hard to come by. One does not find these in the writings of a journalist. There are some things personal to the author that might be uninteresting to some, but I take the package. The man is one of the greatest traders in history. There are a few jewels in there.
The man did it. I'd rather listen to him than read better written but hollow prose from some journalist-writer. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Although many businesspeople may not yet be familiar with Dave Longaberger and the hugely successful basket company that bears his name, they probably should be. The story of the man and his enterprise, as told in Longaberger: An American Success Story, is as informative and inspiring as any likely to pass their way. In fact, this plainspoken memoir--prepared with business writer Robert Shook shortly before Longaberger's death from cancer in 1999--ought to be required for all entrepreneurs who think they really know what makes the business world go round.

In its pages, Longaberger candidly relates how he first learned to share and do his part as one of 12 children in a small house in tiny Dresden, Ohio--and how seemingly major drawbacks like epilepsy, stuttering, learning disabilities, and lack of a college education never deterred him. He tells how he kicked off his entrepreneurial career with a restaurant and grocery-drugstore before opening the basket company in 1973 as a part-time family affair, and how its workforce ultimately grew to 8,000 while revenues hit $1 billion. Longaberger fully explains overcoming his difficulties and learning the real secrets of business by shoveling snow and toiling in a grocery store as a youngster, and then selling baked goods and working in a factory as a young man. He also shows how this knowledge, and his penchant for the unconventional, became invaluable when he went into business for himself. The story includes Longaberger's rationale for the moves he parlayed into success, and offers his specific management principles along with advice on how and why to implement them. At its heart, though, Longaberger's message is deceptively simple. "If you remember nothing else about this book," he writes, "I hope you realize that if a small-town boy like me can make it, anyone in America who's willing to work hard should be able to earn a darn good living." --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Longaberger: An American Success Story
This is a fantastic book. A must read for all business owners. Dave Longaberger is a down to earth real person. His stories and the history of his company are fascinating. I can't put it down.

Like baseball? July 4? You'll love the Longaberger story!
In a time of downsizing and a slowing economy, here's the tale of a man and a company who did things right and experienced phenomenal results. Dave Longaberger tells the remarkable story of raising his daughters and growing his company to a billion-dollar business. He weaves a delightful, but enlightning tale, of hard work, perserverence, dedication, and success. With little more than handshakes, promises, and a few devoted employees willing to work for months without pay, Dave made his family name synonomous with quality American handmade baskets.

If you've become cynical, skeptical, or downright depressed you need this book! Dave reminds us that "walking the talk" and being genuinely interested in people are the skills that bring us to personal, and often professional, success. You'll love reading about his fantasy-cow, Flossie, and later, as president of Longaberger, how he dealt with an arrogant salesman. Dave's integrity, business instincts, practical jokes, and love for his parents make a fantastic story and once you read it, you'll wish you could have worked in that old, hot, drafty woolen mill with him - or at least known him.

Buy a copy for yourself and one for your boss!

Not A Very Helpful Book!
As stated by another reviewer, this is a book for "Longaberger fans" (pretty much a waste of time and money for anybody else). The wholesome, made-in America image that the Longaberger family is trying to convey seems ironic to me now, since the company is outsourcing a large amount of their products in China. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone except the die-hard Longaberger enthusiast!

Have you ever had a dream that was draining you dry?
That was Mr.Longaberger's problem. He knew that handcrafted baskets had a place in Americana, but he didn't know how to make it profitable. But he never gave up. While it was running in the red, he was taking money from his business that was running in the black.

Those entrepreneurs that are working full time jobs, as well,know the feeling.

I picked up this book to gain perspective on how to not get discouraged in my own business. It worked.

I have never had to work in a building that had no roof. I have never had to pay employees with IOUs. I have never had to go into a store and see my handmade baskets tossed in the back of a shelf collecting dusts while cheaper made, inferior baskets go whizzing by.

What I took away from this book is to constantly persist and innovate. The cliche "Where there is a will there is a way" readily applied to Mr.Longaberger. He gained my utmost admiration as a businessman and as a philanthroper.

From day one he shared is wealth, with his employees, with his community, and with strangers. I am shopping around to purchase one of his baskets, solely as an inspiration piece, and if you do the same, after reading this book, you will find out what I found out, they are expensive and you have stiff competition among the collectors. He created a $7billion company from an abandon building. Could you do the same.

Do you have what it takes to get through your hard times, up beat, to really see your business blossom? I do. I look forward to seeing you at the top.

Wonderful Business Tips If you are a real businessman
If a book's name is success story it will not be a business textbook to explain business strategy or corporate finance. In this book you can see the optimism (which we need right now), persuasion(every entreprenuer needs), and a soft touch to people ( key element to create successful business). So as you understand this book do not make you understand hard business issues but make you understand that the realization of dreams are not restricted to business educated people... It shows you a person who has learning disabilities can create a company of 1 billion dollar worth... it shows you the importance of caring customers and touching customers and caring their families...

So people who needs business books they need to go text books not success stories... ... if i need a screwdriver and if i get a hammer, hammer will be useless for me but this does not change the effectiveness of the hammer for the person who needs it... so only problem is the person who selects it...

thanks ... Read more

Book Description

1855. P.T. Barnum relates a true history of his adventures and the many enterprises in which he had engaged. A very interesting and colorful man, Barnum discusses his checkered career, where he had been everythingfrom farmer's boy to merchant, clerk to manager, show man and bank president. He had been in jails and palaces, known poverty and wealth, traveled over a large portion of two continents and had seen all varieties of people and character. A light-hearted, intriguing history which will endeavor the reader to laugh at the antics of this historical show man. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Disrespectful packaging of an American classic.
P.T. Barnum was a creative force in the worlds of advertising, museums, entertainment and finally, the circus. He was also a politician who held two high offices. He supported the northern view of the Civil War, he was anti-slavery, he constantly fought to bring the rich and powerful and regular folk together under one roof. He believed in the American Dream and that those that came to America had the curiosity to find out what was on the other side of the ocean for themselves. It was this same curiosity that led them inside museums and under the big top. He coined many phrases and terms used freely today. P.T. Barnum created worlds similar to worlds written by authors Frank L. Baum (the Oz books) and Mark Twain. Perhaps P.T. Barnum is not the best person to tell that story, but the book is a classic American tale of an American legend. Too bad it was packaged with mocking commentary on the cover and introduction which was completely inappropriate for display on one's bookshelf. It is difficult to tell why the publishers would sell the book when they have such obvious disdain for it. Everyone will always remember Barnum and not even buyers of the book will recall the names of the authors, but still, this is certainly not the way an autobiography should be published. Imagine buying a book of famous portraits only to find that the publishers have drawn mustaches on each one. As a collector, this is a waste, wait for another edition.

Communist Introduction
Even though this is the only edition of Barnum's autobiography in print it's advisable to skip this edition as the introducer is one of a proliferating number of reductive political hacks scheming at the cultural studies fringes who have weaseled into positions of "advisers" "editors" "introducers" and similar jobs extraneous to writing proper at publishing houses. Among them Caleb Crane who has used his homosexuality to secure positions at The Modern Library & NYT Book Review, S.T. Joshi leftist historical fabricator extraordinaire, and the current specimen a dogmatic Marxist who has authored a scurrilous tome purporting that Edgar Allen Poe secretly reduced the slave figures of pre civil war America, among other delusions. In doing this he follows his predecessor Rufus W. Griswold only the offences change, overdrinking was the politically incorrect gaffe in Griswolds time. What a poverty stricken outsider would gain by such activities is not explained, not even considering it's blasé materialistic crudity as interpretation. So unless you plan on ripping out the conceited Stalinist introduction avoid this book.

A Humbugger for the Ages
One of the most ambiguous figures in American history is P.T. Barnum. He was a legendary showman, curator, writer, entrepreneur--but he was also known for his humbugs. Many of his great successes were based on scamming and frauding the American public.

He was a master of marketing and advertising. His ability to manipulate the media was a precursor for much of American life in the last 150 years. Barnum had a genius for drawing in the crowd and creating scandals. He was often the one who exposed his own frauds.

This autobiography provides a fascinating glimpse into the man behind the legend and myth. Barnum begins with childhood and works his way through his life up to that point. This one is the original autobiography written in 1855. Many of his great triumphs like General Tom Thumb and the Jenny Lind tour had already taken place.

It should be remembered that Barnum is telling his own tale so it would be wise to maintain a cynical stance when reading this tale. I often found myself nodding with agreement at what I was reading and then pausing to consider that Barnum may have been hoodwinking the reader.

Overall, this is a compelling read in spite potential exaggerations. Barnum, for better or worse, is one of the most famous of all American showman. He set the stage for much of the entertainment world since his time. I found myself disdainful of some of his excesses but I came away with an overall appreciation for this man.

The American landscape is richer for having him. He has provided us with one of our greatest myths.

A wonderful book!
I really enjoyed reading P.T. Barnum's auto-biography. He was a great showman. I highly recommend this book. The musical version of his life "Barnum" staring Michael Crawford is really good too.

The Notorious Barnum
This is the first modern version of Barnum's original 1855 autobiography. Barnum not only admits that deception made him rich, he also takes great pleasure in recounting his notorious "humbugs." All in all, this is a fascinating and startling story told by one of the founders of American mass culture. ... Read more

Book Description

The true story of Staten Island badboy Louis Pasci uto's meteoric rise to the top of Wall Street's notorious chop houses--by the award-winning journalist who broke it. Hood brokers. Monthly million dollar paychecks. Thirty-six hour cocaine binges. "Rocky" themed pep rallies. Run-ins with Mafia thugs toting Mac 10 machine pistols. This was the life of Louis Pasciuto, a fast-talking Staten Island kid who, from the age of 19 to 25, moved stocks for 17 different brokerage houses--most of that time without even a fake license. This inside account of the Mafia's infiltration of Wall Street details Louis' career as the consummate liar, selling phantom stocks to naive Americans and leading a lifestyle worthy of Caligula. To avoid a long prison sentence, Pasciuto eventually turned state's witness. Now, Gary Weiss shares the inside story of Wall Street's notorious "chop houses," the crooked Mob-run brokerages where rampant thievery netted several billion dollars from gullible investors. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A scream!!!
Someone loaned me this book--I didn't buy it--so I feel an obligation to the author to come online and tell him that I absolutely, positively, adored this book. It is a scream! Very funny, with an ironic Afterword that was both touching in a way and also comical to boot. The Afterword describes how the feds punished Lou Pasciuto for coming forward with this story.

But the main thing about this book is that it is a taut, tensely written book that holds you at the edge of your seat from one minute to the next. It is hard to believe that the writer of this book works for a magazine, as it seems to have been written by a mystery author. The pacing moves to a fever pitch, as we follow the central character, sliming his way from one brokerage to the next.

What makes it all so fascinating is that this is a true story, and there are pictures to prove it. Pasciuto was an earner for the mob, and the book is filled with vignettes describing some guys straight out of the real-life Sopranos. My favorite involves a guy I read about as a kid named Sonny Franzese, who used to head up the Colombo family but by the 1990s was reduced to low-rent stock scams.

There are also stories of how famous people got sucked in, including cast members from the Howard Stern show.

All in all a terrific book!

A fascinating tale of the Mob in decline
I have read just about every book that there is on organized crime, and I have also read my share of Wall Street books. Let me tell you, this one is right up there with the very best of the Mob genre--Wise Guys and the Valachi Papers--but with a searing wit that reminds me of Liar's Poker.

I bought this book after seeing its subject, Lou Pasciuto, featured on the ABC News show 20/20. Let me tell you, the story was if anything better than I had expected from watching that show. This is a really outstanding, superbly written book about a young kid from Staten Island who becomes an moneymaker for the Mob on Wall Street.

I read it on one sitting. This book grabs you in the beginning, when Pasciuto is sitting in prison, mulling over the shambles of his life. The book then reverts to a flashback in the best film noir style, recounting his early upbringing in a shabby but honest family. He was constantly the subject of attention as a small boy, and perhaps because of that incipient narcissism he became a thief at an early age--hence the title.

We follow Pasciuto in his first job, at a very well known boiler room called Hanover Sterling. This brings me to another aspect of the book that I think needs to be mentioned. Unlike the few other books that have explored the shady side of Wall Street, this book names names. We get the actual bad guys and the names of the actual brokerage houses. That gives this book an authority and credibility that adds to the excitement.

After Hanover, Pasciuto rises very rapidly and is running his own crews of brokers while still a teenager--before he can go into a bar and drink, as the author Weiss points out. He makes thousands of dollars a week and his life is a whirl of sex, drugs and trips to South Beach.

Along the way he becomes the favorite broker for sports figures and cast members of the Howard Stern Show, particularly "Stuttering John," who was really in with that crowd.

But then he meets his nemesis, a crude gangster named Charlie, and it his downfall begins. Louis is married to his girlfriend, in a wedding scene straight from the Godfather, and it is downhill from there.

Along the way he meets a who's who of characters from the Mob, from half-assed wiseguys in Staten Island to doddering old fools like Sonny Franzese. That this where this book really shines. It is the best portrayal of the present-day Mob--the Mob of today, not the 1990s--that I have been able to get my hands on.

The tale of Louis' rise and fall is filled with humor, excitement and tragedy, and it is told in a humorous and accessible fashion that is really a pleasure to read.

Start reading this early in the day
Why? BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PUT IT DOWN!!!!! I took this book to the beach during the July 4th weekend and made the mistake of starting to read it in the afternoon. There I was as the sun was setting at 8, and I was still reading it. Everyone was gone and I was squinting as the sun went down. That's how electrifying this book is.

Louis Pasciuto is a parochial school kid from Staten Island who has a slight character-development issue: He steals. He stole when he was a small child and as a teenager he found just the place to practice his craft. Wall Street beckoned, in the form of a well-groomed stock scammer named Roy Ageloff.

Such is the setup for one of the most readable stories that have come down the pike in a long time. Weiss's portrayal of the world of Wall Street and the Mafia is extraordinarily revealing. I heard this is going to be a movie and I can see why.

I don't want to give away any of the plot, as this is one of those books that you read with your hand on the page to keep from letting your eyes wandering down to see what is happening in the future. It was an education on the subject of Wall Street, and I came away from reading this book with a wealth of education that I hope will make me into a smarter investor.

One thing about this book that is surprising is how entertaining and funny it is. You wouldn't expect that from a book about Wall Street or the Mafia. But Weiss has extraordinary comic sense and he brings out the irony in some characters who are at once loathsome and fascinating. He also makes some sharp observations on the abysmal failure of Wall Street regulation and the moronic character of so much that has been written about the Mob.

Born to Steal is a winner in every respect.

Interesting story let down by lack of true storytelling
I was truly looking forward to reading this book, so when I started it and saw an abundance of quotes from Louis (who the book is written about) I thought it was to serve as a prelim before detailing his story.Unfortunately this style of writing lasted for at least the first 200 plus pages and never really left.What I mean is that the author seemed to have taped several hours of louis repetively telling how stupid people were and smart he was, and between that, giving tiny pieces of the actual story. The author then seemed to have the interview transcribed into text and then wrote small summaries (with very little detail) tying together the almost unmentioned events.This type of style really prevents this book from ever becoming very interesting.It would have been so much better (and more work for the author) if he had used Louis' words to tell an actual coherant story. For instance, we hear how crazy a character named Roy is. This guy gave Louis his start and louis made him alot of money.Yet when Louis left his firm there was no mention of how the volatile roy reacted to losing a key employee. A better written book would have documented the experience Louis had telling Roy he was leaving the firm. A perfect example of an author doing a much better job is in the book "Bringing Down the House" in which the main person is quoted frequently, but that never overcomes the actual naration of events in the story.Meaning you actually could feel tension, while in this book you could never feel any tension become no event was ever mentioned in any real detail.The author in that book also took the time to educate the reader on the subject(blackjack) while in this book the auther does not even seem to understand the financial industry or does not care to give the readers a little lesson that may have helped them understand the scams a bit more. In a sense this reminds me of one of those old biopics where the hero goes from a nothing to a world power within ten minutes.I would have loved to read blow by blow of Louis' early cold calls, as well as his hiring kids and how they reacted to the business.All we got is Louis telling us these events in a sentence or two mixed in with how great a speaker he is.

All in all, very disapointing unless you wanted to read a rambling interview instead of a book. I actually felt this book was a 2 star book, but because the subject was such a can't miss, felt I would a deduct a star from it due to the authoer actually "missing".

Interesting - a good look at the other side of Wall street
This is a fascinating look at the other side of Wall Street.Chop houses have been around forever, but despite their omnipresence, you don't hear to much about them these days.The author is a good storyteller and the main character "Louis" is an entertaining fellow who takes us through the intricacies of chop house life.The stories of drug use, gambling (...) and lavish spending juxtapose nicely with the sad conclusion to the story.

Also sad is the fact that thousands of American families lost many millions of dollars to Louis alone.He stole from them and left them with nothing.These poor people lost everything.I still can't get over the fact that anyone could write a check after receiving a cold call from some fast talking NY broker.Hopefully, the public has learned a lesson to understand what they invest in, before they send the check.

Overall, this is an entertaining, and interesting look at a side of Wall Street that most of us don't get to see.And hopefully, we never will.As a side note, the movie "Boiler room" is a good corollary to understanding how chop houses function - the movie does not include any references to the Mafia. ... Read more

Book Description

If you want to understand how modern media has changed the world, this is the one book you must read.

Rupert Murdoch is the man everyone talks about but no one knows. He’s everywhere, a larger-than-life media titan who has spent a lifetime building his company, News Corporation, from a small, struggling newspaper business in Australia into an international media powerhouse. Rupert Murdoch charts the real story behind the rise of News Corp and the Fox network: the secret debt crises and family deals, the huge cash flows through the offshore archipelagos, the New York party that saved his empire, the covert government inquiries, the tax investigations, and the bewildering duels with Bill Gates, Ted Turner, Gerry Levin, Ron Perelman, Newt Gingrich, cable king John Malone, Michael Eisner, Tony Blair, and televangelist-turned-diamond-miner Pat Robertson.

Murdoch’s story, however, is more than just how one man built a global business. Rupert Murdoch is both a biography of Murdoch the man (including the divorce from his wife, Anna; his remarriage to a woman young enough to be his granddaughter; and the struggle between his two sons for eventual control of the family holdings) and a “follow the money” investigation that reveals how he has managed to have such a huge impact on the communications revolution that promises to utterly transform life in the twenty-first century.

The investigation concentrates on Murdoch’s three great campaigns: in the 1980s, when his determination to launch an American television network overturned the media industries of three countries; in 1997, when Murdoch took on every broadcasting group in America; and the process of reinventing himself since then, culminating in his bid to win DirecTV from General Motors.

This is the saga of the man who has stalked, infuriated, cajoled, threatened, and spooked the media industry for three decades, whose titanic gambles have shaped and reshaped the media landscape. Win or lose, Murdoch is the man who has changed everything. And Neil Chenoweth is the right person to tell the story: In 1990 he wrote a magazine article that prompted a secret Australian government inquiry into Rupert Murdoch’s family companies, and he’s been on the Murdoch case since then. Chenoweth reveals what no person ever has about the man (and the company) who is probably the most significant media player of them all. ... Read more

Book Description

Remember that success requires half luck and half brains KemmonsWilson likes to say. It is one of his 20 Tips of Success the rules bywhich he made it big. In his autobiographyWilson illustrates those 20Tips through the various episodes that shaped his incredible lifestory. Wilson offered the public a brand name it could trust inroadside lodging as big green-and-yellow Holiday Inn signs lit upskylines from Texarkana to Tahiti from Hong Kong to Casablanca. Wilsongoes far beyond the epic of the most successful hotel chain in history.For the first time Wilson recounts his entire larger-than-liferags-to-riches story. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

I can not put this book down
Excellent Read! This book starts with 20 tips for success. Kemmons' sucess examplifies those tips. He is so hardworking, never afraid of making mistakes. As he said, everyone makes mistakes only a fool makes the same mistakes twice but he himself made same mistakes twice. Even mistake pays.
He did not become rich in one night as those in the internet bubble. He was already a millionaire before the Hiliday Inn. Even after he retired from Holiday Inn, he was still creating enterprises.
Makes me want to act on my ideas.

You too can do anything you desire!
Excellent read! I enjoy good business bios, and this ranks up there with the best of them. After you read this book you'll know what the word persistance means!

EXCELLENT autobiography and business tome to boot!
This book not only chronicles the life of Kemmons, but expands upon the ideology behind the business of Holiday Inn and other ventures. Not only an enjoyable read, but an EXCELLENT guide for an entrepreneur such as myself. Exceptional in EVERY respect! ... Read more

Book Description

Williams' controversial volumes, The Tragedy of American Diplomacy, Contours of American History, and other works have established him as the foremost interpreter of US foreign policy. Both Williams and others deeply influenced by him have recast not only diplomatic history but also the story of pioneer America's westward movement, and studies in the culture of imperialism.

At the end of the Cold War, when the US no longer faces any great enemy, the lessons of William Appleman Williams' life and scholarship have become more urgent than ever before. This study of his life and major works offers readers an opportunity to introduce, or re-introduce, themselves to a major figure of the last half-century. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Nuanced Intellectual Biography of an American Thinker
"The Tragedy of Empire" is one of those hidden gems of a book, perhaps predestined to obscurity by the very elements that make it such a remarkable read.

Buhle and Rice-Maximin were (and clearly fundamentally remain) students of William Appleman Williams, a radical historian whose ideas and arguments constituted, to subvert Woodrow Wilson's phrase, "history with a lightning bolt."WAW created a collection of works that read like Greek tragedy written across America's past, present, and future.It's difficult for me to ascertain exactly how Buhle and Rice-Maximin were able to so penetrate Williams, as he remained always a mercurial figure, but nonetheless they have completed a nuanced, philosophical expedition that plumbs so deeply into the enigma of Williams that it will likely scare off any potential intellectual biographers in the future.

The authors find the heart of Williams's "Weltanshauung," to use Williams's word of choice for something akin to but much more weighty than a worldview, in the American Midwest.A "prairie radical," as the authors put it in a delightful turn of phrase, Williams embodied the etymological meaning of the word "radical" (which means one who returns to the root or foundation of) as he found his "Weltanshauung" in his reflections of his boyhood in small-town Iowa and in the dynamic community of intellectuals he found in Madison, Wis.

Perhaps some of the authors' most thoughtful perceptions revolve around trying to understand the role of community in intellectual pursuit.Even as WAW carved his own inimitable figure, his thoughts were always in interplay with those of his mentors, colleagues, and students.Williams also approached ideas with a grave seriousness, finding inspiration in a vast library of works not superficially related to his chosen craft of history.In tying this all together, Buhle and Rice-Maximin have produced a sort of blueprint for young scholars--whether they be students of history or any discipline--looking to figure out how to comprehend and interpret that illusive catch-all of catch-alls, the human condition.

William Appleman Williams possessed a rare humanity that continues to challenge us to better ourselves in elemental ways.And he speaks to us as much now as in his own day, as the still-standing dilemma of empire lies at the core of his writing.He thought long and hard about the danger posed to democracy at home by "carrying civilization and liberty to the benighted masses of the world."He challenged us to turn inward, to find our own roots--to "radicalize," as it were."If everyone elsewhere does deny us the chance to realize ourselves by changing them," he wrote, "we nevertheless have a magnificent fall-back position: we can finally confront the question of what we are going to make of America."

Few thinkers challenge us to find and define ourselves--as individuals, as a nation (or empire), and, crucially, as a community--as Williams challenges us.And yet his name has drifted into the ether: I studied history at UW as an undergraduate without ever hearing his name (even as I now realize his legacy saturated my education).So this book is all the more valuable, as there is no better way to introduce Williams into our heads than by reading "The Tragedy of Empire," for few biographers find the core of their subject as Buhle and Rice-Maximin have.
... Read more

Book Description

In 1978, Paul Newman and A. E. Hotchner made a foray into local gourmet shops bearing bottles of their homemade salad dressing. Freewheeling, irreverent entrepreneurs, they conceived of their venture as a great way to poke fun at the mundane method of traditional marketing. Much to their surprise, their products spurred a tidal wave of enthusiasm in the country’s supermarkets. What had started as a lark quickly escalated into a full-fledged business, the first company to mass-market all-natural foods, Newman’s Own became a major player in the food business. The company’s profits were donated to medical research, education, the environment, children’s programs, and to the creation of the eight "Hole in the Wall Gang" camps for children with serious illnesses.

Newman and Hotchner recount the picaresque saga of their unexpected success in SHAMELESS EXPLOITATION IN PURSUIT OF THE COMMON GOOD. In alternating voices, playing off each other in classic “Odd Couple” style, they describe how they systematically disregarded the advice of experts and relied instead on instinct, imagination, and common sense. They write about how they hurdled obstacle after obstacle, share their hilarious misadventures, and reveal their off-beat solutions to conventional problems. Even their approach to charity is decidedly different: Every year, they give away all the company’s profits and start over again. The results of this amazing generosity is brought to life in heartwarming stories about the children at their camps.

From the rare glimpses into Newman’s private life to A. E. Hotchner’s wonderfully told tales, SHAMELESS EXPLOITATION IN PURSUIT OF THE COMMON GOOD is the perfect nonmanagement book, at once playful, informative, and inspirational.

Reviews (12)

A day to read and worth your time
'Shameless Exploitation' is actually two books in one - you get the tale of how the 'Newman's Own' started as a germ of an idea in Paul Newman's garage. Newman was legendary back then for commandeering the kitchen of restaurants he would frequent and whipping together his own salad dressings. He and co-founder Hotchner make light of their lack of business knowledge, but it's worth noting that much of their success is based on their innate sense of what is right, for example their unwillingness to compromise on the freshness of their product.

The latter third of the book details the duo's efforts in starting up the 'Hole in the Wall Gang' camps for sick children. The authors are passionate about this endeavour, as well they should be. It's outstanding work they're doing. Newman personally drives these projects, sometimes through the force and magnetism of his personality.

In fact, that's the thing that stands out in the book - this is no 'slap the celebrity name on the bottle' exercise. These two gentlemen are intimately involved in all aspects of the business. There's a comparison in the book to other celebrity food bits good bad - Frank Sinatra's tomato sauce venture is one example. It ran aground in less then two years, an unmitigated disaster. The difference? Sinatra simply loaned out his name and looked to scoop up the profits. By contrast, Newman and Hotchner are in this thing heart and soul. Plus, the product is superlative. That's the only way to get repeat buyers.

As of the book's printing, Newman's Own has donated over $137 million to charity. When they write Paul Newman's epitaph, that first paragraph is going to be a real stemwinder to capture the essence of the man.

Humorous Account of New Dimensions for Philanthropy
Shameless Exploitation in Pursuit of the Common Good details the almost accidental development of the Newman's Own line of foods, its eventual success, and how the founders, Paul Newman and A.E. Hotchner, developed a new kind of charity to allow seriously ill children to attend summer camp. The book is filled with humor, good-hearted fun and a will to do good. Most people will find the overall effect to be heart-warming . . . except for the tendency to self-congratulation.

The book's is one part self-deprecating personal narrative, one part "advanced moving and shaking", one part "legend-making" tales, one part "I told you so" to the corporate "experts", one part funny stories from customers and one part business history mixed with two parts serious stories about young peoples' illnesses, three parts lessons about establishing a new charity, with a dash of recipes and cartoons for final humor. The mixture, while quite unusual, has a zestful freshness that leaves a taste for more.

If you are like me, you've never quite understood how Newman's Own came into existence and became a big success. I've tasted some of the products and find them to be of good quality. But there must be something more than that to it.

I was even more surprised to read in past news articles that all profits are distributed to charity annually. "Where in the world did the company get the working capital to stay in business?" was the question on my mind.

I also wondered how anyone would decide which charities to support and which to shun.

Shameless Exploitation in Pursuit of the Common Good answered all those questions and more for me.

I was deeply moved by the tale of starting up and running the Hole in the Wall camps for seriously ill youngsters, and intend to tell others about this good work.

What intrigued me most about the book was that it showed that doing the right thing could be amazingly commonsensical. The products are good because Paul Newman would not be satisfied until he thought they were. The packaging copy and promotional activities are zany, and reflect the good humor of the authors . . . not some copywriter. Profits and cash flow are good because the authors paid attention to setting up their business model so the company would need very little capital. Making the profits go to charity allowed the authors to have fun with the business in a way they could not have done if they had been trying to line their own pockets. The psychic and emotional satisfaction of establishing the camps and helping other charities are probably worth much more than any money can buy.

I hope that other talented people, whether they are prominent or not, will consider how they could follow some parts of what the authors did with their business or their charity. I thank them both for sharing the story in this entertaining book.

The Paul Newman Story
This is the story of Paul Newman, aka the hustler, the sting, butch cassidy, cool hand luke and superman (almost). He is an Oscar winning actor, car racing champion, philanthropist (215 million dollars and still counting), successful businessman and an alien (I heard this recently through a psst..psst network). Read the book. It will expand your horizons. Anything is possible.

Highly Recommended
Shameless Exploitation in Pursuit of the Common Good is an easy book to find fault with. That said, it's also one of the most enjoyable, heartwarming and inspiring books I've read in a while. What these two did is beyond impressive. In a world filled with so many self-serving scoundrels and so much depressing news it's really a pleasure to see what a couple of pals out to have a little fun managed to accomplish. Hooray for them!

Delightful and entertaining
What a delightful book, telling all about the inception of the "Newman's Own" brand of foods, which started as a joke and became more successful than its founders ever imagined! The cover says that it is a lesson in business mis-management -- or something to that effect --and that is such a good way to put it.

They did everything wrong: concocting the recipes; marketing the products; having a makeshift office (furnished with Newman's pool furniture, including an umbrella); finding people to make and distribute the products. It makes for a great tale, and the best part is that they have made TONS of money from it and charities have been the sole beneficiaries of their largesse. From $1 million the first year to $140 million in a recent year, the profits keep getting spent on doing good for others.

Newman's pickiness about his products have made them very desirable and have helped attracted followers who are very loyal to the name.

I knew about the charities funded by the company, but not much about the "Hole in the Wall Gang" camps that now are in operation all over the U.S. and beyond. What a wonderful gift Newman and Hotchner have given to these sick children.

This is an easy-reading book that entertains and makes one grateful that people like this are around. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Love him or hate him, no matter how you feel about Bill Gates, you've got to respect him. As the richest man in the world and leader of the most successful company of our day, Gates has achieved a level of success that even the Almighty might be jealous of. In Bill Gates Speaks, Janet Lowe captures much of the Gates legend by weaving together stories and quotes attributed to Gates in speeches, newspapers, and interviews in a short and easy-to-read volume. The book covers everything from Gates's time at Harvard to the construction of his "home" on the shores of Lake Washington near Seattle. The result is a well-rounded look at the man who has helped to shape our present more than any other individual alive today. --Harry C. Edwards ... Read more

Reviews (17)

No Meat To This BooK!
I like to be told a story. Although the book starts with a good story on how Bill Gates got started, it quickly digresses. This book is an accumulation of facts and boring accounts about Bill Gates and Microsoft. It never gets into the meat of things. I would have liked to have read more about the litigations against Microsoft. Maybe some more about Nescape's lawsuit. It mentions very little about the Antitrust lawsuit that I was looking forward to learning about. Instead we get quotes from Bill Gates that do not enhance the book, but instead interrupt it. The author references websites about Microsoft's and the government's claims about the lawsuit. It's like the author got lazy. Don't waste your money on this book. A very big dissapointment!

I WANT TO BE BILL GATES
I read this book in three hours.It captured my imagination and I came to the conclusion that I want to be Bill Gates. This book gave me motivation in life. I am sure it will do the same for you.

Nothing "Original" But Still A Good Book for Young Teens
This is one of a series of books that covers highly successful, highly visible individuals and how they got that way. These books are targeted at school age teens to inspire them to follow their paths for success. The author seems to cover the life stories of Bill Gates and adds quotes where appropriate to boost the storyline. There are occasional segments on subjects related to Gates as shown in the Amazon's "Look in" review. It's an easy read with only 230 pages. If you read any of the other books such as "Gates" or "Hard Drive" you'll get the feeling of reading this book before. Since the work isn't original and seems to heavily reference other books I give it 3 stars. The only question I have is whether the author actual sat down with Bill Gates and talked to him or did she really just go to the library, the Internet, etc. to get info on the book. As a first book on Bill Gates life, it's still a good read for young adults looking to be inspired.

It's just a sumary of other books
It's an easy to read story of Gates, but there's nothing new here. In fact, the whole book is made up of quotes from other books and articles. You can't really tell if they are taken out of context or not. There's just not much original stuff here.

Not what I thought
While this book was well written, I was dissapointed with what I learned about Bill Gates. There was not enough detail and the book was pieced together from a number of different quotes, which is ok for many biographies but the extent of the number of quotes compared to the varied sources did not complete the picture.

The books cover claimed 'Insight From The Worlds Greatest Entrepreneur' but I did not feel an insight.

Despite the above, if you like Bill Gates and want to learn a little more about him, I recommend this book. There are some fun stories and some things to be learned about the man. It is put together nicely, it makes a high claim but does not completely deliver on this claim. ... Read more

Book Description

"O'Boyle has researched and written a monumental book that should be mandatory reading for all CEOs and anyone concerned with business ethics." --The Philadelphia Inquirer

"Superb . . . a spirited study of General Electric, and of its sometimes brilliant, sometimes bungling, but