Book Synopsis
He’s an American legend, a straight-shooting businessman who brought Chrysler back from the brink and in the process became a media celebrity, newsmaker, and a man many had urged to run for president.
The son of Italian immigrants, Lee Iacocca rose spectacularly through the ranks of Ford Motor Company to become its president, only to be toppled eight years later in a power play that should have shattered him. But Lee Iacocca didn’t get mad, he got even. He led a battle for Chrysler’s survival that made his name a symbol of integrity, know-how, and guts for millions of Americans.
In his classic hard-hitting style, he tells us how he changed the automobile industry in the 1960s by creating the phenomenal Mustang. He goes behind the scenes for a look at Henry Ford’s reign of intimidation and manipulation. He recounts the miraculous rebirth of Chrysler from near bankruptcy to repayment of its $1.2 billion government loan so early that Washington didn’t know how to cash the check.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Author: Lee Iacocca
Year: 1986
Publisher: Bantam
ISBN: 0553251473
REVIEW
I recently finished reading Iacocca: An Autobiography – I had earlier heard about the book (and Iacocca for that matter), but even then I didn't really know who Iacocca was. Infact, I didn't even know the book had to do with the automobile industry!
I really enjoyed reading the book though. Iacocca doesn't use fancy words, but he's straight forward and earnest. And he manages to be funny and satirical in some places.
For those who don't know about Iacocca, here's an extremely brief history: he worked at Ford for almost 30 years, the last 8 of which he was President of Ford. Then one fine day, Henry Ford Jr. fired Iacocca. Soon after, Iacocca joined Chrysler, the third of the big 3 auto makers in the US (the other company being GM, which Iacocca often likens to a country unto itself). At that time, Chrysler wasn't really doing so well. In the years that followed, the country witnessed one of the greatest economic dramas in history as Chrysler struggled to get back on its feet. This book is Iacocca's story as he moves from Ford to Chryslter, his triumphs and tribulations as he leads a sick company from pits to profit.
For me the book was interesting in multiple dimensions. First of all, I didn't really know much about the Chrysler saga until I read the book, so it was just good from a general knowledge perspective. Secondly, there's something humbling in the way Iacocca tells his story. I mean here's this guy who was basically the top man at two of the biggest auto makers in the US for long periods of time. He was even rumored to be contesting for Presidency at one point! But the way he talks about his experiences and his pain and his struggles and his anger (he makes no effort to hide the fact that he hated Henry Ford Jr. for what he did for him), it comes across as a very honest and down-to-earth effort and I really appreciate that.
Of course there are always two sides to a story, and perhaps there's Henry Ford's side to this story as well. But I think the book remains a good read nonetheless.
http://www.floatingsun.net
A few concepts and quotes stayed with me from this book:
"Every Sunday Lee would make a list of what it is he wanted to accomplish in the upcoming week"
"I began my life as the son of immigrants and I worked my way up to the president of the Ford Motor Company. When I finally got there, I was on top of the world. But then fate said to me: "Wait. We're not finished with you. Now your going to find out what it feels like to get kicked off Mt. Everest! ""
"As you go through life, there are thousands of little forks in the road, and there are a few really big forks-those moments of reckoning, moments of truth. This was mine as I wondered what to do."
"There are times in everyone's life when something constructive is born out of adversity. There are times when things seem so bad that you've got to grab your fate by the shoulders and shake it."
""Don't get mad," Mary reminded me. "Get Even" In times of great stress and adversity, it's always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive"
His father would tell him, "You've got to accept a little sorrow in life. You'll never know what happiness is unless you have something to compare it to."
"The most important thing I learned in school was how to communicate. Miss Raber, our ninth grade teacher...would quiz us on the Word Power Game from Readers Digest. Without any advance warning she'd rip it out the magazine and make us take the vocabulary test. It became a powerful habit with me-to this day I still look for the list of words in every issue of the Digest"
"Setbacks are a natural part of life, and you've got to be careful of how you respond with them."
The book talks about how Lee rose through the ranks at Ford as well as his beliefs and strategies that he has picked up through the years. If you want to learn and grow, read about leaders, and people that have overcome adversities.
By Kevin Kingston, author of, "A 20,000% Gain in Real Estate"
http://www.amazon.com
He’s an American legend, a straight-shooting businessman who brought Chrysler back from the brink and in the process became a media celebrity, newsmaker, and a man many had urged to run for president.
The son of Italian immigrants, Lee Iacocca rose spectacularly through the ranks of Ford Motor Company to become its president, only to be toppled eight years later in a power play that should have shattered him. But Lee Iacocca didn’t get mad, he got even. He led a battle for Chrysler’s survival that made his name a symbol of integrity, know-how, and guts for millions of Americans.
In his classic hard-hitting style, he tells us how he changed the automobile industry in the 1960s by creating the phenomenal Mustang. He goes behind the scenes for a look at Henry Ford’s reign of intimidation and manipulation. He recounts the miraculous rebirth of Chrysler from near bankruptcy to repayment of its $1.2 billion government loan so early that Washington didn’t know how to cash the check.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Author: Lee Iacocca
Year: 1986
Publisher: Bantam
ISBN: 0553251473
REVIEW
I recently finished reading Iacocca: An Autobiography – I had earlier heard about the book (and Iacocca for that matter), but even then I didn't really know who Iacocca was. Infact, I didn't even know the book had to do with the automobile industry!
I really enjoyed reading the book though. Iacocca doesn't use fancy words, but he's straight forward and earnest. And he manages to be funny and satirical in some places.
For those who don't know about Iacocca, here's an extremely brief history: he worked at Ford for almost 30 years, the last 8 of which he was President of Ford. Then one fine day, Henry Ford Jr. fired Iacocca. Soon after, Iacocca joined Chrysler, the third of the big 3 auto makers in the US (the other company being GM, which Iacocca often likens to a country unto itself). At that time, Chrysler wasn't really doing so well. In the years that followed, the country witnessed one of the greatest economic dramas in history as Chrysler struggled to get back on its feet. This book is Iacocca's story as he moves from Ford to Chryslter, his triumphs and tribulations as he leads a sick company from pits to profit.
For me the book was interesting in multiple dimensions. First of all, I didn't really know much about the Chrysler saga until I read the book, so it was just good from a general knowledge perspective. Secondly, there's something humbling in the way Iacocca tells his story. I mean here's this guy who was basically the top man at two of the biggest auto makers in the US for long periods of time. He was even rumored to be contesting for Presidency at one point! But the way he talks about his experiences and his pain and his struggles and his anger (he makes no effort to hide the fact that he hated Henry Ford Jr. for what he did for him), it comes across as a very honest and down-to-earth effort and I really appreciate that.
Of course there are always two sides to a story, and perhaps there's Henry Ford's side to this story as well. But I think the book remains a good read nonetheless.
http://www.floatingsun.net
A few concepts and quotes stayed with me from this book:
"Every Sunday Lee would make a list of what it is he wanted to accomplish in the upcoming week"
"I began my life as the son of immigrants and I worked my way up to the president of the Ford Motor Company. When I finally got there, I was on top of the world. But then fate said to me: "Wait. We're not finished with you. Now your going to find out what it feels like to get kicked off Mt. Everest! ""
"As you go through life, there are thousands of little forks in the road, and there are a few really big forks-those moments of reckoning, moments of truth. This was mine as I wondered what to do."
"There are times in everyone's life when something constructive is born out of adversity. There are times when things seem so bad that you've got to grab your fate by the shoulders and shake it."
""Don't get mad," Mary reminded me. "Get Even" In times of great stress and adversity, it's always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive"
His father would tell him, "You've got to accept a little sorrow in life. You'll never know what happiness is unless you have something to compare it to."
"The most important thing I learned in school was how to communicate. Miss Raber, our ninth grade teacher...would quiz us on the Word Power Game from Readers Digest. Without any advance warning she'd rip it out the magazine and make us take the vocabulary test. It became a powerful habit with me-to this day I still look for the list of words in every issue of the Digest"
"Setbacks are a natural part of life, and you've got to be careful of how you respond with them."
The book talks about how Lee rose through the ranks at Ford as well as his beliefs and strategies that he has picked up through the years. If you want to learn and grow, read about leaders, and people that have overcome adversities.
By Kevin Kingston, author of, "A 20,000% Gain in Real Estate"
http://www.amazon.com
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