Alan Deutschman

A portrayal of a determined, successful entrepreneur apparently as insecure and asshole-ish as he is genius. This focuses on his resurgence from found NeXT, the failed computer platform development company that specialized in computers for higher-education and business markets, to a fire sale purchase of the computer graphics division of Lucasfilm, which was spun off independently as Pixar. Pixar produced the first computer-animated feature film, Toy Story (1995), and became a leading show more animation studio, producing dozens of commercially successful and critically acclaimed films. At the same time, and while stepping over key employees and his baby mama, he also triumphantly returned to Apple. show less

This is a fascinating examination of Napa and Sonoma valleys. Both seem inundated with healthy interlopers and struggling to retain (maybe Sonoma more) or shed (maybe Napa) a rural, bohemian bon vivant approach to life.

The author, through a wealthy friend, has an insight into the rarefied air of a multimillion dollar Napa view while he gets down to earth with the activist trying to keep Sonoma free to roaming chickens.

Behind all the looms a specter of industry-destroying pestilence like a show more grim reaper over this vulnerable monoculture. show less

What makes people change? This is the central premise of this short, interesting book by author Alan Deutschman. More specifically, why don't people change when even their own pending mortality is at stake? Why aren't facts and fear about our physical health, for example, enough to motivate us to change?

Deutschman walks us through three major case studies that reinforce the framework his framework of three Keys of change: 1. finding a new relationship / mentor you can relate to who can show more inspire you to do something different, 2. Repeating new actions and habits with the help of this person, and 3. shifting one's thinking into a new paradigm through the influence of 1 and 2. This sounds simplistic, but all good frameworks are simple, memorable, and actionable.

The book examines an ex-con rehab center in San Francisco called Delancey Street, led by a woman named S, the GM plant in California that Honda purchased and led to unprecedented excellence in employee performance, and a doctor who found a way to persuade heart patients to improve their chances of survival by changing the way they live. show less

I would not recommend this book. That said I enjoyed the many examples he used to hammer home his few points on leadership. Unfortunately, the leadership traits were obvious and he treated the examples as if they completely proved his points when they did not.