Iacocca: An Autobiography
by Lee Iacocca
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"Vintage Iacocca . . . He is fast-talking, blunt, boastful, and unabashedly patriotic. Lee Iacocca is also a genuine folk hero. . . . His career is breathtaking."--Business Week 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 show more 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. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
3.9 Greatly enjoyed the sections on Iacocca v Ford and Chrysler’s turnaround. Interesting to read his points of view on seat belts, air bags and the financial future of America 40 years after he authored this.
Very old business classic on a boss at Auto Corridors of America! Experimented reading it twice. 1st when I hadn't started working and then recently after 15 years of work. When you are at helm in business and you still have 'Henry Fords' controlling you, your struggle intensifies! Your patience is tested severely; you may also end up paying exorbitant price of losing your dear ones. That's how a vicious cycle of stressful profession is!! It's fascinating to learn different perspectives built during readings 17 years apart. All in all it's a timeless case of business.
This is an excellent and insightful autobiography by Lee Iacocca, the man who was a president at Ford Motor Company and, later, at Chrysler Motors. The book describes the workings of the auto industry, covering its advantages and disadvantages. It details the politics and external influences that affect the industry.
In addition, Lee Iacocca is a charismatic, business-savvy leader who cuts through the office nonsense and prioritises his family above all else. His lessons and decisions that helped Ford and Chrysler to flourish under his leadership provide a foundation... (if you like to read my full review please visit my blog https://leadersarereaders.blog/2018/09/30/iacocca-an-autobiography)
In addition, Lee Iacocca is a charismatic, business-savvy leader who cuts through the office nonsense and prioritises his family above all else. His lessons and decisions that helped Ford and Chrysler to flourish under his leadership provide a foundation... (if you like to read my full review please visit my blog https://leadersarereaders.blog/2018/09/30/iacocca-an-autobiography)
Nice change of style. Having a CEO telling his story of success and hard times is so nice to see. Lee was blunt and realistic in his approach. This is what can happen to business when you have a visionary at the helm. Very enjoyable... Thanks Lee!
Compelling and sharp, but I'm just not such a fan of the genre
I picked THIS one up at the thrift store for .39 specifically so I could tear off the cover and fold all the pages in half for book art.
I can't help reading a little bit while I do that; which is why I refuse to work with any Twilight books.
Anyway, my very short review from a person who didn't even skim through the book: President Reagan, President Reagan, President Reagan, President Reagan, President Reagan, President Reagan, President Reagan................
Guy sure did love him some President Ronald Reagan. Good thing I knew I was not reading any sort of objectionable fan fiction.
My project turned out very nicely, BTW.
I can't help reading a little bit while I do that; which is why I refuse to work with any Twilight books.
Anyway, my very short review from a person who didn't even skim through the book: President Reagan, President Reagan, President Reagan, President Reagan, President Reagan, President Reagan, President Reagan................
Guy sure did love him some President Ronald Reagan. Good thing I knew I was not reading any sort of objectionable fan fiction.
My project turned out very nicely, BTW.
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Author Information
Lee Iacocca was born Lido Anthony Iacocca in 1924 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. he attended Lehigh University as well as Princeton, receiving degrees in industrial engineering and mechanical engineering. In 1946, Iacocca got a job working for Ford Motor Company as an engineering trainee. He switched to sales and in 1953, had worked his way up to show more assistant sales manager of the Philadelphia district. Three years later he was named sales manager in Washington D. C., and by 1960 he had succeeded Robert S. McNamara as Vice President and General Manager. In 1964, Iacocca developed the Ford Mustang, which was wildly popular, and later introduced the Mercury Cougar and the Lincoln Mark III. Finally in 1970, Iacocca reached the top and was crowned President of Ford. Eight years later he was fired due to the tense relationship between him and Henry Ford II, and was quickly snatched up as President and Chief Executive Officer at Chrysler Corporation. Chrysler was a failing industry at this point, much in debt, but Iacocca managed to turn the company around, cutting costs, getting federal assistance, introducing new cars that sold amazingly well, such as the K-car, and repaying all of the loans in five years. In 1984, Chrysler introduced Iacocca's Chrysler Minivan, which became one of the best selling vehicles in North America. Iacocca retired in 1992 but remained the head of Chrysler's executive committee. He has written two best selling books, "Iacocca: An Autobiography" in 1984, and "Talking Straight" in 1988. Lee Iacocca passed away on July 2, 2019 at the age of 94. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- Iacocca, La "Success Story" d'un géant de l'industrie automobile américaine
- Original title
- Iacocca. an Autobiography
- Original publication date
- 1984
- People/Characters
- Lee Iacocca
- Original language*
- Anglais (Etats-Unis) (Etats-Unis)
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
- Genres
- Biography & Memoir, Business, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 338.762920924 — Society, Government, and Culture Economics Production Business Enterprises By Industry Engineering Other Branches of Engineering Automobile Manufacture Biography And History Biography
- LCC
- HD9710 .U52 .I25 — Social sciences Industries. Land use. Labor Industries. Land use. Labor Special industries and trades Mechanical industries
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 1,590
- Popularity
- 14,216
- Reviews
- 9
- Rating
- (3.55)
- Languages
- 17 — Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Malay, Norwegian (Bokmål), Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 52
- ASINs
- 17