Work in Progress

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Summary: An amazing inside view of a uniquely American business.
Review: From the first chapter, the reader is drawn into the background of one of this country's most unique business leaders; Michael Eisner. This book only gets better. It charts the real life reinvention of The Walt Disney Co., during a time when it had become almost mechanistic in its approach to animation, live action movies, and merchandising, after the death of its originator, Walt Disney. Eisner and company, prod, poke, and blast Disney from a successful family entertainment company, to the undisputed leader in commercial entertainment on every level from sports, to cruise lines, to the internet. Anyone who thinks they know something about wedding the creative process to making a profit, will learn a thing or ten, from reading this book.

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Summary: This is a great read!!!!
Review: I bought this book on special - ... Can't complain!!

But I must tell you it was a brilliant book and one that you will read right through and look forward everytime you pick it up. It was brilliantly written and about things that you know of. Movies you've seen or heard about. So it involves you in all his business ventures. In between all the stories is great advise and great ideas which you can relate to your own business.
Overall just really enjoyable and well worth looking at.

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Summary: A very good book indeed.
Review: I got this book during my last visit at Disney and I can say I was not disapointed. The book starts with Mr. Eisner's visit to the hospital and then goes all the way back to his summer school years. You might ask, so why is it interesting at all?

Well, the writting is very engaging and all sorts of names start to pop up like rabbits in a very natural way; like if you were speaking of your friends and collegues. The only thing is that your list of partners might not include George Lucas, Robert Redford, Clint Eastwood, among the several celebrities mentioned.

Eisner, however, details his hits and misses with the apparent upmost sincerity. Like the first time he tried to close a deal and how he got mad because the other party tried to take advantange of the situation at the last minute...

I come from a business background and I have experienced many of the situations that Eisner covers in his book. It is very nice to read his point of view on many topics and affect all business managers every day.

I think his dealing with Jeffrey Katzenberg was debatable and each party tried to get the most water for their own well and forgot to see what was best for Disney. At the end I think they all lost...

The book is very good indeed. Don't think is it another way to spend your money on a Disney product because if it is, you will be getting the best part of the bargain.

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Summary: An intriguing look at the man and the mouse
Review: I was drawn to this book after watching Eisner plug it on the Today show and, hoping for the best, bought it that very night. It was no mistake -- this was one of the most enjoyable non-fiction books I have read in ages. I literally could not put it down and finished it in two and a half days. Eisner does a wonderful job of telling Disney's history (as well as snippets of the history of Paramount and ABC), putting a human face on what in other similar tomes has resulted in a stream of dry business facts. (Granted, I am a corporate attorney, so I was also intrigued by the business details -- it may well be that others mind find it somewhat dry). In any event, as a reader you are treated for what is, or at least seems to be, a candid look behind the scenes of an American pop culture icon (Disney, not Eisner, although after finishing the book I want nothing more than to land a job working directly for the man.) It was refreshing to see that someone as successful as Eisner in corporate Americal also has a human side.

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Summary: Great book to read for a Disney fan.
Review: If you like Disney this is a must read. Even if your just like media in general and want to learn about one of the worlds most successful corporations. This book does drag a little, but all in all a very interesting book to read, and see what Michael Eisner went through to get the company to where it is today. I really enjoyed the parts in which some of Disney's ideas and plan didnt work quite as planned. Even Disney had some bad ideas, and some failed ideas but they learned and adjusted, and look where they are now.

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Summary: My whole way of thinking changed while reading this book.
Review: This book is truly one of the best books I have read in a while. I bought copies for all of my friends and realatives. I learned much about management and people in general. You may not like Eisner personally (I do) but you cannot argue with the success of the company. This book is a MUST read for anyone who even casually likes the Disney corporation. I came to understand many things about Disney that I did not know.

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Summary: Give Mr. Eisner his due
Review: Yes, Michael Eisner may be arrogant, overpaid and unwilling to groom a successor. I thought all this before reading this book. I do, however, have a newfound respect for Mr. Eisner after reading about his background, insights, career progress and performance at Disney. I was also pleasantly surprised to read about his discussion of some of Disney's failures. This book was a great read and, as Amazon pointed out, a unique look from the inside of a media and entertainment powerhouse.