Rating: 
Summary: A real life Horatio Alger story
Review: After a distinguished business career Alex Spanos shares his rags to riches story in his autobiographical Sharing the Wealth. A real life Horatio Alger story, at times it seems that the tale he tells is too good to be true.Spanos's story begins in the depression era where he spent his youth working in his father's bakery. After coming home from WWII he went back to work for his father earning a meager but steady paycheck. He could have settled, but this was not enough for Alex Spanos. With little money in his pocket and a child and a pregnant wife he left his steady job in search of a better life. He found this better life in short order. Starting out with the humble bologna sandwich, Spanos built a successful catering business and, for tax reasons, began to invest in real estate. Soon, this tax benefit became his main line of business. He then grew this business from regional to nationwide and along the way earned himself a fortune. Fame only came after purchasing the San Diego Chargers. A subtle subtext runs throughout this tale. Spanos is not telling his story to brag nor is he doing so to win a Pulitzer Prize. His goal, as stated in the book's subtitle, is to share the wealth. Throughout the story he emphasizes the assets that he employed to get the job done. Reading between the lines, the message of the book is clear; success in either business or life requires strength in character. Ultimately, the final 14 pages make this subtext explicit and these pages alone are worth the price of the book. The end result is a book that serves as an inspiration to the next generation of Horatio Algers and hopefully stirs the Horatio Alger inside all of us.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiration To Perspiration
Review: Alex inspires us to work for what we want in life. I've never read a better example of the importance of perspiration over inspiration and formal education. Some may call his detailed accounts egotistical, I call it justifiable pride of a man who has lived an incredible life. Who wouldn't be proud of working his way from a $40 per week job to a magnate? Finally, his devotion to family is refreshing. He shows us that it is not only possible, but maybe integral, to have a family life and to become a success. It is so refreshing to see someone in his position extolling the virtues of a close family. Way to go Alex. Now I want to go get mine.
Rating: 
Summary: Kudos to Alex
Review: Alex is an inspiration & should be applauded for his tremendous work ethic & his willingness to step out and take a chance. In reading this book, I was a bit surprised at his lack of humility. He spoke at great length about his hob nobing with Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, Telly Salas, Bill Cosby and others. His philanthropy is certainly commendable, and he certainly spares us few details. Alex gave a jet to Bob Hope, and funded a reconstruction project for the Temple of Zeus. You will be reminded repeatedly that he became "one of the nation's leading builders of apartment communities." Don't get me wrong. This book will inspire and challenge others to take a chance as Alex did. It would have been better in my option if he had been a bit less egotistical. But then again, maybe that's a big part of the reason for his success.
Rating: 
Summary: Truly and Inspiration
Review: From poor baker to multi-millionaire--and all on his own merit--Alex Spanos lays out the blueprint for rags-to-riches success. He was a man who learned to seek out and seize the opportunities to make truly great things happen. Far from a 300 page brag-fest, Spanos comes off as humbled by his successes, and more than willing to share the lessons learned from his failures.
I bought this book after hearing Mr. Spanos speak on the radio because he was so full of life and contageous energy. I decided I absolutely had to read about his life and find out what made this guy tick. I'm glad I did. His enthusiasm for business and life in general comes through on every page. This is a must-read for anyone who aspires to greatness but still feels intimidated by their present circumstanes.
Rating:
Summary: Taking a chance can make a difference!
Review: I never knew who Alex Spanos was until I read the jacket cover of his book and then I knew I had to read it. Mr.Spanos's writing style is very easy going, unfortunately the breadth of his subject, his life, could actually be dissected and written into multiple books. The primary lesson that I took away from this book was "Take a chance." It is just that simple. From that lesson I became more confident in my own business. Mr.Spanos broke away from his domineering father and then started his first business on gut instinct, dumb luck, and by taking a chance. When you are down and out all you have is time and nothing to lose. That is the situation for many entrepreneurs, but many of them let imagined fears get in the way of them taking a chance, myself included. If you do nothing else, buy this book simply to see where taking a chance can possibly take you. At the end of the day you might own a sports team and perform with your favorite star on stage as well. You never know. Just take a chance.
Rating:
Summary: A truly inspiring story...
Review: If you ever feel that you life or career are not where you want them to be, then pick up a copy of "Sharing the Wealth" by Alex Spanos for inspiration! As the charismatic billionaire owner of the San Diego Chargers, Alex's life story reads like a how-to book for calculated risk and the pursuing of one's dreams. Alex's real story starts when he's 27-years-old. He's working as a baker for his father, making $40 a week, working 15 hours a day, and his wife is about to deliver their second child. He doesn't have the money to pay the hospital bills, so he asks his father for a raise. The answer is no. Without looking back, Alex Spanos quits his job with no prospects and no idea of how he's going to support his family. Within a week, he's got a great idea for a business - selling sandwiches to immigrant workers in the community's surrounding fields. He soon finds that overcoming his fear and making that initial step to quit his dead-end job was the hardest part of his journey. Six months later, his business is making $500,000 a year, and Alex is well on his way to financial freedom. In the coming decades, he would become the preeminent builder of apartments in America, the owner of a NFL franchise, and live a life most people only dare to dream. Along the way, Alex reveals many of his secrets to success: a wife that wholeheartedly supports him, the principle that cash is king, and the self-confidence that whatever has to be done, he'll do. Through every page, the infectious enthusiasm of Alex Spanos springs to life, uplifting those around him and those who celebrate his success and happiness. With this book, he passes on his life lessons for the benefit of posterity and creates a personal bond with his reader - leaving us wishing and hoping that someday soon the Chargers will win the Super Bowl...! Britt Gillette
Author of "Conquest of Paradise: An End-Times Nano-Thriller"
Rating:
Summary: A truly inspiring story...
Review: If you ever feel that you life or career are not where you want them to be, then pick up a copy of "Sharing the Wealth" by Alex Spanos for inspiration! As the charismatic billionaire owner of the San Diego Chargers, Alex's life story reads like a how-to book for calculated risk and the pursuing of one's dreams. Alex's real story starts when he's 27-years-old. He's working as a baker for his father, making $40 a week, working 15 hours a day, and his wife is about to deliver their second child. He doesn't have the money to pay the hospital bills, so he asks his father for a raise. The answer is no. Without looking back, Alex Spanos quits his job with no prospects and no idea of how he's going to support his family. Within a week, he's got a great idea for a business - selling sandwiches to immigrant workers in the community's surrounding fields. He soon finds that overcoming his fear and making that initial step to quit his dead-end job was the hardest part of his journey. Six months later, his business is making $500,000 a year, and Alex is well on his way to financial freedom. In the coming decades, he would become the preeminent builder of apartments in America, the owner of a NFL franchise, and live a life most people only dare to dream. Along the way, Alex reveals many of his secrets to success: a wife that wholeheartedly supports him, the principle that cash is king, and the self-confidence that whatever has to be done, he'll do. Through every page, the infectious enthusiasm of Alex Spanos springs to life, uplifting those around him and those who celebrate his success and happiness. With this book, he passes on his life lessons for the benefit of posterity and creates a personal bond with his reader - leaving us wishing and hoping that someday soon the Chargers will win the Super Bowl...! Britt Gillette
...
Rating:
Summary: Sharing the Wealth: My Story
Review: In my opinion, Sharing The Wealth: My Story by Alex Spanos is a must read, a gift to people across-the-board, no matter their station in life. I feel this book can be an inspiration to those just starting out in life, as well as a wake-up call to those millions of us who need to re-evaluate our lives, our values and our goals. A real Horatio Alger character, Alex possessed a spirit that could not be shot down by the lack of money, connections, education, or background to realize success beyond his wildest dreams. His father and mother had the same kind of spirit when they chose to leave their native Greece and to raise their family in America. His love of family, his devotion to his beautiful and soul-sustaining wife, Faye, his heritage, and his business adventures never wavered in the face of adversity. Very early on, Alex mustered up the courage to step outside the box by walking out the basement door of his father's bakery, with no job, no money and a wife with child. What Alex did have was faith, and an unshakable confidence in self, and right or wrong, he trusted his own decisions. Alex took full responsibility for his actions, taking risks and creating his own opportunities and never looked back.
Rating:
Summary: Believe in yourself
Review: In one word - inspirational. Alex Spanos, an immigrant's son, lives the American dream. The 2004 Forbes 400 places Spanos at number 260 with an estimated net worth of $1,100,000,000. This book, written a few years ago, is the story of Spanos' life through August 2001.
When Spanos describes his childhood and youth under his parents' roof, he is very respectful of his parents, but he does not pull any punches when describing his unsuccessful efforts to gain the respect of his father - both as a young man and later in life. In fact, Spanos is not shy about sharing any of his efforts that do not achieve the result he initially intended. He strives to make his "failures" in life learning experiences and thus not really failures.
Spanos shares the story of his life, from his father's bakery to the owner's suite of the San Diego Chargers. Throughout the book Spanos sprinkles his understanding as to why he has been financially successful. Generously, the last chapter of the book is devoted to what Spanos believes are the fundamentals of success. It doesn't get any easier.
Five stars and a bag of chips.
Rating: 
Summary: "Sharing the Wealth"---I don't think so.
Review: The title "Sharing the Wealth" is at best a parody and at worst a misguided, self-aggrandizing description of a truly mean-spirited, evil man. The money that is now being `shared' is the hard earned cash of the citizens of San Diego. Paid-off, corrupt politicians gave Spanos, the owner of the San Diego Chargers, a contract that uses the citizens' tax money to pay him for any seats that are not sold for Chargers' games. For many years he has fielded weak, non-competitive teams with a low salary base because there was no incentive to spend money for an improved team. He was guaranteed that any seats that were not sold would be purchased at face value with taxpayers' money. Many say he has been `raping' the city and its citizens. The prices for many `club' level seats are $195 each. A ridiculous charge to watch, what has been for several years, a very substandard team. He can charge that because the seats that are not sold are purchased with taxpayer's money. Every year multiple millions are taken away from the city treasury that could be used to help the poor, feed the hungry, make desperately needed repairs, build new schools and libraries, etc., and sent to Spanos. "Sharing the Wealth"? Please---if the circumstance weren't so painful the audacity of the title would be hilarious. He is now trying to get the city to build him a new stadium and threatening to move the franchise to a different city is he does not get what he wants. Evil!
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