Work in Progress

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Summary: Mike Eisner is Mickey Mouse
Review: Can you think of any other human being who is so identified with a Mouse? This is an enjoyable, educational read on Disney and what it has meant to America.

Eisner has had an interesting life even prior to Disney and this book covers his life well. I encourage you to read this book if you want to learn more about recent entertainment history, Hollywood, or just a great business study. Yes, it may be one-sided, but it's still a very good read.

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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: Started Out Good- then I found Mr. Eisners's true character
Review: I had bought this book, and for a time I was enjoying it. Then I came across another book I bought, "Disney, The Mouse Betrayed" and I became so very upset about learning about the true Michael Einser, and what was not said in this book, that I returned this book, very disappointed with this man, and the damage he had and has done to the Kingdom so many of us love so very much. :-(

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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: the other side of the story
Review: Michael Eisner is a true inovator at Disney. This book details the rise of Disney with an inside look at some of the strategic that were made decisions. Some of Michael Eisner's difficult personal relationships were glossed over (Katzenberg, Ovitz)and some were too lengthy (Wells) but overall a well informed book about Micheal Eisner and Disney.

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Summary: Critical success factor - Innovation
Review: The whole book is about Michael Eisner and the Disney Kingdom.

Michael Eisner is the soul of the Disney Kingdom. He creates the success of Disney by his innovation and good managaement skills.

From this book, I learnt that the critical success factor for a entertainment business is innovation. People want something new and exicting, if you fail to fulfill their needs, you are the loser of the game.

After reading this book, I know how to increase my bargaining power, and how to put myself in a supervior position during a negotiation.

This is really a good book!!

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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: Fine effort. Great insight.
Review: Turning around the Disney organization was no small task for Mike Eisner...and a task he was prepared to accomplish. What this book succeeds in illustrating was the organizational culture of Disney pre-Eisner, the changes necessary to make things move forward, and a somewhat objective assessment of major initiatives since that time.

Certainly Eisner has a point of view. His heart attack changed his life. So there is a thematic construct here...change, change and more change. Change in management, how the organization does business, change in how Disney is viewed by others and itself.

Expecting that the book would be more critical of the organization is unrealistic. I found Eisner to be relatively self-critical and when I finished the book, having learned of his education and values, with a better opinion of this guy.

Readable, informative, balanced, this is a good book.

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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.