Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: This book is almost impossible to put down. Geffen's life has been truly extraoridinary and it provides an excellent story. Buy this book if you have any interest in the entertainment industry or business in general.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: This book is almost impossible to put down. Geffen's life has been truly extraoridinary and it provides an excellent story. Buy this book if you have any interest in the entertainment industry or business in general.
Rating: 
Summary: What Makes David Run?
Review: This excellent biography well researched and beautifully written has but one flaw: the subject. David Geffen is so contradictory, no matter how much information about him is amassed; we are still baffled. In keeping with the rest of his personality, I understand this book was "partially" authorized. That is, when Mr. King began the project, DG was forthcoming and enthusiastic, only to totally reverse himself later on and be bitterly opposed to the undertaking.David Geffen is a poster boy for ADD. He is frenetically active, but with a remarkably short attention span. He disliked school because it wasted his time. He can be a caring friend or an implacable enemy. He can be embarrassing intimate with almost complete strangers, yet distant as a north star toward his own family. He has lived a gay promiscuous life, yet fell hard for Cher and wanted to marry her. Easy going Cher recognized him as a "controller" and walked away. He shows great generosity personally and publicly; yet hasn't a qualm about financially ruining friend and foe alike for a perceived slight, and sometimes just for the hell of it. No matter how much you thank your lucky stars that you never, ever have to do business with David Geffen, you cannot help but be awestruck at his genius as a businessman, visualizer and strategist. He is beyond compare, and in spite of Mr. King's admirable dissecting of various business deals, it is impossible to follow Geffen's leap of ideas and creativity to make things happen. In spite of David Geffen's striving for the most money, the best deal, and the top of the financial ladder, I would not call him a materialistic man. Unfortunately for him, he doesn't feel an emotional bond to his beautiful artwork and homes. Name him a good price and he will sell it to you--as is. He has never had a sustained relationship, and now going on his 60th year, he has everything but someone to leave it to. "The Operator" is a meticulous undertaking, and Mr. King has an easy writing style that is very balanced toward his multi-sided subject. I will look for other books by this author. A very enjoyable read.
Rating:
Summary: Insightful!
Review: Tom King presents an in-depth portrait of Hollywood powerhouse David Geffen, one of the three founders of DreamWorks SKG, the first new Hollywood studio in 55 years. King begins with Geffen's parents and childhood in Brooklyn, and shows how he developed his talent as an aggressive promoter and entrepreneur early on. King traces Geffen's rise from the mailroom at the William Morris Agency to independent entertainment agent, record label owner and, eventually, a movie-producer and deal-maker. We at getAbstract.com were intrigued with King's ability to show how Geffen's influence now extends far beyond show business into the arenas of Wall Street, art, real estate and politics. Although this is a long book, it is fascinating. King creates a breezy narrative that often moves like a novel, despite some invented dialogue. If you are an executive, manager or entrepreneur who's looking for a juicy read, you've found one.
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