Rating: 
Summary: Simple, readable and valuable
Review: I was surprised by this book. At first unsure if it would be some type of 10 point plan or a narrative about how amazing Ghosn is.
In fact this book is a balance of the two, the bullet pointed lists are there and written into the narrative so seamlessly they could easily be missed.
Overall what's presented is clear details, at the right level, of what Ghosn did. The approach and thought patterns. What makes this book so good is it's placed into context within the stories narrative.
The most surprising thing is how much the book tells you of common sense. You already know 'clarity in communication' is the only way, no one would argue that 'doing what you say you will' can be the only way to act in a professional environment.
Very readable and well paced, like other reviewers I also sat there and read it in a day, making notes and thinking about the man and what he'd done. Well worth getting for sure.
Rating:
Summary: automotive must read
Review: i worked in Japan for three years with Mazda and bought this book to understand how Carlos Ghosn (rhymes with cone)got the Japanese to work differently.The author talks to Japanese executives and has access to Ghosn and tells a good story that was helpful. I think anyone in the automotive business, especially management and executives, will be interested in how Ghosn and Nissan did it.
Rating: 
Summary: Not what I expected
Review: Is David Magee a pen name for Carlos Ghosn? The book was way too subjective and one-sided. Or perhaps the State of Mississippi paid for the production of this book. And what is that book he quotes, 'Renaissance' by Carlos Ghosn? Could Mr. Magee at least tell us who the publisher is so that we can see what the man (Ghosn) himself has to say?
Rating: 
Summary: a surprising story
Review: The facts of the story of Carlos Ghosn are surprising. I read about Lee Iacocca years ago but what Carlos Gohsn did at Nissan is even more remarkable. The book is an easy read and it tells how it was done. I am afraid U.S. car makers are going to have problems with this man.
Rating:
Summary: Fast Forward
Review: The Japanese Automobile Industry was, just till a decade ago, nearly worshipped. A handful of companies led by Toyota introduced concepts of Lean Manufacturing and effortlessly conquered the highways of the land of the Automobile. Japanese cars were soon seen in all continents, eating away market share from established incumbents. Low cost, high quality and fuel economy were the key differentiating factors. Several research studies were undertaken to explore and demystify the secrets behind the Japanese success. Cultural factors and traditions of Japan like strong relationships with vendors and customers, Industry alliances and a loyal work force wedded to their organization on the concept of life long employment were some of the elements that the West found hard to replicate. Take "Keirestu' for example. This refers to the alliance between the buyers and the vendors with long relationships and cross holdings that reinforce their mutual commitment to business. This system worked well till Japan Inc fumbled. In the case of Nissan, the vendors were fleecing the already bleeding parent by charging it much higher for their parts. For Nissan, it was unthinkable to source these parts from outside Japan, since it would amount to a gross violation of the principles of "Keirestu". The master had become the prisoner. Japan once boasted of the tradition of life long employment. This had gradually led to mediocrity at all levels since career advancement and compensation were linked to seniority and not performance. It was sacrilege to close down unprofitable plants and Nissan was saddled with plants running at less than 50 % capacity, hemorrhaging cash. Nissan had no money left for new product development and was forced to retain outdated models. Its customers started looking elsewhere. Burdened with debt, shrinking market share, negative returns and no where to go, Nissan looks to the West for a Savior. Renault of France takes over. Carlos Ghosn, Lebanese by origin, French by education with strong experience in Brazil and North America, now heads for Japan as the chosen man from Renault. Known for his no nonsense style since his days with tire maker Michelin, he is dubbed " Le Cost Killer". Ghosn's diagnoses Nissan's problems as primarily internal. He forms the now acclaimed Cross Functional Teams (CFT) drawing executives from all ranks and continents to brainstorm and recommend solutions within three months. The plan is straightforward - Nissan Revival Plan (NRP) aimed at reducing procurement costs, debt, closing plants that were not viable and introducing new models, fast. Simple, but not easy. These decisions were hitting against the very foundations of the beliefs and traditions of the Japanese Industry. Global souring challenged the "Keirestu" and decisions to sell off holdings in associate Companies to raise cash and clear debt was never done in Japan. It is precisely these aspects that make the book interesting. Ghosn not only challenges the deep-rooted traditions of Business practices in Japan, but acts with agility and speed to put the plan into action producing dramatic improvement in Nissan's bottom-line. If you are looking for details on strategy in the pattern of a research study on Nissan, this is not the book. This is a simple story of a man of courage who takes charge of a sinking auto manufacturer in its homeland, steers it to safety and zooms ahead on top gear to be named Man of The Year by Automobile Magazine in 2002. From near bankruptcy to record profits would be the summary of Nissan -1999 to 2002.
Rating:
Summary: Ghosn-san
Review: The man they hail in Japan as Ghosn-san, superhero, is unbelievable. He changed the work the Japanese approach work and turned Nissan around. This book tells the story of how he did it and the techniques he used. I read it in two and a half hours and learned from it. This book is useful if you want to learn about Ghosn, who I think will be taking over the business world in America very soon. The author obviously knows Ghosn and writes from an inside perspective. He uses many quotes which help me understand his personality. He also quotes many Nissan Japanese executives and that is rare. I wish maybe he would have told more juicy negative details instead of teaching how Ghosn-san did it, but still, this book is worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: unique story
Review: the story of Carlos Ghosn was amazing. I have followed the resurgence of Nissan but did not know how it was done. There is no business book that tells a global management story like this one.
Rating: 
Summary: A Book Length Press Release
Review: The turn-around at Nissan would probably make a great story but this is not it. The book reads like a press release, a really, really long press release. The book has no drama, no conflict. I compared it with "The Big Store", by Donald R. Katz, about a similar turn-around at Sears. Mr. Katz's book told a story. Even though the reader knew what ultimately happened at Sears, Mr. Katz kept the reader tied to the book by treating the story like a novel, with twists and turns, good guys and villains. Even the good guys weren't perfect. Mr. Katz painted real people doing an extraordinary job. No such story telling comes through here. From page 1, Carlos Ghosn is treated like a super hero. We learn very little about the man. Mr. Magee is breathless in his description of a "multicultural leader" who used "cross-functional teams." The book includes lists that would have been better suited to a management book that Mr. Ghosn might have written himself. The characters in this book, including Mr. Ghosn and the French, Japaanese and American managers he led, develop no depth. You don't cheer for any of them because no conflict arises. And in a corporate turn-around this big, there had to be conflict. There is also no unifying theme in the book. I would have liked to have read a book that told this remarkable story centering around the development of a car, like the Z or the Altima. That would have been a great backdrop for this story. Maybe this book came out too soon after the NRP ended. There is no historical context. Even some of the text uses present and future tense. It's a shame, because when this whole story is told by a great storyteller, it's going to be a page-turner.
Rating:
Summary: A Book Length Press Release
Review: The turn-around at Nissan would probably make a great story but this is not it. The book reads like a press release, a really, really long press release. The book has no drama, no conflict. I compared it with "The Big Store", by Donald R. Katz, about a similar turn-around at Sears. Mr. Katz's book told a story. Even though the reader knew what ultimately happened at Sears, Mr. Katz kept the reader tied to the book by treating the story like a novel, with twists and turns, good guys and villains. Even the good guys weren't perfect. Mr. Katz painted real people doing an extraordinary job. No such story telling comes through here. From page 1, Carlos Ghosn is treated like a super hero. We learn very little about the man. Mr. Magee is breathless in his description of a "multicultural leader" who used "cross-functional teams." The book includes lists that would have been better suited to a management book that Mr. Ghosn might have written himself. The characters in this book, including Mr. Ghosn and the French, Japaanese and American managers he led, develop no depth. You don't cheer for any of them because no conflict arises. And in a corporate turn-around this big, there had to be conflict. There is also no unifying theme in the book. I would have liked to have read a book that told this remarkable story centering around the development of a car, like the Z or the Altima. That would have been a great backdrop for this story. Maybe this book came out too soon after the NRP ended. There is no historical context. Even some of the text uses present and future tense. It's a shame, because when this whole story is told by a great storyteller, it's going to be a page-turner.
Rating:
Summary: An "OK" book
Review: This book covers a very interesting topic - Nissan's turnaround. But, if fails almost completely to give any relevant details about the turnaround. In fact, it almost feels like the author has no operations-related experience/knowledge and therefore he does not attempt to go deeper into the issues that Ghosn and team faced at Nissan. Additionally, the style of writing is mediocre at best.
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