Want a NOOK? Explore Now
Praise for The Art of Being Unreasonable
"In The Art of Being Unreasonable, my friend Eli Broad lets us in on his secrets to success in business, philanthropy, and life—and he asks the right questions, looks for the right answers, and never stops working until he gets results. At a time when our country needs to focus on what works, Eli's book is a blueprint for effective public citizenship."
—President William Jefferson Clinton
"Reading Eli Broad's The Art of Being Unreasonable may not turn you into a billionaire philanthropist, but it will surely make you stop and think about the thousands of hours you waste stopping and thinking, when you could be out there doing. Eli is the exemplar of how to succeed in business and in life by really trying and only taking yes for an answer."
—Morley Safer, Correspondent, 60 Minutes
"As a creator of successful companies, Eli Broad has few equals, and The Art of Being Unreasonable clearly shows why. It's also a book that powerfully makes the case that wealth finds its ultimate purpose in public service."
—Bill Gates, Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Chairman, Microsoft Corporation
"The art of being effectively unreasonable has propelled Eli Broad to the pinnacle in four careers. But he also is completely delightful, as is this book. It will teach you how to become a success by merrily bending reality."
—Walter Isaacson, author, Steve Jobs, and CEO, Aspen Institute
"Eli Broad is the only entrepreneur ever to create two Fortune 500 companies in different industries, and in this movingly personal and wonderfully plain-spoken book, he not only describes how he did it, but also the lessons anyone can take from his career. It's a story rich in engaging anecdotes and human detail."
—Maria Bartiromo, Anchor, CNBC's Closing Bell and The Wall Street Journal Report
"Eli Broad is a man of great accomplishments in many fields. Few will read his book without a twinge of envy; almost all will learn a lot. And what you learn will be useful in your career and your life."
—Donald E. Graham, Chairman, The Washington Post Company
Foreword MICHAEL BLOOMBERG ix
Acknowledgments xiii
1 The Art of Being Unreasonable 1
2 Why Not? The Powerful Question 7
3 Forget Conventional Wisdom 14
4 Do Your Homework No Matter How Much Time It Takes 23
5 The Value of Being Second 31
6 How to Work 24/7 and Still Get 8 Hours of Sleep 38
7 Bright and Young Is a Winning Combination 44
8 Risk 53
9 How to Get Results 58
10 Leverage 64
11 Marketing 71
12 Investing 79
13 Negotiation 85
14 The Logic of Being Logical 94
15 I Ain't Nothing but a Hound Dog 100
16 Is That the Best You Can Do? Motivating People by Challenging Them 109
17 Competition 116
18 It's Better to Be Respected Than Loved 124
19 Giving Back 133
20 Education: Never Let a Crisis Go to Waste 139
21 The Unreasonableness of Art and Artists 147
22 Reflections and Second Thoughts 156
Appendix Eli Broad Career Highlights 166
Index 178
Anonymous
Posted January 15, 2013
I loved the book, and found it difficult to put down. Read the entire book in almost one day! It was informative, thought-provoking, and useful to the soon-to-be or seasoned entrepreneur. As you make your way to the end of the book, you see a snapshot of a man with a no-nonsense vision for details, who has also learned the importance of learning from mistakes. Buy the book, you will not be disappointed.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Self-made multibillionaire Eli Broad personifies the American Dream. Philanthropist, entrepreneur and founder of two Fortune 500 companies, Broad is the son of Jewish-Lithuanian immigrants who owned a Christmas theme store, though they did not celebrate Christmas and had no prior retail experience. In this autobiography, Broad attributes his accomplishments to his “unreasonableness,” thoroughness and gutsy style. He explains how he made his fortune and offers tips on management and investing. Broad paints his personal story in bright primary colors with the simplest brush strokes, but he’s glad to teach you how to get ahead in life and business. getAbstract recommends his saga to ambitious entrepreneurs, managers and investors.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 13, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
Praise for The Art of Being Unreasonable
"In The Art of Being Unreasonable, my friend Eli Broad lets us in on his secrets to success in business, philanthropy, and life—and he asks the right questions, looks for the right answers, and never stops working until he gets results. At a time when our country needs to focus on what works, Eli's book is a blueprint for effective public citizenship."
—President ...