This posting is a review of Todd Buchholz‘s New Ideas From From Dead CEOs. Buchholtz is a former white house advisor and hedge fund manager. He is now currently on the lecture and speaking circuit. He’s mostly know for his previous books and New Ideas from Dead Economists and Bringing the Jobs Home.
New Ideas From Dead CEOs is an elaboration of the histories of America’s most successful entrepreneurs. Buchholz outlines in rich detail the business practices of CEOs like A.P. Giannini, the founder of the Bank of America and Ray Croc, the driving force behind McDonalds. More importantly, Buchholz’s book talks about the practices these CEOs used to build their business. For example, Giannini provided banking services to immigrants when no one else would. Croc sold McDonald’s franchises, but instead of selfishly pocketing the profits, Croc developed a business model that made him and his partners rich.
While the book’s stories are by and large engaging, the work is flawed. First, critical readers of New Ideas from Dead CEOs may often wonder what audience it was written for. For small business owners, his detailed descriptions of how CEOs built their empires may be useful, but the book doesn’t address the day-to-day realities of building a business.
The book is equally unsatisfying for big picture thinkers. Buchholtz’s previous writing has raised important concerns about America’s strategic place in the changing global economy. In many ways, New Ideas from Dead CEOs seems to propose a solution to these concerns. However, the book fails to explicitly make his connection, leaving the reader with a feeling of enjoyable frustration, much like being at a high school dance with a date you don’t like.
My advice? I’d wait until after the May 8th release and pick up a used copy. Buchholz is a skilled writer, but its not worth the $26.95 Harper Collins is asking.
Best,
James
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