Hostile-takeover

This is a sequel to Profiteer, and pretty much takes off where that book left off. In this novel, the plot thickens. You find out more about the backgrounds of some of the main characters. There is a good plot, lots of action, and some cool futuretech.

I believe Resisting Hostile Takeovers is worth reading though I don't completely agree with Ms.Ricardo-Campbell's writing style. This book discusses two events Gillette had experiened through 1986 and 1988: hostile hakeover attempt and proxy battle. The author, as economist, very concisely details the major issues arising in the takeover battle such as business decision rule, antigreenmail, proxy battle, anti-takeover legislation etc. Caution is required, however, since this book is written from a board member's viewpoint and there are relatively not much about how managements and other legal and financial advisors reacted to the threats.

This excellent thesis has great credibility because it was written by someone who was actually in the game and not on the sidelines looking in. The detail is such that it could also serve as a text on the subject of takeovers. This book serves as a testament that even the some of the best managers(Gillette) should and will be constantly challenged ( if need be by outsiders like Perelman, etc) to increase shareholder value.

Well, perhaps not many students find takeover sories interesting. Perhaps,... But for an insight into real business problems, the Gillettte story is one of the very best. It shows that women may be better managers (even in a razor company), provides a fresh written perspective, and should be considered as a wounderful learing example for further geneations.

It's still possible to find tiny little undervalued gems in sci-fi land. This is one! (Trust me) It's your average tuff-hero-runs-into-big-trouble little sci-fi, but a precious one. With a very nice hero and a nice bunch of friends. With a bad brother on his tail. With a huge dooming fate hanging all over him. But you'll love it. This is just the first one of three and I bet you won't be able not to order the other two once this one is in your hands...!

Harold Geneen once said that he wanted ITT so tightly organized that when he left even Mickey Mouse could run it. Unfortunately Mickey Mouse (in the body of Rand Araskog) was actually named (or rather ironically, forced on the board by Geneen himself) It turned out that Mickey Mouse couldn't run the company. This book is an attempt to whitewash the fact that Araskog destroyed ITT, left the shareholders holding the bag, but made himself rich in the process-- Araskog is a perfect example of managerial incompetence and of all that is wrong with corporate america.

Probably once you think about it, all corporations have their stories. ITT has one that is worth writing about and learning from. The book chronicles the struggles, troubles and eventual triumph of a company in the midst of hostile takeovers. The preface and postlogue in this edition makes it even more interesting that we are given as much as 10 years worth of lookin back by the author himself.

It's a good book to check out.