Customer Reviews

Be My Guest

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I got my copy of BE MY GUEST at an old book sale at the public library. It's a wonderful book, and I'm glad to hear that even in the late 1990s it was still being distributed at Hilton hotels. This book chronicles the business endeavors of Conrad N. Hilton from his aspirations to own his own bank in the pre-WWI years through his first hotels in Texas and New Mexico in the early '20s to his crowning glory--the purchase of the opulent Waldorf-Astoria hotel in NYC around 1950. What makes this book interesting and useful is the quality of the man, not the strength of his business empire. "Connie" Hilton is a man of honor and principle, but he has much ambition, too. His fortunes have been made through hard work, calculated risks, and his "people skills." Comparing Conrad "Connie" Hilton to someone like Donald "The Donald" Trump shows how our culture has become more cheap and frivilous in the two generations that separate these hotel/real estate giants. For another book with similar factual content but less wit, humor, and commentary on human nature, see Thomas Ewing Dabney's book, THE MAN WHO BOUGHT THE WALDORF (New York: Duell, Sloan, and Pearce;1950.)

I discovered "Be My Guest" at the Hilton San Francisco and couldn't put it down again until I had read the entire book. It's an absolutely riveting read, full of adventure and lessons learned over the course of many years. I was completely surprised that such a special book (really a testament to a hard working man with great ideas and an ability to execute them) isn't more widely distributed. It's choc full of humor and pathos, drama and innocence. More like a novel than an autobiography. From now on, I'm going to position Hilton Hotels as my first choice when traveling. Read this wonderful book if you want to be inspired!

I came across this book while staying at a Hilton in Pittsburgh. I opened the desk drawer and there it was. Accident or syncronicity? (from Webster's dictionary - the coincidental occurrence of events and especially psychic events (as similar thoughts in widely separated persons or a mental image of an unexpected event before it happens) that seem related but are not explained by conventional mechanisms of causality -- used especially in the psychology of C. G. Jung).
This book came to my attention just at the right time for me to read. The story is very entertaining, keeps your attention, and inspiring. Conrad Hilton defines what a man can become. He had his feet solidly on the ground. He kept his ears open to hear that still soft voice of intuition give him the answers he needed. No doubt going to church daily empowered him to be still and be centered enough to listen for inspiration and for answers as he describes it in the book (p-196). This he describes as well as I have read anywhere. The man had integrity and faith in his being and doing. He accomplished a lot, and had an impact on many people's lives. By leaving the bulk of his wealth to a foundation his vision of what can be done continues today many years after his death.

Like many others who have come by this book Be My Guest was something I found at my bedside while staying at a Hilton Hotel. Like many others who have read the book before me I found the autobiography to be surprisingly well-written and entertaining.
Be My Guest is the story of Conrad 'Connie' Hilton, the founder of the Hilton chain of hotels, of Socorro, New Mexico and how he grew a lone and insignificant hotel into a world-wide chain.
The story begins with Conrad's father and weaves through the family, New Mexico, Texas, California and beyond retelling the tribulations of the hard-working man.
While the bulk of the story is one of family and business, Hilton takes time to espouse his belief in prayer and Christianity, Capitalism and disdain for Communism. Off-putting as that may be the obviously ghost-written rags to riches tale is a thrilling and interesting time-piece in the eyes of an enthusiastic and devout man. Be My Guest is an instructional and fun read.

I read this book while staying at the Hilton in Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. It was in a night table.

It was very educaitonal for me in its description of life in New Mexico and west Texas -- where the author grew up -- at the turn of the century, and the erratic economic times caused not only by the Great Depression, but also the financial panics in prior years. It also teaches the very real importance of ethics and honor in business and family relationships. Finding the book in my hotel room was a real treat.

I recently finished "Be My Guest". As both a business person and a Christian, this book was a timely blessing to me. Despite all you made read in the gossip rags about his heirs (P. Hilton comes to mind), they are a world away from Conrad "Connie" Hilton. The book tells the story of a man from humble upbringings who makes something of himself. The story begins in New Mexico at the turn of the Century. From his father he learns about honor, honesty, integrity and the will to perservere. From his mother he learns about the Catholic faith "Always remember to pray and take your problems to the Lord," she tells him. While building the world famous Hilton Hotel Chain, Hilton almost always finds time to attend daily Mass and Communion. He manages to achieve what is sorely lacking these days in the modern business world, the balance of integrity with ambition, his principles girded by his faith in his God. As a business memoir it is excellent, as a testimony to one man's upbringing and faith, it is superlative.

As I'm sitting here in a Hilton Hotel, I see that they have this book by their founder stocked in all the desks for guests to read. Its mostly a motivational memoir of a great business career. He shares many interesting anecdotes.

A great read, and thoroughly interesting for a hotel person! I was unable to put it down! I never realised that Hilton had overcome so many hurdles, and that as opposed to now, it used to be such a family! If anyone knows of an autobigraphy following Hilton after 1957, please let me know!

This is an interesting book about the life of Conrad Hilton. It talks a little bit about the early days of the hotel chain starting and extols hard work and virtue. Overall I would have liked to have known more about the hotel challenges especially in the post world war 2 era. He does an excellent job of talking about how he built his chain during the depression in rural southwest America. His early invention of the motel was crucial and although he switched to higher end operations I think he had a glimpse of the future. Overall the book was interesting but just did not cover what I had hoped.

This is your basic biography about one of the best known hotel men. This is a rags to riches story of the man who start the Hilton Hotel Chian. He explains his upbringing in the midwest to his first dealings with the lodging industry. He actually owned small hotels before opening the chain of hotels. He expalins how difficult it was during the depression owning these little hotels and how his family helped him on the way, especially his mother. This is a true test of family values. He also explains the roll of his faith in the mix because he feal this is important. He quotes times of distress would find him in church (sometimes everyday). This is something you don't see much of from many corporate executives, but they could use.

Hilton's success came from his parrents and his willingness to try anything. He was a salesman for his father's store be fore he died. He sold rooms to travelng salesman in Texas.

He did everything possible in the business world which made him a success with his hotel chain.

His life is fastinating and worth looking into by all individuals.