Customer Reviews

The Bill Cook Story: Ready, Fire, Aim!

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This book is an epic tale that is equal parts ambition, pluck and smarts. Hammel details how a guy who once slept on a cot in a Chicago factory where he worked (because he had no place else to stay) was able to eventually create a medical devices company that has saved millions of lives and created jobs for tens of thousands of people in the last 40 years. Settle in for a great read and expect to take away insights galore from this remarkable story of achievement. Only in America could something like Bill Cook and the Cook Group happen. Get ready to be "Wowed."

An extraordinary portrait of a remarkable and unsung - till now - American entrepreneur. Those familiar with Bob Hammel's writing will recognize the great reporting and inimitable style which have marked his journalism and several books. As he did in his bestseller about another complex genius, former Indiana basketball coach Bob Knight, Hammel displays a knack for finding and revealing his subject's psyche.The reader feels as if he is perched on Cook's shoulder listening to him think. Hammel's story of a life and fortune well-spent is wrapped around a suspenseful crime drama. Don't miss this one.

Living in Indiana, I have heard the name of Bill Cook for years. I'd ask people in Bloomington, "who is this man?". I'd get a vague answer. Then one day, I saw that Bob Hammel, a great writer wrote a biography of him. I snatched it up and began reading an amazing story about an amazing person. I don't really like biographies, but this one is truly intriguing! A great read about a truly amazing person who has revived Southern Indiana through renovating French Lick and West Baden. along with being a leader in the medical arena.

Bob Hammel does a great job writing about a true business icon. Hammel describes the real Bill Cook in ways that exemplify what it takes to be a true success. The book is detailed, but is rightly done because it describes what a true business hero does to not only be successful in the business world, but to help others who are less fortunate. Hammel portrays Cook as a man of great integrity who cares about people more than money or success. The book also demonstrates how Cook was a great people person in surrounding himself with those who had similar ideals as he did in succeeding. Hammel does a fantastic job in expressing what really motivated Cook which as he quotes "It's not the money that you work for. I'ts...when you have an idea, and it comes to fruition and it works."
All business entrepreneurs should make this a priority read. It will bring you success.

First of all, this is a fascinating story and I learned a great deal about Bill Cook and his amazing start-up. Growing up in Bloomington I knew very little about the man or the company, other than they commonly hired ex-IU basketball players. I had no idea what an international and important company it was. Bill Cook is a unique businessman with surprisingly down to earth style that is worth studying.

Unfortunately, my enjoyment of the book was tempered by Bob Hammel's writing stle and obvious biases. Most glaring are the regular cheap shots aimed towards Purdue University. These biases were obvious to me as I grew up in Bloomington as a big sports fan (including IU) and regularly reading Bob Hammel in the local paper where he was known as a huge Bob Knight supporter and wrote with an obvious an anti-Purdue University bias. While it may be understandable to write with this bias as a local sportswriter, to carry over that attitude to a business book is uncalled for.

The final straw for me was reading the commentary from Bill Cook's son (a Purdue grad) criticizing and dropping cheap shots at Pudue. Those comments really didn't add any value to this book and as presented didn't even make sense. Why did Bob Hammel see fit to include those quotes in this book? Clearly becasue of his lack of respect for Purdue. This obvious disrepect is quite absurd when consider that Purdue University has a well earned reputation as one of the top Engineering schools in the country. Moreover, considering Bill Cook runs a high-tech company in the state of Indiana, it would stand to reason that a large portion of his employees should have Purdue degrees since Purdue stands alone as the top technology University in Indiana.

Overall I recommend this book because it is a fascinating read, especially for budding entrepreneurs and technology professionals. Unfortunately, the author's obvious local biases limited my enjoyment.

The book I got was a pre-published edition and was very difficult to follow. I would suggest buying a completed and published edition.