Confessions of an Accidental Businessman: It Takes a Lifetime to Find Wisdom [Hardcover]

James A Autry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1996

This business autobiography of a corporate executive relates the management and leadership lessons which Autry, a Fortune 500 executive, has learned on his way to the top. according to Autry, knowing what to do is only part of becoming a leader; the only part is knowing how to be.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In true rags-to-riches fashion, James Autry's Confessions of an Accidental Businessman recounts his inspirational climb from childhood struggle to installation as a Fortune 500 executive. In his 31 years at magazine publisher Meredith Corporation, Autry juggled his own ambitions with a desire to be a fair and sensitive leader. His honest and open memoir exposes the good as well as the bad and paints an intriguing picture of the changes wrought in corporate America during his tenure.

From Publishers Weekly

This is billed as a business book, but it's really a hybrid. Autry (Love and Profit) is a journalist and poet who had a successful career at Meredith Corporation, where he began as a copy editor, worked his way up the corporate ladder to retire in 1991 as senior vice-president and president of the company's magazine group. He writes with vigorous enthusiasm of the challenges of leadership, which he recounts with anecdotal detail in this rambling autobiography. Commenting, "Toto, I think we're not in journalism anymore," he plunges into reflections on strategic planning, procuring financing, acquiring new properties and guiding staff. We learn what worked for him and what his blunders were. Among his personal reflections, we find that his father abandoned his family, his mother witnessed for Jesus, he himself was married three times and one of his children is autistic. Autry's poems grace this memoir, along with the self-appreciation that he was among several poets featured in a Bill Moyers series on PBS, and that the Kentucky Poetry Review has published a special James Autry issue. 25,000 first printing; $50,000 ad/promo; author tour.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 250 pages
• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers; 1st edition (January 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576750035
• ISBN-13: 978-1576750032
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,830,359 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Extraordinary Reflection from a CEO, August 22, 2000

By 

Roger E. Breisch (Batavia, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Confessions of an Accidental Businessman: It Takes a Lifetime to Find Wisdom (Hardcover)

I have loved many books, but there are few that caused me to grieve when I turned to the final page and had to deal with the end of an emotional journey. This book, which Jim Autry mistakenly refers to as his memoirs, is a touching and revealing look deep into his heart. Considering his success, he could have told a story of brilliance, strong and motivating leadership, and a life of success. But this man, whose soul awakened deep in the American south, would have considered that dishonest. Instead he traces his life, revealing his failures and inadequacies along with his joys and success. This work is so self-revealing, I often felt as though I was privy to those reflections a man typically shares only with himself.

The subtitle of this book is, It Takes a Lifetime to Find Wisdom. Luckily for me, my life has been enriched immeasurably by Jim Autry's gift for profound reflection.

3.0 out of 5 stars A good read, March 19, 2001

By 

Ahmad Jordan "Ahmad Jordan" (Bufalo, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Confessions of an Accidental Businessman: It Takes a Lifetime to Find Wisdom (Hardcover)

I have to admit. It was the title that caught my attention and sucked me into the sale. My initial reaction was "Here we go...another business guy attempting to make his mark in self-mythology."

But then I opened the book, read a few pages and discovered that the book was not quite as pretentious as I thought it would be. In fact, the stories are both endearing and enlightening. As he recollects his rags to riches history, he shows that (contrary to popular opinion) there is a human side to business. He uses his own life, mistakes and victories to teach some fairly profound lessons about life in the office...and just life in general. He even dares to incriminate himself as he reveals much about the corporate attitude towards women in the workplace.

It's certainly worth reading. And though I'm nowhere near the status of successful business man...it's nice to know how the other side is actually thinking.

4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful!, March 13, 2001

By 

Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Confessions of an Accidental Businessman: It Takes a Lifetime to Find Wisdom (Hardcover)

Rarely does a book live up to the glowing blurbs on its front and back covers. This one does. James A. Autry, former president of Meredith Corp.'s Magazine Group (home of Better Homes & Gardens, among others) has written a searingly honest, heartfelt, often amusing autobiography with plenty of insights into the business of journalism, business in general, corporate culture and what it takes to be a manager and a leader. Between chapters, Autry includes many of his poems (he's had two poetry books published). Many chapters include management advice from the wisdom that he's accumulated. His counsel rises above most of what you read in popular management and how-to books, and his writing style is lively, as one would expect from a former journalist and editor. We at getAbstract recommend this book to readers in all business areas and to anyone who wants an inside glimpse of the magazine industry, or of the real workings of high-level management.