Cult of the Mouse: Can We Stop Corporate Greed from Killing Innovation in America? [Hardcover]

Henry M. Caroselli (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2004

Meet Disney'¬?s most recently inducted, eighth dwarf, GREEDY. In corporate America, innovation is being crippled by a blatant focus on short-term profits-the incessant need to "maximize share-holder equity." Disney, a company known worldwide for its innovation and creativity, has become an example of this insular thinking. In CULT OF THE MOUSE, ex-Disneyland director of creative services and successful entrepreneur Henry M. Caroselli uses this once-ingenious company as a framework for a timely, compelling discussion of why America'¬?s greatness is in jeopardy and what needs to be fixed to restore our ability to do what we do best, generate paradigm-changing ideas. Drawing upon fascinating historical references not only of Walt Disney, but also of other great innovators, Caroselli provides sage advice for growing a company by giving creativity a boost. Part expos?©, part how-to, this intriguing, practical business book shows how bad things can happen to even the greatest of companies-giving businesses large and small a much-needed, swift kick in the pants. A business book supporting innovation and creativity that uses Disney as a cautionary tale. Henry M. Caroselli worked as creative director at Disney for six years. Useful for anyone struggling to make something of consequence in the corporate rat race, starting up a business, or trying to expand their established business; insightful for Disney stockholders and fanatics. Disney continually makes national headlines over movie deals, threats of corporate takeover, and controversial CEOs. Another challenge to corporate America from the publisher of HOW WAL-MART IS DESTROYING AMERICA (AND THE WORLD).

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

According to this erratic manifesto, the Walt Disney Company, and especially its CEO Michael Eisner, symbolize everything that’s wrong with American business. Surrounded by yes-men, indifferent to quality and focused solely on cost-cutting and quarterly earnings, Eisner, the author claims, presides over a totalitarian Disney "cult" that stifles creative types and has debased Mickey’s image in the name of fear and greed. Ex-Disney ad exec Caroselli awkwardly marries this critique to a treatise on "innovation," something that few might expect from the world’s leading producer of family entertainment. Caroselli’s rambling "free-associative approach" extols such bona-fide innovators as the Wright Brothers and Bill Gates, throws out some vague tips like "Embrace New Technology" and "Ask Why? Why? Why?" and warns readers about various types of corporate scumbags who will try to quash or steal their great ideas. But he returns compulsively to the diatribe against Eisner, whom he feels did not grant him enough one-on-one meetings. What Caroselli sees as the decline of Disney from the days when Walt himself ran it is, he contends, emblematic of the triumph of marketing hype over solid "real-deal ideas" and, indeed, reality itself—whose last refuge, according to Caroselli, is Disneyland, which he feels was an oasis of authenticity before Eisner tarnished it with his "somewhat phony" add-on California Adventure theme parklet. Hopelessly confused about the distinction between fantasy and reality while bemoaning its loss, Caroselli’s axe-grinding abounds in unintended ironies.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Caroselli'¬?s message is for all corporations. Business is more than just numbers; it takes creativity, imagination, and balls. And who has that combination today? Very few. At one time, Disney did.-Jack B. Lindquist, first president of Disneyland (retired); a Disneyland employee from opening day, his window on Main Street, U.S.A., reads "Honorary Mayor of Disneyland""Drawing on his unique insider'¬?s view of The Walt Disney Company, Henry M. Caroselli powerfully documents how the current leadership of Disney'¬?s Magic Kingdom has pink-slipped the magic and created little besides an entrenched and insulated CEO'¬?s kingdom. CULT OF THE MOUSE is a highly persuasive case study . . . as well as a compelling call to action." -Jonathan Rintels, screenwriter and president of the Center for Creative Voices in Media"Caroselli uses an iron fist in a velvet glove, writing with a casual, almost breezy style that belies the power of his arguments and suggestions. I urge executives of all established companies to read CULT OF THE MOUSE before it '¬?s too late." -Jack Foster, best-selling author of How to Get Ideas and Ideaship

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press (November 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580086330
• ISBN-13: 978-1580086332
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,173,802 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Important Book -- and Publisher's Weekly Review Proves Author's Point, July 25, 2005

By 

Jonathan Rintels (Keswick, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cult of the Mouse: Can We Stop Corporate Greed from Killing Innovation in America? (Hardcover)

Other customers reviewing Cult of the Mouse here have written that it's excellent and wise; a fresh, important inside look at the ossification of an iconic American corporation -- Disney -- due to its managerial snuffing of the very innovation and creativity that made it great. I agree and recommend the book to you without reservation.

What I need to comment on is Publisher's Weekly hatchet job "review," which fails to disclose a key fact necessary for any reader to judge that review's credibility: The publisher of Publisher's Weekly, Reed Business Information, is also the publisher of several entertainment industry trade publications such as Variety, Daily Variety, Broadcasting & Cable, Multichannel News, etc. etc. As any subscriber to these publications can see on a daily basis (and I am such a subscriber), Disney is one of Reed Business Information's larger advertisers and customers. Shouldn't a credible journalist or reviewer reveal such an important business relationship to the reader? Shouldn't the reader who comes to Amazon for information about a book be informed that the "Editorial Review" is not written, as most customers would assume, by an impartial reviewer, but by a reviewer in business with the company that is the highly displeased subject of the book? Isn't that usually the way journalists and reviewers behave -- disclose their conflicts of interest, rather than hide them?

Caroselli describes artfully within Disney the "don't tell the truth, just tell the toppers what they want to hear" type of communication that is so antithetical to the innovation and creativity that was once Disney's hallmark. Is Publishers Weekly and its parent, Reed Business, guilty of the same in its "review?" Hard to say for sure. But it's easy to say that ANY reviewer worthy of that name should disclose its conflicts. The failure to do so here illustrates just how important Caroselli's message is for corporate America.

So let me make my own disclosure: I met the author once, at a conference I organized about the harmful effects media consolidation and concentration have on creative artists. He asked me to read his manuscript and I was so impressed that I was honored when he asked me to write a jacket blurb. Now, that disclosure wasn't so painful or difficult, was it, Publishers Weekly?

Read the book. Decide for yourself. You won't regret it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Mouse That Roared!, February 15, 2005

By 

M. Sue Giles "mystery maven" (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cult of the Mouse: Can We Stop Corporate Greed from Killing Innovation in America? (Hardcover)

This not-to-be-missed read hooked me with the first line. Caroselli skillfully reeled me in, page by page, with fascinating tidbits and a call-to-action just subtle enough to keep me engaged. Yes, creativity needs to be nourished on a daily basis, and Caroselli's style of fresh, easy-going information had me thinking in big ways. I'm no Disneyphile and I prefer mysteries to anything that smacks of how-to. But this book cover caught my eye and from there on in, I enjoyed the ride. I last enjoyed a book this much upon discovering Dan Brown many moons ago. Get this one!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Look Out for the Idea Killers!, December 5, 2004

By 

Net Hound (Birmingham, AL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cult of the Mouse: Can We Stop Corporate Greed from Killing Innovation in America? (Hardcover)

The author's dead-on with his thesis. More than ever before, America's economic future depends on unleashing the creativity and innovation of it's people. We'd probably all agree with this statement. Even so, American corporations can't connect the dots between encouraging creativity and long-term economic profits. Conformist, rational thinking is often more highly valued than inspired creativity.

In an easy-to read style, the author does an excellent job describing the situation in one company (Disney) which should be at the pinnacle of creativity but suffers from a focus on short-term profits and top-down thought control. Sadly, the corporate cult references apply to most large companies today.

While anyone who invests in Disney stock or happens to be a Disney fan will find the insider commentary interesting, this is more than your typical business book. The author's successful career in advertising means he has some keen insights to share concerning the American consumer. He points out that we are also partly to blame, suggesting steps we can all take to battle the "fluff" and marketing tricks that constantly bombard us.