Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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!

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.

This highly readable and anecdotal observation by a talented and seasoned business professional defines the type of leadership that is critically needed in business today.

The business of America is business. And American business must continue to be innovative and idea-driven business. Idea generation involves seeking excellence through open-mindedness, vision, and tenacity. As the author explores the courage and cost of being an true innovator, he concludes that anyone can engage in a more free associative approach in the search for innovation and become an innovator himself.

Caroselli encourages readers to initiate lasting and real results by sticking to the essence of their vision while searching for innovative approaches to problem solving and effective execution.

Caroselli is accurate in observing that business managers often toss aside good ideas in favor of the easy sell. It will always be tempting to pay "lip service" to innovation and just "manage the work" rather than "make something happen."

It is significant that Caroselli recognizes that the Chinese and Euro markets are growing too quickly to be ignored. To maintain out standard of living as North Americans, we will be compelled to revisit the kind of Yankee ingenuity and idea generation that made this nation whatit is and to assure that our prosperity can continue.

A highly recommended read for any business person- management, creative or, optimally, a person who is both.

Caroselli accurately describes the shortsightedness of corporate America today. While I'm sure there are exceptions, I could relate what was written to my 25, and still counting, years in corporate America. I've seen the shift toward short term results at the expense of the long term for many years. When the "long term" comes, corporations end up in fire-fight mode for survival which drives even shorter term decisions and the expense of true R&D and new "idea generation". The book enlists many excellent real world examples to deliver the message.

The book is written in a very entertaining and casual way to make the points feel close to home. Bravo Mr. Caroselli!!

I worked closely with the author for over a decade and know first-hand that what he's saying here is both valid and smart. But what really knocks me out is something even bigger.

Henry is a thinker, dreamer, inveterate tinkerer and creative type. In another life, he could have been Michaelangelo. What he ISN'T, however, is an author. Until now. And that's my point.

What Henry 's done here is what he's urging you to do. To step forward, get out of your comfort zone and do something new, different and challenging. To rekindle your inherent spirit to create. These are the threads that we, as Americans, have been pulling forward since our nation was born. But as Henry points out, they've become frazzled

in recent years and good ol' Yankee ingenuity isn't what is used to be.

I was in the meeting when a client asked us to take a "Safe risk". I'm a writer and simply walked away shaking my head over its inherent lunacy. I never thought about writing a book. Henry, an art director, used it as the thesis for his book.

I told you he was smart.

Caroselli bangs the drum for more creative input and control within the corporate structure.

What happens when bean counters are given carte blanche to reorganize an activity that is essentially a product of creative thought?

The short term answer is obviously greater profits but at what cost? Every member of a board of directors should read this book. It explores the real cost of sacrificing everything to the great profit Moloch.

Perhaps long term corporate prosperity is better served by open communication within the company and this would perforce include those pesky creative types and their expensive ideas.

Clearly Disney was a uncompromising mavarick genius who risked everything to acheive an ideal. Shouldn't we be looking for the same attributes in our corporate leaders?

Well written and interesting.

As a recent college grad just starting out in the business world, I've

been reading a lot of business books lately.

I really liked this book because it's written by a creative person who's

been-there/done-that. I haven't found any other books from that

perspective, and it seems appropriate to get advice from a creative guy

about what it takes to push a new idea through the system.

This book helped me to view a clearer path to the top, and explains how

success may come in more unconventional packages than many of the

Fortune 500 steer beginners to believe. This paradigm shift just may

separate the work horses from the leaders/innovators.

I recommend it because I not only got a lot out of it, but it was also a

fun and easy read.

I picked this book up because I am endlessly fascinated with corporate America and all of its components. I am not in advertisting, but rather the unconventional world of insurance. However, I found many interesting ways that someone like me can make a difference in corporate America. While, the author discusses wasteful meetings and strategy teams he suggests that each of us can make a difference by speaking up and trying to convince those around us that we should do a bit more work and a bit less strategizing and meeting. I have been working for about five years and my life has certainly started to resemble the classic film Office Space. Pick this up if you want to learn about how America got started and also how you too can make a difference. The author has a lot of history packed in, so you are sure to learn a thing or two (if only to tell it at a cocktail party).

Caroselli has written an interesting but somewhat rambling treatise on the concept that creativity has taken place to a short sighted look at the bottom line in American business. He uses Disney as the shining example of a solid creative concept turned bad.

It is an impassioned book from someone who has obviously been there.