Customer Reviews

Golden Boy: The Harold Simmons Story

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

THIS BOOK PROVIDES A BETTER BUSINESS EDUCATION THAN A YEAR AT HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL. IT IS SO WELL WRITTEN, HOWEVER, THAT IT READS LIKE AN EXCITING, PAGE-TURNING NOVEL THAT CANNOT BE PUT DOWN UNTIL THE LAST PAGE.

John Nance, the author of "Golden Boy: The Harold Simmons Story," is an extraordinary storyteller. But, with the life of Harold Simmons as his subject, Nance was blessed with the opportunity that every writer dreams about. Indeed, the worst writer in the world could not have made this story boring if he tried. Harold Simmons is one of the greatest businessmen of all time. But, his amazing life story encompasses far more than business. He has overcome great adversity during his rise from a middle class existence in small town Texas to billionaire status. Most importantly, however, he did so without compromising the highest standards of integrity and ethics that were instilled in him by his parents. He hobnobs with movie stars and personally pilots jet planes, but has not lost the common touch. He is an acknowledged financial genius, but is humble, shy and self-effacing. He controls six corporations that are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, but looks upon his wealth as a tool to alleviate the suffering of his fellow man by funding cures for cancer and arthritis. He is a God fearing Christian who realizes that he was blessed with his brainpower for a purpose --- to make the world a better place to live in. I could go on, and on, and on. But, I trust that I have already communicated how truly great a book this is.

I was so inspired by this great biography of self-made billionaire industrialist Harold Simmons, that I finally got up the courage to quit my underpaid/overworked job and go into business for myself. While I still put in long hours (in fact, the longest hours of my life), I enjoy every minute of it. There is enormous satisfaction in "working for yourself." I finally have something to show for my efforts. (It is akin to the difference between paying rent on an apartment and making mortgage payments on your home. The rent payments are gone forever, while the mortgage payments build your net worth.) I am well on my way to financial independence and the "good life." And I owe it all to this wonderful book. My only complaint is that Harold Simmons' biography wasn't written ten years ago. If it had been, and if I'd been lucky enough to have read it, I have no doubt that I'd be a multimillionaire by now.

I HAVE A VORACIOUS APPETITE FOR BOOKS ABOUT BUSINESS, FINANCE, THE STOCK MARKET, ETC. AS THIS FACT IS WELL KNOWN TO MY FRIENDS AND RELATIVES, I FREQUENTLY RECEIVE BOOKS ON BUSINESS RELATED SUBJECT MATTER AS CHRISTMAS AND BIRTHDAY PRESENTS. UNFORTUNATELY, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THE PHRASE "IF YOU'VE READ ONE, YOU'VE READ THEM ALL" IS APPLICABLE." THIS MADE "GOLDEN BOY: THE HAROLD SIMMONS STORY" ALL THE MORE EXCEPTIONAL. THIS MAGNIFICENT BIOGRAPHY IS, FAR AND AWAY, THE BEST BOOK OF ITS KIND. BUT EVEN THAT COMPLIMENT IS INSUFFICIENT, FOR I HAVE NEVER READ A BOOK OF THIS "KIND." "GOLDEN BOY" IS A HYBRID. IT IS A TERRIFIC BIOGRAPHY COUPLED WITH A GREAT REFERENCE GUIDE TO THE BUSINESS WORLD. IN SHORT, A MASTERPIECE!!!

Clearly Nance is a level above the rest in his writing ability. Having waded through more than one business biography, it was a pleasure to read one written by such a high caliber author. This was a very well chronicled history of a man who seems to embody the common characteristics of the truly great CEOs described by Jim Collins in 'Good to Great': modest and reserved, but having steely determination and focus.

In general, the book is excellent, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in this genre of book. It is a very good description of how Mr. Simmons got to where he is...

BUT, after getting through half the book, red flags began to appear when it became clear that the author is very hesitant to say anything even remotely negative about his subject. To take it as face value, Mr. Simmons was a perfect husband (despite having his first two wives walk out on him), a perfect father (who's daughters inexplicably attemped to sue him) and a perfect leader and boss. Perhaps this is all exactly as stated, but the author would be more believable if he tried to get a little of the other side of these issues and balance the perspective somewhat. I cannot recall one negative thing said about this man.

I'm not one who is interested in "expose" style books that dig up a bunch of dirt on someone, however it is important to characterize your subject as human. We all have flaws, and it seems strange that these are never addressed. This one-sided take makes one a little skeptical about perspectives taken in other parts of the book (such as his wonderful treatment of existing management in companies Contran acquired).

Still, reservations aside, this is well worth the read.

Harold Simmons is one of the most brilliant and perspicacious financial and business strategists on the planet. He has conceptualized, designed and implemented some of the most sophisticated, complicated and arcane financial transactions that Wall Street has ever seen. However, as von Moltke said: "No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy." And, as the Roman poet Horace stated: "Adversity reveals genius, prosperity conceals it." On more than one occasion, Harold Simmons' massive brainpower enabled him to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles and "snatch victory from the jaws of defeat." He persevered when lesser men would have "thrown in the towel" and, in so doing, proved his greatness again and again. This marvelous book details how a young man from a small town in Texas became one of the wealthiest and most successful businessmen the world has ever seen. It is a great read.

Harold Simmons is one of the greatest industrialists, financiers and philanthropists of our time. But, because he has kept a rather low profile, most people have never even heard of him! If this superlative biography gets a small fraction of the attention that it deserves, Harold Simmons' anonymity may soon be at an end. This master business strategist built his fortune the old fashioned way --- through extraordinary willpower and brainpower. Along the way, he has overcome personal and business betrayals, chronic illness, unethical and overzealous government officials, and a multitude of other obstacles on his path to greatness. His fascinating and truly inspiring story should be of interest not only to those with an interest in the businessworld --- but to all who root for the hero in any endeavor.

THE MONUMENTAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF LEGENDARY BUSINESS TYCOON HAROLD SIMMONS ARE CHRONICLED IN "GOLDEN BOY: THE HAROLD SIMMONS STORY." AND, IN MY VIEW, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE AUTHOR PROVIDES INSIGHT INTO WHAT MAKES THIS REMARKABLE MAN "TICK." THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT HAROLD SIMMONS IS TRULY A GOOD AND RIGHTEOUS MAN WHOSE MORAL COMPASS HAS NOT BEEN AFFECTED BY HIS EXTRAORDINARY WEALTH AND POWER. HE PERSONIFIES THE HIGHEST COMPLIMENT THAT I, AS A JEW, CAN BESTOW --- HE IS A "MENSCH" --- A PERSON OF THE UTMOST INTEGRITY AND HONOR. OR, TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY, HAROLD SIMMONS IS A "TRUE CHRISTIAN," NOT A "PSEUDO CHRISTIAN." THIS WONDERFUL BOOK IS SIMULTANEOUSLY ABSORBING, CAPTIVATING, COMPELLING, AND EDUCATIONAL. IT IS A THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE READING EXPERIENCE. AND, AS HAROLD SIMMONS HAS CONTINUED HIS BUSINESS EXPLOITS SUBSEQUENT TO ITS PUBLICATION, I LOOK FORWARD TO A SEQUEL, OR, BETTER YET, AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY BY THE GREAT MAN HIMSELF.

As the owner of a small business (who aspires to be the owner of a large business), I have read numerous business books. Biographies, corporate histories, "how to" books, advice books, etc. "Golden Boy: The Harold Simmons Story" is, by far, the most informative, helpful and inspiring business book that I have ever read. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Fantastic success story of a true visionary. Good linkage w/other Texas Titans, James J. Ling LTV Corp. I bet Henry Kravis and Ron Perlman both read it. I wanted to know "where the tire meets the road" this one told me.