Odyssey: Pepsi to Apple : A Journey of Adventure, Ideas, and the Future (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The chairman and CEO of Apple Computer, with the aid of a Business Week editor, vividly describes how, after working as an executive for Pepsi-Cola, developing winning strategies in the Cola Wars, and being promoted to president at age 38, he abandoned a "second-wave" company to join Apple, a "third-wave" firm epitomizing flexibility, creativity, and innovation. Sculley tells of his mistakes, failings, and successes and ends chapters with lessons in management or marketing. Highly recommended for business students and anyone curious about a CEO's life.Leonard Grundt, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, N.Y.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 450 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins; 1st ed edition (October 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060157801
• ISBN-13: 978-0060157807
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.8 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #947,292 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Lesson About Incentives, August 17, 2001

By	J. Reynolds (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

Mr. Sculley describes how Steve Jobs lured him to Apple, and blithely exposes his thought processes behind the decision to go. Among other things, he insisted upon a lucrative compensation/house package, explaining that he simply could not be burdened with any personal financial considerations while dedicating his self-appraised tremendous powers to running Apple. The Apple folks agreed, Sculley got his huge salary and his new house, and under his hand the company tanked down the tubes forthwith.

Sculley presented management lessons as his narrative progressed. He did not directly discuss the matter of incentives, and the complacency which unearned wealth induces so quickly, electing instead to present that lesson by his own example. Perhaps if Mr. Sculley had been more concerned about his own financial condition as a function of the company's success or failure, he would have been more highly motivated to do a better job running the firm.

At least one member of every corporate board of directors should read this book, and keep this lesson about incentives in mind whenever it's time to hire new executives and develop their compensation packages.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Long, Boring and slow, March 29, 2000

By A Customer

I started with an expectation of something that would be fast paced; however, this was not to be. Sculley's style is repetitive and slow. He makes a point in a couple of paragraphs and then goes on and on about the same thing. He also gives too much importance to his personal life in the book.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating inside look at the early days of the Mac., March 1, 1998

By A Customer

This is a great book. It includes the famous Knowledge Navigator prophecy. It's interesting to see the thinking that lead to today's Apple. I can't figure out why they say this book is hard to find. I just bought a brand new paperback copy (2/28/98) and I know where there are more. Anyone interested? Lee Zurligen