Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Distant Force: A Memoir of the Teledyne Corporation and the Man Who Created It Hardcover – Print + CD, January 1, 2007
| Price | New from | Used from |
| Hardcover, Print + CD, January 1, 2007 |
—
| — | — |
Dr. Roberts searched his archive of corporate documents - shareholder financieal reports, records of management and board meetings, letters, drafts of speeches, the copious notes that he personally kept during his tenure as president and later CEO, as well as his own memory - to construct this memoir. He describes the first decade of aggressive acquisitions and diversification; Henry's reasons for adding financial institutions to his highly technical mix; his controversial program of aggressive stock buy-backs; the spin-off to shareholders of certain entities which greatly broadened their flexibility in handling their investments (many of which still provide income today); and finally the difficult days of whistle blower suits, hostile takeover atttempts, and the finally friendly merger with Allegheny Steel Company.
Bob McVicker, who assisted Dr. Roberts in the production of this volume, worked in Teledyne's corporate public relations office from 1969 to 1979 where he wrote and procduced the quarterly shareholders' magazine Teledyne Report, after which he continued to write the tutorial articles for this publication on a freelance basis into the early 1990's. These stories, which were intended to give the non-technical shareholder an understanding of the company's sometimes arcane technologies, are available on the CD enclosed with this volume.
- Print length316 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherTeledyne Corporation
- Publication dateJanuary 1, 2007
- ISBN-10097913630X
- ISBN-13978-0979136306
What do customers buy after viewing this item?
- Highest ratedin this set of products
Born of this land : my life storyHardcover$17.81 shippingGet it as soon as Monday, Jul 24Only 11 left in stock - order soon. - Most purchasedin this set of products
Becoming Trader Joe: How I Did Business My Way and Still Beat the Big GuysJoe CoulombePaperback$15.55 shipping - This item:
Distant Force: A Memoir of the Teledyne Corporation and the Man Who Created ItGeorge A. RobertsHardcover
The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for SuccessWilliam N. Thorndike Jr.Hardcover$15.99 shipping
All I Want To Know Is Where I'm Going To Die So I'll Never Go There: Buffett & Munger – A Study in Simplicity and Uncommon, Common SensePeter BevelinHardcover$17.12 shippingGet it as soon as Monday, Jul 24
Poor Charlie's Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger, Expanded Third EditionHardcover$24.21 shippingGet it as soon as Monday, Jul 24
Product details
- Publisher : Teledyne Corporation; 1st edition (January 1, 2007)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 316 pages
- ISBN-10 : 097913630X
- ISBN-13 : 978-0979136306
- Item Weight : 1 pounds
- Best Sellers Rank: #2,153,683 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
With that caveat out of the way, I took a lot out of "Distant Force". I believe this book has more information on Henry Singleton than any other. I have read "The Outsiders" - also good - but this has more meat and insights not found elsewhere. For example, did you know Singleton was an early investor in Apple? Or that "Family, Teledyne and Property" were the three major loves of Singleton's life (He never sold a house in which he lived and always held on to company real estate.)
You learn a lot about decentralisation - how Teledyne thought about getting the right people, making "bets on the men who seem to be performers", and giving responsibility to local managers. There is a lot on the personal side - how he thought about strategy and why Teledyne was structured the way it was. He wasn't just a financial guy, as mathematically minded as he was.
The pace of growth was astonishing. In the tenth year of business (1969), shareholder equity had grown at a compound annual rate of 94%, total assets 100% and EPS 72%. There is detail on how he bought in stock, to the benefit of all continuing shareholders. From 72' - 84', 90% of Teledyne stock was retired.
This book also dispels the "genius with a thousand helpers" commentary in a book from the popular author Jim Collins. Teledyne was not the same without Singleton but including spin offs the stock market return after his death was impressive.
Finally, there are some fascinating Singleton eulogies, including one from Arthur Rock. He says of Singleton: "He has a singleness of purpose and tenacity that is just overpowering... yes he is rather aloof, operating more or less by himself and dreaming up ideas in his corner office."
So, if you can wade through the technical detail, you will find this book well worth it to learn about Henry Singleton. If you want something less taxing, I recommend "The Outsiders" or look for "Distant Force" at the local library.



