Tesco
The Maverick and His Machine
Book

The Maverick and His Machine

Thomas Watson Sr. and the Making of IBM

Kevin Maney
Wiley, 2003

Read or listen offline

автоматическое преобразование текста в аудио
  • 0.5×
  • 0.75×
  • 1×
  • 1.25×
  • 1.5×
  • 1.75×
1×
автоматическое преобразование текста в аудио

Editorial Rating

8

Recommendation

This book seems to have been written primarily because the author learned about the existence of boxes of Thomas Watson’s papers that had never been read by any biographer or journalist. In some cases, the author’s access to these new materials does help fill in some minor gaps in the existing accounts of Watson’s life. And cumulatively, they take some of the shine off the legend, impressing upon one how humdrum the daily life of even a business titan must be. This book is reasonably well written and packed with memorable anecdotes. While it doesn’t offer stunning new insights, getAbstract commends it as a readable, accessible and balanced introduction to one of the greatest executives of the twentieth century.

Take-Aways

  • Tom Watson, IBM’s original CEO, was a maverick.
  • Watson wasn’t afraid to make big bets and take big risks.
  • He was a cunning and ruthless strategist.

About the Author

Kevin Maney is a technology columnist for USA Today. The business journalism publication TJFR voted him the best technology columnist, and Marketing Computers magazine has named him one of the most influential technology columnists. He is the author of Megamedia Shakeout, a BusinessWeek bestseller.

Comment on this summary or Начать обсуждение

  • Avatar
    Sign in to share your opinion
  • Avatar
    R. A. 6 years ago
    Great book, great bio of Mr Watson Sr
    The author describes him clear and real as when run IBM.

    Watson was charisma, hardworking and innovation.
    Selling great products in the States mostly, but after 1930 internationally.

    As Mr Ford he made business with Nazi Germany.
    That showed his ruthless and greedy side.