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Succeeding Against the Odds: The Autobiography of a Great Businessman
One of America’s wealthiest entrepreneurs, John H. Johnson rose from the welfare rolls of the Depression to become the most successful Black businessman in American history; the founder of Ebony, Jet, and EM magazines; and a member of the Forbes 400. Like the man himself, this autobiography is brash, inspirational, and truly unforgettable.
372 pages, Hardcover
Published May 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 17, 2022
2021-03-21 I read this book not too long (1-4 years) after it came out in 1989 for several reasons:
1. John H. Johnson's career and businesses were located not far from my offices in Chicago's loop.
2. His career and businesses were quite pathbreaking and successful.
3. His principles and success seemed based on a pretty good understanding of the marketplace and NOT connected with government at all. In other words, he persuaded people to sell them his goods and services, he did not FORCE them to pay for what he provided or the ideas/policies he came up with.
4. I was hoping to convince him to support The Heartland Institute, where I was the development director and perhaps be more open to supporting free market ideas as opposed to authoritarian ones that the Democratic party and other semi-political groups kept promoting.
I really liked the book, and seemingly, the man. It was very cool to see how he rose through very hard work, focus and constant changes to the conditions of the market (what people really wanted to buy, vs. what he thought at first that they wanted). How his family was very important to his success. How having a "front street" address for one's business can be worth the costs by giving the business an advantage.
Loved how he talked about being appointed to some big company board and how he made real contributions to that company by using his experience and critical thinking to apply it
to that business's issues.
I do recommend this book if any of my reasons above interest you too.
1. John H. Johnson's career and businesses were located not far from my offices in Chicago's loop.
2. His career and businesses were quite pathbreaking and successful.
3. His principles and success seemed based on a pretty good understanding of the marketplace and NOT connected with government at all. In other words, he persuaded people to sell them his goods and services, he did not FORCE them to pay for what he provided or the ideas/policies he came up with.
4. I was hoping to convince him to support The Heartland Institute, where I was the development director and perhaps be more open to supporting free market ideas as opposed to authoritarian ones that the Democratic party and other semi-political groups kept promoting.
I really liked the book, and seemingly, the man. It was very cool to see how he rose through very hard work, focus and constant changes to the conditions of the market (what people really wanted to buy, vs. what he thought at first that they wanted). How his family was very important to his success. How having a "front street" address for one's business can be worth the costs by giving the business an advantage.
Loved how he talked about being appointed to some big company board and how he made real contributions to that company by using his experience and critical thinking to apply it
to that business's issues.
I do recommend this book if any of my reasons above interest you too.
February 11, 2013
What a read? Captivating as well as edifying: John H Johnson takes you on a ride from being a boy in the deep south to dinning at the table of presidents. The most rewarding thing about the book are the life lessons you learn about overcoming the odds stacked against you.
February 6, 2017
Absolutely loved this intriguing, soul lifting and mind shifting autobiography of a great business man. John H. Johnson said that the only failure is failing to try. I firmly agree. A great American story. An inspiration and a collectors piece.
September 11, 2017
Very intriguing.
December 6, 2020
A great book on a powerful enterprenuer
July 7, 2024
Great short biography of the founder of Jet and Ebony magazine. A trailblazer of the black community. Great businesses stories and interactions with public figures.
June 20, 2011
Excellent read. He probably could’ve made millions more solely as a business guru on the lecture circuit.
March 13, 2013
Read this about 20 years ago I still pick it up and skim a chapter or two, great lessons and ideas.
September 23, 2014
Inspiring. Spoiler alert: By "odds", he means "mad racism".
March 30, 2017
I promised myself that I would stop writing reviews, in an effort too finish my 2017 GoodReads goal of 100 books. However, this book was incredible and changed my life. I often read and research people I admire and find fascinating; doing in-depth research into their successes and failures and reflections over the course of the process that we call life. These individuals are of different races, genders, ethnicities, social stature, and are also from different moments throughout history. What excites, intrigues, and inspires me about these individuals are the common thread of them being able to overcome adverse life circumstances and walk into there God given purpose; this often referred to as ones Dharma.
I am a young African male that has run several businesses and has embraced an entrepreneurial spirit. I have had a very adverse upbringing and have found that many of my modern day heroes often shared my common struggle, but missed some of the specific issues that can only be fully appreciated by a African American man starting, owning and running his own business. I wasn’t t fully aware of the story of John H. Johnson, and came across this book by happen stance. If I'm not mistaken it was recommended by Amazon, after I finished reading another book about Reginald F. Lewis (another prominent African American business man, rarely discussed in today’s conversation of innovative and massively successful business men.). I didn’t think much of the book at first, the cover art and font choice screamed “out dated”, and the fact that it had been written by Johnson himself, made me a little skeptical that it would be no more than a self indulged puff piece, which would omit key moments and failures needed to truly help me relate to the day to day struggle and details involved in the perception of “success “.
With that being said, Johnson is now in my opinion the of the greatest business minds of the last 100 years. From the opening introduction into his birth, and love of his single mother who helped him to move to Chicago from Arkansas, after a tragic flood in which they lost everything. To his introduction into the business world and the start of his first magazine with the assistance of a $500 loan from his mother. The book openly discusses race relations, politics, business ventures , and even skims over relationships. This man was the first over many, dredging into unknown territories, and paving the way for Black entrepreneurs. I found myself book marking, quoting, and memorizing almost every paragraph. The only downside too the book is when it ended, I wanted more, I wanted a movie based on his life, I wanted to dig up Mr. Johnson and demand that he sit down and speak with me and guide me. I will be purchasing a copy of this book for my own personal use.
I am a young African male that has run several businesses and has embraced an entrepreneurial spirit. I have had a very adverse upbringing and have found that many of my modern day heroes often shared my common struggle, but missed some of the specific issues that can only be fully appreciated by a African American man starting, owning and running his own business. I wasn’t t fully aware of the story of John H. Johnson, and came across this book by happen stance. If I'm not mistaken it was recommended by Amazon, after I finished reading another book about Reginald F. Lewis (another prominent African American business man, rarely discussed in today’s conversation of innovative and massively successful business men.). I didn’t think much of the book at first, the cover art and font choice screamed “out dated”, and the fact that it had been written by Johnson himself, made me a little skeptical that it would be no more than a self indulged puff piece, which would omit key moments and failures needed to truly help me relate to the day to day struggle and details involved in the perception of “success “.
With that being said, Johnson is now in my opinion the of the greatest business minds of the last 100 years. From the opening introduction into his birth, and love of his single mother who helped him to move to Chicago from Arkansas, after a tragic flood in which they lost everything. To his introduction into the business world and the start of his first magazine with the assistance of a $500 loan from his mother. The book openly discusses race relations, politics, business ventures , and even skims over relationships. This man was the first over many, dredging into unknown territories, and paving the way for Black entrepreneurs. I found myself book marking, quoting, and memorizing almost every paragraph. The only downside too the book is when it ended, I wanted more, I wanted a movie based on his life, I wanted to dig up Mr. Johnson and demand that he sit down and speak with me and guide me. I will be purchasing a copy of this book for my own personal use.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews