Be My Guest

by Conrad N. Hilton

Be My Guest is a story about a inspiring saga of the man behind one of America's great success stories. Conrad Hilton was born in San Antonio, Socorro County, Territory of New Mexico. Born with a family of six which are two sister name Felice & Eva, brother Carl, his mother Mary Laufersweiler Hilton & father name Augustus Holver Hilton or Gus. His father was a big man physically-a robust six-footer with big hands, big feet, handlebar mustaches, and a big voice. Gus bought his first hotel in Cisco, Texas & built his first hotel in Dallas, Texas.

Then bought the second hotel which is the famous Waldorf Astoria, New York in 1931 fifteen years later became a Hilton Hotel. He (Gus) had been his first big dream & he worked harder making it a reality, suffered more heartbreak, struggled against bigger odds over this infinitesimal building in the middle of nowhere than at any other time in my career, barring the Depression. Conrad Hilton went to Goss Military Institute in Albuquerque, he was almost twelve. At Fifteen, he met his wife Helen Keller. She has written a book called Optimism. In the book, she wrote about "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope." And summed up by stating that "Optimismis the harmony between man's spirit and the spirit of God pronouncing His works good." At sixteenth his father had sold the coal mines for 10,000, which in those days made him one of the richest men in the Territory. In 1904 the dollar was worth something. Men worked a dollar a day and on that lived decently and raised family of five or six. With 00,000 Gus was a millionaire.

Genres: Business, Biography, Nonfiction, History, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Audiobook

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1957

Reviews

[Lobstergirl · Rating 1 out of 5]

With the theme song "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the Beast ringing in my ears, I skimmed Be My Guest as rapidly as possible. My hopes were low, and they were met. My curiosity about this patriarch of a herd of badly-behaved socialites, sex-tape entrepreneurs, and other frivolous descendants had limits.

I suddenly realized amid the Horatio-Algeresque storytelling of a young man with big ambitions that I was reading about Hilton's failing marriage to Zsa Zsa Gabor, so I backtracked to find out how this blessed event had happened. Without Hilton's active participation, apparently.

"I theenk I am going to marry you," said Zsa Zsa to Conrad Hilton at a fancy dinner party, the divorcée and the divorcé meeting for the first time. Four months later it happened. "It is difficult to figure out now how I ... wound up before a judge ... entering into a civil marriage ceremony..." recalled Hilton a little over a decade later. He chalked it up to being an incurable romantic, which certainly sounds a lot better than "horny toad."

Sadly, Hilton could no longer take Roman Catholic communion (he was devout). Also Zsa Zsa ran up the bills, and Conrad was shocked "to discover that beauty can be a full-time affair." For two hours every morning Zsa Zsa applied creams and tried on brooches, scarves and perfumes. "At twelve o'clock Beauty took itself off to an elegant luncheon club which was, I suppose, its proper setting. It then shopped 'til around three and returned to settle once more before the dressing table." Divorce soon followed.

Hilton doesn't even mention his daughter with Gabor, Constance Francesca. I had to find out about her from Wikipedia. "At the time of her death [at age 67], Hilton had been homeless and living out of her car for some time," it notes.

Nor, like another world-famous hotelier, does he much mention his son Eric. When Hilton split from his first wife Mary, she took the youngest, Eric, to live with her, and Conrad took Nick and Barron.

Conrad's son Nick married Elizabeth Taylor, whose photograph he had fallen in love with. He pestered her Hollywood studio until she finally agreed to a date. But the marriage was doomed: again, Beauty is not something that can be successfully married.

If Elizabeth had been just a shade less beautiful --
If she had been a counter girl at Macy's instead of a movie star --

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring, motivating, encouraging, uplifting, epic.

I picked up this book in a Hilton hotel room years ago. I finally decided to read it and am so glad that I did. This book is a keeper! I'm shocked that I haven't heard anyone rave about it before!

Conrad Hilton was a man of conviction, and integrity. His story is an exquisite example of living to one's potential, of operating out of a spirit of abundance, of the importance of having a dream and of being faithful to that dream. It's also a story about the power of prayer.

The interesting story and character of the man who wrote the book are not the only reasons that I liked this book so much. I also liked it because it had a nice pace, details, and it flowed well. I looked forward to every chapter and every page and frankly, I am a little sad that I finished it. I'm about to get corny on you here.... I felt like Connie ( as he was called ) was my friend, or perhaps an uncle. He poured into me all kinds of wisdom through the pages that chronicled his life and I am thankful that he wrote this book.

I was going to list a few kinds of people who should read this book, but then I hit delete because I realized that EVERYONE should read this book. It's a great piece of personal development.

[Krystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let ms preface this by stating that I never would have read this book had I not been stating in a Hilton and noticed the free copy in the nightstand. However, I actually liked it. I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could. An interesting story about the man who started the chain of Hilton hotels. I just wish some of his character, integrity, and common sense would have rubbed off on his great-grandaughter, Paris!

[Spencer Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best biographies I have ever read. most writers gloss over their formative years and on page 10 do their first big deal. Hilton took a third of the book before he bought his first hotel. The most informative part was his Great Depression years where he was theoretically bankrupt. he showed his resilience and became ,in his time, the most known hotelier in the US. One wonders why his heirs aren't as resourceful as he was.

[Lani · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a book I got free at a hotel, this was a shockingly enjoyable read!

I'd tried to read it previously, but was distracted by something and was left with a kind of "meh" attitude about it. So this slim little paperback has been gracing my to-read shelf for a couple of years for no real reason.

Finally picked it up while waiting for my books to ship from Amazon, and really enjoyed almost the entire book. Hilton lived a fascinating life, particularly as he watched the 20th century move forward. Raised out West, Hilton's life story is pretty inspiring with dramatic highs and lows. Also, I had no idea he was married to Zsa Zsa Gabor, nor that his son was married to Elizabeth Taylor?! Weird.

Hilton is very up front about his faith and his belief in God and the power of prayer. For most of the book this is presented as an important part of his success, if not the sole reason for it. Clearly Hilton worked hard, made sacrifices, and has a real talent for his work and he is inspired by his faith. The last few chapters of the book were a letdown however. One chapter is an extremely dated anti-Communist manifesto, another is much too preachy, and the last is too self-help-y.

Over all though, I enjoyed the book. It was an interesting enough life story told in a short enough length to be totally worth the read. I zipped through most of it, and the last few chapters aren't terribly long. Were I looking for some sort of inspiration or business advice, I might even have found them inspiring. Even Hilton's preachiness is pretty palatable.

I think this one got 4 stars for the surprise it gave me. Much MUCH better than I anticipated.

[Melinda Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for an insight into the business savvy that made Hilton such a big success. Surely there would be some wise words regarding innovation, motivation and business strategy?

The book is more a relic of its time, and has not aged well for a more broad reading audience. The language is like being transported back into the 1950's and the slang used is quite unusual (as I'm sure things like 'on fleek' will be in 60 years or so).

The other big issue I had with this book was its religious emphasis. Any challenges that Conrad had were overcome by prayer. Some might find that inspiring, but I don't.

[David Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book I read to research this post was Be My Guest by Conrad Hilton which is a very good book which I bought from a local secondhand bookstore. This book was written in 1957 but is essentially an autobiography about how he built up the Hilton Group of hotels. At that time there were many luxury hotels like the Waldorf Astoria in New York going out of business and he bought them up cheaply. Many of his gains were made when there was a recession and he knew there was a market for luxury hotels. Of course the wealthy will always have to stop in a luxury hotel whether or not there is a recession. One of his substantial gains was made in Hawaii in 1941 when World War 2 was going on and many thought the Japanese might land there. He thought if the Japs land there we're all done for and bought a luxury hotel in Honolulu quite cheaply. He did his research and checked the hotel was empty beforehand. Of course he had lots of money when he needed it and bought one hotel chain for $111 million. This is a fascinatinating account of how someone built a business empire and I really enjoyed it. Many businesses cut back on investment when there is a recession which is exactly the time when it's cheapest and the time to strike. This version of the book contains a foreword by his son Barron Hilton. At one stage he was so poor a bellboy had to give him enough money to buy something to eat.

[Clinton Sweet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was interested to learn how in four generations the Hilton name changes from hotel developer with Conrad to slutsville with Paris. But it didn't tap into this. The book was published in 1957 so most references from 1890 go over my head. Conrad seemed to cite prayer as his main reason for success? Started his life with some grounding, ie boarding school and a father who successfully owned and ran a store. His chain of hotels is largely due to a lot of hard work and small steps, and uses some very basic and transparent formulas. It was a good read whilst I was here and now I can sadly pen out Paris' family tree :(

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book completely surprised me. I went into it with little expectation and found myself totally engrossed in the story of how Conrad Hilton built his empire. What astonished me most was his impressive character, his devotion to God and humility, and his incredible ability to story-tell. I truly, truly enjoyed every page of this book, and will always consider myself a fan of C.N. Hilton!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

i'm not quite halfway yet and have been distracted by other reads lately but I am eager to get back to this as I am throughly enjoying it!

update: now that I've finished I can say I throughly enjoyed this book and have a lot of respect for him as a businessman. too bad the upstanding character traits didn't seem to be passed down...

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book while on a vacation at a Hilton in N. Redington Beach. It really made my husband mad. Woops.

[Szergej Korol]

Only some words -> Great history about grean Man , with teach more in life

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly good, traces the path from a humble, rural, western childhood to a world financial leader. Don't judge him by his descendants.

[Cassie Buckner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had low expectations of this book, but it kept me interested. In a near rags-to-riches autobiography, it was interesting to learn the Hilton corporation’s meager roots. A God-fearing, but zealous for life fellow, Conrad Hilton had and experienced it all: WWI, the Great Depression, divorce, marriage to celebrity, and the pleasure to watch his sons take similar steps all while building arguably the best known hotel chain in the world. I wonder what he’d think of Paris....

[Anthony Mormile · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating glimpse of Conrad Hilton’s business/life philosophy. It is quite inspiring on the surface, but if you listen or read closely, there’s a cautionary tale whispered in the margins about what is sacrificed in the pursuit of climbing that mountain of success.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up at a second hand bookshop in Paris for €1 and ever since that moment it has been a boon to my life. One eye-opening book about what it takes in the real world to succeed. The autobiography provides a new perspective for the narrow minded as well as those who are still confused and hesitant about life. Over the one month reading this book, I find it drastically affects the way I work and think. I never thought that C.Hilton's life journey can provide so many lessons. I learned to work hard, to lead with humble and charisma, that everything can be neogiated, early life (lack of) success is not deterministic of the future, that one must dare to dream and chase after it, that one must be ethusiastic in what they do, that with great success comes great loss, and the view of the Capitalist in the Communist world. It fuels me the energy and drive to constantly move forward. What a satisfying, once-in-a-lifetime read. If only the books that I have and will read be as good as this one.

[Joslyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

small book, lots of interesting stories of life in new mexico when it was still a territory and, of course, stories of how he built the hilton hotel empire. in plain and anecdotal speech. although his catholic faith is a feature, he's sincere not preachy. the only section that didn't age well is one of the last small chapters about the (then current) red scare. in all, an interesting look at the ups, downs, & disasters of building a business, as well as the early days of the southwest settling. he seemed like a good guy anyone would want to work with & know. i think he'd be utterly horrified by some of his family these days.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give it 3.5 stars if possible. When I started the book I never thought I would finish but am so happy I did. This is the story of the rise of the Hilton hotels and Conrad "Connie" Hilton. It is a story of determination and failure and more determination. I highly admire Conrad Hilton - such a hard working man with such vision foresight. He is such a Catholic man with such devotion to God and his faith. Conrad is the picture of a honest business man who continued to fall on his face but kept getting up because he had dreams. The last chapter gives you insight into his "Art of Living" with advice on how to enjoy life and be happy!

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent autobiography about Conrad Hilton and how he built an empire from the little motel, the Mobley in Cisco, Texas to later acquisitions like the Waldorf Astoria, The Morris Hotel (later the Conrad Hilton and Towers) and many others. It gives one an insight into the man and the business tycoon. One learns of his dedication to serving the customer and to always striving for excellence.

[Julie Woodfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilton's mother was an amazing example of religious devotion and faith. Loved the lessons she taught her children of persistence, hard work, and prayer. While her son Conrad developed these same attributes, it was a shame his work ethic seemed to apply just to his career. As with anything, there must be balance in life. True Mr. Hilton became very successful materially, but he paid a very heavy price for that success.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up free in a Hilton Hotel room, facing a long plane ride with nothing else to read. I enjoyed it very much. I was especially fascinated how Hilton finally ended up in the hotel business and how he survived the enormous challenges and enjoyed the immense rewards of his business career. The book also has good insights into a man of faith.

[Jill Kemerer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an inspiring book! My favorite aspect of this wonderful autobiography was the faith message. Everything this man did revolved around prayer! His mother sounded amazing too.

Other things I enjoyed? He wasn't afraid to admit his shortcomings. I also gained a deeper understanding of American business across the last century and how the American Southwest developed.

I loved this book!

[Steve]

I received this book from the concierge while staying at a Hilton hotel in upstate NY. If you like Lee Iacocca's book, you'll enjoy this too; it reads like an interesting airplane conversation. I'll write a full review when I finish the book... if I remember.

[Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

An awesome biography of a daydreamer and a idealistic yet savvy business man who makes something out of nothing. I was required to read this book for work and it quickly became one of my favorites; I would recommend it to anyone.

[David Rosage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I picked up this book at a hotel I stayed at as a child. Over my vacation I read the whole book and have kept it on my book shelf ever since. It is a great story of a man who started at humble beginning and achieved great wealth over the course of his life.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in my room during my latest stay at a Hilton. It is a great book. While it is intended to be Conrad's biography I found it contained many great antidotes for life and solid principles for running a business. Great book.

[Angelo Vassallo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The history of a great man narrated by himself. The courage he shows in different occasions of his life pushes you to continue to fight for your own success in your professional life but overall to continue to dream “great dream”.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relevant, amazing, inspiring ... I'm reading this book for the second time and am so glad. I'm discovering so much ... it was his imperfections, his humbleness, his faith and can do spirit that made him the visionary he was throughout his life. He will inspire you too ... a great read.

[Daniel J. Rowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of the Mad Men reading list from S03E07 when Peggy says she's read his book. I'm looking forward to how reading the book adds to Connie's character in the show. Very interesting and entertaining book.

[Michael Coté]

This the Gideon bible of Hilton hotels. If you're staying at a Hilton, maybe you'll get "luck" and find this!