Crash: Why the Big Three Stumbled and How the American Auto Industry Will Rise Again

by David Magee

While it spent more than three quarters of a century as the world’s largest automaker, by 2008 General Motors had ceded its top position, teetered on the fringes of bankruptcy, and was looking, with increasing desperation, for a way out. Ford and Chrysler, who round out America’s Big Three automakers, were in the same position. How did the industry fall so quickly from the SUV-fueled euphoria of the turn of the century to the death spiral days of 2008? This groundbreaking investigation, based on unparalleled access and reporting, shows exactly why the Big Three failed and explains how both American citizens and businesses alike can learn from this failure and become strong as a result.

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

About the author

David Magee is the bestselling author of the award-winning Dear William: A Father’s Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love and Loss, a Publisher’s Weekly bestseller featured on CBS Mornings, and other books including his forthcoming memoir is A Little Crazy (September, 2024), a sequel to Dear William, about mental health and finding purpose and joy written in his inspirational and vulnerable voice.

He's also host of the new podcast (launching Sept. 10, 2024) A Little Crazy. Learn more at www.alittlecrazy.com.

David is a sought-after speaker in communities, business, schools and universities, about mental health and substance misuse challenges and solutions, and he was involved in creating the William Magee Center and the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing at the University of Mississippi, named after his late son.

Previously, David was a daily newspaper publisher, a media company president, small business owner, a regular guest on CNBC, and once hosted a national cable TV and radio program (The David Magee Show).

He and his wife Kent, a yoga for addiction teacher, live in Oxford, Mississippi.