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Work in Progress
Scores of books have been published about business, but rarely has a CEO as prominent as Michael Eisner of The Walt Disney Company written so intimately about his life and work. In Work in Progress , Eisner describes the daily challenge of a rapidly changing marketplace, countless creative choices, painful setbacks, and dramatic triumphs.
For more than thirty years, Michael Eisner has lived and worked at the center of American popular culture. At ABC, as a young executive, he helped bring to life shows such as Happy Days and the miniseries Roots. As president of Paramount Pictures, he was responsible for films ranging from Beverly Hills Cop and Raiders of the Lost Ark to Terms of Endearment and The Elephant Man . As chairman of The Walt Disney Company for the past fourteen years, he has orchestrated the transformation of a beloved but struggling company into a multimedia giant in movies, television, radio, theme parks, theater, and even cyberspace.
Having spent his life helping other people to tell stories, Eisner now tells his own-with humor, insight, and unstinting honesty. He recounts such significant events as the extraordinary revival of Disney's animation business and the negotiations for one of the largest acquisitions in corporate history-Cap Cities/ABC-which began in an Idaho parking lot. He is just as forthcoming about the early struggles of Disneyland Paris and the fierce opposition that finally helped to derail Disney's America. Blending the personal and the professional, he tells the stories of the tragic death of his partner and closest confidant, Frank Wells; his own emergency quadruple bypass surgery; the high-level personnel changes that followed; and the emergence of a new generation of young leaders at Disney.
Throughout Work in Progress , we watch Eisner grappling with the often paradoxical choices that he faces each day in managing a creative company. What is the proper balance between art and commerce, tradition and innovation, short-term profit and long-term growth, pragmatism and excellence -- the company's good and the greater good? Like no other business memoir, Work in Progress is a riveting tale of high-pressure life at the top--an ongoing drama about risking failure and surviving success.
Michael Eisner...
- On Disney -
At a certain level, what we do at Disney is very simple. We set our goals, aim for perfection, inevitably fall short, try to learn from our mistakes, and hope that our successes will continue to outnumber our failures. Above all, we tell stories, in the hope that they will entertain, inform and engage. These are mine.
- On a Gurney -
I felt unsettled, close to panic. Moments later, I experienced intense pain, not just in my arms, but also in my neck and chest. My anxiety was making the pain worse. The next thing I knew, I was being wheeled into the emergency room. All I could think of was ER, the pilot I'd just watched. Suddenly, I was living it.
- On Ideas -
When an idea can't be articulated simply, crisply, and accessibly, there is usually something wrong with it. When I hear a good idea, it has an effect on my mind and body. Sometimes, I feel it in my stomach, other times in my throat, still others on my skin-a kind of instant truth detector test.
- On Diet -
I grew up thinking vegetarians were weird and that special diets were for old people, like my Aunt Mannie and Cousin Ida. I began my special, nonfat vegetarian diet at half their age. Now I wish my kids would follow suit-just say no to drugs, unsafe friends, and unprotected saturated fat.
- On an Acquisition -
There was something extraordinary about the whole scene. I had run into Tisch, Buffett, and now Tom Murphy literally as I was prepared to leave Herb Allen's Sun Valley gathering. Murphy was about to head off with Buffett and Gates, two of the wealthiest businessmen in America, to play golf. In the meantime, here we were, standing together in a parking lot in the middle of Idaho, talking about a $20 billion transaction.
For more than thirty years, Michael Eisner has lived and worked at the center of American popular culture. At ABC, as a young executive, he helped bring to life shows such as Happy Days and the miniseries Roots. As president of Paramount Pictures, he was responsible for films ranging from Beverly Hills Cop and Raiders of the Lost Ark to Terms of Endearment and The Elephant Man . As chairman of The Walt Disney Company for the past fourteen years, he has orchestrated the transformation of a beloved but struggling company into a multimedia giant in movies, television, radio, theme parks, theater, and even cyberspace.
Having spent his life helping other people to tell stories, Eisner now tells his own-with humor, insight, and unstinting honesty. He recounts such significant events as the extraordinary revival of Disney's animation business and the negotiations for one of the largest acquisitions in corporate history-Cap Cities/ABC-which began in an Idaho parking lot. He is just as forthcoming about the early struggles of Disneyland Paris and the fierce opposition that finally helped to derail Disney's America. Blending the personal and the professional, he tells the stories of the tragic death of his partner and closest confidant, Frank Wells; his own emergency quadruple bypass surgery; the high-level personnel changes that followed; and the emergence of a new generation of young leaders at Disney.
Throughout Work in Progress , we watch Eisner grappling with the often paradoxical choices that he faces each day in managing a creative company. What is the proper balance between art and commerce, tradition and innovation, short-term profit and long-term growth, pragmatism and excellence -- the company's good and the greater good? Like no other business memoir, Work in Progress is a riveting tale of high-pressure life at the top--an ongoing drama about risking failure and surviving success.
Michael Eisner...
- On Disney -
At a certain level, what we do at Disney is very simple. We set our goals, aim for perfection, inevitably fall short, try to learn from our mistakes, and hope that our successes will continue to outnumber our failures. Above all, we tell stories, in the hope that they will entertain, inform and engage. These are mine.
- On a Gurney -
I felt unsettled, close to panic. Moments later, I experienced intense pain, not just in my arms, but also in my neck and chest. My anxiety was making the pain worse. The next thing I knew, I was being wheeled into the emergency room. All I could think of was ER, the pilot I'd just watched. Suddenly, I was living it.
- On Ideas -
When an idea can't be articulated simply, crisply, and accessibly, there is usually something wrong with it. When I hear a good idea, it has an effect on my mind and body. Sometimes, I feel it in my stomach, other times in my throat, still others on my skin-a kind of instant truth detector test.
- On Diet -
I grew up thinking vegetarians were weird and that special diets were for old people, like my Aunt Mannie and Cousin Ida. I began my special, nonfat vegetarian diet at half their age. Now I wish my kids would follow suit-just say no to drugs, unsafe friends, and unprotected saturated fat.
- On an Acquisition -
There was something extraordinary about the whole scene. I had run into Tisch, Buffett, and now Tom Murphy literally as I was prepared to leave Herb Allen's Sun Valley gathering. Murphy was about to head off with Buffett and Gates, two of the wealthiest businessmen in America, to play golf. In the meantime, here we were, standing together in a parking lot in the middle of Idaho, talking about a $20 billion transaction.
450 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
36 people are currently reading
491 people want to read
About the author
Michael D. Eisner
12 books23 followersRetired Chair and CEO of Walt Disney: Former President, Paramount Pictures Corp: Former Head of West Coast, ABC Television Network
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 20, 2022
Eisner has an interesting life story, but this book could have easily been half as long as it is.
December 22, 2020
To read this book in 2020 is a unique experience, given that we know all about the successes and failures that Disney has endured since the book was published. Reading about Eisner's prediction that the internet will change the television and film industries, though proving he was right, can be laborious at times.
That said, there is some juicy stuff here. His relationship with Jeffrey Katzenberg is described at detail...even if with a fair level of bias. Being a child of the 90s myself, I was very interested in Michael's conversations about the Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and other touchstones of my youth. That said... the biography of the late Steve Jobs spoke at length about the relationship between Jobs and Eisner and their collaborate effort to produce Toy Story. I would have loved to have heard some of Eisner's take on the same story.
I read Eisner's autobiography as a third installment in a series of books about the Walt Disney empire. Previously I read "Disney's Land" and "Walt Disney: An American Original." Both of those were true biographies, written through the eyes of others. It's hard to compare Eisner's book to those - he certainly had different motivations in writing it, but his book is less "fun" in comparison. I recommend it to those that are a) interested in thoughts of corporate leadership, theres lots of small nuggets of wisdom along the way, b) uniquely interested in the inner workings of Disney's film/television business, or c) looking for some hard sought waves of 90s nostalgia.
That said, there is some juicy stuff here. His relationship with Jeffrey Katzenberg is described at detail...even if with a fair level of bias. Being a child of the 90s myself, I was very interested in Michael's conversations about the Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and other touchstones of my youth. That said... the biography of the late Steve Jobs spoke at length about the relationship between Jobs and Eisner and their collaborate effort to produce Toy Story. I would have loved to have heard some of Eisner's take on the same story.
I read Eisner's autobiography as a third installment in a series of books about the Walt Disney empire. Previously I read "Disney's Land" and "Walt Disney: An American Original." Both of those were true biographies, written through the eyes of others. It's hard to compare Eisner's book to those - he certainly had different motivations in writing it, but his book is less "fun" in comparison. I recommend it to those that are a) interested in thoughts of corporate leadership, theres lots of small nuggets of wisdom along the way, b) uniquely interested in the inner workings of Disney's film/television business, or c) looking for some hard sought waves of 90s nostalgia.
September 14, 2019
Very interesting, but nothing I'll ever reread
January 7, 2023
Very interesting read on the amazing growth of Disney. Book was well written and enjoyable. Looking to read other books on the Disney Co and about to start Bob Iger’s book 😊
August 26, 2024
I was invested until my Kindle hit 50% (about the time that Frank passes) and then the story just kinda dragged on. A one time read for sure.
May 2, 2013
Eisner's very own personal highlight reel. Don't go looking for any hints to Disney's success, any shared business acumen, or even any lessons from mistakes. The only thing you learn is Disney and Eisner are successful at telling stories and a good story has to have a beginning, a middle, and an end. He speaks of reworking the second or third act, but gives no clues as to what the problems were, how they were handled, or what made the uncompelling story suddenly a compelling blockbuster. Still, I read, holding out to the end, hoping for insight. I think his wife was correct - executives should not write a mid-career memoir.
May 9, 2014
3.5 stars. If you are interested in this chapter of Disney's history then I recommend checking out the book Disney War by James B Stewart. It gives a "behind the scenes" look at all the events Eisner describes but arguably from a more unbiased perspective.
Work in Progress is a play-by-play of Eisner's work at Disney, up to 1998. He is cocky but that's probably what makes him a successful ceo. Don't read this book if you're looking for interesting anecdotes on the creative work of Disney. Instead, this book chronicles the business of Disney, from staff structure to acquisition deals.
Work in Progress is a play-by-play of Eisner's work at Disney, up to 1998. He is cocky but that's probably what makes him a successful ceo. Don't read this book if you're looking for interesting anecdotes on the creative work of Disney. Instead, this book chronicles the business of Disney, from staff structure to acquisition deals.
November 28, 2012
I read this book soon after it came out. While it was interesting to read about how Eisner came to be President and CEO of Disney, it was rather absurd the way he spent most of the time stroking his own ego. If you're looking for a good "story" this is a good book. If you're looking for business advice or an accurate description of what life was like inside Eisner's Disney empire I'd recommend looking elsewhere.
I guess that should be expected of an autobiography, though.
I guess that should be expected of an autobiography, though.
June 25, 2008
Really interesting, even if you're not an Eisner fan, it covers a lot of the history in the entertainment industry and at Disney. It is a bit dated, and it's kind of funny to hear about their new ventures in Animal Kingdom and China. Also, it does have some dated business styles, which are still widely practiced today, but not in a social media world.
January 13, 2013
This is an interesting book about the trials and tribulations of Eisner's time at Disney. Yes..he is an egomaniac but he did some great things during his time at Disney. As a result, thousands of people owe him a "thank you" for his hard work and dedication.
Is this a GREAT business book..NO. Is it worth reading..YES..especially if you are a fan of the work he did at Disney.
Is this a GREAT business book..NO. Is it worth reading..YES..especially if you are a fan of the work he did at Disney.
September 18, 2011
I read this book for a leadership class in grad school...I think the concepts Eisner includes are great for anyone wanting to be a better leader. I have too many points underlined in the book to even count...it serves as a reference book of sorts for me.
June 24, 2014
What had really stuck with me is how Disney leverages assets so much better than anyone else and how this creates not only incredible profits but also a sustainable competitive advantage that still holds today. Not enough companies really understand leverage and how to benefit from it.
April 14, 2008
Michael Eisner... some say saviour... others say not.
This autobiography gives his own version of his rise to head the Disney empire - filled with otherwise unknown facts.
This autobiography gives his own version of his rise to head the Disney empire - filled with otherwise unknown facts.
August 21, 2009
Fascinating. My main memories of Michael Eisner are of hosting the "Wonderful World of Disney" on Sunday nights.
February 5, 2013
A self-serving hagiography. Really, everything in this book is utter B.S. -- trust me, I worked in Hollywood during Eisner's reign. Pass.
March 30, 2013
A should-read autobiograpy on leadership for knowledge workers, managers, directors, C-levels, and entrepreneurs.
April 16, 2013
I enjoyed the stories of risk, failure and ultimate success. Too often we're afraid to try because we might fail. We need to realize that its a "work in progress"
September 28, 2014
Provides good insight into Disney's organization, decision making with regards to business acquisitions, site selections and deal structuring and failures during Michael Eisner's term through 1998.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews