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Trammell Crow, Master Builder: The Story of America's Largest Real Estate Empire
Brings alive the story of Trammell Crow--the visionary real estate developer whose brilliant career served to shape the future of the field. Follows Crow from his origins as a small-time real estate dealer to his transformation into a corporate symbol. Discusses the bold methods that Crow used to build the most influential real estate company in America. Includes an examination of how Crow's risky strategy of making all principals partners in his firm and offering equity interest to deal managers paid off with spectacular profits. A lively account of Crow's mission to break all the rules and become the greatest builder of our age.
254 pages, Hardcover
First published June 29, 1989
10 people are currently reading
334 people want to read
About the author
Robert Sobel
86 books18 followersRobert Sobel was an American professor of history at Hofstra University, and a well-known and prolific writer of business histories. He was also a chess Master, who represented the United States at the 1957 and 1958 Student chess Olympiads; he defeated thirteen-year-old future World Champion Bobby Fischer at Montreal 1956.
Despite his prolific writings in business history, he is most famous for his single novel, For Want of a Nail, an alternate history of the United States.
Despite his prolific writings in business history, he is most famous for his single novel, For Want of a Nail, an alternate history of the United States.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 5, 2021
I'll be honest; I found Sobel's story on Trammell Crow while perusing my dad's library in the depth of the coronavirus crisis. After several years of reading digitally, I've relearned an appreciation for the tangibility (and smell!) of real, live books.
Sobel's book covers Trammell Crow's childhood to the late 1980s when Trammell had officially stepped down from head of the business to an advisory role. Why should you be interested in Trammell Crow? I'll let a quote from Sobel provide an answer:
"When asked to compare Crow and Trump, one rival real estate tycoon snorted. 'Donald Trump can look out his window and see almost everything he owns. Trammell Crow is all over the world and hasn't even seen many of the buildings he has erected and manages.'"
Trammell's company kicked off the careers of several of my friends' parents, and my dad worked there before leaving to pursue his MBA. He was so successful at developing talent that most developers in Texas trace their roots to Crow's organization. The man is a legend.
Sobel's book, while informative, lacks a cohesive narrative. The book jumps from deal to deal and year to year, leaving much of the organizational commentary for the back 1/4 where, without the deal commentary, the narrative dries up into a bare-bones, elongated Bloomberg article. The information presented is fascinating but poorly organized, and I found it challenging to stay focused during some stretches despite my interest in the subject.
To be fair, most business stories lack a clear narrative and don't hold up over time except as a period piece, or as books for people genuinely interested in the subject matter. Think Barbarians at the Gate or any recent book on the shale boom. If you aren't in PE / IB or oil & gas, you will likely never read these books and won't be missing much.
Altogether, 3/5. Great information but subpar execution and narrative.
Sobel's book covers Trammell Crow's childhood to the late 1980s when Trammell had officially stepped down from head of the business to an advisory role. Why should you be interested in Trammell Crow? I'll let a quote from Sobel provide an answer:
"When asked to compare Crow and Trump, one rival real estate tycoon snorted. 'Donald Trump can look out his window and see almost everything he owns. Trammell Crow is all over the world and hasn't even seen many of the buildings he has erected and manages.'"
Trammell's company kicked off the careers of several of my friends' parents, and my dad worked there before leaving to pursue his MBA. He was so successful at developing talent that most developers in Texas trace their roots to Crow's organization. The man is a legend.
Sobel's book, while informative, lacks a cohesive narrative. The book jumps from deal to deal and year to year, leaving much of the organizational commentary for the back 1/4 where, without the deal commentary, the narrative dries up into a bare-bones, elongated Bloomberg article. The information presented is fascinating but poorly organized, and I found it challenging to stay focused during some stretches despite my interest in the subject.
To be fair, most business stories lack a clear narrative and don't hold up over time except as a period piece, or as books for people genuinely interested in the subject matter. Think Barbarians at the Gate or any recent book on the shale boom. If you aren't in PE / IB or oil & gas, you will likely never read these books and won't be missing much.
Altogether, 3/5. Great information but subpar execution and narrative.
August 20, 2013
Best book on real estate I have read by a wide margin. Author does an outstanding job describing the dynamics of Crow's company. The book provides thoughtful insight into many of the major issues that real estate owners/developers encounter while trying to build a company.
This is a book I will recommend any partner/employee I work with read. If I would have read it three years ago, I could have avoided three major professional mistakes that this book warns against.
It is as much about the genesis and growth of the Trammell Crow Companies as it is about Trammell Crow himself. The Art of the Deal by Donald Trump is a considered the quintessential "deal book" by many real estate professionals. The Art of the Deal is probably an easier and more interesting read, but doesn't hold a candle to Trammell Crow: Master Builder in terms of useful content.
This is a book I will recommend any partner/employee I work with read. If I would have read it three years ago, I could have avoided three major professional mistakes that this book warns against.
It is as much about the genesis and growth of the Trammell Crow Companies as it is about Trammell Crow himself. The Art of the Deal by Donald Trump is a considered the quintessential "deal book" by many real estate professionals. The Art of the Deal is probably an easier and more interesting read, but doesn't hold a candle to Trammell Crow: Master Builder in terms of useful content.
September 17, 2018
Classic Tale about Trammell Crow - one of the Best in the real estate Business. In the early 80's, fresh out of college, I had the opportunity to work for one of the divisions, Crow Development Company. The lessons learned in identifying properties, valuation, strategy, and negotiations were priceless! Many I still apply to my business and life today. Karen Briscoe, author, concept creator and podcast host "5 Minute Success"
June 16, 2017
A great real estate bio. Trammel did it all, first and big. He build industrial, he built office, he built retail, he built multifamily. He opened up shopping mall to Atlanta- he built out Dallas. They had to pull his telephone line to keep him from making more deals. Crow made Class A apartments appear everywhere.
November 13, 2016
Great story on one of the most successful real estate companies of all time.
March 12, 2023
Hugely disappointing undertaking by Sobel, made even worse by the fact that the author had direct access to Trammell Crow (both the subject of the book and the firm's current/former partners). Sobel crafted a book with a complete lack of narrative structure and a pathological disinterest in the innerworkings of his subject matter (and the commercial real estate industry generally) beyond 30,000 foot musings on how Crow could woo people and execute.
Sobel needs to visit Crow's grave every day and apologize for how he bungled the opportunity to tell the story of one of the most iconic developers and real estate companies.
Sobel needs to visit Crow's grave every day and apologize for how he bungled the opportunity to tell the story of one of the most iconic developers and real estate companies.
February 7, 2022
Great story of one of the top real estate developers in American history. His partnership structure was and is revolutionary. A lot of lessons for aspiring developers and business people. Well researched book. I just wished the chapters were shorter for an easier read.
August 29, 2022
Phenomenal biography on an under-appreciated icon in the real estate industry. The central theme is business growth through the power of partnership.
March 25, 2025
Honestly, for the amount I paid for this book it was a very boring read and not what I was looking for at all.
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December 27, 2016Incredible over view of the Trammell Crow Company, gives great insight in to how he built his company and shaped the current landscape of the real estate world today
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews