The Bill Cook Story: Ready, Fire, Aim!

by Bob Hammel

Bill Cook epitomizes the American success story. His business ventures in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, genetics, real estate, retail management, and travel services have made him a billionaire. Yet, Cook continues to lead a modest life, involving himself in a variety of philanthropic activities that have included historic preservation and even a marching band. This riveting story is the first-ever biography of the entrepreneur who, working from the spare bedroom of his Bloomington, Indiana, apartment in 1963 with a $1,500 investment, began to construct the wire guides, needles, and catheters that would become the foundation of the global multi-billion-dollar Cook Group. Biographer Bob Hammel, with extraordinary access to Cook, his files, and his associates, has created a vivid portrait of this modern, multidimensional Horatio Alger―quirky humor, widely varied interests, and all. Informative and inspiring, this book celebrates an exceptional self-made individual.

Genres: Biography

411 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2008

About the author

Bob Hammel served as a sports editor and columnist on Indiana newspapers for 50 years. For 30 of those years he was sports editor and columnist for the Bloomington Herald-Times. The recipient of many honors and awards for sports writing, he is the author of eight books, including Beyond the Brink with Indiana (IUP, 1987) and A Banner Year (IUP, 1993). With Bob Knight, he co-authored Knight: My Story. Hammel lives in Bloomington, Indiana."

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable for anyone with a connection to southern Indiana, especially Bloomington and Indiana University. It is fascinating to follow Cook's well-planned life from a $1,500 stake to start his own business in a room in his Bloomington, Ind., home to the Forbes List and the second richest person in Indiana. The opening story of his wife's kidnapping for ransom is gripping.

[Neva Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.6/5. While this book was a fountain of knowledge on Bill Cook, and I now know more facts about Bloomington and Bill cook than I know what to do with... the book was just dry. It was so dull that I read 5-6 books while trying to finish this one. I haven't taken this long to finish a book in years, and I probably wouldn't have finished it if it wasn't for a gift. I wish this book was set as a story or in chronological order instead of as a textbook where each chapter was labeled like "wealth" or "marriage."

If I had loved the book I wouldn't have minded how long it was, but because I had to force myself to read a little everyday just to get through it, it was far to long for a book about a C list celebrity. Even though the book says it's only about 400 pages, the pages were massive and the words were small, if it had been printed at a normal size I swear it would have been over 800 pages. I really don't understand how there is an entire second book.

Overall it was written ok, and had good info. I just personally struggled with how boring I found it to be, though to be fair it isn't exactly my type of book in general.

[Rachel Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. What a guy. Would recommend this to others. We are hopeful to visit his West Baden Hotel and grateful for some insight to his connection to buildings in West Lafayette, IN and Purdue.

[Oshun · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of a remarkable and eccentric man. I picked it because of the setting and a connection to my family, I finished it because it was a good story.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not very far into it, but an interesting biography of an interesting man, one of two billionaires in the state of Indiana. For those of you who don't know, Bill Cook was the money behind the restoration of West Baden Hotel in Orange County, Indiana. If you're interested, a good documentary of the restoration is available in DVD format: West Baden Springs, Save of the Century, and you will be introduced to Bill Cook.