Amazon.com
That "Geno" Cernan was commander of Apollo 17, the final manned moon mission, was a fitting conclusion to a flying career that included two previous stints in space (Gemini 9 and Apollo 10). His frank, earthy memoir of his years at NASA adds another entertaining, informative volume to the burgeoning shelf of books illuminating the inner workings of the space program and the people who made it happen. Coauthor Don Davis, a veteran journalist, helps Cernan craft a colloquial prose style that nicely captures the competitive, macho personality that seemed virtually mandatory for astronauts in the 1960s and '70s. Cernan candidly depicts the reckless streak that twice led to needless injuries jeopardizing his spot on a mission. He also acknowledges the stresses endured by his ex-spouse Barbara as she struggled to be the perfect astronaut wife--cheerful and uncomplaining for the cameras while he experienced all the fun and adventure of the job. And it sure was fun, as becomes clear in the exciting descriptions of his spacewalk from Gemini 9 and stroll around the moon from Apollo 17. Detailed accounts of each flight, including technical problems and personal tensions (particularly with Apollo 17 teammate Jack Schmitt, distrusted because he was a scientist, not a test pilot), remind readers that the space program is a human endeavor, with inevitable failures that make the triumphs that much sweeter. --Wendy Smith
Book Description
Eugene Cernan is a unique American who came of age as an astronaut during the most exciting and dangerous decade of spaceflight. His career spanned the entire Gemini and Apollo programs, from being the first person to spacewalk all the way around our world to the moment when he left man's last footprint on the Moon as commander of Apollo 17.Between those two historic events lay more adventures than an ordinary person could imagine as Cernan repeatedly put his life, his family and everything he held dear on the altar of an obsessive desire. Written with New York Times bestselling author Don Davis, this is the astronaut story never before told - about the fear, love and sacrifice demanded of the few men who dared to reach beyond the heavens for the biggest prize of all - the Moon.
Download Description
A revealing and dramatic look at the inside of the American Space Program from one of its pioneers.
Customer Reviews:
An unforgettable journey through time and space .......2007-05-04
Gene Cernan's detailed, autobiographical account of his personal and career Naval aviator, then NASA experiences, first as a Navy test pilot, then as a Gemini and two time Apollo Astronaut. A great read for those of us that missed out on the decade of the 60s space race, culminating in six successful, history making U.S. astronaut manned explorations of the Moon. Mr. Cernan's contributions toward that end were significant and certainly most memorable was his final space flight as Mission Commander of Apollo 17; the mission that began spectacularly as the only night time launch of the gargantun Saturn V rocket and ended with the last American flag, Lunar Rover and footprints left in the Tarrus Littrow Valley of the Moon in December 1972. Accounts of Dr. Rock, Harrison Schmidt, the only civilian scientist to visit the Moon, and their jubilently described 70+ hours of EVA, lunar dig sites and geological finds are lengendary. Gene Cernan and all the other astronauts of that era, both U.S. and Russian, all incredibly brave men made of the "right stuff", shall always be remembered as histories earliest spaceflight pioneers and the original explorers of the Cosmos. BRAVO!!!
he knows, because he's been there.......2007-01-07
If you want to know more about what it really took to go to the moon, this is the book you want. Written by somebody who actually made the trip, it gives you an inside in the program from every possible angle. And it makes you wonder why we didn't go back yet.
very good, very frank and very personal.......2006-12-20
Gene Cernan's memoir is among the first rank of space program books. What sets this work apart is the focus on intensely personal matters. Cernan highlights the competition for flights, with sharp comments about his colleagues and rivals. Many other astronauts get high praise, with notable exceptions, such as Buzz Aldrin. Some reviewers didn't appreciate the personal comments, whereas I felt they made the book more interesting.
There's a distinction between perhaps not liking a guy for what he says and the quality and flow of the writing, which I consider excellent. Often, it's as if Cernan were right there chatting. Even in showing some ego, Mr. Cernan also made no bones about being relatively lucky. He covers the surprise invitation to try out for the program and his surprising acceptance against stiff competition. He also admits he was in the middle of the pack in his group, and on the edge of getting a flight. If not for the deaths of Elliott See and Charlie Bassett, Cernan might be unknown. The candor is refreshing. Well, except for maybe the name dropping about big shots and Hollywood stars.
Even more surprising is the frank discussion of his marriage to Barbara, which eventually failed. I can't help but wonder what she thought of her presentation, ranging from the attractive partner to the highly skilled "astronaut wife" and on to the crushing side of being the dutiful wife. Cernan does not spare himself from blame by any means. The quote of the book may well be Barbara's: someone asked, "How do you feel about Gene going to the Moon?" She answered instantly. "If you think going to the Moon is hard, try staying home."
Cernan gives more coverage of Gemini than the typical book, with again quite a bit on speculation about crew rotations, and a strong segment on Gemini 9 and his near-fatal spacewalk. Another highlight is the opening chapter on Apollo 1 and the fire, of profound significance to Cernan as a member of the backup crew and friend and neighbor of Roger Chaffee. His pain was still there thirty years later.
Apollo 10's coverage has just the right feel, with Cernan possibly still shaking his head in recalling their near crash, "a fifteen-second lifetime during which we made about eight cartwheels above the Moon, and Tom jerked Snoopy back onto a tight leash. Ole Mumbles do know how to fly. After analyzing the data, experts surmised that we had continued spinning for only two more seconds, Tom and I would have crashed." That text again reflects the attractive conversational style.
Apollo 17 probably gets fewer pages than some readers may wish. The play-by-play of the EVAs is fairly brief, which may just as well be left to the non-memoir books. Cernan tries to spend more time on his feelings, the interactions with Schmitt, and some key moments, such as the orange soil and the broken fender.
Readers should also watch part 12 of "From the Earth to the Moon" for its segment on Apollo 17. My copy of the memoirs is signed by Cernan, Stafford, and co-author Don Davis. It's an excellent book, even unsigned!
But What Was It Really Like To Fly The Missions?.......2006-08-23
Gene Cernan is one of America's most experienced and successful astronauts. His three missions were among the most ambitious, successful and exciting of all time. He spent more time, along with partner Harrison Schmitt, than any other man walking on the moon. It was, therefore, with great disappointment that I read this book. What I expect from a book by an astronaut is to really feel and understand what the unique experiences they went through were like and what challenges-physical, mental and technical they overcame. With the notable exception of Mike Collins' autobiography almost none of the astronauts books really provide this. Only 12 men have ever stood on the moon and yet they have not really conveyed what this and other aspects of spaceflight were like in their autobiographies. He dismisses his epic Apollo 17 flight in a few pages and spends more time talking about the politics of crew selection, giving crude descriptions of his wife's figure and other trivia. Also there is a lack of illustrations showing the alien environment he explored so well. Most of the astronauts who wrote autobiographies felt they had to talk down to their audience to make the book attractive to the average reader, thus leaving out much technical information that is actually quite interesting, even for the non-technically-minded layman. The popularity of the film "Apollo 13" and the television series "From the Earth to the Moon" in which technical matters were not shied away from proves this is not true. The fact is the true intelligence and abilities of these men is measured in what they did on their space missions, not as golfers or in planning practical jokes or in celebrity namedropping. In a more positive light, he reveals for the first time the real dangers the Gemini spacewalks entailed and gives a good description of the problems Ed White encountered in Gemini 4 and his own nightmarish experience in Gemini 9.
Don't miss reading this one!.......2006-08-06
An outstanding book. Gives all the insight into the life of an astronaut in training...and
the politics that goes with the job. One of those books you can't put down. Eugene Cernan's narrative on his trips to the moon including the landing are outstanding. This book could be a #l best seller with more promotion. All the pressures that go with the job are unbelievable.
Product Description
LEATHER BOUND book accented in 22kt gold.
Average customer rating:
- Great Insights
- This book on tape is poorly read
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Last Man On the Moon, The
Manufacturer: Nova Audio Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
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ASIN: 1567408249
Release Date: 1999-03-10 |
Book Description
This is the story of a unique American hero who came of age as an astronaut during the few dramatic years when man reached the moon. Cernan's career spanned the entire Apollo program, from the tragic fire that killed three of his comrades on Apollo 1, through the moment when he left man's last footprint on the moon as commander of Apollo 17.
This is the inside story of how space was conquered, and at what price. Cernan writes candidly not only about the program, but about the high divorce rate among the astronauts, the loss of family privacy that came with celebrity, and the ever-present shadows of death and failure.
"With the feeeling of a story recalled among friends, this is an appealing down to earth account of the last man to walk on the moon... loved the book." -- Ron Howard, Director, Apollo 13
Customer Reviews:
Great Insights.......2007-04-21
I enjoyed Gene Cernan reading this book himself. Hearing his own descriptions of the wonder and beauty of space was wonderful.
Perhaps I'm biased. He's a Chicago native, as I am, and hearing a regular Chicago guy expressing such wonder of his experiences is a real treat for me. A lot of personal identification with what he accomplished.
As to the "politics" of NASA, I took it to mean that the astronauts were a really competitive bunch, which is the reality of the situation. At no point does Cernan accuse any of his fellow astronauts of dirty pool; the competition was intense but clean. Should this be a surprise?
I was a little less impressed about his characterization of Wally Schirra as an insubordinate whiner. You could just as easily see Wally's actions as advocating for astronaut safety and well-being.
Cernan's antipathy to Schirra is much like the way a manager feels about a union representative. And this should not be surprising; among all the celebrities Cernan counts as friends, at the forefront is Spiro and Judy Agnew. Well, we're known by the company we keep; Cernan must be a pretty conservative dude, politically.
I do like, though, his forthright and blunt descriptive style. If you don't want to hear the straight stuff (and a little cussing, too), don't buy this book. On the other hand, if those traits enhance your enjoyment, you'll love this book. Either way, it adds something important to the history and literature of space exploration.
This book on tape is poorly read.......2000-12-17
My chief complaint with this book on tape is that it is read poorly, probably by the author. Although Moon Shot by Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton was panned in Amazon reviews, I very much enjoyed the book on tape version because a professional actor did the reading. Cernan's book on tape could have benefited immensely from an actor, too.
I found myself wondering how much co-author Don Davis helped Cernan with the descriptive language and thought it was a waste that Cernan (if he was the reader) couldn't do justice to the words.
As for content, Cernan relies too much on cliches, and I tend to agree with the reviewer who said Cernan writes too much about the internal politics of mission assignment.
However, his account of his first marriage made me wonder how much he wasn't telling. At first he seems to go out of his way to explain that other astronauts cheated on their wives, but he did not. His marriage was sound. Later in the book we hear how he spends too little time with his family. And at the end he tells us they got divorced four years after he left NASA. He, of course, got remarried and had two more children. Sounds like just another guy who traded in his faithful wife of the same age on a younger model. I ended up feeling sorry for Barbara.
Book Description
The fourth edition of publishing's only adventure annual offers another exhilarating collection of the year's most gripping and entertaining adventure stories—from the world's coldest waters to its scariest wildfire. Drawn from the year's most memorable adventure book titles, magazine pieces, and websites, these stories focus on men and women pushing beyond their limits—from the woman who swam to Antarctica to the seven snowboarders who tried to ride out an avalanche in British Columbia's untracked Selkirk Mountains, to the biologist trying to survive his search for a new species of bear. Including new work by David Roberts, Sy Montgomery, Peter Leschak, and Tim Cahill, these selections prove once again that today's best adventure literature ranks among the best writing anywhere.
Customer Reviews:
Good stuff, but you may have seen some of it........2003-10-20
The book is 294 pages and has 16 selections. For the most part they are all good adventure/survival tales but if you really enjoy this genre then you probably already read Outside, Men's Journal and Nat'l Geographic Adventure. So there's the catch. Four of the pieces appeared in Men's Journal over the past year, three in Adventure, and two in Outside - over half the book. Of the remaining seven selections, three are from magazines and four are book excerpts. (In last year's annual nine of 14 were book excerpts and only one magazine was used twice.) Anyway, it is good stuff, and worth reading again. Four selections deal with mountaineering or avalanches. There are profiles of bull riders and stunt flyers. You'll read about killer lions, trekking central Africa, torture in Burma and being taken hostage in Columbia. Several selections are a chronicle of the times we live in: the World Trade Center, bombings in Bali, and the murder of Daniel Pearl. I'm thinking this would be a good holiday present for a a guy, especially a teenage boy who likes adventure and/or the outdoors. (I say 'guy' only because all the stories focus on men or the male point of view in the adventure, though several do involve women.) It is fast, enjoyable reading that hits a pretty wide variety of activity. It makes a good introduction to the Adrenaline Series or the books that provided the excerpts, a couple of which I will now be looking for.
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Stories Of Survival: Mountaineering & Exploration
Manufacturer: Countertop Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
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ASIN: 1931102430 |
Book Description
12 hours of Listening time!
Stories of Survival: Mountaineering & Exploration transports you to various remote destinations around the world, from the highest mountain peaks, to jungles, and the Arctic. These spellbinding stories of adventure, survival, and tragedies, are sure to keep every listener captivated. Experience what world explorers and adventure seekers endured, from accidents, to natural disasters and treacherous weather conditions. The two titles, High and Explore, compile 16 vivid stories from adventure seekers in their most terrifying and memorable moments.
High
Everest and K2-two of the most feared and respected peaks in the world. High offers a unique perspective on climbing these two peaks, from early exploration disasters, to the modern tragedies. With writing from Matt Dickinson, Chris Bonington, David Roberts, and others, these stories remind us, in vivid accounts, why Everest and K2 are among the world's most dangerous places, yet why the world's best climbers can't stay away from them.
Explore
Explore offers first-hand accounts from the world's boldest explorers, men and women encountering storms, starvation, cannibals and disease in their pursuit of adventure. Their stories are immediate, passionate and dramatic accounts of contact with the unknown, discovered in the mountains of the Himalaya, the jungles of New Guinea, the ice floes of the Arctic, and the ruins of Peru. With selections from Tim Cahill, Redmond O'Hanlon, John Long, Fridtjof Nansen and Harold Brodkey, Explore will take you off the map to those few refuges where true discovery is still possible.
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Film Directors, 16th Edition (Film Directors)
Edited by the Staff of Lone Eagle Publishing
Manufacturer: Lone Eagle Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1580650430 |
Book Description
These are the most complete film reference directories about writers of motion picture, film directors and film actors available.
Book Description
The term ''apocalypse'' usually evokes images of mass destruction-burning buildings and nuclear fallout, or even rapture and tribulation. Often, our attempts to interpret the imagery of the book of Revelation seem to carry us far away from our day-to-day existence. David Dark challenges this narrow understanding in Everyday Apocalypse, calling his readers back to the root of the word, which is ''revelation.'' Through readings of Flannery O'Connor stories and savvy discussion of The Matrix themes, Dark calls us to imagine the apocalypse as a more watchful way of being in the world. He draws on the sometimes unlikely wisdom of popular culture-including The Simpsons and films like The Truman Show-to highlight how the imagination can expose our moral condition. Ultimately, Dark presents apocalypse as honest self-assessment and other-centeredness in the here and now. This engaging book holds enormous appeal for readers interested in the pursuit of everyday spirituality. It will delight lovers of literature, popular music, and movies, as well as anyone concerned with a Christian response to popular culture.
Customer Reviews:
Apocalyptically Excellent.......2006-08-10
In contrast to the pop-theology of our time, "Everyday Apocalypse" is overdue and a welcome addition to my library. The thinking is crisp, straight up and spiritually profound without being pompous or boring. I am telling everyone I know about David Dark and "E.A".
Dense, but rewarding.......2004-07-17
Some reviewers tend to find Dark's prose directionless, but I found quite the opposite to be true. David is certainly a student of the intracacies of prose, and for me that opened up a whole new world of ideas. Reminds me very much of G.K. Chesterton's style. I wonder if Mr. Dark has ready any Chesterton. Given his stunning breadth of knowledge in the written word, I'm sure he has.
Didn't quite understand a sentence? Re-read it carefully to see how each sentence lends itself to the next. Despite its intracacies, this is a book whose message transcends the sum of its parts. Reccomended to anyone who is interested in making the radical assertion that Christ is Lord, and anyone willing to see a truer reflection of what Christ-following and Christian culture should entail, rather than what the mainstream media is willing to depict.
By the way, since when was Flannery O'Connor a pop-culture icon?!
Disapointing.......2004-03-26
"The meat of the book, the inner six chapters, was a disappointment to me. Unsure what to expect I looked forward to seeing how Dark would integrate faith and pop culture, how the messages could be used to change lives, to see together how God's message shines through, intentional or not, in the products of our culture. Instead I felt that I was reading the personal journal of someone who was recording his thoughts on varying items, with no real point, reason or direction"
The above quote written by another reviewer sums it up for me.
The best lines from the book were the quotes he used from other people.
1/2 of an interesting conversation.......2004-03-13
Everyday Apocalypse begins with a description of the author's view of the word apocalypse. It defines apocalypse as revelation, the type of revelation that forces a change in lifestyle, a re-evaluation of priorities, a type that "cracks the pavement of the status quo." Dark's view of the current state of Christianity is best summed up in this statement: "I'm personally convinced that such market-driven theology will be viewed, historically, with at least as much embarrassment as, say, the medieval sale of indulgences."
Dark's opening is indeed intriguing. I can resonate with his frustration at a Christianity that serves only to make us comfortable rather than to change us. Indeed Jesus the revolutionary is rarely present in the big-hair world of TV preachers or in the conform-to-the-culture sensibilities of many of the mainline denominations.
The meat of the book, the inner six chapters, was a disappointment to me. Unsure what to expect I looked forward to seeing how Dark would integrate faith and pop culture, how the messages could be used to change lives, to see together how God's message shines through, intentional or not, in the products of our culture. Instead I felt that I was reading the personal journal of someone who was recording his thoughts on varying items, with no real point, reason or direction.
First up was the chapter on Flannery O'Connor, an author I am not familiar with. Dark reveres Ms. O'Connor, viewing anyone who enjoys her work as "electrocuted by divine fire." He goes on to provide superficial summaries of many of her works, and extract the items that make those stories interesting to him. The problem I found was that I did not see a point, other than Mr. Dark adores Flannery O'Connor in this chapter. The themes discussed are not unique, indeed I wonder if Mr. Dark has ever read things such as Stephen King's Needful Things, or any number of popular writings that delve into these themes very deeply and effectively.
The Simpsons is a show that I am very familiar with, and have been espousing the virtues of to many skeptics for years. This chapter I found laborious, as if I was reading Simpsons for Dummies or something of that ilk. While Dark does manage to accurately portray many elements of the program, he fails to address many of the subtleties of the show, nor to direct the reader on what to look for. Instead a journal of sorts again recounts favorite episodes in a manner wholly unfulfilling.
I have never listened to Radiohead. Feeling that perhaps I should engage this book on a different level, I made a trip to Best Buy and purchased OK: Computer as it was highly regarded by Mr. Dark. I spent time listening to this CD very carefully. I looked over the packaging, read through the booklet and studied the artwork. I listened to the CD again. I played it in my car. I listened to it at home. I then re-read the chapter on Radiohead. In short, I made every effort to take Mr. Dark's view of this band as apocalyptic and make it my own.
As I reflect on this experience I am again disappointed. While the music is interesting and indeed complex, I do not feel that it deserves the accolades presented by Everyday Apocalypse. One clear reason is that this is very inaccessible music, very anti-pop culture in its pure essence. While not a bad thing, some of the things that make it so are problematic to me. Dark rarely references the music (other than adjectives of beautiful, complex etc.), only the lyrics. The lyrics, while clear, are eminently unsingable and are swallowed up by the complex music behind them. As such, the listener is likely to miss them entirely if not paying close attention, hearing them only as another element to the complex sound. While interesting and unique, this approach does not often leave the audience pondering the meanings buried within.
Contrast Radiohead's Subterranean Homesick Alien with Tourniquet by Evanescence. The Radiohead piece is one that quickly blends together into a mood, a feeling, in which the guitar is the primary point of interest. Tourniquet drives hard, but leaves the listener wondering what exactly it all means and drives them to the liner notes, to the Internet, to conversation with others to discuss its meanings. To me that is far more apocalyptic in its effect on culture as a whole than Radiohead can ever hope to be.
I focus on the first three chapters because each of them represents a different level of familiarity with the material being discussed for me. The remaining three chapters are more of the same, journaling by Dark of the reasons he likes the movies & music discussed. This book is a one sided discussion of the material with little point or conclusion to me. Each of the points made would be interesting in a conversation, but without the opportunity for interaction they are hollow and unexciting.
Everyday Apocalypse is not without merit. The true stories of "living apocalyptically" in the last chapter are a fascinating example of what can happen if we take to heart the idea of Jesus as a cultural revolutionary. The point of the book is best summed up to me in this phrase:
If "God" then is to be more than the word we use as shorthand to describe what we prefer to believe, there will be tension between what we're doing and settling for and the in-break of divine revelation, the good purposes of God.
In summary I found glimpses of glory, but on the whole an unfulfilling book that felt like one side of a potentially interesting conversation. I found it interesting on the back to see one of the reviewers gush "He has been doing this in my living room for years." And indeed, I think that is where this conversation belongs.
Hope in Unexpected Places.......2003-03-07
David Dark's book is an encouraging one for Christians, reminding us that an accurate understanding of reality is our birthright---ironically, this 'accurate understanding' consists of apocalypse, or, the irreducibly mysterious hope toward which all reality points. Reading this book refreshes the hope we have in Jesus, even as Dark discusses chiefly non-Christians who, in his view, see apocalypse clearly, since a clear rendering of apocalypse is always commensurate with the mysterious redemptive hope-through-suffering of the cross. It does seem odd that he finds so few Christian artists worth a chapter in his book. Dark revels in the goodness and unexpectedness of reality, and the goodness and unexpectedness of the God it reveals.
Dark concerns himself with contemporary media. Through unusual juxtapositions (Bakhtin on medievalism, Swift, Shakespeare, and Dostoyevsky are quoted in a chapter on the Simpsons), he reminds us that contemporary genres treat truth best when they enter a conversation as old as humankind---a conversation describing the mysteries of redemption, hope, and joy in reality. This looting the wisdom of the ages eliminates a sense of background, brings all truth to the fore----a strategy which accurately depicts the universality of Dark's subject (and the subject of his subjects).
I have some concerns with his claim that authors should confine themselves to mere description of the way things are, avoiding mastery or domination of message and material. The semantic realms of description, interpretation, judgment, and mastery require blurred boundaries, or at least more clearly nuanced ones, to be of any practical use. Writing a book implies some "domination" of a subject, although humility can remove any offense from organisation's claim to authority.
Dark's prose is clear enough and profound, in some places dull, in others quite memorable.
He reads the wise interpreters.
Average customer rating:
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Apocalypse and Paradigm: Science and Everyday Thinking
Errol E. Harris
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0275968308 |
Book Description
The influence of scientific paradigms is much more widespread than usually realized. According to Harris, it permeates the whole of the culture of which science is an integral part. The paradigm of Newtonian science was essentially mechanistic and atomistic, and thinking in these terms not only penetrated philosophy, economics, morals and politics for the next three centuries, but remains latent in 20th century ways of thought. As Harris illustrates, the Newtonian paradigm is obsolete in confronting today's global problems. While Planck and Einstein introduced a new scientific revolution at the beginning of the century, it has yet to be reflected in common habits of thinking. It is now urgently necessary to adopt the new conceptual scheme in other fields as it has come to dominate science if global issues are to be resolved. A provocative analysis that will be of particular interest to students, teachers, and policymakers involved with public policy, the history of science and philosophy, and ethics.
Book Description
A practical guide to taking your company public—successfully This updated version of the Ernst & Young Guide to Taking Your Company Public looks at the IPO as a milestone in a larger process called The Value Journey
sm, the basis for the work of the Ernst & Young Center for Strategic Transactions
®, a business advisory resource for CEOs. This practical book is designed to help you determine whether an IPO is the right move for your company and addresses the major leadership challenges that CEOs face. It describes how to plan your IPO journey and chart your business strategy, focusing on the steps you must take to succeed during and after the IPO event and fulfill the critical need to continuously innovate and renew your company.
Customer Reviews:
Good, easy-to-read textbook. Not not a great guide........2001-01-27
About the book
Based on research questioning about 500 executives who took IPOs between 1986 and 1996. So, most IPOs came from companies who had been profitable for a few years. After the collapse of the Internet stocks, the context is similar, but I believe such profit records may not be as important as during 1986-96.
Published in 1999. So, it has comments to imply "being first makes the company valuable without profits".
About the authors and their style
Authors are experienced in their job of bringing IPOs.
This book is not at all in the class of books by Al Ries and Jack Trout, but more like a text book, covering every related point (from text book point of view). There is no prioritization or difference in emphasis of the importance of various issues involved.
Their diagram on cover of book is confusing because they have used 2-dimensions to show a linear 1-dimension process, which essentially are their recommended steps.
Book's Message
1. Define goal/success. IPO may not be the best way to achieve that.
2. Plan and start working on IPO at least one year ahead of the need.
3. Many specific to-do items: · Revise salaries as variable salaries that include stocks rather than just cash. · Plan personal estates. Give gifts before IPOs to family members to minimize future tax liability. Hire CPA for this planning. · Hire Earnst & Young early. · Clean books of accounts-use GAAP. · Build strong executive team. · Start working like a public company at least one year before-that is-create quarter-to-quarter profitability guidance and exceed them. Create reports such as needed by SEC. · Build external Board. Create committees of Board members.
If you want to read just 7 pages, read these: 25, 37, 56, 65, 74, 108, 170
MasterGuide for IPO (US).......2000-11-30
Aimed at executives considering an IPO, the `IPO Value Journey' is also of use to staff in pre/post-IPO companies to understand about market perceptions of companies & ideal "success factors".
The lightly referenced, well structured chapters span: the CEO's journey; the journey's early vital steps; chart your transaction strategy; chart your personal strategy; create the winning team; complete your IPO platform; be the public company; the IPO event; and deliver the value. Useful appendices span: outline for a business plan; selecting the stock market; registration exemptions and resale restrictions; overview of the SEC and SEC rules and regulations; simplified registration under the small business disclosure system; and glossary.
Strengths include: the concise factual (dry) writing style; good use of exhibits and checklists; and useful easily-accessible content addressing legal, accounting, reporting, board issues (amongst others).
Weaknesses include: need for more sidebar success story anecdotes (which integrate the steps); mostly US focus; and relatively superficial analysis evidence supporting the success factors and `journey' metaphor.
Overall, a very useful working book, to be read with something like `Confessions of a Venture Capitalist' (ISBN 0446526800) or `E-boys' (ISBN 0812930959), for a fuller life-cycle, energetic view of the IPO journey.
IPO handbook for CEOs.......1999-12-03
I found this book had just the right amount of detail for the CEO without becoming tiresome. It gives a very good overview of the IPO process and provides plenty of recommendations to guide you along the way.
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