Newhouse: All the Glitter, Power, & Glory of America's Richest Media Empire & the Secretive Man Behind It

Book Description

With a supporting cast of well-known literary names around him, Newhouse is the king of New York's cultural world today—as owner of Random House, the nation's largest book publishing empire; publisher of such influential magazines as "The New Yorker," "Vanity Fair," "Vogue," and "Wired;" and by controlling dozens of other newspapers, magazines, and cable television franchises in the United States and around the world.

Author Thomas Maier examines the rags-to-riches saga of the Newhouse family and how they built a privately-held empire estimated at $13 billion. He tells the personal story of how "Si" Newhouse emerged from the shadow of his demanding father to expand the family fortune further than anyone ever imagined, with his mercurial "off-with-their-heads" management style.

This unauthorized investigative biography explores Newhouse's reliance on his long-time friend Roy Cohn, a lawyer for the Mafia and a confidant to top politicians, and how the family managed to beat the IRS in a $1 billion tax battle. Like a message in a time bottle, "Newhouse" describes our celebrity-driven media age, a real-life allegory for the 1990s when communications giants like Newhouse's Advance Publications, Inc., gobbled up everything in sight. This book raises strong warnings about a media monopoly in America, controlled by a handful of powerful men like Si Newhouse, and underlines the serious ways in which journalism has been transformed.

Customer Reviews:

Critical Media Biography.......2002-09-25

This is a biography as much of a media empire as it is of a man. While Maier spends as much time as he can on the private side of S.I. Newhouse Jr., he in the end focus on what is most seen of this most private of media moguls-- his media properties.

Maier uses the device of choosing figures and brands important to Newhouse history (Roy Cohn, Random House, Tina Brown, the New Yorker) and spending a chapter on each one, tracing their history in relation to both Newhouse and Advance Publications. While a good device for giving a thorough overview, be warned that it does make for a slightly disconnected read. I found that I had to flip back through the chapters to remember how events relating to particular chapters related to each other in time.

Nonetheless, one of the more complete media biographies you are likely to encounter and a must read if interested in magazine history.

An Important but Neglected Book.......2000-06-23

The book shows how American media are controlled by a single family company. It owns many of the famous and influential publishing companies, magazines, and newspapers. It is a very dangerous situation that American media are under control by the handful people. As a matter of fact, the author mentioned in the paperback edition that the Newhouse company banned any mention of this book in their publications. The book, which won the 1995 "best media book" prize, seems to be neglected, but this is a very important book that more people should read. A sole purpose of media isn't a simple means of entertainment for people, and isn't mere profit organizations for the owner either. Media have the responsibility to execute the social role, and its fair execution is questionable under such a monopoly situation. The author proposes not-for-profit newspapers, and I believe it is time to consider to go back to such a fundamental point. Through various incidents the Newhouse company have initiated, the book leads us to consider what media mean to us. It is a very good book to think what true journalism means to us.

Newhouse: All the Glitter, Power and Glory of America's Richest Media Empire aand the Secretive Man Behind It. (book reviews): An article from: American Journalism Review

Average customer rating:

Newhouse: All the Glitter, Power and Glory of America's Richest Media Empire aand the Secretive Man Behind It. (book reviews): An article from: American Journalism Review
Linda Fibich
Manufacturer: University of Maryland
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from American Journalism Review, published by University of Maryland on January 1, 1995. The length of the article is 789 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Newhouse: All the Glitter, Power and Glory of America's Richest Media Empire aand the Secretive Man Behind It. (book reviews)
Author: Linda Fibich
Publication: American Journalism Review (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 1995
Publisher: University of Maryland
Volume: v17 Issue: n1 Page: p51(1)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Newhouse: All the Glitter, Power, and Glory of America's Richest Media Empire and the Secretive Man Behind It. (book reviews): An article from: Columbia Journalism Review

Average customer rating:

Newhouse: All the Glitter, Power, and Glory of America's Richest Media Empire and the Secretive Man Behind It. (book reviews): An article from: Columbia Journalism Review
Edwin Diamond
Manufacturer: Columbia University, Graduate School of Journalism
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B00092WE4O
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Columbia Journalism Review, published by Columbia University, Graduate School of Journalism on November 1, 1994. The length of the article is 1924 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Newhouse: All the Glitter, Power, and Glory of America's Richest Media Empire and the Secretive Man Behind It. (book reviews)
Author: Edwin Diamond
Publication: Columbia Journalism Review (Refereed)
Date: November 1, 1994
Publisher: Columbia University, Graduate School of Journalism
Volume: v33 Issue: n4 Page: p74(5)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Newhouse: All the Glitter, Power, and Glory of America's Richest Media Empire and the Secretive Man Behind It. (book reviews): An article from: St. Louis Journalism Review

Average customer rating:

Newhouse: All the Glitter, Power, and Glory of America's Richest Media Empire and the Secretive Man Behind It. (book reviews): An article from: St. Louis Journalism Review
Selwyn Pepper
Manufacturer: SJR St. Louis Journalism Review
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from St. Louis Journalism Review, published by SJR St. Louis Journalism Review on December 1, 1994. The length of the article is 1690 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Newhouse: All the Glitter, Power, and Glory of America's Richest Media Empire and the Secretive Man Behind It. (book reviews)
Author: Selwyn Pepper
Publication: St. Louis Journalism Review (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 1, 1994
Publisher: SJR St. Louis Journalism Review
Volume: v24 Issue: n172 Page: p11(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

NEWHOUSE, ALL THE GLITTER, POWER, AND GLORY OF AMERICA'S RICHEST MEDIA EMPIRE AND THE SECRETIVE MAN BEHIND IT .

Average customer rating:

NEWHOUSE, ALL THE GLITTER, POWER, AND GLORY OF AMERICA'S RICHEST MEDIA EMPIRE AND THE SECRETIVE MAN BEHIND IT .
Thomas Maier
Manufacturer: St Martins Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTFN6I

Book Description

Pennsbury High School would be like any other were it not for one thing: its prom. Its spring dance is considered to be one of this country's best legacies. Wonderland is the inspiring true story of a dance floor and the kids who fill it: a tale of hope, sex, love, and loss. For one year, the students, parents, and teachers of Pennsbury invited Michael Bamberger, a senior writer for Sports Illustrated, into their classrooms, their homes, their parties, and their dreams. He discovered an extraordinary and disparate group of everyday teenagers whose stories were touching, odd, funny, and beautiful.
In Wonderland, lives intersect in unpredictable ways and are never what they appear to be. The star quarterback hides the pain of not knowing where his father is. A student with cerebral palsy is desperate to learn to tie Eagle Scout knots, despite a useless left hand. And then there is Bob Costa, who dreams of bringing glory to the school by convincing John Mayer, whose song "Your Body Is a Wonderland" is an anthem for the students, to perform at the prom. Critically acclaimed in hardcover, Wonderland is published in paperback with a new afterword by the author.

Customer Reviews:

Not that interesting.......2007-04-23

This book follows a certain group of people in the high school. There were too many people and sometimes I lost track of the characters. Also, the book wasn't as interesting as it may seem.

good book, a little off the truth but great........2007-01-15

It is a little interesting to me, reading this book from the perspective of a semi-insider. I attended a neighboring school district in the suburbs of Philly and many of my friends attended Pennsbury. My major problem with this book is the portrayal of the students and the school itself. To see pennsburry as a building it resembles a prison. They are known in the area for two things: Their Prom (the undercurrent of this book) And their fierce and sometimes physical rivalry with other schools. For example Pennsbury students are notorious for destroying the property of neighboring schools at athletic events. What Bamberger shows is Pennsbury at its best. I do appreciate this book because it is extremely well written and shows the surrounding area fairly well. I wish Bamberger had spent some time talking about the demographics of the area: Pennsbury being one of the more blue-collar schools in the area. I think that this book however shines a light on the most special things about Pennsbury, its prom. The prom is an event every year and people come from miles around to see the students arrive. I agree with the previous reviews that this book is something one can read with ease and little brain power. I am glad I read it.

Great Read.......2006-12-30

What a wonderful book. I read this in one day during a recent vacation. I really enjoy the author's style and ability to draw you into the characters. And the the 'Florida' chapter was quite a shock and choked me up. This book will bring you back to your high school years and is a great way to step outside of your current daily life and think about where you've come from. The author thanks Mark Bowden in this book and I hope this author is on the same path of Mr. Bowden who is a tremendous author himself.

The Wonderland of high school years.......2006-11-01

Sports Illustrated senior writer Michael Bamberger spent the 2002-03 academic year following a group of students in a suburban Philadelphia high school. Pennsbury, a typical middle class institution in many ways, had attained local stardom and even some national recognition for its senior prom, an extravagant, gala affair held in Pennsbury's own completely transformed gym. The planning of this elaborate event required a joint effort amongst savvy students, dedicated faculty members, and involved parents, but Bamberger chooses to focus mainly on the students themselves in this intriguing work.

In some ways, the students who Bamberger selects to chronicle are common to virtually every high school in America: the three-sport jock, the aspiring politician, the knockout, the ruthless overachiever, etc. However, Bamberger manages to identify the exceptional in each of his subjects. Few people know that the "jock" lifts his disabled brother into bed every night. The senior male-junior girl couple experience an unplanned pregnancy, but take birthing classes together, continue their studies, and arrange babysitting for their newborn so that they can attend the prom. Star students have insecurities; obscure students achieve stardom. Oh, and popular singer John Mayer (whose hit song lends its name to the book's title) just might wind up performing at the prom. Bamberger presents a truly inspired insider's look into ordinary lives, and the result makes for an extraordinary read.

The only minor issue I had with this book is Bamberger's decision to insert himself into the story in the form of reminiscing about his own prom experience. He only does this briefly at the beginning and the end of the book, but it seemed out of place given that otherwise, he is an unnamed, unseen narrator. Furthermore, while he does an excellent job of making the lives of high school students interesting and engrossing, his subject matter lacks the innate appeal found in his second work, The Man Who Heard Voices (a fascinating look into the inner world of director M. Night Shyamalan). Still, Wonderland is an absorbing, worthwhile read it its own right, and I would definitely recommend it.

An Amazing Work.......2006-10-27

This review may be biased based on the fact that the reviewer is the cousin of Bob Costa, but that is beside the point. This book perfectly chronicles high school life and is an amazing analysis of the inner-workings of a high school. He portrays the students very well, and although the conversations may not be entirely accurate, it is worth the sacrifice of paraphrasing for a work of this quality.

Bob Costa is the most ambitious person I have ever met. He is not afraid to speak his mind and do whatever necessary to get what he wants. Bamberger perfectly captures his attitude, and I believe that readers would not be surprised to learn that Bob didn't give up, and that before leaving for the University of Notre Dame, he actually got John Mayer to perform at his prom. I'm sure that if Bamberger was able to capture his personality so well, then the other students are also harnessed expertly.

His writing could be a fiction, and at certain points it feels like that, because he is able to tell the story so well. By intertwining ever student into the same story line, he is able to give an accurate portrayal of a public high school, but at the same time make it feel almost mythical, as if when this story is looked back upon it seems too improbable. I think this is a must read for anyone, because it really doesn't have one audience, and the story is sure to please anyone.

Book Description

The appeal of candles is both personal and varied: the light itself can be a symbol of tradition and of hope; the candles themselves can create moods ranging from soft and romantic to highly dynamic.

Basic candle making is quite straightforward: a candle is wax surrounding a wick. A beginner can make a beeswax candle in just minutes. Both that is just the starting point, as candle making embraces endless possibilities. Pyramids and pillars, tapers and votives are made even more beautiful with color and scent, with dried flowers and spices. Hurricane candles are formed with ivy leaves or sprigs of demure lilies; cinnamon sticks and cloves imbue candles with texture and fragrance. Many household objects can produce candles: jelly molds, chocolate molds, single-serving juice containers, even eggshells.

Candles outdoors create a festive environment: floating candles for a pool or pond are a perfect example. For entertaining, candelaria flank pathways lighting guests' way, and dramatic torchieres illuminate outdoor dinning tables.

Rounding out the book are a glossary, which explains the terms and ingredients of candle making, and a resource list that details where to get the best supplies.

Country Living Handmade Candles is a beautiful gift, or a perfect start to making beautiful gifts!

Customer Reviews:

Country Hand Made Candles.......2000-06-16

I was always interested in the art of candle making and I find that this book was the best and easiest to understand. Not knowing nothing about the candle making process, I had no trouble at all following the directions and the illustrations were very good. I have since been able to design a few of my own. I highly recommend this book for any beginner to learn.

Average customer rating:

Country Living Handmade Candles

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 1588164179

Average customer rating:

You Can Do It -- Often At Low Cost

Why didn't I find this book before?

Booyah!

probably the best book on new product development

Not everything made out to be, but definately worth a read.

Entrepreneur Magazine: Bringing Your Product to Market
Don Debelak
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Advertising | Marketing & Sales | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Entrepreneurship | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Marketing | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Business Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

How to License Your Million Dollar Idea: Everything You Need To Know To Turn a Simple Idea into a Million Dollar Payday, 2nd Edition

Bringing Your Product to Market: Fast-Track Approaches to Cashing in on Your Great Idea , 2nd Edition

Product Idea to Product Success: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Making Money from Your Idea

Stand Alone, Inventor!

The Inventor's Bible: How to Market and License Your Brilliant Ideas

ASIN: 0471157503

Book Description

Build an empire step by step

Don't risk a small fortune trying to make a big one. Let acclaimed consultant Don Debelak show you how to get your exciting new product off the drawing board and into the marketplace—without losing your shirt! In this book, you'll learn what every inventor and entrepreneur needs to know about manufacturing techniques, product design, distribution channels, patents, licensing, and cash flow. You'll also discover how to handle some very tricky issues that are crucial to your success, including

Knowing when your product is market ready
Creating a step-by-step product-to-market strategy
Adjusting your strategy to changing market conditions
Finding financial help from investors, manufacturers, and distributors
Having manufacturers pay development costs prior to licensing

ENTREPRENEUR Magazine is the banner publication of the Entrepreneur Magazine Group. It has the largest newsstand circulation of any business monthly with a total ABC-audited circulation of 410,000. DON DEBELAK is President of DSD Marketing, an inventor assistance firm. He has personally helped more than 100 entrepreneurs market and sell their products successfully.

Also available from the Entrepreneur Magazine library:

The Entrepreneur Magazine Small Business Advisor
The Entrepreneur Magazine Small Business Answer Book
Guide to Integrated Marketing
Human Resources for Small Businesses
Making Money with Your Personal Computer
Small Business Legal Guide
Starting a Home-Based Business
Starting an Import/Export Business
Successful Advertising for Small Businesses

SPECIAL OFFERS!

FREE issue of Entrepreneur Magazine

50 0iscount on Entrepreneur Magazine subscription
1/2 price admission to any Entrepreneur Magazine Small Business Expo
Discount on American Entrepreneurs Association membership

See details and coupons in back of book.

Customer Reviews:

You Can Do It -- Often At Low Cost.......2006-01-21

This book's author, Don Debelak, is a strong believer in inventors marketing their ideas. However, he also covers the licensing approach. He realizes that raising money is the number one problem and he covers the whole spectrum -- from doing it with zero dollars to how to raise a million dollars.

His advice is based on ten years as a new product marketing consultant. Throughout the book, he gives examples of the right and wrong moves people have made. My quick count (examples are in italics) indicated 106 examples.

Don estimates that in any given year, in the USA, about 200,000 individuals are working on product ideas but, at most, 500 will succeed in introducing their idea. In other words, one in 400 will succeed!

He stresses that in addition to the money problem, inventors should recognize the importance of three things -- that many revisions will be needed, that you can do it, and that you will need help from people experienced in your specific market area.

The author emphasizes entrepreneurs believe many myths about money. One common myth is that you should not borrow money until you have spent all of yours. Actually, in startup situations, banks expect you to have cash on hand equal to the loan requested. He emphasizes getting investors early in the process. If more money is then needed, investors will generally seek to protect their investment by investing more money.

Inventors often have no idea as to what the ratio of the selling price is to the cost of manufacturing. Quite often the selling price must be four to five times the cost of manufacturing the item. Few inventors seem to be aware of what sales, marketing and administration costs will be.

Many inventors fail to do even elementary market research. Can you communicate your product's benefits in 5 to 10 seconds? Is it significantly better? Have you consulted an impartial panel or are you still in the dream world of kind words from friends and relatives? The author gives several suggestions for doing low-cost market research.

You know your invention inside and out -- but do you know your buyers "hot buttons"? That is their motivations for buying products like yours. Don describes four basic reasons why people buy products. Unless you understand these, your sales pitches and your ads may fail miserably.

He points out that everyone loves a winning product. Therefore, it is vital to give your product the appearance of gaining momentum. Don't crank out a mountain of product and hope it will sell -- get a mountain of orders and work around the clock to fill the orders.

Don't assume a big blast of advertising is the answer. Many of the big advertisers succeed because they have established their brand names by years of advertising. Ads are expensive. Advertise, but analyze your results. He lists eight factors to be considered when analyzing the results of your ads.

While Don feels making your own product is better than the licensing approach, he does list 12 key steps to licensing an idea. Ideas don't sell themselves. Dramatic presentations and your ability to create a sense of urgency are vital when going the licensing route.

He gives an extensive check list for growing a company and for making it a smooth-running operation.

Surprisingly, he does not discuss business plans until later in the book. He feels they are overrated. A budget is vital at the very start, but until you gain some experience from producing and selling your product, a business plan will probably consist of wishful and wild estimates.

In summary, the message to inventors and entrepreneurs is that you can do it -- often at low cost -- but you must be prepared to work hard and, most of all, to work smart.

Why didn't I find this book before?.......2004-05-30

This is the book that I have been looking for! Finally, a book that walks me through step by step market analysis and determining if a product will sell.From inception of the idea, through the "Why does the world need my idea" to testing the idea, to actually setting up how to ask the consumer the RIGHT questions in deciding if the product is sales worthy, this book leads one through all of the steps.Items like price vrs cost of production was detailed. Will I be able to make a profit? Now I can tell!I found the "How to approach prospective clients" section extremely helpful with details on a presentation package to a list of the right questions to ask the prospective distributer. As an idea person, I needed to learn the marketing and the market reasearch part of the business. This book has done it.This invaluable book is worth every cent! Thanks!

Booyah!.......2003-04-23

The Debelak's rock my face off! GTO says: This book is amazing - such good stuff happens!! Marketing banzai!!

probably the best book on new product development.......2000-08-09

This is probably the best book on new product development... for the entrepreneur (those with a great idea, and somewhat limited budget). I ordered this book from Amazon after I read another of his books, Infilitration Marketing). I thought the previous book was A+, and I give that score to this book as well. I have also ordered his Marketing Plan book, but haven't read it yet.

I put this book up their with those of Barry Feig (Straight to the Heart, The New Products Workshop). But this book, Bringing Your Product To Market, is the best overall book for product development - more encompassing. It has lots of marketing material, but also lots of new product development ideas, how (and if, when) to license, how to manufacture (mostly contract manufacture). His book is the best over all book... and thus would be that one book to buy that includes it all.

Unlike other books on new product marketing, he doesn't go endlessly on about how to patent your product, how to hire a lawyer, and other side issues. This is much more practical: it presents a phased plan of new product development, market research, market testing, etc. Contract manufacturing, patents and licensing (excellently done) is then discussed in terms of this phased approach.

The purpose of this book is to get you away from developing a monument to yourself and to control urging of your ego to not listen to what the market is trying to say. His checklist and phased approach almost forces you to spend less on the front end than you normally would, and to constantly check the market's reactions. In this regard, the book is EXCELLENT PLUS. I have not seen any other book that is so practical, yet filled with marketing insight. I would say that if you followed his advice, you would triple your odds of success.

Every page oozes with practical experience (he consults with new product developers). He gives ratios and rules of thumbs for many subjects... again, based on his experience. He also provides lots of examples that illustrate his points. I would recommend that you order any of this guy's stuff. His marketing book was great, and I look forward to reading his marketing plan book.

I would also recommend your reading Feig's book, which goes into more detail in the market research and product idea development phase.

Oh, one last thing, I underlined about 60 % of just about every page in this book. I've filed it under the Dewey Decimal System of "A+".

John Dunbar

Not everything made out to be, but definately worth a read........1999-11-15

This man is a salesman, which means first he sells himself,which he does quite succesfully in this book, a bit to the detrimentof the book. It makes it appear that anyone can go to people with a pretty good product and have it sell. It may sell, but a years worth of 60 hour work weeks isn't worth $10,000.

Found his little tricks like counting competitive products on the shelves, and other stuff, very useful. Resources are OK but have a larger variety as compared to other invention books. Throughout the book he stress low cost and investors, which to me seem contradictory, although his information on both is good. Not much of what makes a good product and clear steps to bring items to market.

For those I recomend Marketing Your Invention by Mosley and Winning At New PRoducts by Robert Cooper.

Book Description

An invention expert demystifies the process of turning an idea for a product into a moneymaking reality, while avoiding the pitfalls that sink many would-be inventors.

Entrepreneur magazine's bringing your product to market: A step-by-step guide to success (Entrepreneur Magazine's business start-up series)

Average customer rating:

Entrepreneur magazine's bringing your product to market: A step-by-step guide to success (Entrepreneur Magazine's business start-up series)
Don Debelak
Manufacturer: Entrepreneur Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Entrepreneurship | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006RWADM

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books