Car Guys vs. Bean Counters, Bob Lutz
Car Guys vs. Bean Counters, Bob Lutz
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Car Guys vs. Bean Counters
The Battle for the Soul of American Business

Author: Bob Lutz

Narrator: Norman Dietz

Unabridged: 9 hr 36 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 06/15/2011


Synopsis

In 2001, General Motors hired Bob Lutz out of retirement with a mandate to save the company by making great cars again. He launched a war against penny pinching, office politics, turf wars, and risk avoidance. After declaring bankruptcy during the recession of 2008, GM is back on track thanks to its embrace of Lutz's philosophy.

When Lutz got into the auto business in the early sixties, CEOs knew that if you captured the public's imagination with great cars, the money would follow. The car guys held sway, and GM dominated with bold, creative leadership and iconic brands like Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, GMC, and Chevrolet.

But then GM's leadership began to put their faith in analysis, determined to eliminate the "waste" and "personality worship" of the bygone creative leaders. Management got too smart for its own good. With the bean counters firmly in charge, carmakers (and much of American industry) lost their single-minded focus on product excellence. Decline followed.

Lutz's commonsense lessons (with a generous helping of fascinating anecdotes) will inspire readers at any company facing the bean counter analysis-paralysis menace.

About Bob Lutz

Bob Lutz held senior leadership positions at GM, Ford, Chrysler, and BMW over the course of an unparalleled forty-seven-year career, culminating in his vice chairmanship of General Motors from 2001 to 2010. He is the bestselling author of Guts: The Seven Laws of Business That Made Chrysler the World's Hottest Car Company.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Jay on October 08, 2015

You can imagine the kind of guy who survived the politics of the largest manufacturing organizations in the world, getting called back from retirement to work on increasingly bigger jobs, not quite reaching the top but close enough to provide commentary. This kind of guy will have opinions on everyt......more

Goodreads review by Luke on November 13, 2024

Had to read for school. Learned some interesting things about the car industry and corporate leadership but there’s also just a lot of complaining going on the whole time.......more

Goodreads review by Ken on December 05, 2013

The book offers many interesting insights about automobile design and marketing strategy within the car industry, but the author's neo-conservative political agenda was far too intrusive. His belief that global warming is a left-wing media hoax, and that Fox News is somehow notable for its courageou......more

Goodreads review by Don on December 23, 2012

infallibility & self-worship, hubris and arrogance, 5-5's, 50% of sales to 60s, too much change too many changed parts quality tanked 82-85, cafe std, affordability drives use, yen exchange rate, labor pool, 90s healthcare & strikes, contracts gambled that healthcare like other things with technolog......more

Goodreads review by Amanda on June 26, 2012

Lutz's direct, sometimes harshly condemning, sometimes humble always open style and voice really come through in this utterly readable cross between an autobiography and business critique. He knows the car business like no other. He's no climatologist. Don't be surprised that he's giving his opinions......more