American Icon

Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company

By: Bryce G. Hoffman

Narrated by: Pete Larkin

At the end of 2008, Ford Motor Company was just months away from running out of cash. With the auto industry careening toward ruin, Congress offered all three Detroit automakers a bailout. General Motors and Chrysler grabbed the taxpayer lifeline, but Ford decided to save itself. Under the leadership of charismatic CEO Alan Mulally, Ford had already put together a bold plan to unify its divided global operations, transform its lackluster product lineup, and overcome a dys­functional culture of infighting, backstabbing, and excuses. It was an extraordinary risk, but it was the only way the Ford family - America's last great industrial dynasty - could hold on to their company.

Mulally and his team pulled off one of the great­est comebacks in business history. As the rest of Detroit collapsed, Ford went from the brink of bankruptcy to being the most profitable automaker in the world. American Icon is the compelling, behind-the-scenes account of that epic turnaround. On the verge of collapse, Ford went outside the auto industry and recruited Mulally - the man who had already saved Boeing from the deathblow of 9/11 - to lead a sweeping restructuring of a company that had been unable to overcome decades of mismanagement and denial.

Mulally applied the principles he developed at Boeing to streamline Ford's inefficient operations, force its fractious executives to work together as a team, and spark a product renaissance in Dearborn. He also convinced the United Auto Workers to join his fight for the soul of American manufacturing.

Bryce Hoffman reveals the untold story of the covert meetings with UAW leaders that led to a game-changing contract, Bill Ford's battle to hold the Ford family together when many were ready to cash in their stock and write off the company, and the secret alliance with Toyota and Honda that helped prop up the Amer­ican automotive supply base. In one of the great management narratives of our time, Hoffman puts the reader inside the boardroom as Mulally uses his celebrated Business Plan Review meet­ings to drive change and force Ford to deal with the painful realities of the American auto industry.

Hoffman was granted unprecedented access to Ford's top executives and top-secret company documents. He spent countless hours with Alan Mulally, Bill Ford, the Ford family, former executives, labor leaders, and company directors. In the best-selling tradition of Too Big to Fail and The Big Short, American Icon is narrative nonfiction at its vivid and colorful best.

©2012 Bryce G. Hoffman (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"For those interested in the recent political interventions and maneuvers in the auto industry, this book provides a fly-on-the-wall view of the meetings and behind-the-scenes deal making necessary to revive an ailing giant." ( Library Journal)

Engrossing

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, its an engrossing read that is almost as much history as it is a business case study.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Allan M's family comes in the study after he gets off the phone from telling Bill Ford no and the family asks when they are going to Ford;-)

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Great Read!

What made the experience of listening to American Icon the most enjoyable?

This book was so good that I could wait to get back in my car each morning to continue listening to the book!

What does Pete Larkin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Pete's voice was very calming and he created a very natural listening experience

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

at 14 hours I would say no

Great Book on Business & Personnel Management

Well researched book. Great recreations of history, not so much about the cars in the latter years it's more about the men and women (mostly men) who make the decisions to make cars. Sometimes the drama sounds like a soap opera, but if you work in corporate America or for a large organization, you'll recognize some of these themes as being universal. Throw in the Ford family, the Union, and the media as outside influences and you have a great story.

Interesting and enlightening story

Makes me want to go buy a Ford! This is a great American turnaround story. I was unfamiliar with the details of Ford's unique challenges although I know the Japanese imports were crushing them for a while and I know the market crash put a hurting on everyone. It was interesting to learn how all the auto makers and parts suppliers are all tied together and failure of one US auto maker could cause the demise of another so they kind of had to help each other to some extent to survive. It also seemed very unfair how the US government treated Ford versus the others, BUT I know we are only hearing one side of that story. In any case, Alan Mulally and Ford seem to have earned their victory and I'm glad they survived. I do recommend this book.

Eye opening exprience

Exceeded my expectation. Opened Ford up for better understanding what the auto maker had to manage and survive the market conditions.

The Struggle Was Real

The Struggle Was Real, but Ford overcame the challenge through teamwork, perseverance, and transparency. Alan Mulally had a challenge to overcome the old culture at Ford, but he helped change the world.

A slow start but more than worth it!

The beginning groundwork for this book is necessary but could take a little patience to get past, once you do, you’ll be so glad you held on for this amazing book. Enjoyed learning about the history of such an prominent company but this was also a great book about leadership and make hard decisions.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

The principles are applicable in so many business arenas. I work in health care and feel inspired to look at ways to apply concepts to my own work place. Definitely worth the read!

Great Story and Storytelling… Bit Long

Great story and storytelling, however i think it could be just a tiny bit shorter. I liked the VO work. Was an excellent telling of the inner workings of Ford

Really enjoyed

Fun and inspiring. Ironically, sounds a lot like EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) from the book “Traction” by Gino Wickman. I also was struck by how important a positive mindset is in leadership.