Grinding It Out

The Making of McDonald's

By: Ray Kroc, Robert Anderson

Narrated by: Stephen Bel Davies

Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's Summary

Few entrepreneurs can claim to have radically changed the way we live, and Ray Kroc is one of them. His revolutions in food-service automation, franchising, shared national training, and advertising have earned him a place beside the men and women who have founded not only businesses, but entire empires. But even more interesting than Ray Kroc the business man is Ray Kroc the man. Not your typical self-made tycoon, Kroc was 52 years old when he opened his first franchise. 

In Grinding It Out, you'll meet the man behind McDonald's, one of the largest fast-food corporations in the world with more than 32,000 stores around the globe. An irrepressible enthusiast, intuitive people person, and born storyteller, Kroc will fascinate and inspire you.

©1977 Ray A. Kroc (P)2018 Tantor

inspiring and motivating. Hooray Ray iroc

Very inspiring book. Raise style and dedication to quality and integrity is uplifting. I would highly recommend any entrepreneur read it

Narrator Voice

The voice tone of narrator Was not nice for a 7 hour audio book. Turns boring

Continuation from the movie

If you have watched the movie the book will only add the lufe of Kroc after the movie ended.

Didn't love the tone of the narrator's voice

I loved the story and the message, but was not a fan of the tone of the narrator's voice.

great book annoying narration

Ray Krok's story is great, but the narration is just so painfully fake and annoying.

Let’s grind it out

This is the first non IT startup book I read.

Ray Kroc who was a door to door sales man selling paper cups and later, multi-mixer, started MacDonald at the age of 52.

The book titled "Grinding it out" is so aptly named. Ray Kroc grinded out in the formative years.

Who would think flipping burger can create a hamburger high school & university, a $21 billion yearly revenue and 37,800 stores world wide.

For a man who rolled up his sleeves and started a mega biz so late in his life, is an inspiration too many.

I strongly recommend this book.

Very impressive history of McDonalds and Krok

I learned so much about perseverence in business and be willing to take risks on your own business ideas regardless of who doubts you. Great book

American Free Enterprise at its Finest

To any McDonald’s hater, please read this book. You might have a different view after reading the mindset of the person leading it’s growth. This book gives a great look at Ray Kroc’s perspective on building a brand that today is recognized all over the world. This is a great book about the power of franchising and the power of hard work. If you are looking for motivation to become an entrepreneur or a leader growing a business this is a great book for you.

Very informative book

Loved it, very well narrated book that details the history of the McDonald's Corp from its founding to the then current day of when book was written.

Enjoyable and inspiring read

Ray Kroc was a fine man, who truly cared about people. Very interesting story and inspiring book. I had already watched the movie 'The founder' and loved it. After listening to this book, I want to watch the movie again!

How to get rich - a manual.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Ray Kroc, inspired to me after watching the movie "The Founder"(2016)

When I watched the movie, I initially looked for audiobook, but at the time after the movie - this audio version (2018) was not made, and so I read the book.

I was so impressed with reading the book, that a year later when this audiobook was released, I listened and consumed it within a week.

This book is definitely better then the movie.

It gives you real insight into the mind of a millionaire and the steps he undertook to reach there.

Many books written on how to make money - made their money by getting you to buy their books.

Not Ray, in this book, he covers much of the gap left by the movie, and it highlights how he went from an ambulance driver in World War I (he was with Walt Disney who was also an ambulance driver at the time), to a piano player working for money, to selling paper cups, to selling multimixers, and coming upon the McDonald brothers.

The movie sort of portrayed Ray in a negative light, however the book highlights the difficulty he had with his first wife, the problems that the McDonald's brothers gave him (to the point he thought they wanted him to fail), and the simply hard work he had to get to where he wanted to.

As he said in the book, people thought of him as an overnight success, but thirty years is one hell of a long night.

This story is the story of ambition, constant setbacks and grinding it out to overcome those setbacks.

Lets not take this the wrong way, many of the chief executives including Ray, his daughter, his first wife all had diabetes. They probably at the time did not link this with the quality of the food they ate at McDonald's. He had multiple medical problems.

The success of McDonald compared to any other franchise - KFC, Burger King, Hardee's, Wendy, Tim Hortons - is laid out here.

This is one listen you don't want to miss.

A business classic

My only regret is that I took so long to get around to reading it. Essential entrepreneur fuel.

Sales Bible

The worthwhile story of a master visionary and salesman of the last century; who is really a true inspiration for entrepreneurs.

Too sexist to like the author but not a bad read

A very interesting read for anyone who enjoys a business story. I didn't care for the author and his dinosaur ways - one gets the impression women are there to be help meet at best, a hindrance at worst. He wouldn't have dreamed of getting his only child - a girl - to take over the reins, but they weren't best friends anyway. I don't think he even mentioned that he had a sister, although apparently she was like him (oh sorry, he did mention her). Anyway as far as the business is concerned, I found it inspiring, although as one reviewer said, it's a lesson on how NOT to give your entire life over to your job. Ray Kroc did. Then again, he loved that...he has a huge regard for himself but then again a huge self belief is probably necessary to ride the waves when things her tough. I don't eat in McDonald's, never did really - even my kids don't like it - but a sneaky apple pie once a year is very tasty! Actually I quite fancy a filet o'fish. I guess I'm a hypocrite. But reading the story makes you more inclined, not less, to eat there. I recommend the book.

Superb listen

some old fashioned values being thought for a modern time! a must listen for anyone aspiring in the food industry and retail.

Great book on entrepreneurship

Great audiobook- you will learn about McD and how he started up and ran the business

One of my favorites

Fantastic Insight into the story of Macdonald’s , a must read on anybody wanting to become a visionary ceo

Story of Success of a true entrepreneur

A man who truly believed in himself when no one else would. Very well writing book from a true entrepreneur, who never throw in the towel.

Optimiism, passion and buisness

It was much more of an “alive” 1st person life story than I expected.Funny, large and enjoyavle.
Also great performance by the reader.

Thoroughly recommended

Whether you love or hate McDonald's, this book is an excellent story of what it takes to be an entrepreneur - it really is a grind. It shows how persistence and overcoming objections really pays off. Only one chapter where he starts boasting should be skipped, it ruins the image of the man.