To Pixar and Beyond

My Unlikely Journey with Steve Jobs to Make Entertainment History

By: Lawrence Levy

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 7 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

An Amazon best book of 2016 in BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP 

The never-before-told story of Pixar's improbable success. 

"Hi, Lawrence?" the caller asked. "This is Steve Jobs. I saw your picture in a magazine a few years ago and thought we'd work together someday." 

After Steve Jobs was unceremoniously dismissed from Apple, he turned his attention to a little-known graphics art company that he owned called Pixar. 

One day, out of the blue, Jobs called Lawrence Levy, a Harvard-trained lawyer and Silicon Valley executive to whom he had never spoken before, in the hope of persuading Levy to help him get Pixar on the right track. 

What Levy found in Pixar was a company on the verge of failure. To Pixar and Beyond is the extraordinary story of what happened next: How Levy, working closely with Jobs and the Pixar team, produced and implemented a highly improbable roadmap that transformed the sleepy graphics art studio into one of Hollywood's greatest success stories. 

Set in the worlds of Silicon Valley and Hollywood, the book takes listeners inside Pixar, Disney, law firms, and investment banks. It provides an up-close, first-hand account of Pixar's stunning ascent, how it took risks, Levy's enduring collaboration and friendship with Jobs, and how Levy came to see in Pixar deeper parallels that apply to all aspects of our lives. 

©2016 Lawrence Levy (P)2016 Novel Audio

Focuses Exclusively On Financials

This is a book written by the ex-Pixar CFO, and not surprisingly he writes about what he knows, namely, the financial challenges that he guided Pixar through during the early(ish) years.

Unless you are really fascinated by creating business plans, stock options, financial negotations, financial modelling and projections, and such things, you'd be much better off with pretty much any of the other pixar books. The other books focus much more on the people, technology, and movie-making, where this one is mostly just the financials.

Bronson Pinchot was a very unusual choice as the reader of such a book, but he does a reasonable job. Not great, but not as bad as I had feared. Overall it's a pretty boring book.

Sweet and Lovely

Lovely insight into the beginning days of Pixar. Insightful with heart. Pleasant narration to listen to.

Inspirational

I loved this book and wish it kept going. Lawrence is a phenomenal story teller that inspired me in business, creativity and personel development.

Surprisingly fluid

It has been a marvelous performance. The story is simple, no grandiose dramas or ups and downs, but I can certainly feel the heart of the author, and that is touching and brings the book much closer to its audience.

A great surprise

I hadn't expected such a topic could be that captivating!
Great story, excellently and emphatically captured.

Fascinating, informative, compulsory listening

Highly recommended for anyone interested in film, animation, entertainment, Hollywood, dealmaking, IPO, leadership and Steve Jobs.

Great read, really enjoyed this window into Pixar and Steve Jobs

Loved this book, well written and great audio performance.

Some interesting stories about how Pixar was built, the issues it overcame and how they create magic.

What an end!!!

What would have made To Pixar and Beyond better?

Remove chapter 28 on audiobook.

What was most disappointing about Lawrence Levy’s story?

This audiobook should have stopped on chapter 27. But suddenly on chapter 28 the author very naively narrates how he was bamboozled by a Brazilian guru living in LA. Very disappointing for a person who had the privilege to talk daily with Catmull, Lasseter and Jobs. That shows that money can't buy wisdom.

Have you listened to any of Bronson Pinchot’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Always excellent.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Chapter 28 was very, very disappointing.

Any additional comments?

To the author: get smart! The Beatles did it in The Sixties.

I usually don’t write reviews. This was so good, I had too!

If you have a interest in non fiction, business, success, public stock offerings and what seems like a hopeless endeavor to achieve something. The challenges that Lawrence experiences would have many people walking away. But he prevailed. It’s great to see a leader who goes out of his way to get the workers credit and acknowledgment for their achievements! Not taking the credit for themselves. Certainly someone I would have great respect for. Very well communicated life event.
Thanks for sharing Lawrence.

Simply amazing!

One of the best books I have ever read. You will not regret this decision!

great insite into pixar

Enjoyed listening to inside information on how pixar was run as a company. great read.