Who Is Michael Ovitz?

By: Michael Ovitz

Narrated by: Michael Ovitz - prologue, Dennis Boutsikaris

Length: 11 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

If you're going to listen to one book about Hollywood, this is the one.

As the cofounder of Creative Artists Agency, Michael Ovitz earned a reputation for ruthless negotiation, brilliant strategy, and fierce loyalty to his clients. He reinvented the role of the agent and helped shape the careers of hundreds of A-list entertainers, directors, and writers, including Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep, Sean Connery, Bill Murray, Robin Williams, and David Letterman.

But this personal history is much more than a fascinating account of celebrity friendships and bare-knuckled deal making. It's also an underdog's story: How did a middle-class kid from Encino work his way into the William Morris mailroom and eventually become the most powerful person in Hollywood? How did an agent (even a superagent) also become a power in producing, advertising, mergers & acquisitions, and modern art? And what were the personal consequences of all those deals?

After decades of near-silence in the face of controversy, Ovitz is finally telling his whole story, with remarkable candor and insight.

©2018 Michael Ovitz (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"When the history of Hollywood is written, few people will have played a larger role than Michael Ovitz.... It is impossible to read such a chronicle and not see Mr. Ovitz as the Steve Jobs of agenting, possessing a version of Jobs’s fanatical drive and a similar desire to remake an industry." (The Wall Street Journal)

"A revealing retelling of his Hollywood career.... A study in the unusual personality traits required to pull this off, Who Is Michael Ovitz? represents a master class of sorts." (The New York Times)

"Michael is a legend and I don't use that term lightly. Learning from his journey is something that every entrepreneur and executive should do." (Gary Vaynerchuk)

Incredible read

Hooked from beginning to end, can’t recommend enough. So much industry knowledge to be appreciated.

A fascinating mind

Setting aside how true or not the stories and accounts may be, the way Michael thinks and built and schemed is fascinating to hear. I bought the hardcover too so I can make notes in a second read. I really enjoyed the telling and the learning. Good on ya, Mike.

Captivating!

I thought Michael did a wonderful job giving readers insight of his life. His story is an amazing account of a man whose passion and curiosities for art and perfection drove him to the top. I was truly inspired and would recommend taking notes.

Captivating Stories About Movie Making

I love reading/listening to stories about Hollywood and filmmaking. I read every biography or memoir that I can get my hands on. Of all the books about Hollywood that I've read, which amounts to a ton, this book is one of the best. It's extremely enjoyable and delivers exactly what I am looking for--stories about stars, directors, writers, making films, and life in Hollywood.

It fascinates me.

Easily Five Stars

Michael Ovitz should have narrated.

Why isn’t it customary for the author to read his or her own memoir? The intro was fantastic, read by the iconic deal maker, but i was taken out of the story in the first chapter when the narrator pronounced Lee “Gabler” as Lee “Gobler”. The narrator has a beautiful voice, it’s just not Ovitz.

Excellent Memoir

I am in the entertainment business in Hollywood and have found the Ovitz/CAA story fascinating. This is a fantastic story and have discover a few new ideas for employ in my day to day operations. Highly recommended!

Great insight into a relatable person.

Totally related to Mike and how he decided to craft his persona to best fit the goal. This book is honest, open and incredibly educational and informational. His story recollection and attention to detail pulled me in and I completed the book in 2 days. Highly recommend this memoir.

A Brilliant Account of the Hero Behind the Mask

This work is very well written and performed to near perfection! It was refreshing to hear detailed thoughts behind so many deals and people we've all read about and seen on-screen for decades! It was also heartwarming to "meet" the real Mr. Ovitz; his family; his true friends; those he served and mentored; those who screwed him and even those who felt screwed by him.

The King Maker told in his voice

Absolutely loved this version, Ovitz felt much more genuine doesn’t seem as much of the bad guy as he’s always made out to be, Hollywood legend that just doesn’t exist anymore and for good reason. A great lesson in Personal Branding!

Ovitz is a big thinker.

This is a career advice book just as much as it is a retelling of the Hollywood story of the 80s and 90s. As someone who’s never worked in Hollywood, but can relate with several of the stories and anecdotes, this was a terrific book. Ovitz was self laudatory and self deprecating at the same time.