Recommended by: WiseSuit Staff

"Success has always had its price, I guess, and I learned that lesson the hard way in October of 1985 when Forbes magazine named me the so-called "richest man in America"... It wasn't too hard to imagine all those newspaper and TV folks up in New York saying "Who?" and "He lives where?"" - Sam Walton: Made in America

So begins the autobiography of Sam Walton, the man who was able to expand a nickel and dime store into the mega-store Wal-Mart, the largest retail store in the world. 

The interesting thing about Sam Walton, which is expressed over and over again in his autobiography, is the fact that this man never lost touch with the common elements of growing up and living in middle America. Free of academic jargon that may come off as pretentious or condescending, Sam Walton concisely chronicles the journey he took through inspiration and optimism which would help him to succeed in business and live the American Dream. 

Not only a story of the man behind the famed store, Sam Walton: Made in America also looks at the business that was created by Sam Walton and how it has grown and changed over the years.

Industries, for better or for worse, are constantly forced to evolve as a result of capitalism. This concept is expanded upon in the autobiography through anecdotes and commentary. Anyone who is interested in learning about business, and building a business, would benefit from reading this carefully. 

While Wal-Mart has been publicly criticized in recent years for muscling out smaller neighbourhood retail stores, reading this autobiography will help people to understand what the company started out as and how the company grew. Sam Walton also offers some insight into how the company started with good intentions and a deep belief in doing something ‘right,' even though today many media outlets prefer to label the company an evil-doer. 

Frankly, everyone in business or not in business will benefit from reading this book because of the great life lessons learned and shared by Walton. Hard work and passion were coupled together to help Sam Walton create this medium, retail stores, he used to provide affordable products and services for the average family and bring wealth to so many. Like every other successful entrepreneur, Walton did go through a great deal of setbacks and competition, but in the end he was able to accomplish something incredible. 

He does not take credit for all of this success alone and emphatically acknowledges many great retailers who came before him. But when a man can build the largest retail company in the world from a small unknown American town of Bentonville, Arkansas, he deserves a significant amount of credit.

"Wal-Mart wouldn't be what it is today without a host of fine competition, most especially Harry Cunningham of Kmart, who really designed the first discount store, and who in my opinion, should be remembered as one of the leading retailers of all time." - Sam Walton

Reviews:

"...wise and inspiring autobiography - Walton tells his quietly fantastic story with conviction and makes no bones about his mistakes." - San Francisco Chronicle

"Here is an extraordinary success story about a man whose empire was built not with smoke and mirrors, but with good old-fashioned elbow grease." - Detroit Free Press

"A sure-fire all-American success story." - The New York Times Book Review

About the Author:

Sam Walton initially wanted to become an insurance salesman, following in the footsteps of his father. Instead, he was able to create the largest and most successful retail company in the world. Nonetheless, success did nothing to remove the humble outlook on life held by the man. 

Known as a great motivator, in his autobiography Sam Walton wrote "Could a Wal-Mart type story still occur in this day and age? My answer is of course it could happen again. Somewhere out there right now there's someone - probably hundreds of thousands of someones - with good enough ideas to go all the way. It will be done again, over and over, provided that someone wants it badly enough to do what it takes to get there."

Categories:  Leadership ,  Biography