Recommended by: WiseSuit Staff  

Doctors thought he would die but he survived a deadly fire at a Boston hotel. He has gone to war with some of the biggest names in business today. His business empire includes brand names we all know and recognize - Paramount Pictures, MTV, Blockbuster, Simon & Schuster, Showtime and CBS. He is larger-than-life. He is Sumner Redstone.

In his own words, Sumner Redstone gives us a behind the scenes look at his life and his biggest deals. After hugely successful stints at Harvard, the U.S. Army and an impressive career as a lawyer, we learn how a small-time operator of movie theatres, primarily unfashionable drive-in theatres, built a media conglomerate piece by piece.

We learn the riveting details of some of Redstone's biggest deals: how his relatively smaller business, National Amusements, acquired a much bigger Viacom, his much-publicized battle with Barry Diller for control of Paramount Pictures, and negotiations with Wayne Huizenga for Blockbuster.

This book describes a man who is committed to winning. It outlines the philosophies that he has used in over six decades in business. Still actively involved in business today, Sumner Redstone is still writing his story. If we want to win, we must study the stories of winners.

"National Amusements began investing in motion picture companies... It was part of an investment strategy that I have always followed: Stick to what you know. Many investors are counseled to diversify, to take positions in a wide variety of areas of the market. I think people should invest in what they know most about, rather than spreading their money around. This requires both an active mind and a great deal of self-confidence, which you will need to sustain you in difficult times." - Sumner Redstone, A Passion to Win

Reviews:

"One thing's certain: Sumner Redstone has methodically pieced together one of the world's largest entertainment conglomerates." - USA Today

About the Author:

Sumner Redstone is Chairman of Viacom. He maintains residences in New York and Newton, Massachusetts.

Categories:  Leadership ,  Biography