#7 Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald's

In 'Sam Walton: Made in America,' Sam Walton shares his personal and professional journey, from his early life in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, to the founding and expansion of Walmart. The book is a first-person account supplemented by quotes from friends, family, and colleagues. It highlights Walton's core values, such as the importance of hard work, customer satisfaction, and competitive pricing. The autobiography also provides insights into Walton's leadership style, his approach to business, and the lessons he learned throughout his career. The book was published posthumously in 1993 and offers a compelling and inspiring look at the life of one of America's most successful entrepreneurs.

This biography, meticulously researched over seven years with complete access to the Disney archives, provides a detailed and nuanced portrait of Walt Disney. It covers his early life, his transformation of animation into an art form with iconic characters like Mickey Mouse and films such as Snow White, Fantasia, and Bambi, and his expansion into television, theme parks, music, book publishing, and merchandise. The book also delves into Disney's personal life, revealing a complex figure with both remarkable achievements and hidden struggles, including financial problems, a nervous breakdown, and personal controversies. Gabler's work is a masterful exploration of both the work and the man, highlighting Disney's impact on American culture and the power of his imagination.

The Intel Trinity is the first full history of Intel Corporation, told through the lives of its three most important figures: Robert Noyce, Gordon Moore, and Andy Grove. The book reveals how each of these geniuses contributed differently to Intel's success, making it the world's technological leader and a defining company in the global digital economy. It covers Intel's legendary past and analyzes the challenges the company faces in maintaining its dominance, culture, and legacy. The book is based on unprecedented access to Intel's corporate archives and includes an analysis of the company's impact on personal computers, the Internet, telecommunications, and personal electronics revolutions.

This biography, based on more than 40 interviews with Steve Jobs and over 100 interviews with family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues, provides a riveting story of Jobs' roller-coaster life and intense personality. It highlights his passion for perfection, his ferocious drive, and how he revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing. The book explores Jobs' contradictions, his 'reality distortion field,' and the lessons about innovation, character, leadership, and values that can be drawn from his life and career.

The Last Tycoon is F. Scott Fitzgerald's final, unfinished novel, published posthumously in 1941. The story is set in 1930s Hollywood and follows the life of Monroe Stahr, a young and powerful film producer modeled after Irving Thalberg. Stahr navigates the complexities of his professional and personal life, including his relationships with Cecilia Brady, the daughter of his boss Pat Brady, and Kathleen Moore, a young Irish immigrant. The novel delves into themes of ambition, power, and corruption, reflecting Fitzgerald's own experiences as a screenwriter in Hollywood. The book was edited by Edmund Wilson from Fitzgerald's notes and has undergone several revisions and adaptations since its initial publication.

In 'Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald's,' Ray Kroc recounts his journey from a typical salesman to the businessman behind the world-famous hamburger chain. The book discusses Kroc's discovery of the McDonald brothers' efficient restaurant operation in San Bernardino, California, and how he convinced them to franchise their concept. Kroc's perseverance and business acumen are highlighted as he transformed McDonald's into an international success, revolutionizing the American restaurant industry with standardized menus and assembly-line food preparation. The memoir also touches on Kroc's personal life, including his multiple marriages and his later ownership of the San Diego Padres baseball team.