Product Description

This book is the original autobiographical work by Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company. In this book, Ford details how he got into business, the strategies that he used to become a wealthy and successful businessman, and what others can do by learning from the examples he has outlined. This book should be read by small business owners, business students and those interested in the history of the automobile. Henry Ford will take you through a journey of history, business and lessons to be learned from which he used to develop his financial empire.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #66338 in Books
• Published on: 2009-01-28
• Released on: 2009-01-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 186 pages

Customer Reviews

Management Classics
Henry Ford is the classical writer on management. He stands on a same line with Sun Tzu, Niccolò Machiavelli, Robert Owen, Frederick Taylor and Henri Fayol.

This is the foundation of all the management literature, and every modern manager should be aware with the works of the authors above mentioned.

In the book "My Life and Work", Henry Ford presents his view on different things: management philosophy, social life, human abilities and capabilities, the role of the bankers in the production, good debt and bad debt, the labor and the speculation, the roots of poverty and the ways to solve it, the role of the government, and other important topics.

You will also find an autobiography in this book, but there is a lot of things that Henry Ford avoids in this book, e.g. how did he took the controlling stake in the Ford Motor Company. He didn't write in the book that he have started another company, Henry Ford and Son, and made a show of taking himself and his best employees to the new company; the goal was to scare the remaining holdout stockholders of the Ford Motor Company to sell their stakes to him before they lost most of their value. The ruse worked, and Henry and his son purchased all remaining stock from the other investors, thus giving the family sole ownership of the company.

Great insights to a bygone era with surprising modern relevence
While obviously self-serving, this book provides fascinating insights into the thinking of a true pioneer. Just when you start to think it is dated, you hit a section with startling current relevence.

I wish the leaders of GE had heeded his warnings about getting so wrapped up in financing structure and accounting results that you get distracted from your basic business and your customers' needs.

His approach to driving does costs and creating value are profound to this day. It's too bad the finance wizards at GM and Ford forgot his lessons - the leaders of Toyota and Honda learned them well.

Good info...but a slow read.
This book is great for managers and business people alike. I am not sure when this book was origially published but it was sometime right after the Great Depression and the war. Because of this the language is slightly different and it is sometimes hard to get into in some areas. That being said...it does have great information and Ford was an amazing man. I love corporate America, ecspecailly when it's home grown!