Once Upon a Car: The Fall and Resurrection of America's Big Three Auto Makers--GM, Ford, and Chrysler [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

Like the previous reviewer,i was also employed for a car company.Over 30 yrs at GM. Mr. Vlasic's book is one of the only ones I have read lately that really captured the essence of what took place in the domestic auto industry over the last several decades,and more specifically ,what happened since 2005.It is an unbiased telling of a very important chapter in American history.The book is so well written,it was very difficult for me to put it down.Knowing many of the characters mentioned in the book made it that much more relevant and interseting.
I've had the opportunity to have read pretty much every book that has been written about the Detroit car biz over the past decade,and I would put this one near the top for both storytelling,and an objective analysis of the ills and triumphs of the domestic auto industry.If you have even the slightest interest in the automotive business,and the people that run it,this book is a must read.

Solid, well grounded analysis. This book shows what a skilled reporter can do, writing about a topic he is very familiar with.

Bill Vlasic has access to the top people in the auto industry and uses it well. He tells his story through people but doesn't get bogged down in their personal issues. His writing makes the other authors who have written about the recent history of the American auto industry look like amateurs.

For a book billed as a "uniquely American story of success, failure and redemption", Vlasic does a remarkable job in narrating the "failure". While referencing the past success and mostly hope as bookends, Vlasic provides an informative and entertaining look into the events that shaped the stories of the American automobile industry. Narrating this story with the CEOs, other key execs, investors (activist and passive) as the key actors, Vlasic is able to provide a backdrop devoid of any need for political overtones or editorial liberties or an 'academic' analysis. That lack of analysis may deter some readers who may find the almost complete focus on the key players (see Amazon's own review for a snapshot of the key 'actors').

Another key insight a reader will glean is the role of labor unions and the power (right or wrong) in directly impacting the fate of the very companies that employ them. In a rare editorial comment, Vlasic points out that there is "nothing inherently better in American workers than...." and almost goes on to make the case of how unions may have been over-reaching.

Through the intertwined narration of the Big 3's trials and tribulations, a reader will be able to discern almost three unique management styles ranging from a benevolent leader who knew when to step down (Ford), a degree of detachment bordering on indifference. The stark contrasts in the management styles and personalities is a treat for any reader and could easily form the basis of leadership case studies. A neutral observer would end up having a more positive view of Bill Ford and to some extent both Bush and Obama (how Bush didnt want the incoming president to be faced with the crisis and how Obama imposed conditions on bailout). Ford comes out looking as a better-run company.

The narrative gives an view on the decision making processes at the CxO levels and in hindsight it is amazing how some of the managers managed to hang on to their jobs. While Vlasic does a remarkable job in detailing the reactions of the Big 3 to the increasing threat from imports, impact of gas prices and the collapse of the economy, the book falls short in describing the "redemption" - perhaps, it is still a work-in-progress.

Despite the fairly gloomy story of the Big 3's fall, the book is not without its moments of humor (especially discussing the now in-famous and infinitely parodied CEO-trips for the bailouts) and a gem of corporate speech attributed to Nardelli ("do vertical dives to really get the granularity and make sure we're coupling horizontally across functions so that we have a pure line of sight to the customer") Huh?

Overall, a very entertaining look into the reactions of the key decision makers of the Big 3 to the main trends impacting them (imports, gas, economy, politics, unions). For readers needing a more detailed look at the bailout, Overhaul: An Insider's Account of the Obama Administration's Emergency Rescue of the Auto Industry is a must-read. Crash Course: The American Automobile Industry's Road to Bankruptcy and Bailout-and Beyond offered more insights than Sixty to Zero: An Inside Look at the Collapse of General Motors--and the Detroit Auto Industry, though both are fun reads in this topic.