The provocative title is no surprise from a guy known as “Maximum” Bob Lutz. Lutz is an American, born and raised in Switzerland, and probably the best automotive executive produced by America. He speaks five languages, is urbane, opinionated, usually right, and has worked for General Motors, Ford, Chrysler and BMW. To relax, he flew his own fighter plane into his 80s.
This book is subtitled Straight Talk on Leadership. Lutz doesn’t do anything other than straight talk. I really admire the guy.
I bought this book, which was published in 2013 for about $5 on eBay. It’s hardbound and signed by Lutz; not bad for $5. I bought the book simply to read the chapter about Lutz’s short but eventful tenure at BMW. It was insightful and worth it.
But I then I started reading some of the other chapters. Each one deals with a ‘boss’ that Lutz had, and they are roughly chronologically arranged. Each chapter relates Lutz’s experience, good and bad, and his lessons from the experience.
Most of the executives are car industry heavyweights, but the first two chapters are exceptions. The first chapter deals with his principal teacher at the Swiss private school he attended. Many of us have had formative experiences with great teachers. Lutz was no exception, but this guy would later be elected the President of the country!
The next chapter is about another formative ‘boss.’ It’s about his experience becoming a United States Marine. The ‘boss’ is his drill instructor. The Swiss high school and the Marine Corps would form much of what Lutz knows about leadership.
The remaining chapters deal with Lutz’s experiences with auto industry executives who give the book its title: Icon and Idiots. Besides BMW, almost all the rest are American car companies, although some are dealing with European operations.
There are both Icons and Idiots here, but also alcoholics and felons! One GM executive is a roaring alcohol, everybody knows it and it is tolerated. The felon was the CEO for Exide Corporation, the battery company, who was right upfront about the criminal behavior.
The chapters are just the right size, instructive, and historically interesting. Unless you were a stockholder in some of these companies.
Maybe the best part of the book is the Epilogue, where Lutz sums up the lessons in leadership he has learned over his career. It is one of the best things on leadership I’ve ever read.
I really enjoyed the book, and you might too.
No comments yet.