5 comments about House of Hilton: From Conrad to Paris: A Drama of Wealth, Power, and Privilege.

1. This book is totally mis-named. It gives very little inside about the 'House of Hilton' as the public and hotel professionals would see it. It seems as if the author was indeed influenced by the powers-that-are, and it appears strongly that he changed course on more than one occasion for reasons known/unknown.
   
   As the published product comes across, the author picks mostly on Paris Hilton's grandmother (Big Kathy), which is no longer amongst the living, and then on Conrad's oldest son, Nick, which is also amongst the dead. Other than that Nick would be the great-uncle of the current media 'bore', there is no connection whatsoever between these two (2) main characters of the book.
   
   That Conrad Hilton liked the girls has never been a secret at all. He made his pursuits with humor, charm and much class. That he is made out as a cheapscate, which he was not at all, must have come from the line of 'Big Kathy'; but then again, good, old Connie is dead as well...
   
   Erich E.



2. House of Hilton
   By Jerry Oppenheimer
   
   Do you want to know why Paris is the way she is? Then this
   book may be perfect for you because it explain the Hilton history.
   However to be honest, House of Hilton was not my favorite book. I got
   this book because I wanted to learn more about Paris and since the
   cover said from Conrad to Paris, I thought there would be quite a bit
   of information about her in it. I was disappointed they spent so much
   time on other people in the family. This was an unauthorized biography which talked about all of the Hiltons and it spent more time talking about the rest of the family.
   
   Paris is one of my favorite stars and I wanted to learn more about
   her. This book showed that most of her family is wild and it is in her
   blood. Conrad Hilton was the businessman who made the Hiltons what
   they are today - rich hotel people. Her grandmother was a stage mother
   and her grandfather an alcoholic. Her Uncle Nick made Paris look calm
   since he had affairs, used drugs, and got drunk and got into fights.
   Most of the Hiltons married more than once. The book talked about
   other people but it was hard to follow who was who at times.
   
   I did learn Paris went from school to school and was allowed to run
   wild a lot. She got into trouble when she was young and she barely
   got a degree. However she is a good business person and managed to
   make money modeling and singing but she got famous from her sex tape.
   
   Jerry Oppenheimer has written a few biographies about a few famous
   people some authorized, some weren't. In this book Jerry Oppenheimer
   spoke to many people who knew the Hiltons and used a lot of periodical
   resources to research this book.
   
   This book explained a lot about the family but I had wanted to read
   more about Paris and her sister. This book really went into everyone
   else in the family more then them. I did not care about some of the
   extended family and was disappointed because of this.



3. When I first picked up HOUSE OF HILTON to read, I thought it was going to be a juicy tell-all about Paris Hilton and her family, especially her parents and the famous lineage back to her great-grandfather who started the whole Hilton Hotel chain. Though some of that is in the book, there is a lot missing and the stories aren't as interesting as I thought they might be.
   
   The book is divided into two major parts. The first section looks at Paris' family on her maternal side while the second section of the book examines the lives of Paris' great-grandfather Conrad and her great-uncle Nick Hilton. The work is bookend by some stories about Paris and a few anecdotes about her sister Nicky. It then follows the life of Paris' mother Kathy Richards and her grandmother "Big" Kathy Dugan Avanzino Richards Catain Fenton. The second half of the book examines how Conrad Hilton built his hotel empire and his very eccentric lifestyle, including his contrary religious devotion and playboy lifestyle. The last part of the book takes an in-depth look at Conrad's son, Nick who lived a lifestyle that parallels Paris'.
   
   I can understand why the book looks at the Paris Hilton's maternal heritage because by examining the lives of her mother and maternal grandmother one can see where Paris learned her sense of entitlement and her gold-digging ways. I realize that much of this information about Paris Hilton's maternal legacy has never been collected together, but I found much of it to be repetitive and not all that interesting. The second half of the book held my attention better. However, as with the first part of the book there is a great deal lacking. The last fourth of the book is all about Nick Conrad, Paris Hilton's great-uncle. Nick was a flagrant playboy and gained fame much the same way that Paris has, simply by using his wealth to become famous. Nick Hilton lived a very wild and interesting life and it makes for a good read and also serves as an example of the heritage that Paris has been given. However, Nick was Paris' great-uncle. The book hardly mentions Paris grandfather Barron, her other great uncle, or even her father. I don't know if it's because their lives were so much more mundane than the other members of the family or what. However, I would have really enjoyed reading something about them because they are more closely related to Paris than Nick was.
   
   The book includes some pictures that help put faces to many of the people the book talks about including several of family member (such as Big Kathy) that most people have never heard of or seen before.
   
   Overall, HOUSE OF HILTON is an okay read. It is filled with facts and tidbits about the Hilton family. It starts off quite slow, but picks up in the second half. Yet, it's not as juicy as I was led to believe. Recommended for people who have a major or invested interest in the Hilton family or anyone who enjoys reading about families of the rich and famous.



4. The house of hilton does give justice on depicting the characters of Paris' Grandmother and great uncle (Nick Hilton - the one that married Liz Taylor) however it does not shed a lot of light on Paris Hilton and her Parents' life. We see that she gets her "I need to be the center of attention and in the spotlight at all times" demeanor from maternal grandma Big Kathy. All in all, I thought the book was a really easy read. I'm just curious as to how Paris would fill in her occupation on her tax forms. Is there an option for 24/7/365 days party animal socialite. I am fascinated by how she made a marketing brand for herself. The going rates to have Paris make an appearance at your party approx $200K..As to how she got to be so marketable? -- being a victim of a popular sex video that was fuzzy and was a popular download? I'm not sure I'd be proud of that.



5. This book is about Paris Hilton's grandparents, parents, and aunts. It includes the grandparent's ex-wives and husbands as well.If you want to know the history of the Hiltons then you should definately by this book. It mentions Paris in the book, but it definately isn't just about her. This is a good book.

2 comments about Never Climbed His Mountain.

1. The dull meandering nothings of a life wasted, this book is appallingly written, and its editing is even worse. The most disgraceful thing about this book is that the message contained within could be both interesting and useful, but is swamped by the aimless waffle about the retail industry, about pointless and meaningless petty squabbles with people from fifty years past. This is, quite simply, not worth the paper its printed on, the time it has consumed, or the avarice that was expended to produce it.



2. Rather than write a biased review may I suggest picking a review from others found at www.neverclimbedhismountain.com. There is a link there back to Amazon. At least these people had read the book. Not being aware of any books of this title from Infinity being sold in England I can't understand why any one would be that malicious.
   Vera M. Gladstone---the late author's wife

5 comments about Defiance: How to Succeed in Business Despite Being Hounded by the FBI, the KGB, the INS, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, Interpo.

1. Defiance is a riveting, eye-opening, and compelling story of the Konanykhin family, who desperately tried to stay one step ahead of former KGB agents and ruthless CIA, FBI, and INS agencies. Once one of Russia's wealthiest men, Alex Konanykhin runs for his life (and the life of his devoted wife, Elena) after his bank is taken over by former KGB agents through extortion and fraud. The KGB displayed their unsavory tactics through kidnapping the Konanykhin couple. The two successfully perform a daring escape from Hungary and obtain quiet refuge in the United States, which had granted him a green card from the United States Immigration Department.
   
   Their freedom in America was short-lived. The Konanykhins were arrested on bogus criminal charges which had been sought by the Attorney General of Russia. While an innocent man and his wife are trying to seek justice, powerful law firms, and even an INS agent, come to Alex's defense as a pro bono case.
   
   Brilliantly written, Alex tells his own story in Defiance eloquently. The book is a must-read for every American who values basic Constitutional rights and how these rights can be trampled on for sheer political purposes. Follow the story through a myriad of legal maneuvers by the INS and United States Department of Justice designed to sell out the Konanykhin's in order to win favor with the Russian Government. Defiance dramatically sends message to readers that government agencies, whenever located, can succumb to corruption and use under-handed tactics with conscious disregard for basic, human, and constitutional rights.
   
   But Defiance is not just about the issue of constitutional rights. It is also relays the disquieting apathy and lack of courage of our society as a whole to defend basic constitutional rights of others when these rights are placed in jeopardy.
   
   Stripped of their estimated $300-$400 million in assets, the couple soon becomes disenchanted with their situation and begins to lose hope. But their courage to fight the system and their love for each other, which never wavered, is inspiring for us all. Having lost fortunes before and working his way back to wealth, Alex is a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere. This book restores the sense of ultimate justice while reminding us that even "justice", once denied can never really be restored when it has been delayed.
   
   The emotional courtroom drama recounting the Konanykhin's story climaxes in the rendering of a decision by an American Immigration Department administrative law judge. The judge is faced with a politically-charged situation. Will the judge rule in favor of the Konanykhins and do them justice? Or will he collapse and lend aid to the intelligence agencies' carte blanche tactical methods?
   
   Alex Konanykhin was a major supporter and friend of former Russian President Boris Yeltzin, whose political campaign was substantially funded financially by Alex. The Russian mafia and the KGB have likely taken over many of the new industries in Russia, and around the world, as well as the United States. The Konanykhin's story cannot help but capture your interest and keep you on the edge of your seat through every page.
   
   Fasten your seat belts and prepare for the ride of your life.



2. And you think you've got it rough?
   
   Young, wealthy, powerful and prominent one day and a robbed fugitive with a KGB contract out on his head the next, so has gone the life of Alex Konanykhin. Like they said it on 60 Minutes,
   
   "Alex Konanykhin didn't only have KGB after him...He had the FBI, the Justice Department, even the CIA all on his case, as a favor to the Russians, part of a deal to allow the FBI to keep a bureau in Moscow."
   
   And while you may have heard a bit about the chaos and danger faced by Alex and his wife Elena on 60 Minutes, CNN and FOX News, you now have the chance to experience the thrill of their misadventures first hand in Alex's new fact action page turner, Defiance.
   
   While the plot is as twisted as any international paperback novel, this is the real McCoy - every bit of it a true story. From cover to cover, you'll find yourself immersed in a world of cruelty, intrigue and espionage, and seeing it through the eyes of an indomitable hero diametrically opposed to the oppression and lack of moral fiber (and ingenuity) around him. What started out as merely an attempt to quell an internal business takeover took him on a whirlwind adventure that left them fleeing from country to country, until finally finding themselves seeking amnesty within the safety of the borders of the United States.
   
   But the story doesn't end there. In fact, it only begins.
   
   Soon after fleeing here for safety, Alex learned that it wasn't just Russia that was after his life. You may just be surprised to learn of some of the social (and potentially life-threatening) injustices that various departments of the United States government made this young man and his wife suffer through as the US Court system became the playing field for a battle of immense, far reaching and often quite unexpected proportions.
   
   More than just a great fast paced read highlighting the highs and lows of an incredible decade of change, Defiance is also a great source of motivation and inspiration for rising entrepreneurs and business men and women all across the globe. In addition to the hope inspired by the story of the chase, you'll also find wonderful insight into the budding economy and changing political ideology in Russia that are sure to refresh the hearts and minds of even the staunchest and experienced Capitalists around!
   
   In a world far too short of people with principles, integrity, and long-suffering Alex's story is sure to inspire individuals in just about any negative situation, from imprisoned immigrants to disgruntled employees, to reach above their current circumstances and hold fast to a dream of something more, something better.
   
   With an intense plot that will speed you from the first page to the last, and a bird's eye view of a world straight out of a spy novel (hey, that's not just me saying that, judges said so too!) Defiance is a compelling page turner that solidly deserves two thumbs up!
   
   -Jennifer Gibbs



3. Ever since the Soviet Union crumbled in the early 90s, many first-time entrepreneurs who had exceptional financial success amidst the chaos that followed the collapse of the old way of life found themselves targets by the ruthless Russian Mafia, the KGB and also, the United States government.
   
   This real life story of the author, Alex Konanykhin, is a detailed account of his life that spanned his relatively simple days in college to being the "Bill Gates" of Russia; from being one of the most powerful men close to Russian president Boris Yeltsin, to a marked man by the KGB; From a political refugee in the United States to being a prisoner, and then finally to freedom.
   
   Written during his frequent incarceration, Konanykhin narrates a story worthy of a best-selling spy novel that proves once again that reality is certainly far stranger than fiction. It tells us even in the free world as long as there is lust for money, no one can escape persecution.
   
   The book adequately shows insights into the dark world of Russian politics with its influence even reaching U.S. shores and the breadth and depth of the KGB's clout in the U.S. government. The paperback offers a different and deeper perspective into the conspiracies revolving inside Russia's political affairs. Many will find this revealing and will understand better what truly happened to the author.
   
   Readers will be shocked about the hidden agenda of governments including the US' own government. You will be convinced that what is commonly released in the media has more to it than meets the eye. As you read this book, you will also find it unbelievable that the US government is all too willing to help KGB-controlled Russia, the so-called "Superpower of Crime," catch its political enemies.
   
   The book also exposes a part of the Soviet culture which blindly hates capitalism yet it tolerates or sometimes encourages lust for power and wealth among its citizens.
   
   The author, whom the CIA calls "The Kid," reveals that titles are more important than actual production in a Soviet economy. To get by, one must be well-connected to men in power - it ensures a good job that pays well without having to actually work. It also shows how fear of authority restrains the whole nation from straying beyond the Soviet thinking. And only the brave few will prevail; challenging the status quo.
   
   Appropriately titled, Defiance tells its readers that even in a world such as where the author lived in and against all odds, one can triumph. Alex Konanykhin's memoir is an absolute must-read for anyone - particularly those who are interested in Russian business or politics.
   
   Today, Alex Konanykhin, 39, heads KMGI, a thriving high-tech B2B agency located in New York which services major corporations and ad agencies across the globe.



4. Defiance By Alex Konanykhin How to succeed in business despite being hounded by the FBI, INS, Homeland Scurity, Interpol, Department of Justice, and Mafia hit men. This is the amazing true story of Alex Konanykhin, a young man who made millions in Russia during and immediately after the ending of the Soviet Union's Communist dictatorship. He was an entrepreneur in business even before citizens were allowed to pursue capitalistic ventures and before he had completed college. His wealth was seized by the KGB and he had to flee Russia to keep from being killed or thrown into political prison. He continued to pursue business ventures within Russia even from his exile in Hungary and later the United States. In a difficult to fathom true account he describes how the United States government sold him out to the KGB and Russian mafia who wanted him returned to Russia so they could kill him. The biographical account reads like a Clancey novel. His determination and courage are amazing, and what was done to him by trusted government entities of several countries is horrifying. An interesting read.



5. Alex Konanykhin's story of his phenomenal success against overwhelming odds in becoming one of Russia's first entrepreneurs and the steep price he paid as a result, is one that rivals and even tops any novel by James Patterson,Carol Higgins Clark, or Frederick Forsyth. The sad part is how the U.S. goverment was a willing party in Russia's attempt to suppress and kill Konanykhin.
   
   The most amazing part is that this is ALL verifiably true!

No comments about Italian Immigrant Families: Grocers, Proprietors, And Entrepreneurs.

No comments about The Legend of Noble Drilling.

No comments about Colonel Albert Pope and His American Dream Machines: The Life and Times of a Bicycle Tycoon Turned Automotive Pioneer.

5 comments about The World According to Peter Drucker.

1. Peter Drucker's philosophies and theories have shaped management all over the world. Drucker is highly respected. He has always taught that people are an organization's most important resource. In 1954, Drucker virtually invented 'management.' Although, of course, management existed before, nobody had ever treated it as a distinct field.

   Jack Beatty's book about Peter Drucker is not just another biography. Beatty criticizes Drucker in some areas and extols his virtues in others. The book is sometimes entertaining and consistently well written. Enough of Drucker's ideas are included to make you want to read his books. Most of the book summarizes Drucker's work chronologically. Company leaders who want their top people to learn about management should make this required reading. We [...] recommend this book to managers in all industries.




2. This book gives you glimpses of the influence Drucker has had on society. But, unless you are looking for a biography, I do not recommend this book. It is dry and tedious to read.



3. I enjoyed some aspects of this book, especially the concise biography of Drucker at the start, but found it a bit dull overall. The author takes a good look at all Drucker's work, the developments in his thinking over his long and productive life, even his writing style, but it is all done in a rather dry, humourless, academic manner. It is clear that Drucker is a great thinker on management and society, but it doesn't always come across like that when reading the passages from his books that are quoted. I think the way the passages are quoted, in boxes separate from the main body of text, serves to decontextualize them, making some of them appear rather shallow and commonplace.

   Having said this, The World According to Peter Drucker is still a worthy introduction to/critique of Drucker's writings and worth reading. It is largely concise and to the point, which helps given that it is not all that exciting.




4. In this superb, slim 186-page volume, the author manages to capture the quintessence of Drucker's life-work on management. Drucker's neo-Weberian sociology, the search for the moral basis of capitalism, the influence of Schumpeter (the renegade Austrian economist), the roles of European intellectual currents, his spiritual underpinnings in Kierkegaard, and the social context of Drucker's thought and development--all are ably portrayed here, in all the richness of their context. Penetrating, insightful and never blinded by adulation, the book is also extremely well written. I read a chapter a night and was done inside a week. There are only 2 blemishes. First, he is a bit skimpy on some biographical details (*when* was Drucker born, for example?). Secondly, what in the world does "elide" mean? Here's the sentence: "...Drucker's bold reinvention of government...elides the cardinal difference between government and business...--democratic accountability." You can't even infer the meaning of this strange word from its context. Before I was even finished, I was able to use information in this book to choose (and purchase) 3 other Drucker classics. And excellent, valuable read--don't miss it.



5. When I first read Peter Drucker in 1982 I was bored to tears
   by a pompous man telling us the pol correct. Unfortunately,
   those who teach business are not those good at practicing
   it. In fact, many of them loathe it and seek revenge for
   their own unemployability. Recently, with the advent of
   differential pay, we have faculty who don't even care, but
   who switched form teaching operations in engineering, psychology or economics in liberal arts or even
   biostatistics. This is why you don't see Drucker
   (who proclaimed Japanese "participative" management
   before it came into fashion - MacArthur deliberately
   forced socialism on Japan to de-fascistify it) apologising
   for the failures in Japan today. No, now they tell us
   to emulate communist China, or the "knowledge" feudalism
   of the university. Wait, didn't the university-style
   environment they promote cause Arthur Andersen and KPMG
   so much trouble? Did they ever tell you that large USA
   made cars weren't the problem in the 1970s, but that gas
   prices made consumers buy smaller USA-name cars made
   with defective Asian parts and yet somehow the peaceniks
   who rebelled and bought "pacifist" Japanese cars turned
   this into something else. Also, as USA education was deteriorating, our mechanics weren't telling us the
   reason they preferred foreign cars was because they had
   no clue how to upkeep the computerised USA carborateurs.
   Now, as customer service has returned to 1970s levels,
   did anyone mention it was caused by the inflationary
   environment, and the excellent customer service of
   the 1980-90 era was due to low inflation, as inflation is intimately involved with mass paranoia and irrationality?

No comments about What Makes Dan Bollom So Tall?: A Memoir Of Life Experiences And Advice From A Retired CEO.

2 comments about Life and Death of an Oilman: The Career of E.W. Marland.

1. This book is an easy read. There are really two stories told: Marland's biography, and also, an history of early economic development in the northern part of the young state of Oklahoma. In a few chapters you will read about geology, Native American tribes, seizure of Indian lands in the "Cherokee Strip", early oilmen, New York bankers, the roaring 1920's and the Great Depression. They all influenced Marland's career as an oilman. The author's (often acerbic) opinions about persons and events are freely given throughout his book.



2. I should have read the title better...."Life and Death of An Oilman: The CAREER of E.W. Marland". (capital letters mine). This was mainly 90% about the business life of Marland, whereas a true life story would have been VERY interesting. How he married his step daughter and lived in that wonderful mansion, but very little is said about any of that. Hence, I skipped through the book and read hardly any of it. Glad I bought it used.

1 comments about Building a Global Success: The Story of Samih Darwazah and the Rise of Hikma.

1. Written by the founder and chairman of Hikma Group, a billion-dollar multinational pharmaceutical company, Building A Global Success is the true story of how one man combined centuries of Middle Eastern wisdom with American values and know-how to build a successful business - one that put people first, respected employees, emphasized research and invention, encouraged education, and invested in America. Building A Global Success is about the power and enlightened self-interest of positive values rather than the greed, ruthlessness, hypocrisy, and poor quality that have spelled out financial as well as moral ruin of so many other businesses. Offering valuable lessons to businesses and corporations of all sizes, Building A Global Success is a positive-minded, true testimony of how business practices and ethics can be combined for greater success on all levels.