For CEO's who like to endlessly blabber about their "big decisions" and need to move billions. This book is for people who think "office politics" and "meetings" are invigorating. Also this book is for people who hate the government and think that big business is going to save the world.

A boring and sordid tale about white men high-fiving each other for decades. We get it, Jack, you love golf and you worked with lots of famous people. No need to name drop every one you’ve ever known. I can see that his original rise to success was partially due to the then leaders seeing him as their son. “Way to go son!! I’m proud of you”…for the most basic ish.

It could have been interesting if he wrote more about rolling out talent management, implementing cocktail napkin strategies, and actually EXECUTING as opposed to all the buddies he called up from previous golf outings and the like to become leaders.

The book ended abruptly with him handing off to Jeff Immelt. Other abrupt mentions include the one paragraph on his divorce and the other paragraph on meeting his second wife.

I DONT KNOW. IT HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL.

This book explains how the management really changed the business culture, the strategy and the values of a large corporation like GE. Mr Welch was an outstanding CEO that made GE one of the best companies 20 years ago. A man that impacted the whole organization for the better.Besides, the impact of a good management on the company itself and on its market cap clearly emerges while advancing in the reading of the book

On occasion you see people list out titles of books that if you see them on someone else’s shelf are clear indicators that you ought to turn heel and run, run away. Anything Ayn Rand often makes the list, almost certainly The Turner Diaries. These days Donald Trump’s books frequently appear but, I humbly recommend this book. I had a history teacher in high school who had this book on her shelf. No surprise, she was a shitty teacher.
When you think about it though keeping Jack: Straight From the Gut is like those minor apparatchiks who kept their well thumbed copy of Mein Kampf in a prominent place. This is bad propaganda too. I know it’s a low blow to compare someone to Hitler. Welch didn’t commit genocide or invade Poland. He writes terribly although I don’t know how it would have looked when it first came out. Right now with every petty tyrant in middle management passing out the same stupid corporate bullshit you get a feeling of Deja vu even though technically, you’re living in Deja vu. Jack Welch was the original schmuck. Behold the original nightmare!