Profiles of Genius

by Gene N. Landrum

Book Overview

The story of creative and innovative behavior is about change," says authorGene N. Landrum. "In this case it is about thirteen iconoclastic individuals who have demonstrated a unique ability to deal with change in the world and redefine it for their own purposes." Landrum calls these individuals the "change masters," entrepreneurial geniuses whose innovations have had a profound influence on modern society: Steven Jobs (Apple Computer), Fred Smith...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0879758325
• ISBN13: 9780879758325
• Release Date: May 1993
• Publisher: Prometheus Books
• Length: 263 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Change your mind - change your world!!

Maybe I'm biased for being a Ted Turner fan ... but this book will make you cry with inspiration and hope!

Outstanding

This excellent book fills a need for biographies of entrepreneurs who have shaped the modern world. The chapters pack a lot of useful information with a clear focus on what is important. They cover childhood and education as well as adult business life. The personality theories used help to relate the stories to the professional literature, but do not detract from the richness of the descriptions. These portraits will be useful to anyone thinking of life as an entrepreneur as well as to parents and educators dealing with creative youth.

Very interesting and well-written

This is a good overview of how and why people create. Lots of good and varied case studies.

Extraordinary Visionaries

Landrum has selected and then examined "thirteen creative men who have changed the world." You may disagree with some of the selections and with portions of Landrum's discussion of each selection but there should be no disagreement with the value of this book as an analysis of creative genius at work in a wide range of global organizations. The first five chapters examine:Creative Genius -- What Makes the Difference?Innovation, Change, and the Creative Personality Ten Reasons Why Traditional Management Types Are Inept at InnovationThe Paradox of InnovationThe Inno-visionary PersonalityInno-visionary and Creative BehaviorThese five chapters and the final chapter alone are well worth the price of the book. Landrum devotes a separate chapter to each of 13 men, beginning with Steven Jobs (Apple) and concluding with Ted Turner (CNN). To each he assigns a dominant characteristic. For example, for Jobs "autocratic" and for Turner "risk-taking." According to which criteria did Landrum make his selections? He explains in his Preface: Father of the Industry, Five-Year Market Dominance, Technology or Market Created by the Entrepreneur, Mass-Market Appeal, and Contemporary Development (ie since 1950). I rate this book as highly as I do for three reasons. First, Landrum defines his standards of measurement with meticulous care. Second, he resists the obvious temptation to manipulate his subjects to achieve a snug fit with those standards of measurement. Finally, he provides a wealth of information about each of the 13 which reveals their personal qualities as well as their extraordinary achievements. In the final chapter, Landrum suggests that "The inno-visionary personality is necessary for the making of the consummate entrepreneur and change master. This personal style is available to anyone inclined to pursue it. These visionary leaders had it, which gave them an ability to focus on goals and dreams, a macro vision to see their dreams through to fruition, and the passionate energy to persevere when all seemed lost." These are indeed men with exceptional vision and courage, determination and self-assurance, charisma and intuition, passion and persuasiveness. How easy it is to list such descriptives. How difficult it is to be worthy of them. As Landrum makes abundantly clear, the 13 "creative men" are certainly worthy. Buy the book, read the first five chapters with an open-mind, and then join the company of those who have helped to create a world we are only now beginning to understand.If you admire this book as much as I do, you are encouraged to read another of Landrum's books, Profiles of Female Genius. These 13 "creative women" can not only hold their own with Steve Jobs, Fred Smith, Tom Monaghan, Nolan Bushnell, Bill Gates, Marcel Bich, Solomon Price, Howard Head, William Lear, Soichiro Honda, Akio Morita, Arthur Jones, and Ted Turner....they can hold their own with anyone.

edwardfays@yahoo.com

The book is in a word, fantastic! In crisp detail it tells the reader exactly how the creative genius thinks, acts and what specific character traits enabled him to reach the pinnacle in the area he decided to conquer. It is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. However it's not for the faint of heart. It is in no way a pop psychology feel good "you can do it" type of book. Out of the hundreds of psychology, business and self improvment books I've read this is at the top. Bravo Gene Landrum!