Lee Iacocca
Lee Iacocca (Lido Anthony Iacocca) was born on October 1st, 1924. Lee passed away July 2nd, 2019 at 94 years old. Lee Iacocca was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA. Iacocca attended Lehigh University where he received an industrial engineering degree and Princeton University where he received a master's degree in mechanical engineering.
Lee Iacocca is probably best known for his Non-Fiction Books. They currently have 3 Non-Fiction books available. The first was released in 1984 with the book Iacocca: An Autobiography. The most recently released was Where Have All the Leaders Gone? which was released in 2006.
Lee Iacocca (Lido Anthony Iacocca) also wrote one book in the Collections series called, I Gotta Tell You.
Lee Iacocca was an American automotive executive best known for developing the Ford Mustang, Ford Pinto, and Mark III. In the 1980s, he became CEO of Chrysler and played a pivotal role in rescuing the struggling company from bankruptcy. As one of the few executives to lead two major U.S. car manufacturers, Iacocca left a lasting impact on the automobile industry.
In 1984, he co-authored
Iacocca: An Autobiography with William Novak, which became a nonfiction bestseller in both 1985 and 1992. Remarkably, Iacocca donated the proceeds to type 1 diabetes research. He later co-authored
Talking Straight (1988) with Sonny Kleinfeld, focusing on American creativity and innovation. In 2007, Simon & Schuster published
Where Have All the Leaders Gone, which he co-wrote with Catherine Whitney.
In
Iacocca: An Autobiography, he reflects on his personal life and his influential career in the automotive industry, particularly his time at Ford in the 1970s and his leadership at Chrysler in the 1980s. The book is structured into three main sections.
The first section recounts his upbringing in an Italian immigrant family and his early career. He joined Ford Motor Company through a training program, marking the beginning of his journey in the auto industry.
The second section details his rise at Ford and his move to Chrysler. He started in the sales division, eventually becoming head of sales in 1960. His role in developing the Ford Mustang cemented his reputation, as the car became one of the most iconic in history. Under his leadership, Ford became the second-largest U.S. automaker. However, tensions between Iacocca and Henry Ford II escalated, leading to his departure. Shortly after, he became Chrysler’s CEO, inheriting a company on the brink of collapse. Faced with economic recession and an energy crisis, Iacocca took bold steps to turn things around.
The third and final section focuses on Chrysler’s dramatic recovery. Iacocca implemented cost-cutting measures, improved efficiency, and made difficult decisions, including widespread layoffs. One of his most notable achievements was securing a $1.2 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. government. He argued convincingly that Chrysler’s survival was in the nation's best interest, despite strong opposition to government intervention in private enterprise.
The book concludes with a section titled
Straight Talk, where Iacocca shares his insights on key issues such as labor costs, seat belt usage, trade policies, global defense spending, and Japan’s economic strategies. He also reflects on the qualities that define great leadership.
Iacocca: An Autobiography offers a compelling look at his experiences, from his early years to his role in shaping the automotive industry. It is highly recommended for those interested in his life story or the history of Ford and Chrysler during his tenure.
Lee Iacocca: Lists & Other Mentions
- Iacocca: An Autobiography was a New York Times: #1 Nonfiction Best Seller in 1984 and 1985.
- Talking Straight was a New York Times: #1 Nonfiction Best Seller in 1988.
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- Stephen King, author of The Dark Tower Series.
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- Robert Ludlum, author of the Jason Bourne Series.
Lee Iacocca: F.A.Q
When was Lee Iacocca Born?
Lee Iacocca was born on October 1st, 1924.
When did Lee Iacocca die?
Lee Iacocca died on July 2nd, 2019 at 94 years old.
Where was Lee Iacocca Born?
Lee Iacocca was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA.
What was the first book Lee Iacocca wrote?
The first book written by Lee Iacocca was Iacocca: An Autobiography, published in 1984.
What was the most recent book Lee Iacocca wrote?
His most recently released work was Driven (a short story) on May 11th, 2010.
How many books has Lee Iacocca written?
Lee Iacocca has written 5 books. 3 books in the Non-Fiction Books, 1 book in the Collections, 1 book in the Photobiographies Series.