Lee Iacocca

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 has written 3 Non-Fiction Books. 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 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: New York Times: #1 Nonfiction Best Seller in 1984 and 1985.
• Talking Straight: New York Times: #1 Nonfiction Best Seller in 1988.

Related Authors

Fans of Lee Iacocca also enjoy these authors:

1. Stephen King, author of The Dark Tower Series.
2. James Patterson, author of the Alex Cross Series.
3. John Grisham, author of the Jake Brigance Series.
4. Dan Brown, author of the Robert Langdon Series.
5. Robert Ludlum, author of the Jason Bourne Series.

Lee Iacocca: F.A.Q