← the founders library

Jack: Straight from the Gut

Jack Welch with John A. Byrne

Book content checked: . What this means

Buy a copy
Amazon USAmazon UKAmazon DE

These are Amazon affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Founder connections

  • Charlie MungerRead with Buffett
    Buffett’s 2001 shareholder letter says that he and Munger read and discussed Jack: Straight from the Gut the previous fall.
    Source
  • Warren BuffettRecommendation
    In Berkshire’s 2001 shareholder letter, Buffett says he and Charlie Munger read and discussed the book the previous fall. He recommends getting a copy and compares incoming General Re leader Joe Brandon to Welch.
    Source

Summary

Jack Welch recounts his career at General Electric and explains his management philosophy. The memoir follows his rise through the company, major deals, leadership development and GE’s expansion into new businesses and markets. Chapters address the RCA deal, Crotonville, working across organizational boundaries, globalization, services, Six Sigma and choosing a successor.

  • SourceJack: Straight from the Gut — Hachette Book Group · Description and Product Details, exact ISBN 9780446690683
  • SourceJack — Vermont State Colleges library catalog · Original 2001 Warner Books edition Contents

Why read it Our view

Read it to examine how a leader changes a large organization. Welch’s account offers questions about the development of managers, the spread of ideas across business units and the process of choosing a successor.