Founder connections
- Ben HorowitzPublisher endorsement
“I was shocked, thrilled, and surprisingly educated. A masterpiece of a memoir.”
In a publisher blurb, Horowitz praises the memoir’s honesty and says it reveals Ovitz’s weaknesses and methods.Source - Marc AndreessenPublisher endorsementIn a publisher blurb, Andreessen recommends the memoir as a way to learn about building a business and transforming an industry.Source
Summary
Michael Ovitz recounts his path from the William Morris mailroom to co-founding Creative Artists Agency. The memoir examines his work as an agent, negotiator and business builder, his relationships with leading entertainers, and the personal consequences of his career.
Why read it Our view
Useful for examining how a service business grows through negotiation, client relationships and a shared way of working. Ovitz’s own account also gives room to consider the personal consequences of ambition. Compare the methods that helped him build CAA with the relationships and costs those methods created.
Written about
- Michael OvitzAuthor and memoir subjectOvitz’s own account of CAA, Hollywood dealmaking and the personal cost of his career. The publisher confirms authorship; it is not an independent biography or a reading recommendation.Source