Car Guys vs. Bean Counters Book Reviews

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Everyone should read this book!. Bob you did a great job with this book. I loved the insights, the stories, and the harsh truth that so many Americans really need to hear. I am all for bringing manufacturing back to the United States, and what's really interesting, is that if American CEOs and wealthy elite decides to reinvest in American manufacturing, it would most certainly help the US economic recovery. Thanks again Bob and we miss you dearly at GM! Bob for president 2012 ;)

Tells it like it is!. Throughly enjoyed mr. Lutz take on the auto industry and how it works.

History of the Auto Industry by someone is is part of it. This book is amazing. I have worked in the Auto industry for 20 years and this book was true to everything I know and answered many questions and curiosities I had.

The next chapter. For those of us working on GM's future, lets make the next chapter worthy of the strong shoulders of people like Bob Lutz we are fortunate enough to stand on.

Passionate perspective in a world of dispassionate portfolio management. Any car nuts with desire to understand what has happened to the American car industry should read this book. I have been in love with American cars since my childhood in Cuba. I have also followed the stories on this cocky but extraordinary car guru "Bob Lutz" since his days at Chrysler, a true hero of the car industry and an honest reporter of its dysfunctional ways that led to bankruptcy. I want more on this topics, I will read anything Lutz writes.

Car Guys vs. Bean Counters. Great review of the US car industry and it's near fatal journey on a long and winding road full of too many cars. Lutz has it more right than wrong, we could use more of his raw competence and less analysis by paralysis in solving this country's downward economic trend.

Consider the Message; not the Man. It would be easier to dismiss this book as the self justification of a retired executive if the underlying messages of what is wrong with many US companies wasn't so right. I am not certain that I would have enjoyed working for Mr. Lutz, but I fully agree with his assessments of what is wrong with an over reliance on MBA analysis as a tool to guide businesses. The role of passion for the product and the understanding of the unique characteristics of the business -- whatever that might be -- are clearly the way to drive a successful business. I plan to purchase copies of this for my entire management team today and distribute them at our next management meeting.

Great book. I grew up in Detroit and lived there until 2007. I work in the summer as a high low driver for Ford when I was in college. This was in the middle 70's. I could make over $10k in a summer if I worked 60 or 70 hours a week, which I did. Even then we all knew something was really with that picture. Auto workers had incomes and "stuff" that was well beyond what my corporate manager level father's salary could provide. At the same time we could see the asian's coming on. Great story Bob I've always admired your style and ability to get things done. I loved my Malabu and now my Cruise. I was there and watched all this happen. It was a train wreck in slow motion. You've told the story well with great accuracy. It was sad but a fun read. The sad part is the left brained MBA's are still running everything. This is a huge threat to our culture and our country.

Upper Management Diatribe. While it was interesting to get his "inside" perspective on the collapse of GM, the work on the reader's part to wade through the many self-serving paragraphs made the effort questionable. He does provide some fodder for the trashing of an MBA's pursuit of numbers that I believe illustrates the worst this education can provide to improve a business. I agree with some of his arguments, but see much of what I don't admire in "upper management's" attitudes in his self-aggrandizing writing. I just hope he receives enough royalties from the book to pay for the inevitable rotator cuff surgery this book induced.

An Insiders Look at the Car Industry. The book has one story after another from the perspective of someone inside the auto industry. Enlightening and almost always interesting. For a car guy like me it was well worth the time. I would have liked some photos to go with some of the text. Other than that one complaint I truly enjoyed the read.

possible typo. he writes "process apostles" but it could also be "process apostates," heretics against logic and reason, as anyone who have had to deal with them will know

Good book for GM fans. Enjoyed reading Lutz's book to get his perspective on his last few years at GM. His no nonsense approach around the fact that at the end of the day the car has to look good and people have to want to buy it no matter what the marketing analysis says makes a lot of sense. It's a good read and worth the money.

Took the words out of my mouth. I have worked in a different industry (aerospace) for 35+ years and have much the same feelings as Bob Lutz does about organizations and management. It was easy to red this book quickly since I kept saying "amen" on almost every page. Funny how the names change but the story stays the same. Enjoyed the read immensely.

womderful reading. an absolute joy to read as a member of a true gm family, my dad retired salaried employee, me former hourly and my wife current salaried employee it really hit home and gave me hope for a gm in the future...something i've never had.

Good but unaware of the future. As a car loving American and having grown up the son of a navy veteran of WWll I have to agree with much of this historical perspective. However, history will relegate this book to the scrape heap because Mr. Lutz unfortunately falls prey to what he himself finds as a major reason for the auto industry failures - inaccurate journalism! He clearly is uneducated in the areas of science with his strong belief that climate change is a liberal media hoax. However this aside, I believe that his overall evaluation of the the American car industry is on target. It is always difficult for societies to face long term change and inside old GM, that was very true. Some of the old ways of thinking that got GM in trouble is still alive in the pages of this book though it is still a very good read.

Great Read. I'm a car guy, right brainer and share a lot of Lutz's opinions from this book, but I can't help but recommend this book to anyone. I read it in two days and was turning every page easier than just about anything else I have read in a while. If you even remotely are interested in cars, or current events, read this.

Lutz ain't Nuts. This short book should be a must read for every business school student. In fact, the lessons Car Guys versus the Bean Counters apply to any business or organization. Bob Lutz provides a fairly accurate explanation for the decline of the domestic auto manufacturers. While he glosses over some of the key reasons for GM's downfall—outdated motors, transmissions and suspensions—he rightly attacks missteps GM made during its failed romance with “brand management,” disastrous acquisitions (Saab) and misguided foreign alliances. (I'd love to see Lutz update this book and give his frank opinion about the new alliance with PSA Peugeot Citroën.) Lutz is correct in his assertion that automobiles get too much of the blame for pollution and environmental degradation, though his overall rant on global warming is out of step with the preponderance of scientific evidence. Were it not for the perfect storm of rising gas prices, the financial meltdown and the total collapse in vehicle sales, GM probably could have avoided bankruptcy in 2009, as Lutz had already made significant progress in redesigning and re-engineering GM's vehicles and in changing a sclerotic corporate culture. That aside, GM's current revival is largely due to the excellent new vehicles that the company developed during Lutz' tenure. The book also sheds a kind light on deposed CEO Rick Wagoner, a hard-working and decent leader who was moving this one-time crippled company in the right direction. While Lutz takes credit for many of GM's advances, he was also quite frank in admitting where he was dead wrong in disagreeing with Wagoner. Most notable example: Lutz was against GM's takeover of the distressed Korean automaker Daewoo.

Car Guys vs. BeanCounters. A book I literally could not put down. Any "Car Guy or Gal" will enjoy reading this book. Bob Lutz provides a rare insight into the American car industry (read GM) and explained why and how it did not satisfy the consumer's desires or wants up until the last couple of years. A real eye opener.

Keep it simple!. I really enjoyed it. Great insight to the future, plus a wonderful look behind the curtain. Thanks Bob!

Lingering Doubt. Overall, I enjoyed this book, but I found one glaring error that caused me to question the accuracy of everything else I read. Specifically, in talking about GM of the 80's, Lutz indicates that the company had decided to go all front drive, and with the advent of the ill-fated Cimarron, had no rear-drive cars other than the full-size sedans. This recollection ignores entirely the always well-selling G-body mid-sized cars (Cutlass, Monte Carlo, Regal, Grand Prix) of the 1980's. In fact, the Cutlass was a top-selling car for a period of time before it went front-drive in the late 80's. If Lutz can forget something this significant, what else is he getting wrong in this book?

I liked it. Despite the book being very opinionated, there were some excellent lessons and viewpoints demonstrated. It was nice to get the other side of the Auto Bailout as opposed to everything being delivered by the media. The recalling of GMs history of design made me proud of what we did back then. The second half of the book made me hopeful for the future of GM as I do believe they are on the right "customer driven" track to making top notch cars consumers want to buy. I do wish they would bring back the G8 though! All being said I really enjoyed the book and will recommend it.

Fast-Lane to Right-Minded!!. Great Book! I can honestly say I have never read a book outside of those assigned in higher education, but I figured a book by Bob Lutz (A true car living legend !) has to have a purpose! I can relate to Bob's very opinionated but very humanly true to the bone and strait to the issue thinking with 100% completeness! Bob, a true common man thinker that in this book uses his pure Car Guy genius and great understanding of the automobile business to relate what happened inside AND outside of General Motors to what is still greatly undermining the United States once vibrant, once beautiful spirit of pride, innovation and competitive drive! Buy this book period! You'll be proud to challenge the status-quo, happy to stop overanalyzing and inspired to Think Different once you have read it! Great book Bob, I would love to talk to Bob in person after reading this!

A must read!. It's refreshing to read such a candid account of this country's failure to remain competitive in a truly global economy. This book may talk mainly about GM's fall from grace, but as clearly pointed out by Mr. Lutz, GM's problems were simply indicative of a much larger bug that infected every vital organ in the country. All of our country's leaders, political, economic, industrial, or otherwise, should not only read this book, but take it's advice closely to heart if we're to rise from the ashes of our own arrogance and irresponsible spending habits, and once again compete effectively on the global stage.

Great book!. Wow! Would love to spend an evening listening to these and other stories. Very captivating. Keep the books coming.

Great read for any exec or senior leader in any industry. I felt like we are kindred spirits. We share very similar views and opinions on leadership and general business. It feels great to find someone that validates your views, especially when the conference room is filled with folks focused on their stock options and bonuses. Thank you Mr Lutz, I'm not crazy after all.

Great Read!. Restored my faith in the American Automotive Industry. Bob Lutz has my respect for saying the things that need to be said but few in the industry are willing to stick their neck out and say.

Insightful and Yet not Surprising - A Good Read. Having followed GM over the years in "Automotive News" there were not many surprises. Yet it was interesting to hear the story from a true insider like Bob Lutz. I would differ about the outcome of Saturn had GM been able to accomplish a non-union labor pool which was the primary objective for Saturn including being the "small car" company side for GM. After all Toyota pulled this off many years later with Scion. The book was a good lesson for future managers in any corporation large or small. I applaud Bob Lutz for keeping the read fast and enjoying. The American automobile industry has always been a fascinating industry to follow. This book adds one more piece towards this fascination.

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