Books - Konosuke Matsushita

He was one of the most inspirational role models of all time. Thrown into poverty at age four, Konosuke Matsushita (Mat-SOSH-ta) struggled with the early deaths of family members, an apprenticeship which demanded sixteen-hour days at age nine, all the problems associated with starting a business with neither money nor connections, the death of his only son, the Great Depression, the horror of World War II in Japan, and more. Yet John P. Kotter shows in this fascinating and instructive book how, instead of being ground down by these hardships, Matsushita grew to be a fabulously successful entrepreneur and business leader, the founder of Japan's General Electric: the $65 billion a year Matsushita Electric Corporation.

His accomplishments as a leader, author, educator, philanthropist, and management innovator are astonishing, and outshine even Soichiro Honda, J.C. Penney, Sam Walton, and Henry Ford. In this immensely readable book, Kotter relates how Matsushita created a large business, invented management practices that are increasingly being used today, helped lead his country's economic miracle after World War II wrote dozens of books in his latter years, founded a graduate school of leadership, created Japan's version of a Nobel Prize, and gave away hundreds of millions to good causes.

The Matsushita story expands our notion of the possible, even for a sickly youngster who did not have the benefit of a privileged background, education, good looks, or a charismatic presence. It tells us much about leadership, entrepreneurship, a drive for lifelong learning, and their roots. It demonstrates the power of a longterm outlook, idealistic goals, and humility in the face of great success.

Matsushita Leadership is both a biography and a set of lessons for careers and corporations in the 21st century. An inspirational story and a business primer, the implications are powerful, for organizations and for living a meaningful life.



Customer Review: A most difficult subject well tackled.:
This is a rare attempt by an American to profile an Asian entrepreneur and world-renowned corporate leader.

Because of the rather more subtle and complex social structures in Asia, which is particularly even more so in Japan, it is the rare non-Asian who is able to peer through the intricate webs and be able to grasp at the essence.

Kudos to John Kotter

Customer Review: A most difficult subject well tackled.:
This is a rare attempt by an American to profile an Asian entrepreneur and world-renowned corporate leader.

Because of the rather more subtle and complex social structures in Asia, which is particularly even more so in Japan, it is the rare non-Asian who is able to peer through the intricate webs and be able to grasp at the essence.

Kudos to John Kotter

Customer Review: check it out at the library but don't buy it:
I believe the author was told exactly was PHP and Matsushita Electric wanted him to know, and really, how would he even know since he doesn't even speak Japanese?

Customer Review: An awful book:
The book is boring , and that a shame beacuse it is a very interesting subject

Customer Review: Very Disappointing:
This book was written in an annoyingly cliched manner that greatly detracts from the subject.

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author