Lights Out
Lights Out
Thomas Gryta
Andrew Wilkinson
Andrew Wilkinson recommended this book on Twitter.
Jeff Bezos
If you’re looking for some scary bedtime reading… - Jeff Bezos
Kaskade
It was a really interesting read, and it scared the crap out of me. - Kaskade
Bill Gates
An unflinching look at the mistakes and missteps made by GE’s leadership. - Bill Gates
+
4
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Lights Out

Lights Out: Pride, Delusion, and the Fall of General Electric

Thomas Gryta
By
Thomas Gryta
3.9
363
ratings on Goodreads

In an incisive and masterfully narrated account, "Lights Out" peels back the layers of General Electric's staggering descent from the zenith of corporate America to a symbol of industrial decline. Authored by Thomas Gryta, this book is not merely a chronicle of financial woes and missteps; it is a riveting exploration of the seismic shifts within a behemoth that once epitomized the American dream. Through meticulous research and unparalleled access, Gryta exposes the critical decisions and internal dynamics that led to GE's unraveling, turning the spotlight on the era under Jack Welch, whose strategies propelled GE to unprecedented heights, and the tumultuous tenure of his successor, Jeff Immelt, whose attempts to navigate the conglomerate through mounting challenges spelled the beginning of the end. "Lights Out" stands as a definitive narrative on how a titan of industry can lose its way in the face of relentless change and internal complexity. With a keen eye for detail and a narrative prowess that transforms corporate saga into a cautionary tale, Gryta delivers a compelling account of ambition, hubris, and the perils of success. This book is an essential read for those fascinated by the dynamics of corporate power, the intricacies of leadership, and the impermanence of economic dominance. Through the story of General Electric, "Lights Out" offers profound insights into the American industrial psyche and the volatile nature of global business.

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Released
2020
21 Jul
Length
368
Pages

4

recommendations

recommendation

It was a really interesting read, and it scared the crap out of me. - Kaskade
Andrew Wilkinson recommended this book on Twitter.
If you’re looking for some scary bedtime reading… - Jeff Bezos
An unflinching look at the mistakes and missteps made by GE’s leadership. - Bill Gates
As an example, if GE was trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 40, that meant that, if its stock was $40, it was earning $1 per share every year. If GE then bought a company with a price-to-earnings ratio of 10—that company was earning $4 per share for every $40 of stock—GE was essentially trading $1 of earnings for $3 of new earnings without doing anything except making the deal.
— Thomas Gryta, Lights Out

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