In Pursuit of the Common Good by Paul Newman and A.E. Hotchner

Expert Rating: 7

Newcomer Rating: 4

Soooo...I have a few comments before I begin my first official novelnovels blog book review. 1) I have to go back to September 3 to find an entry by anyone other than Anthony or Amanda. That's a little sad but I don't know that my being able to post will change the dynamics all that much. We'll see. 2) I'M ABLE TO POST! It's nice to no longer be the leprous one in the family. 3) Am I the only one who is kind of paranoid about posting lousy grammar or typos on a blog about reading? 4) I get the feeling that lots of my posts will use Anthony's "Expert v Newcomer" rating system. Prepare yourself for a bunch of nonfiction you've never wanted to read!

It was 1982 when Paul Newman and A. E. Hotchner made their foray into local gourmet shops with bottles of their homemade salad dressing. The venture was intended to be a lark, a way to poke fun at the traditional way the market operates. Hurdling obstacle after obstacle, they created the first company to mass-market all-natural products, eliminating the chemicals, gums, and preservatives that existed in food at the time. This picaresque saga is the inspiring story of how the two friends parlayed the joke into a multimillion-dollar company that gives all its profits to the less fortunate without spending money on galas, mailings, and other expensive outreaches. It also serves as a textbook for foundations and charitable organizations looking to do the most good they can with what they have.Told in alternating voices, Newman and Hotchner have written a zany tale that is a business model for entrepreneurs, an inspirational book, and just plain delightful reading. (Copied from the Google search...which is the back of the cover someone else so kindly typed for me).

I liked the idea of liking this book. And, in reality, I liked the book quite a bit for the first half or so. The biggest problem is it gets pretty repetitive. Newman and Hotchner are (or were) probably pretty funny guys but their quirky sense of humor comes across a little too well and a little too often throughout the book. The story behind the company is fantastic. The business model they created is one I've always admired. The fact that they were really stubborn and wouldn't change how they ran their business even when everyone told them it couldn't be done is amazing. The success they've had blows my mind. The good they've done and the lives they've impacted is admirable. All in all, the book was OK but needed more editing to make it more enjoyable and accessible to those looking for a good story. Right now, I could really only recommend it to those wanting to know more about Newman's Own business model. Off the top of my head I can think of two people who fit that criteria (counting myself...and the other one loaned me the book). That statement makes it seem pretty harsh but if you're not interested in business or how people create successful (if insane) business models you probably wouldn't enjoy much in the book...besides some of the comics.