Vinny’s Top 10 Books of 2018 — #9
This is my first published ranking series of books. To provide some context, I’ve read about 50 books in 2018, most of which were memoir-based or self-development in nature. I record the start and finish date of each book, as well as take copious notes with page markers for referencing. Generally, I keep the notes to myself as they are very situational to me and my life. Every month, I post about 3–5 books that I am reading that month. Feel free to follow along and share your feedback. It’s always welcome.
Who Is Michael Ovitz? by Michael Ovitz
Categories: Business, Memoirs, Hollywood, Movies/TV, Deal-Making, Culture
Year Published: 2018
I was hesitant to pick this book up when I first saw it at the bookstore. The film industry isn’t really me — so much so that I didn’t even know who Michael Ovitz was. And the truth is, you might not know either. He built CAA (Creative Artists Agency), the leading Hollywood agency to the stars. They were the men and women behind your favorite A-list celebrities. And they ran the world. Or so it seemed.
This book reads like a ‘who’s who’ of Hollywood. Aside from being the man solely responsible for the national culture and pulse of our country for decades, and a formidable businessman, Michael Ovitz shares a trait so commonly inherent in the world’s best — insatiably curious.
Here are some fun facts. Did you know that Rain Man almost didn’t make it to the big screen? If it wasn’t for Ovitz, this film would have never been made, much less amassed 4 Academy Awards. He’s behind the movies and TV shows Jurassic Park, Goodfellas, and ER. Not to mention, he’s repped, saved, built, or otherwise guided the careers of Paul Newman, Bill Murray, David Letterman, Tom Cruise, and Robert Redford. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Pick this book up if you want to understand the history of American culture, how to properly negotiate, how to handle DEMANDING clients, or even how to broker multi-billion dollar deals. Not bad for a kid who grew up in the valley.
