Mike Bloomberg: Money, Power, Politics
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"If all goes as expected, in November Mike Bloomberg will be elected mayor of New York City for the third time. The richest man in the city he governs, with an estimated wealth of $20bn, is again using this money to fund a lavish campaign. If he wins, he will have spent at least $250m for the privilege of holding one of the most aggravating and intoxicating jobs in US politics. But running for a third term carries an even higher price, according to Purnick's biography. To do it, Bloomberg worked to overturn the city's two-term limit, despite previously supporting it. "He's a different guy than he was a year ago," Purnick quotes a friend. "He breached his own code of ethics." Purnick, a New York Times reporter, is mostly admiring. "Ed Koch cracked the eggs, [Rudy] Giuliani assembled the ingredients, and then Bloomberg made the omelette," she writes of his role in New York's resurgence."
--The Financial Times, October 14, 2009
"Joyce Purnick has succeeded in creating an absorbing and informative biography of a man whose personality seems to fall far short of his achievements... Purnick's exhaustive reporting paints a fascinating picture of a remarkable man."
--City AM, October 22, 2009
"New York mayor Mike Bloomberg seems to personify the interplay between business and politics in the US. He has clearly applied lessons learned in business to his approach to running the city... This well balanced account focuses on Bloomberg's strengths and successes - a city-wide smoking ban, an environmental plan, good work on crime and education - as much as his flaws and setbacks."
--Director Magazine,November 2009
--The Financial Times, October 14, 2009
"Joyce Purnick has succeeded in creating an absorbing and informative biography of a man whose personality seems to fall far short of his achievements... Purnick's exhaustive reporting paints a fascinating picture of a remarkable man."
--City AM, October 22, 2009
"New York mayor Mike Bloomberg seems to personify the interplay between business and politics in the US. He has clearly applied lessons learned in business to his approach to running the city... This well balanced account focuses on Bloomberg's strengths and successes - a city-wide smoking ban, an environmental plan, good work on crime and education - as much as his flaws and setbacks."
--Director Magazine,November 2009
Product Description
This is the biography of financial genius and ubermayor Michael Bloomberg, written by an award-winning veteran New York journalist, published at the time of the controversial mayoral election, in which Bloomberg is running for a third term. Bloomberg's story would be riveting had it stopped in 2001. By then he had made a fortune as a general partner at Saloman Brothers before being fired in 1981 with a $10 million payoff, with which he founded what became Bloomberg LLC. His first client for providing financial information via bespoke terminals was Merrill Lynch. By 2008, Bloomberg was one of the 10 richest Americans, and Bloomberg LLC the pre-eminent provider of financial information in the country. He is a very significant philanthropist, among others to his alma mater John Hopkins University. In 2001, Bloomberg ran for mayor of New York, abandoning his lifelong membership in the Democratic Party for a Republican slot, where he was endorsed by Rudy Giuliani. He took on the responsibility for rebuilding the confidence of the city, still badly shaken after 9/11 which preceded his election by barely seven weeks. At the end of two terms he was one of the most popular mayors in the city's history. He could have gone out at the top setting an unenviably high standard for his successor. But in another huge gamble Bloomberg decided that he could only be succeeded by himself, even if he had to rewrite electoral law to do so. He had bet his legacy for the privilege of supervising the city during the most severe financial crisis since the great depression of the 1930s. It was an epic twist in an already dramatic career, proving if nothing else that Bloomberg was never going to go quietly. He has not authorized this book, but he has allowed close family, friends and business intimates to be interviewed on the record by Purnick, and he has given her hours of his own time as well. It all makes for an unequaled biography of a man full of contradictions, an inveterate risk taker, a restless seeker of problems to solve, a friend to Arnold Schwarzenegger and John McCain, the Kennedys and the Clintons. He is a great American enigma, gloriously unraveled in this biography of one of the great men of our era.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Next to The President of the United States, the Mayor of New York is, perhaps the most well known politician in the western world and even maybe beyond. Michael Bloomberg is not an outwardly egotistical, vain, free-flowing, rabble rousing orator, normally associated with being a successful politician but essentially a thorough and determined highly successful businessman, who has clearly applied lessons learned in business to his approach in running New York City. But above all his mantra seems to be that if at first you do not succeed, look for a different route.
Veteran New York newspaper reporter Joyce Purnick's biography of 'Michael Bloomberg: Money, Power, Politics' lays out how this rather quiet, thoughtful individual carefully manoeuvred his 'money' into creating the 'power' base from which to launch and further his ambitions in 'politics'. She also looks at the not often displayed flamboyant side of his personality that is not so well known. In the years following his divorce he embarked on 'social reinvention' during which time he was seen on numerous occasions with beautiful and famous ladies on his arm, the likes of Barbara Walters, Liv Ullman, Marisa Berenson and Diana Ross.
Bloomberg whilst all along professing little inclination of the love and lure of politics and the hand-in-hand power base, did go out of character when he used all of his adroitness and connections to squeeze a change in the City Electoral Laws to allow him a highly controversial third term in office.
This is an easy to read, well balanced, and fascinating insight into this man of enormous influence that spans the worlds of business, politics and philanthropy from which Michael Bloomberg emerges as a decent bloke - for a billionaire and politician that is!
Comment Comment | Permalink
Veteran New York newspaper reporter Joyce Purnick's biography of 'Michael Bloomberg: Money, Power, Politics' lays out how this rather quiet, thoughtful individual carefully manoeuvred his 'money' into creating the 'power' base from which to launch and further his ambitions in 'politics'. She also looks at the not often displayed flamboyant side of his personality that is not so well known. In the years following his divorce he embarked on 'social reinvention' during which time he was seen on numerous occasions with beautiful and famous ladies on his arm, the likes of Barbara Walters, Liv Ullman, Marisa Berenson and Diana Ross.
Bloomberg whilst all along professing little inclination of the love and lure of politics and the hand-in-hand power base, did go out of character when he used all of his adroitness and connections to squeeze a change in the City Electoral Laws to allow him a highly controversial third term in office.
This is an easy to read, well balanced, and fascinating insight into this man of enormous influence that spans the worlds of business, politics and philanthropy from which Michael Bloomberg emerges as a decent bloke - for a billionaire and politician that is!
Comment Comment | Permalink
Format:Hardcover
Mike Bloomberg's story ranks as one of modern business and political history's most inspiring and instructive tales. Take an average, middle-class man with uncommon vigor. Then, imbue him with the discipline and confidence to take maximum advantage of the great opportunities he encountered in college, Wall Street and, eventually, the electrified world of New York City politics. New York Times reporter Joyce Purnick's fluid writing style makes this portrait of an ethical, tough, innovative leader flow seamlessly, so readers can easily enjoy and absorb its themes and stories. getAbstract recommends her breezy, deft, comprehensive presentation of Bloomberg's uplifting life story to executives, political strategists and aspiring leaders.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
7 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
UNDERSTATED DYNAMISM
28 Oct 2011
Next to The President of the United States, the Mayor of New York is, perhaps the most well known politician in the western world and even maybe beyond. Michael Bloomberg is not an outwardly egotistical, vain, free-flowing, rabble rousing orator, normally associated with being a successful politician but essentially a thorough and determined highly successful businessman, who has clearly applied lessons learned in business to his approach in running New York City. But above all his mantra seems to be that if at first you do not succeed, look for a different route.
Veteran New York newspaper reporter Joyce Purnick's biography of 'Michael Bloomberg: Money, Power, Politics' lays out how this rather quiet, thoughtful individual carefully manoeuvred his 'money' into creating the 'power' base from which to launch and further his ambitions in 'politics'. She also looks at the not often displayed flamboyant side of his personality that is not so well known. In the years following his divorce he embarked on 'social reinvention' during which time he was seen on numerous occasions with beautiful and famous ladies on his arm, the likes of Barbara Walters, Liv Ullman, Marisa Berenson and Diana Ross.
Bloomberg whilst all along professing little inclination of the love and lure of politics and the hand-in-hand power base, did go out of character when he used all of his adroitness and connections to squeeze a change in the City Electoral Laws to allow him a highly controversial third term in office.
This is an easy to read, well balanced, and fascinating insight into this man of enormous influence that spans the worlds of business, politics and philanthropy from which Michael Bloomberg emerges as a decent bloke - for a billionaire and politician that is!
Veteran New York newspaper reporter Joyce Purnick's biography of 'Michael Bloomberg: Money, Power, Politics' lays out how this rather quiet, thoughtful individual carefully manoeuvred his 'money' into creating the 'power' base from which to launch and further his ambitions in 'politics'. She also looks at the not often displayed flamboyant side of his personality that is not so well known. In the years following his divorce he embarked on 'social reinvention' during which time he was seen on numerous occasions with beautiful and famous ladies on his arm, the likes of Barbara Walters, Liv Ullman, Marisa Berenson and Diana Ross.
Bloomberg whilst all along professing little inclination of the love and lure of politics and the hand-in-hand power base, did go out of character when he used all of his adroitness and connections to squeeze a change in the City Electoral Laws to allow him a highly controversial third term in office.
This is an easy to read, well balanced, and fascinating insight into this man of enormous influence that spans the worlds of business, politics and philanthropy from which Michael Bloomberg emerges as a decent bloke - for a billionaire and politician that is!
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Disappointingly thin in analysis of Bloomberg's mayoralty
7 Nov 2009
Format:Hardcover
While Purnick offers an interesting survey of Bloomberg's life and career, the book is disappointingly thin in its analysis.
For Purnick's verdict on development issues, consider this summary paragraph (p. 4):
"And in every rundown corner of the city he aggressively cleared the way for renovation and real estate development, to the chagrin of serious city planners and devotees of city landmarks, to the delight of builders, construction unions and pragmatists who share his preference for imperfect development over neglect."
A reader might conclude that casual city planners and those who care partially about landmarks are fine with Bloomberg's record. But Purnick sets up a false dichotomy between imperfect development and neglect, fails to look into a controversial project like Atlantic Yards (arena + towers in Brooklyn), and does not even hold Bloomberg to his own standards.
Search on my Atlantic Yards Report blog for more of the review.
For Purnick's verdict on development issues, consider this summary paragraph (p. 4):
"And in every rundown corner of the city he aggressively cleared the way for renovation and real estate development, to the chagrin of serious city planners and devotees of city landmarks, to the delight of builders, construction unions and pragmatists who share his preference for imperfect development over neglect."
A reader might conclude that casual city planners and those who care partially about landmarks are fine with Bloomberg's record. But Purnick sets up a false dichotomy between imperfect development and neglect, fails to look into a controversial project like Atlantic Yards (arena + towers in Brooklyn), and does not even hold Bloomberg to his own standards.
Search on my Atlantic Yards Report blog for more of the review.
4 of 7 people found the following review helpful
MAYOR MIKE...
19 Sep 2009
Format:Hardcover
This is an even handed, well-researched biography of New York City's one hundred and eighth mayor, Mike Bloomberg. This small town boy from Medford, Massachusetts would grow up to take the financial and business world by storm in one of the most competitive cities in the world and rise above the fray, creating a business empire that would set the standard. Having conquered the business world, this self-made billionaire would come out of political nowhere with many dollars and a dream and enter the rollicking world on New York City politics, determined to become its mayor.
Setting his sights on the highest political office in the city, this physically unprepossessing, highly intelligent man, who is short on charm, managed to pull off one of the biggest upsets in New York's political history. Luck and his own personal fortune would make his dream of becoming mayor a reality. Mike Bloomberg became mayor in the wake of 9/11, determined to make changes that would put the city back on track, applying managerial know how rather than political acumen to the task. For the most part he delivered, winning the respect of the citizens of New York City, if not their affection.
The author clearly knows and understands the world of New York politics and expertly lays it out for the reader. Against this tumultuous backdrop, the author paints a three dimensional portrait of Mayor Mike that is simultaneously both flattering and unflattering. She also tackles his unpopular but successful attack of New York's two term limit law, a success that would allow him to run for mayor a third time. The only question is whether Mayor Mike's power grab will be successful this time around.
Written in clear spare prose with no holds barred, this book is sure to be savored by those who enjoy biographies and politics. New Yorkers especially will enjoy this book for the very personal look at their mayor, warts and all.
Setting his sights on the highest political office in the city, this physically unprepossessing, highly intelligent man, who is short on charm, managed to pull off one of the biggest upsets in New York's political history. Luck and his own personal fortune would make his dream of becoming mayor a reality. Mike Bloomberg became mayor in the wake of 9/11, determined to make changes that would put the city back on track, applying managerial know how rather than political acumen to the task. For the most part he delivered, winning the respect of the citizens of New York City, if not their affection.
The author clearly knows and understands the world of New York politics and expertly lays it out for the reader. Against this tumultuous backdrop, the author paints a three dimensional portrait of Mayor Mike that is simultaneously both flattering and unflattering. She also tackles his unpopular but successful attack of New York's two term limit law, a success that would allow him to run for mayor a third time. The only question is whether Mayor Mike's power grab will be successful this time around.
Written in clear spare prose with no holds barred, this book is sure to be savored by those who enjoy biographies and politics. New Yorkers especially will enjoy this book for the very personal look at their mayor, warts and all.
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