The Operator : David Geffen Builds, Buys, and Sells the New Hollywood

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DreamWorks cofounder David Geffen, as portrayed by Wall Street Journal reporter Tom King, is in various ways a saint, a visionary, and an absolute maniac. In his saintly mode, Geffen both raises and gives record-breaking sums of money to AIDS foundations, advises and supports the President and progressive causes, and races to visit old friends stricken with grief or illness (even the washed-up agent Sue Mengers, whose friendship could do him no earthly good).

As a visionary in the music, movie, and Broadway theater industries, Geffen orchestrates the sale of his record companies, which made him a billionaire, and brings you Laura Nyro; Cats; Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young; Tom Cruise; the Eagles; Nirvana; Bob Dylan; John Lennon; Guns N' Roses; Saving Private Ryan; and Joni Mitchell (who immortalized his deepest yearnings in her tune "Free Man in Paris").

But the most impressive and detailed portion of King's landmark biography is Geffen's performance as an entertainment entrepreneur, and in this capacity he is apparently a visionary and a maniac at the same time. Not only does he discover all manner of talents and works of art and hire the best hit-sniffers in the business, he also masters the fine Hollywood art of the Machiavellian tantrum. Geffen allegedly softens up his prey in a business deal by offering up disarming gossip about his own life--his traumatic courtship of Cher, or Marlo Thomas, perhaps, or the male prostitute he is said to have boasted about being in bed with the night John Lennon was shot. At some point, minutes or decades into an apparent friendship, Geffen is shown betraying anyone, even best friends and mentors, in his relentless quest for winning a deal. King's book provides a ringside seat; it's fascinating to watch Tinseltown's titans slug it out in championship bouts, maneuvering, lying, reuniting, and seizing power like crazed Renaissance princes.

In one memorable encounter, Geffen protests that Sid Sheinberg of MCA is displeasing his DreamWorks colleague, Steven Spielberg. "David, stop screaming," says Sheinberg. "I'm not screaming!" Geffen screams. "David, you know what would make me happy?" says Speilberg. "Stop screaming." It turns out that Geffen doesn't even know the details of the deal in question. But nobody knows how to strike a deal--with mind and maniacal heart--like David Geffen. --Tim Appelo

Book Description

Complex, contentious, and blessed with the perfect-pitch ability to find the next big talent, David Geffen has shaped American popular culture for the last three decades. His dazzling career has included the roles of power agent, record-industry mogul, Broadway producer, and billionaire Hollywood studio founder. From the beginning, though, Geffen's many accomplishments have been shadowed by the ruthless single-mindedness with which he has pursued fame, power, and money. In The Operator, Tom King--the first writer to have been granted full access to Geffen and his circle of intimates--captures the real David Geffen and tells a great American story about success and the bargains made for it.

The extent of Geffen's accomplishments is extraordinary. As a manager in the 1960s, he made the deal for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young to appear at Woodstock. He discovered 1970s superstars Jackson Browne and the Eagles and masterminded Bob Dylan's famed 1974 tour; Joni Mitchell, Geffen's roommate for a time, memorialized him in her song "Free Man in Paris." He produced Risky Business, the movie that made Tom Cruise a star, and was the moneyman behind Cats, the longest-running musical in Broadway history. One of the most brilliant dealmakers ever to work in Hollywood, he became a billionaire shortly after selling Geffen Records in 1990, and he made movie history when he founded, with friends Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg, DreamWorks SKG, the first new Hollywood studio in fifty-five years. And Geffen's influence has extended far beyond show business and into the worlds of Wall Street, art, real estate, and politics.

Geffen's personal journey is as compelling as his business machinations. Although he knew from an early age that he was gay, he hid his true sexual urges and for years attempted to lead a heterosexual life. In the mid-1970s, he dated--and almost married--Cher. Not until 1992, when being honored for his extraordinary financial contributions to the fight against AIDS, did he open the closet door. His coming-out was national news.

Beneath this phenomenal life story has always been a ferocious drive to succeed, a blind ambition that has left onlookers astounded. Geffen learned from his earliest days in the William Morris mailroom that he could cheat and lie his way to the top, and he has ever after lived unconstrained by traditional notions of right and wrong. Geffen has demonstrated time and again that he is willing to sabotage any relationship, business or personal, to get what he wants.

At his best, David Geffen is a fiercely devoted friend and a bountifully generous man, both privately and publicly. At his worst, he is a vindictive bully who lashes out at loved ones and colleagues with irrational screaming fits that leave his victims shaking and sweating. And though he has periodically attempted to better himself through psychotherapy and self-help programs like est and Lifespring, he seems always able to find new enemies to rage against.

For years, David Geffen has managed his own life story and rewritten history. But in The Operator, Tom King has set the record straight. Written with Geffen's cooperation--though not his authorization-- The Operator is an explosive, illusion-shattering story that details the mogul's indisputable contributions to entertainment history while also baring the man behind the legend.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent biography! Must read for serious business people!.......2006-12-26

I had never heard of David Geffen before this book was recommended to me...Now, I say WOW!!! What an OPERATOR he was and is...What a fitting title. I highly recommend this book to all serious business people...Mike Stokes

A mostly well-told story of an unlikelable character.......2006-05-21

This is a book that's basically for the show business junky and even then it can get to be a bit much. About two-thirds of the way into it, I had to put it aside for awhile. The paranoia, betrayal, double dealing, etc. had happened over and over so many times, with so many people, that I wondered if there was anything more to the story. In some ways, there is. We are given a sometimes convincing portrait of Geffen coming out as a philanthropist, although I came to the conclusion that it's mostly just another persona. King hedges his bets, by reminding us that, as the book ends, Geffen is estranged from his remaining family and various other pivotal people in his life.

One thing that would help make the unrelenting scuzziness of Geffen's business life and the lack of meaningful long-term relationships in his personal life more bearable would have been some perspective. Despite pulling off some major deals, Geffen also took on some very weak clients and found himself with some very bad breaks, like taking on Donna Summer as a client just as she found religion and homophobia. He was an uneven judge of talent and largely out of touch with the popular culture his business helped shape. Even the most vile of studio moguls, like Harry Cohn, could have an acute appreciation and respect for talent. It's also telling that some of his greatest feuds were with people like Jerry Wexler, who understood music, built careers and helped open new doors for different styles of music. Geffen was fortunate to be on the ground floor of trends, in popular culture, but did little to actually shape them. Buried in the details is something else that's interesting--much, if not most, of Geffen's money came from his trading in junk bonds, rather than his show business wheeling and dealing. I came away thinking "yes, he's a talented deal maker", but a good salesman is someone who can believe in their product and maintain long-term business relationships. Geffen, like Jack Welch, is overrated and it will probably take a more analytical volume to make this more clear. Someone also needs to figure out a way to get his long-time secretary to tell her story (right now a settlement precludes that). Knowing how to survive for 20 years with a megalamaniac would be almost as interesting as the further betrayal and double dealing she could add to Geffen's story.

If you want to be rags to billionaire read this book.......2006-02-01

Bottom line, Geffen slept on couches as a kid in Brooklyn, and w/ nothing but intense drive, charisma, and extremeley hard work he built a 4.5 billion dollar fortune from scratch. If you are considering going in the entertainmetn industry, and particualrly starting a record company..... read this book and act like Geffen does to acheive your goals because you will see exactly all that is required of you to build a record company from nothing to 250 million in revenues in under 10 years..... and ultimatly how to build a net worth that puts you in the top 30 of the Forbes 400 ...... read it and take action and if you create 10% of it you'll be in the top 1% of America. Blake---- bldgassets247@yahoo.com

Good Book, Horrifying Subject .......2004-09-27

I know I'm not being entirely fair, but I couldn't bring myself to rate this book a "5" even though it is thoroughly researched, and the author, Tom King, who died recently, was a very, very good writer. The reason for the "4" rating in two words: David Geffen. Notwithstanding his many contributions to the recording and film industries in particular, and his and phenomenally generous philanthropy, Mr. Geffen is quite simply a completely unappealing person as depicted in this biography and, undoubtedly to many people, in real life as well. However, thanks in large part to the author's talent I still read every word of Mr. Geffen's fascinating climb to the top of the Hollywood -- and financial -- heap. During the past thirty-five years or so (for better, in the case of spearheading the careers of artists such as Joni Mitchell and other singer/songwriters as well as some exceptional motion pictures and his "liberal" politics; and for worse in the cases of some of those heavy-metal noise machines promulgated by Geffen Records and a few pretty awful motion pictures), Mr. Geffen unquestionably has left his mark on history. Unfortunately, he has been absolutely ruthless in doing so. Mr. Geffen comes across in this book as a selfish and greedy creature for whom (literally) billions of dollars still isn't "enough." Maybe the irony of Mr. Geffen's life (so far), and the subliminal message of this book, is that money truly can't buy happiness. I highly recommend this book but with fair warning: Once you get to the end, you'll probably feel like sticking your finger down your throat. I wish Tom King had had time to have channeled his exceptional journalistic and writing talents towards more appealling subjects for other books.

Excellent Book.......2003-06-16

This book is almost impossible to put down. Geffen's life has been truly extraoridinary and it provides an excellent story. Buy this book if you have any interest in the entertainment industry or business in general.

The Operator - David Geffen Builds, Buys, and Sells the New Hollywood [UNABRIDGED]

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The Operator - David Geffen Builds, Buys, and Sells the New Hollywood [UNABRIDGED]

Manufacturer: Books On Tape Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: B000IJ21QO

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Operator: David Geffen Builds, Buys, and Sells the New Hollywood
Tom King
Manufacturer: Random House Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J4I0U4

Book Description

In his own words and paintings, acclaimed Native American artist George Littlechild takes young readers back in time to the first meeting between his Plains Cree ancestors and the first European settlers in North America. Through inspiring autobiographical stories accompanied by vivid, dramatic paintings, he recounts the history of his people and their relationship to the land, relating their struggles and triumphs with sensitivity, irony, and humor. Littlechild expresses his wish to use his art to portray the wonders of his heritage and to heal the pain of his people's history and offers hope and guidance from the Native American perspective. This Land is My Land is a winner of the Jane Addams Picture Book Award and the National Parenting Publications Gold Medal.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2004-06-10

I reviewed this book for circulation in the children's library where I work as an intern. I found it very touching, a first-hand account from a Native American who explains his feelings in a kind, appealing voice for a child. I am purchasing a copy for myself.

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Very nice read
Not too bad, but definately biased
MICHENER'S VISION AND HOPES FOR AMERICA
A True USA Patroit
informative; revealing

This Noble Land:: My Vision for America
James A. Michener
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0679451528
Release Date: 1996-10-08

Amazon.com

James A. Michener, the writer of epic, meticulously researched novels, including Centennial, Alaska, and Hawaii, claims to have lived and worked in 102 foreign countries. Bolstered by this wide experience and his status as a writer, he has decided to put on paper his analysis of the state of his country and its many afflictions. He writes about race relations, health care, education and the decline of the family in the United States, offering cogent and forthright views, and his own rather general solutions.

Book Description

Delving deeper than the newspaer headlines, James Michener--storyteller, historian, teacher, government advisor, traveler, and student of his own and other cultures--gives readers his evaluation of nine fundamental problems facing America, offering insights into how to solve them. Written in Michener's trademark intimate style--so loved by readers in his bestselling memoir The World Is My Home--this book is a must for all Americans in this election year.

Customer Reviews:

Very nice read.......2005-11-08

Michener offers some compelling insights into what he considers to be the most critical problems facing our country today,it may seem simplistic at times, but life is simple if you let it be.

Not too bad, but definately biased.......2005-06-18

In the beginning chapter of "A Noble Land" by James Michener, I thought I might actually enjoy the book. I found it interesting to read about his life experiences, such as his living conditions and the elections he's participated in. However, starting with the next chapter, I found my self completely bored. Not only was it like torture to continue on with the book, I thought that it was based on his biased opinion as an older conservative man. Also I thought that his opinions were outdated. His views on current family situations, education and our country in general were very harsh and didn't show his alleged "patriotism." As a high school student and a child of divorced parents, I thought that he was really steriotyping my entire generation and the United States in general. I was really appalled by some his remarks, like his recommendation to allow teenagers aged 14 and over to drop out of school legally.

Although I definately didn't agree with most of his points in the first 150 pages of the book, it improved towards the end when he actually made some valid points and thoroughly supported them.

Overall I thought that the first part of the book, was pretty much worthless, but it did make me think and reaffirm my some of my opinions that he disagreed with. But several parts are definatley worth reading (like the first chapter and chapter 8 to the end).

MICHENER'S VISION AND HOPES FOR AMERICA.......2003-10-30

James A. Michener endeared himself to readers everywhere with books like Hawaii, Tales of the South Pacific, Centennial, and Chesapeake. His writing style and concise, comprehensive research was at the foundation of books that have become American treasures.

In This Noble Land Michener takes a different approach, though one not entirely unexpected from an author who, it is evident, loved America deeply. The book takes a hard but, I feel, honest view of America, where it has been, what it is now (the view of things in 1999) and where Michener believes it is headed.

Michener addresses the political problems facing us and what it will take, in his view, for Americans to continue their past record of greatness. He speaks of morals, of ethics and of integrity--from the standpoint of what we were as a country to the backsliding nation that we have become.

In my favorite chapter of the book Michener tackles very eloquently the problem of America's love affair with professional sports, the unfortunate decline of the morals of many sports figures, their poor example to America's youth and the sorry fact that we would, as a nation, gladly pay top dollar for tickets to any sporting event while refusing to acknowledge the plight of America's poor.

Taken all in all, whether you like This Noble Land or not will depend entirely upon how closely your views agree with those of the author. For me, I felt that Michener's vision as expounded in This Noble Land was 20/20. The book is already four years old at this review but I feel that it will have merit for decades to come. Hopefully we will have the sense as Americans to change things for the better.

Douglas McAllister

A True USA Patroit.......2002-12-24

THIS NOBLE LAND My Vision For American by James A. Michener

Mr. Michner was a true USA Patriot for his whole life and died a true USA patriot. I could not sum up his work for the USA any better than that. James was 90 years old when he wrote this dream as to what he wanted his country the USA to become starting from his death when he wrote this his last book. What this book really is an open letter to Americans with the blueprint of a utopia, which he realized, was not possible with humans and their different inspirations, but he continued to have hope right to his last breath.

The things that he writes about has been achievable and he gave a blueprint to use to achieve his suggestions. Considering the situation we are in now his ideas would have been good if implemented. They should be implemented if our `elite' permits it. Our elite is now is the small number of people who now belong to the moneyed part of our society. These people have 80 percent of the wealth. We have reached the stage of our society where the money is king and the elite, which have the money, are leading us.

Money used to be used for cover over our heads and food. It is now power and elects our leaders, good or bad. Before that we elected our leaders for their ability as a hunter or provider. Then there was a relative short time when we had a democracy where elected them by votes of who we thought could lead us down the road to freedom and prosperity. Now our leaders talk a good democracy, but their actions are something else.

Michener starts out by explaining our tax system and provides suggestions for replacement after telling us how bad it is. He starts by telling his submitted tax declaration took 48 pages, this was in 1995. American tax declarations really haven't changed much since then. If anything they are more complex now. Read his thoughts on taxes they will be eye opener.

How do we get work for everyone in American? We are not headed in that direction now. Mr. Michener has a few ideas some have been tried in the past by countries in the world with varying degrees of success. Mr. Michener has put a lot of thought into this.

I want to quote Mr. Michener here, "Our government must stop passing income tax laws and other laws whose only purpose is to siphon even more wealth into the hands of those already rich while penalizing those at the lower end of the economic scale."

For any kind of `trickle down' system to work the elite have to give more to the humans who need it and will spend it on food and clothing to prevent a revolution of those who are not participating in the American bounty. And these are the people who spend and cause our economy to grow.

Mr. Michener addresses the condition of our society and where the blacks fit in. This is really worth reading for all colors. He is dreaming about a classless society.

He addresses large company and their employees, but he was not privy to our `evil' system which has came to the attention of our government now. Large and small companies were or are stealing from stockholder and employees both equally and sharing in the downward movement of these companies. The government is acting `very slowly' to correct these problems.

Mr. Michener, who taught in grade school up to post doctorate level in the university, was very interested in this subject. He went to elementary school when the children said a `pledge of allegiance to the USA' before they started class. We have gone on `dumbing down' our children in the last few years in spite is Mr. Michener's warning. I cannot write all of his recommendations here. Read his book!

I am running out of space and time, but Mr. Michener's comments on the USA family should be read and digested.

His health care section should be read by everyone in the government that has anything to do with the health laws. He put a lot of thought into how to improve our system, which is getting worse it, could. Most of the western countries have better health systems than ours. Why is this, just the smell of money?

This is getting to long to hold attention so I will close for with the recommendation to read, THIS NOBLE BOOK, MY VISION FOR AMERICA, by Mr. Michener, whose last thought was for the United States of America.

Roger L. Lee

informative; revealing.......1998-11-05

It is hard to take issue with a man who is so deadly with pen and paper as Mr. Michener. His views are so compelling I find it difficult to counter them when in disagreement. Although basically liberal in output, he is by no means "knee-jerk" nor "tax and spend"; indeed I would surmise to say that he probably voted for as many Republicans in his lifetime as he did Democrats. This book is not a typical Michener work; instead it is a simplistic yet well thought out essay on the problems we all face and ignore. Perhaps his failing health affected his writing; or perhaps his aim was to keep it concise for the masses; either way I found myself wanting more. However, all in all an informative work that should be read. Ideal for introspective teens who realize there is a world around them. Should be read with "The World is my Home" to gain a better understanding of his views in later life. Again, highly recommended for insightful teens and young adults.

For This Land: Meg's Prairie Diary (My America, Book 2)

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The prairie years
A good new My America book.

For This Land: Meg's Prairie Diary (My America, Book 2)
Kate Mcmullan
Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0439370604

Book Description

In Kate McMullan's second book of Meg's Prairie Diary, Meg's family is reunited on the prairie. Their new life is soon jeopardized by not only the struggle against slavery and those who would have Kansas be a slave state, but also a devastating fire that threatens to destroy their home. But Meg's strong spirit helps her overcome the hardships of life on the prairie.Kate McMullan has once again made Meg a brave and sweet character girls will love.Look for Meg's 3rd diary in August 2003!

Customer Reviews:

The prairie years.......2003-04-19

In the continuation of nine-year-old Meg Well's story, she and her brother Preston have finally been joined by her parents and little sister Grace. However Kansas at this point in history might even be more dangerous than the cholera stricken St.Louis the Wells family escaped from. Fights between the people who want Kansas to stay a free state and those who want it to turn towards slavery ensue and threaten anyone who disagrees in sight. Slaves aren't the only danger, as prarie fires threaten to tear down all things in sight. However young Meg mananges to grow up in this time of turmoil and I can't wait to read the conclusion of her story coming out in August 2003.

A good new My America book........2003-04-12

Nine-year-old Meg Wells and her seven-year-old brother, Preston, were sent away from their St. Louis home in the spring of 1856 during a cholera epidemic, and went to live with relatives in Kansas Territory. But now their parents and their little sister, Grace, have joined them on the prairie, and it looks like their stay in Kansas will be longer then expected. Meg wants to return to St. Louis, but with Kansas Territory a battleground between those who want it to enter the United States as a free state and those that would have it allow slavery, Meg's father is determined to stay in support for a free state. Meg describes in her diary her family's life during the summer and fall of 1856, as they face a dangerous prairie fire and are caught up in the crossfire between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces. I reccomend this book to readers who enjoyed the first book about Meg, As Far As I Can See.

This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is My Land: The Property Rights Movement and Regulatory Takings (American Legal Institutions)

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This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is My Land: The Property Rights Movement and Regulatory Takings (American Legal Institutions)
Alfred M. Olivetti , and Jeffrey Worsham
Manufacturer: LFB Scholarly Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 1931202419

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Esta Es Mi Tierra/This Land Is My Land
Jose Luis Orozco
Manufacturer: Arcoiris Records Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: 1574170228

Alexander Cordell's Novels of Wales: The Fire People. Land of My Fathers. This Sweet and Bitter Earth

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Alexander Cordell's Novels of Wales: The Fire People. Land of My Fathers. This Sweet and Bitter Earth
Alexander Cordell
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton General Division
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0340407905

Condensed Books, Volume 4, 1985: Robert, My Son; the Bannaman Legacy; the Cheetahs; This Shinning Land

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Condensed Books, Volume 4, 1985: Robert, My Son; the Bannaman Legacy; the Cheetahs; This Shinning Land

Manufacturer: Reader's Digest
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000EB9XRQ

THE OUTER REACHES: Co-operate of Else; Good Night Mr James; The Critters; Death Sentence; This is the Land; Ylla; The Green Cat; Pardon My Mistake; The Plutonian Drug; Farewell to Eden

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THE OUTER REACHES: Co-operate of Else; Good Night Mr James; The Critters; Death Sentence; This is the Land; Ylla; The Green Cat; Pardon My Mistake; The Plutonian Drug; Farewell to Eden
August (editor) (A. E. van Vogt; Clifford Simak; Frank Belknap Long; Isaac Asimov; Nelson Bond; Ray Bradbury; Cleve Cartmill; Fletcher Pratt; Clark Ashton Smith; Theodore Sturgeon) Derleth
Manufacturer: Berkley Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000FEG226

Product Description

"Co-operate...Or Else!" A.E. Van Vogt "Good Night, Mr. James" Clifford Simak "The Critters" Frank Belknap Long "Death Sentence" Isaac Asimov "This Is The Land" Nelson Bond "YLLA" Ray Bradbury "The Green Cat" Cleve Cartmill "Pardon My Mistake" Fletcher Pratt "The Plutonian Drug" Clark Ashton Smith "Farewell To Eden" Theodore Sturgeon

Reader's Digest Condensed Books (The Bannaman Legacy; the Cheetahs; This Shining Land; Robert, My Son) 161 (volume 4; 1985)

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Reader's Digest Condensed Books (The Bannaman Legacy; the Cheetahs; This Shining Land; Robert, My Son) 161 (volume 4; 1985)

Manufacturer: reader's digest
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000CFVP98

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