Big Brown: The Untold Story of UPS
by Greg Niemann
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Book Reviews of Big Brown: The Untold Story of UPS
Book Review: Great book on UPS but a little disorganized
Summary: 4 Stars
This book provides a very close and insightful look at the development and current operations of UPS. The author is intimately acquainted with the company and uses that knowledge to give one of the best overviews of the company to date. From the early days with founder Jim Casey to the expansion of the air service all the way to current models. I was a little disappointed to not see more related to the advent of UPS stores but otherwise there is little I could imagine not covered here. One of the problems with the book is that the author gets caught up in the details and the chapters do not flow well together. It is hard to sometimes keep track of the topics since the author jumps around while not remaining chronological. Despite these organization issues this is still an invaluable book to understanding how UPS developed and a general look at some of the issues facing supply chain managers today. Very interesting read!Book Review: The definitive corporate biography of UPS
Summary: 5 Stars
The package delivery business is a huge industry that hinges on personnel and logistics, as author Greg Niemann explains in this informative, entertaining biography of the United Parcel Service. Niemann, a UPS career insider, explains how the company became a global leader. He gives credit to the values of its founder, Jim Casey, a hard worker from a humble background. Casey believed in strict routine, safety, precision, shared responsibility and fairness; he pioneered programs to distribute the company's wealth to his employees, while holding them to strict procedures. This absorbing corporate bio is more objective than you might expect, though clearly Niemann is a fan of Casey and UPS. We find that his focus on Casey's entrepreneurship offers a fine example for anyone who is trying to make a company prosper.
Book Review: Interesting read, but might as well be published by UPS
Summary: 2 Stars
Interesting content, relatively easy to read (almost too easy, in that it sometimes felt like it was written for a middle-school reading level), and had a bunch of neat stories.
I was heavily disappointed by the fawning over Jim Casey & UPS, though...I wasn't looking for criticism--I'm a huge fan of UPS :)--but the style was almost breathless. It's ok! I won't dislike UPS just because they've goofed up in the past...but this book tries to "message" everything in an overly positive (and therefore unauthentic) light.
According to the book jacket, Niemann worked for UPS Corporate Communications for years...I'm pretty sure he never actually retired. ;) It had an interesting story to tell, but the spin was so strong it turned me off and I didn't really enjoy it.
Book Review: The 20th Century and UPS
Summary: 5 Stars
"Big Brown"is one of the few books on Big Business that I have enjoyed. I kept reading because the author managed to bring in enough context to help me identify with the times as the company grew throughout the 20th century -- much as my experience expanded during those years. The personal story of the founders of UPS reminded me that big business often starts small and grows with perseverance.To the unsophisticated corporate person,it was a good reminder that all successful big entities are not run by blatant profiteers. The book personalizes the century's truly amazing growth in communications and transportation technology.Book Review: Everything you wanted to know about UPS
Summary: 5 Stars
"Big Brown" is an excellent example of a corporate biography--which means I learned a lot. I'm familiar with all of the author's previous books: "Baja Legends", "Baja Fever" and "Palm Springs Legends", and I always enjoy his conversational style--it's like someone telling you a series of interconnected colorful stories. This book surprised me with its focus and drive--mirroring the personality of UPS founder Jim Casey, who I enjoyed "getting to know" though Niemann's compelling portrait. Read it and find out how much you don't know about a company you encounter every working day.