When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead: Useful Stories from a Persuasive Man
- Audio CD
- Publisher: Hachette Audio; Unabridged edition (June 1, 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1607889684
- ISBN-13: 978-1607889687
I am writing this review without the synopsis or Product description which you can find here if you wish to read it either before or after reading my review. I wasn’t quite sure how I would like this but it sounded interesting so I chose it. I don’t follow movies, stars or producers so I didn’t know who Jerry Weintraub was. I must say I was impressed.
Review:
The audio book starts and ends with the big band “swing” sound which seems very appropriate. The story is read by the author with his very distinct Brooklyn, New York accent. This wasn’t always comfortable listening, but I think it was perfect because in the presentation you catch his persuasive personality, his quick-to-anger temperament, his caring nature and especially his emotional loss upon the death of his parents. By the end you feel as though you have had numerous sit down chats enjoying the company of a man who has lived a very full life.
Mr. Weintraub is a consummate “salesman”: a promoter; a Hollywood mover and shaker. Born in the 1930s, Jerry Weintraub established his own careers through sheer imagination and bravado. The book presents the progression of his success as a concert promoter, star manager and promoter and ultimately successful movie producer. The journey is set out in ten year career blocks, but not all of the stories are chronological as the the wonderful antidotes jump around a bit in time.
Mr. Weintraub paints a memorable picture of the New York neighborhood and Hollywood from a by gone era but the majority of the focus is about people and relationships. There are stories of how he “negotiated” with Colonel Tom Parker and became the promoter for Elvis Presley. There are stories of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. He describes how he discovered John Denver and helped to “brand” him and make him popular across many lines of audiences. He also depicts their angry split.
This is a man who was not only active with stars but he became the friend of Presidents and politically influential men. He shares stories of his friendship with George Bush, Sr. and his association with Jimmy Carter. He talks about his long time friendship with business tycoon Armand Hammer, and he touches on his religious experiences with prominent hasidic rabbi and leader, Lubavitcher Rebbe.
He tells interesting tales about how actors were found for some of the movies he promoted or produced, including Oh God, The Karate Kid, Nashville, The Diner and Ocean Eleven. He also gives humorous details of working with many of the stars and his more recent associations with the Oceans 11, 12 and 13 team.
Throughout the engaging glimpses of his relationships with clients and family, Mr. Weintraub drops some pearls of wisdom for success in life. He stresses that it is the relationship that matters both in business and life. He also encourages people to accept who they are and the niche or brand that works for them. You can be successful being yourself when you will probably fail at being someone else. He tells of one of his own business failures that I think resulted from this error.
This is an engaging autobiography. If you like memoirs, or Hollywood tidbits, or if you are interested in some American history, or even if you just like human interest stories, you would enjoy this audio book.
xxx
Thank you to Hachette and Anna who provided this book for listening and review.
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