Wisdom for a Young CEO:
Inspiring Letters and Inspiring Advice
From Today's Business Leaders
By Douglas Barry
Philadelphia/London: Running Press, 2004.
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
At the tender age of 12, author Barry decided that what he wanted most in life was to become the CEO of a major corporation. Unsure of where to begin (join the all the school clubs? raise his G.P.A.?), he wrote letters seeking advice from the CEOs of more than 150 major corporations. Most of them sent him personal letters back in response. Now, at the ripe age of 17, he shares their wisdom in this compelling collection of letters and quotes from chief executives at companies like Johnson & Johnson, Viacom, Dow, Kraft and Southwest Airlines. The advice is carefully arranged into chapters on passion, respect, vision, humanity, curiosity, integrity and pragmatism, each prefaced with an engaging introduction. The letters themselves do contain a fair number of cliches, but there are also quite a few passages of wisdom. A.G. Lafley, chairman and CEO of Proctor & Gamble, writes that great leaders "have deeply held values that guide their choices." Reuben Mark, chairman and CEO of Colgate Palmolive, explains that leaders should communicate simply. "Express your ideas in terms everyone can grasp. No one can follow a road map they can’t read." In the end, readers—whether they are just embarking on a career or are veterans of the working world—can find ideas to inform and inspire them here.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Description:
At 14 years of age, author Douglas Barry started wondering what to do with his life. That's when this precocious teenager began writing to CEOs of major companies to seek their advice on how to reach the top of the career ladder. The honest, heartfelt replies on finding success in the business world, from the CEOs of Eastman Kodak, McDonald's, Intel, Sprint, UPS, Viacom, and many other companies, provide inspiring life lessons for everyone. Wisdom for a Young CEO includes pithy tidbits, longer essays, sidebars, tips, quotes, and reminiscences from more than 100 of the country's business leaders, focusing on such character issues as honesty, hard work, being true to oneself, integrity, leadership, and interpersonal skills. In surprising detail, many describe turning points in their own careers, outlining difficult moral and ethical decisions they've faced. Now just 17 years old, Douglas Barry is sure to garner publicity from widespread media.

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Last Word, Potentials Magazine, June 1, 2004

Leaders Love Their Tasks—Not Just Their Titles, American Management Ass'n, Fall 2004

Educating a young CEO - Have you ever dreamed about getting career advice from a Fortune 500 CEO? Well, thanks to a 17-year-old high school senior named Doug Barry, your wish has just come true. Doug spent a good part of his adolescence writing letters to CEOs, asking them how they made it to the top. He’s published their responses in Wisdom for a Young CEO. Kai talks to Doug about the advice and the anecdotes from the big wigs of the business world. (06/12/2004)

“Douglas...displays impressive insight for such a young author.”
—Dallas Morning News

“An empowered mindset”
—Newsday

“One of the best buys is a business book from 18-year-old Douglas Barry”
—New York Post

“Wisdom is still a good buy—and a great self esteem booster. The book is surely uplifting...”
—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“In the end, readers—whether they are just embarking on a career or are veterans of the working world--can find ideas to inform and inspire them here.”
—Publishers Weekly