What It Takes: Lessons in the Pursuit of Excellence
Stephen A. Schwarzman
Avid Reader/an imprint of Simon & Schuster (September 2019)

A man whose capabilities and achievements are for all seasons

With substantial assistance from Philip Delves Broughton, Stephen Schwarzman did not intend to write an autobiography or even memoirs except to the extent historical information was relevant. His primary objective was to respond to three separate but related questions:

1. Which of his experiences from childhood through his formal education (B.A. from Yale and an M.B.A. from Harvard) help to accelerate his personal growth and professional development?

2. Next, what specific lessons did he learn from those experiences that help to explain his outstanding achievements as a corporate executive and as a philanthropist?

3. Finally, which of these lessons could also possibly be of substantial value to those now preparing for a career in business or have only recently embarked upon one.

With regard to the last question, much of the answer seems to have been provided in the Epilogue (Pages 348-349) and in “25 Rules for Work and Life,” Pages 351-354. However, the meaning and significance of this material are far greater if the prior pages are read…and read carefully.

I have read and reviewed dozens of other books whose authors address many of the same issues, books with which What It Takes would be compared favorably.  They include Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography, Albert Sloan’s My Years with General Motors, Andy Grove’s Swimming Across, Jack Welch’s Winning, Danny Meyer’s Setting the Table, and Ray Dalio’s Principles.

Stephen Schwartzman’s professional achievements speak for themselves. Only by reading this book did I learn a great deal about  the person and now take this opportunity to say how much I enjoyed the pleasure of his company.