The Ride of a Lifetime
Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy Now for $23.31
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Jim Frangione
-
Robert Iger
-
Written by:
-
Robert Iger
About this listen
Number-one New York Times best seller
A memoir of leadership and success: The executive chairman of Disney, Time’s 2019 businessperson of the year, shares the ideas and values he embraced during his 15 years as CEO while reinventing one of the world’s most beloved companies and inspiring the people who bring the magic to life.
Named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR
Robert Iger became CEO of The Walt Disney Company in 2005, during a difficult time. Competition was more intense than ever, and technology was changing faster than at any time in the company’s history. His vision came down to three clear ideas: Recommit to the concept that quality matters, embrace technology instead of fighting it, and think bigger - think global - and turn Disney into a stronger brand in international markets.
Fourteen years later, Disney is the largest, most admired media company in the world, counting Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox among its properties. Its value is nearly five times what it was when Iger took over, and he is recognized as one of the most innovative and successful CEOs of our era.
In The Ride of a Lifetime, Robert Iger shares the lessons he learned while running Disney and leading its 220,000-plus employees, and he explores the principles that are necessary for true leadership, including:
- Optimism. Even in the face of difficulty, an optimistic leader will find the path toward the best possible outcome and focus on that, rather than give in to pessimism and blaming.
- Courage. Leaders have to be willing to take risks and place big bets. Fear of failure destroys creativity.
- Decisiveness. All decisions, no matter how difficult, can be made on a timely basis. Indecisiveness is both wasteful and destructive to morale.
- Fairness. Treat people decently, with empathy, and be accessible to them.
This audiobook is about the relentless curiosity that has driven Iger for 45 years, since the day he started as the lowliest studio grunt at ABC. It’s also about thoughtfulness and respect, and a decency-over-dollars approach that has become the bedrock of every project and partnership Iger pursues, from a deep friendship with Steve Jobs in his final years to an abiding love of the Star Wars mythology.
"The ideas in this book strike me as universal", Iger writes. "Not just to the aspiring CEOs of the world, but to anyone wanting to feel less fearful, more confidently themselves, as they navigate their professional and even personal lives."
©2019 Robert Iger (P)2019 Random House AudioYou may also enjoy...
-
Shoe Dog
- A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
- Written by: Phil Knight
- Narrated by: Norbert Leo Butz, Phil Knight - introduction
- Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this candid and riveting memoir, for the first time ever, Nike founder and CEO Phil Knight shares the inside story of the company's early days as an intrepid start-up and its evolution into one of the world's most iconic, game-changing, and profitable brands.
-
-
Better Than Expected
- By PDubya on 2021-02-18
Written by: Phil Knight
-
Steve Jobs
- Written by: Walter Isaacson
- Narrated by: Dylan Baker
- Length: 25 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Based on more than 40 interviews with Jobs conducted over two years—as well as interviews with more than a hundred family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues—Walter Isaacson has written a riveting story of the roller-coaster life and searingly intense personality of a creative entrepreneur whose passion for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing.
-
-
don't hold this one off
- By Alex on 2020-06-17
Written by: Walter Isaacson
-
That Will Never Work
- The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea
- Written by: Marc Randolph
- Narrated by: Marc Randolph
- Length: 11 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the tradition of Phil Knight's Shoe Dog comes the incredible untold story of how Netflix went from concept to company—all revealed by cofounder and first CEO Marc Randolph. From idea generation to team building to knowing when it's time to let go, That Will Never Work is not only the ultimate follow-your-dreams parable, but also one of the most dramatic and insightful entrepreneurial stories of our time.
-
-
Nobody Knows Anything
- By Anthony on 2019-11-09
Written by: Marc Randolph
-
Walt Disney
- The Triumph of the American Imagination
- Written by: Neal Gabler
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 33 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Walt Disney was a true visionary whose desire for escape, iron determination, and obsessive perfectionism transformed animation from a novelty to an art form, first with Mickey Mouse and then with his feature films–most notably Snow White, Fantasia, and Bambi.
-
-
performance is great, but...
- By Amazon Customer on 2023-08-08
Written by: Neal Gabler
-
The Story of Lululemon: Little Black Stretchy Pants
- Written by: Chip Wilson
- Narrated by: Chip Wilson
- Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The unauthorized story of Lululemon. Chip Wilson’s part in this story comes from the learning of thousands of mistakes. He set the culture, business model, quality platform, and people development program and then got out of the way. Lululemon’s exponential growth, culture, and brand strength have few peers, and it is because of those employees who choose to be great. This book is also about missed opportunity - five years of missed opportunity. Chip was playing to win while the directors of the company he founded were playing not to lose.
-
-
Simply, a great book and guide for entrepreneurs
- By Tyler B on 2018-11-25
Written by: Chip Wilson
-
Disney's Land
- Walt Disney and the Invention of the Amusement Park That Changed the World
- Written by: Richard Snow
- Narrated by: Jacques Roy
- Length: 12 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is a spectacular story of error and innovation, a wild ride from a vision to the realization of an iconic cultural landscape. It reflects the park’s uniqueness, but just as strongly that of the man who built it with a watchmaker’s precision, an artist’s conviction, and the desperate, high-hearted recklessness of a riverboat gambler.
-
-
So inappropriate
- By Aleksandra on 2023-02-18
Written by: Richard Snow
-
Shoe Dog
- A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
- Written by: Phil Knight
- Narrated by: Norbert Leo Butz, Phil Knight - introduction
- Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this candid and riveting memoir, for the first time ever, Nike founder and CEO Phil Knight shares the inside story of the company's early days as an intrepid start-up and its evolution into one of the world's most iconic, game-changing, and profitable brands.
-
-
Better Than Expected
- By PDubya on 2021-02-18
Written by: Phil Knight
-
Steve Jobs
- Written by: Walter Isaacson
- Narrated by: Dylan Baker
- Length: 25 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Based on more than 40 interviews with Jobs conducted over two years—as well as interviews with more than a hundred family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues—Walter Isaacson has written a riveting story of the roller-coaster life and searingly intense personality of a creative entrepreneur whose passion for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing.
-
-
don't hold this one off
- By Alex on 2020-06-17
Written by: Walter Isaacson
-
That Will Never Work
- The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea
- Written by: Marc Randolph
- Narrated by: Marc Randolph
- Length: 11 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the tradition of Phil Knight's Shoe Dog comes the incredible untold story of how Netflix went from concept to company—all revealed by cofounder and first CEO Marc Randolph. From idea generation to team building to knowing when it's time to let go, That Will Never Work is not only the ultimate follow-your-dreams parable, but also one of the most dramatic and insightful entrepreneurial stories of our time.
-
-
Nobody Knows Anything
- By Anthony on 2019-11-09
Written by: Marc Randolph
-
Walt Disney
- The Triumph of the American Imagination
- Written by: Neal Gabler
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 33 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Walt Disney was a true visionary whose desire for escape, iron determination, and obsessive perfectionism transformed animation from a novelty to an art form, first with Mickey Mouse and then with his feature films–most notably Snow White, Fantasia, and Bambi.
-
-
performance is great, but...
- By Amazon Customer on 2023-08-08
Written by: Neal Gabler
-
The Story of Lululemon: Little Black Stretchy Pants
- Written by: Chip Wilson
- Narrated by: Chip Wilson
- Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The unauthorized story of Lululemon. Chip Wilson’s part in this story comes from the learning of thousands of mistakes. He set the culture, business model, quality platform, and people development program and then got out of the way. Lululemon’s exponential growth, culture, and brand strength have few peers, and it is because of those employees who choose to be great. This book is also about missed opportunity - five years of missed opportunity. Chip was playing to win while the directors of the company he founded were playing not to lose.
-
-
Simply, a great book and guide for entrepreneurs
- By Tyler B on 2018-11-25
Written by: Chip Wilson
-
Disney's Land
- Walt Disney and the Invention of the Amusement Park That Changed the World
- Written by: Richard Snow
- Narrated by: Jacques Roy
- Length: 12 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is a spectacular story of error and innovation, a wild ride from a vision to the realization of an iconic cultural landscape. It reflects the park’s uniqueness, but just as strongly that of the man who built it with a watchmaker’s precision, an artist’s conviction, and the desperate, high-hearted recklessness of a riverboat gambler.
-
-
So inappropriate
- By Aleksandra on 2023-02-18
Written by: Richard Snow
-
The Everything Store
- Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon
- Written by: Brad Stone
- Narrated by: Pete Larkin
- Length: 13 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Amazon.com started off delivering books through the mail. But its visionary founder, Jeff Bezos, wasn't content with being a bookseller. He wanted Amazon to become the everything store, offering limitless selection and seductive convenience at disruptively low prices. To do so, he developed a corporate culture of relentless ambition and secrecy that's never been cracked. Until now.
-
-
Principals
- By Anonymous User on 2020-07-24
Written by: Brad Stone
-
Smart Brevity
- The Power of Saying More with Less
- Written by: Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, Roy Schwartz
- Narrated by: Mark Chamberlin
- Length: 3 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Brevity is confidence. Length is fear. This is the guiding principle of Smart Brevity, a communication formula built by Axios journalists to prioritize essential news and information, explain its impact and deliver it in a concise and visual format. Now, the co-founders of Axios have created an essential guide for communicating effectively and efficiently using Smart Brevity—think Strunk and White’s Elements of Style for the digital age.
-
-
The "Your Communication Skills Suck" book
- By Jon on 2024-04-22
Written by: Jim VandeHei, and others
-
Tribes
- We Need You to Lead Us
- Written by: Seth Godin
- Narrated by: Seth Godin
- Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tribes are groups of people aligned around an idea, connected to a leader and to each other. Tribes make our world work, and always have. The new opportunity is that it's easier than ever to find, organize, and lead a tribe. The Web has enabled an explosion of all kinds of tribes - and created shortage of people to lead them. This is the growth industry of our time. Tribes will help you understand exactly what's at stake, and why YOU can and should lead a tribe of your own.
-
-
Essence of leadership
- By Maryse on 2020-04-20
Written by: Seth Godin
-
Elon Musk
- Written by: Walter Isaacson
- Narrated by: Jeremy Bobb, Walter Isaacson
- Length: 20 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Elon Musk was a kid in South Africa, he was regularly beaten by bullies. One day a group pushed him down some concrete steps and kicked him until his face was a swollen ball of flesh. He was in the hospital for a week. But the physical scars were minor compared to the emotional ones inflicted by his father, an engineer, rogue, and charismatic fantasist.
-
-
Future King of Mars, Inventor of Car Farts!
- By michael smith on 2023-09-12
Written by: Walter Isaacson
-
What It Takes
- Lessons in the Pursuit of Excellence
- Written by: Stephen A. Schwarzman
- Narrated by: Stephen A. Schwarzman, Drew Birdseye
- Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From Blackstone chairman, CEO, and co-founder Stephen A. Schwarzman, a long-awaited book that uses impactful episodes from Schwarzman's life to show listeners how to build, transform, and lead thriving organizations. Whether you are a student, entrepreneur, philanthropist, executive, or simply someone looking for ways to maximize your potential, the same lessons apply.
-
-
A really "big" deal ...
- By MMH Toronto on 2019-09-30
Written by: Stephen A. Schwarzman
-
Walt Disney's Way
- How to Build a Better Business Using the Magical Marketing Strategies of Walt Disney
- Written by: Andrew Lock
- Narrated by: Andrew Lock
- Length: 3 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Most people think of Walt Disney primarily as a visionary, but he was also a highly skilled marketer. In this unique book, maverick marketer Andrew Lock guides you through 17 success secrets from Walt and explains how your business can apply them to follow Walt Disney’s way. You’ll discover valuable lessons in sales, marketing, and customer service, as well as how to create memorable experiences that will cause customers to return to you, over and over again.
Written by: Andrew Lock
-
Creating Magic
- 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney
- Written by: Lee Cockerell
- Narrated by: Lee Cockerell
- Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The secret for creating magic in our careers, our organizations, and our lives is simple: outstanding leadership, the kind that inspires employees, delights customers, and achieves extraordinary business results. No one knows more about this kind of leadership than Lee Cockerell, the man who ran Walt Disney World Resort operations for over a decade.
-
-
Must listen for any leader
- By Awall Digital on 2017-12-07
Written by: Lee Cockerell
-
The Hard Thing About Hard Things
- Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers
- Written by: Ben Horowitz
- Narrated by: Kevin Kenerly
- Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ben Horowitz offers essential advice on building and running a startup - practical wisdom for managing the toughest problems business school doesn’t cover, based on his popular ben’s blog. While many people talk about how great it is to start a business, very few are honest about how difficult it is to run one. The Hard Thing About Hard Things is invaluable for veteran entrepreneurs as well as those aspiring to their own new ventures, drawing from Horowitz’s personal and often humbling experiences.
-
-
CRAP! Save your money and time and skip this one!
- By michael b. on 2018-05-25
Written by: Ben Horowitz
-
Grinding It Out
- The Making of McDonald's
- Written by: Ray Kroc, Robert Anderson
- Narrated by: Stephen Bel Davies
- Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Few entrepreneurs can claim to have radically changed the way we live, and Ray Kroc is one of them. His revolutions in food-service automation, franchising, shared national training, and advertising have earned him a place beside the men and women who have founded not only businesses, but entire empires. But even more interesting than Ray Kroc the business man is Ray Kroc the man. Not your typical self-made tycoon, Kroc was 52 years old when he opened his first franchise.
-
-
Really a great story
- By Roberta W on 2024-06-08
Written by: Ray Kroc, and others
-
Elon Musk
- Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
- Written by: Ashlee Vance
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 13 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the spirit of Steve Jobs and Moneyball, Elon Musk is both an illuminating and authorized look at the extraordinary life of one of Silicon Valley's most exciting, unpredictable, and ambitious entrepreneurs - a real-life Tony Stark - and a fascinating exploration of the renewal of American invention and its new makers.
-
-
Hey Elon, you hiring?
- By Amazon Customer on 2020-05-05
Written by: Ashlee Vance
-
Trailblazer
- The Power of Business as the Greatest Platform for Change
- Written by: Marc Benioff, Monica Langley
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What’s the secret to business growth and innovation and a purpose-driven career in a world that is becoming vastly more complicated by the day? According to Marc Benioff, the answer is embracing a culture in which your values permeate everything you do. In Trailblazer, Benioff gives listeners a rare behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of one of the world’s most admired companies. He reveals how Salesforce’s core values - trust, customer success, innovation, and equality - and commitment to giving back have become the company’s greatest competitive advantage.
-
-
Value-driven Company
- By Emilia on 2022-05-31
Written by: Marc Benioff, and others
-
Tim Cook
- The Genius Who Took Apple to the Next Level
- Written by: Leander Kahney
- Narrated by: Jonathan Cowley
- Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The death of Steve Jobs left a gaping void at one of the most innovative companies of all time. Jobs wasn't merely Apple's iconic founder and CEO; he was the living embodiment of a global megabrand. It was hard to imagine that anyone could fill his shoes - especially not Tim Cook, the intensely private executive who many thought of as Apple's "operations drone". But seven years later, as journalist Leander Kahney reveals in this definitive audiobook, things at Apple couldn't be better.
-
-
chronically and no story
- By Eric Wikjord on 2021-09-30
Written by: Leander Kahney
What the critics say
“Nurturing creativity is less a skill than an art - especially at a company where the brand alone is synonymous with creativity. That’s a lot to live up to. Bob Iger has not only lived up to ninety-six years of groundbreaking history but has moved the Disney brand far beyond anyone’s expectations, and he has done it with grace and audacity. This book shows you how that’s happened.” (Steven Spielberg)
“People have been waiting years for Bob Iger to share his leadership secrets. Now he has, and they are utterly brilliant. The Ride of a Lifetime is not merely a memoir; it’s a personal, all-access session with the wisest CEO you’ve ever met and a playbook for handling the key challenges of our age: how to drive change, leverage technology, build an enduring culture, and empower people. It’s a rippingly good, revelatory read.” (Daniel Coyle, New York Times best-selling author of The Culture Code)
“I expected a book written by the person who has led Disney for decades to be defined by both gripping storytelling and deep leadership wisdom. Bob Iger delivers, and then some! The Ride of a Lifetime is leadership gold - you won’t forget the stories or the lessons.” (Brené Brown, number one New York Times best-selling author of Dare to Lead)
What listeners say about The Ride of a Lifetime
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Doruk Gundogdu
- 2020-12-24
A great book.
I truly loved the book. It went to deep details in my opinion. Robert Iger did a great job writing the book. He writes as if you really are there next to him when he is signing those amazing deals for Disney. Not just that, he gives the reader an idea on how he was before Disney as well as the transition from ABC to Disney. It was an easy read. Overall its great.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jeff
- 2020-02-20
engaging and honest
engaging and honest behind the scenes look at a story we saw play out. you know how it ends, but its fun to go on the ride. Also plays on our capitalistic greed - it feels good to see a company do so incredibly well and have so much power.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- MC
- 2020-03-03
An amazing book
The story of Roberts path to becoming CEO of Walt Disney Company is fantastic. The challenges he faced in his career, were concurred due to his attitude, integrity, empathy, communication skills and a lot more qualities that he has and what every CEO should have.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- DougG
- 2020-05-27
Interesting but could have gone into more depth
Enjoyed this book overall but, at times, a little defensive in presenting why Mr. Iger took specific decisions. Also, while the story of his great leadership of Disney was impressive and compelling, it could have been more so with a little more detail about specific transactions and more examples of how his principles were put into action. Overall though, Mr Iger’s story is really good and speaks to the power of good instincts and a strong moral compass. Seems especially relevant in our current moment in history.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Darren
- 2020-07-27
Great story!
I didn't know much about Mr. Iger's story. I think he could be one of the most influential CEO's of our time. I really enjoyed it!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- C
- 2020-08-03
Great read!!
Great read every leader should delve into! I wnjoyed this book, very interesting, good lessons, good experience, though standard of every CEO of a cash plenty corporation!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Owen
- 2020-08-05
Super solid business leadership book.
Almost sounds unbelievable to hear what Bob has gone through at Disney. It went just deep enough to catch how he is as a person and how I imagine that translating so well as a leader.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 2019-11-10
interesting
A regular smart guy who learned good and bad from everyone he worked for ,with around loved it
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 2020-06-06
A great story with many lessons along the way
I enjoyed this book a lot, there were many different lessons on leadership that Robert explained with each chapter. I can see myself using them throughout my life. I was expecting this book to glorify Rob and how he turned Disney into the company we recognize today but it was the actually the opposite. He regularly gives credit to the Disney team instead of taking it for himself and he doesn't shy away from speaking of the challenges the Disney team faced along the way and their dark times as a company. I especially liked the second half of the book because we get close insights into some of the decisions Disney made that weren't common knowledge. Overall if you're a fan of Disney or want a book that regularly talks about the core values of leadership then I recommend this book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Shamus
- 2020-04-29
Great Story
Full of great quotes and wisdom to live by in your quest for greatness in life and in business.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!