The Curse of the Mogul Book Summary

In 'The Curse of the Mogul,' a trio of sharp economic minds dissect the turbulent saga of the media moguls who rose to power and fell from grace. With a mix of historical insight and incisive analysis, Knee, Greenwald, and Seave expose the flawed strategies that led to disastrous outcomes for these titans. Readers will uncover the inherent pitfalls of ambition and the temptations of the media landscape. This compelling narrative weaves together personal stories with economic theories, revealing the true cost of success. Can the lessons learned from these moguls’ downfalls shed light on the future of media management?

By Jonathan A. Knee, Bruce C. Greenwald, Ava Seave

Published: 2011

"In the relentless pursuit of wealth and power, the moguls often overlook the true cost of their success, revealing the fragility of innovation amidst the glitz and glory."

Book Review of The Curse of the Mogul

If Rupert Murdoch and Sumner Redstone are so smart, why are their stocks long-term losers? We live in the age of big Media, with the celebrity moguls telling us that "content is king." But for all the excitement, glamour, drama, and publicity they produce, why can't these moguls and their companies manage to deliver better returns than you'd get from closing your eyes and throwing a dart? The Curse of the Mogul lays bare the inexcusable financial performance beneath big Media's false veneer of power. By rigorously examining individual media businesses, the authors reveal the difference between judging a company by how many times its CEO is seen in SunValley and by whether it generates consistently superior profits. The book is packed with enough sharp-edged data to bring the most high-flying, hot-air filled mogul balloon crashing down to earth.

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In the relentless pursuit of wealth and power, the moguls often overlook the true cost of their success, revealing the fragility of innovation amidst the glitz and glory.

The Curse of the Mogul

By Jonathan A. Knee, Bruce C. Greenwald, Ava Seave