Episode 160: Flashback - Stuart Maudlin, Author
Russ flashes back a few weeks to his visit with fiction novelist Stuart Maudlin. In this segment, Stuart discusses his new book, “Regular Guys and Great Fools: How a group of entrepreneurs let the shampoo business slip through their fingers and almost down the drain.” Is it Art Imitates Life? Or the reverse?
7 Responses to “Episode 160: Flashback - Stuart Maudlin, Author”
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I really like this Author. I started his book a couple days ago and it’s really good.
I am nearly finished with Regular Guys and its been quite a journey. As an upcoming junior in high school, I was uneducated in some of the technical business stuff but Stuart wrote with a certain finesse allowing me to really pick up on it and learn a lot. The characters were great. The dichotomy was expressed very well. Fabini infuriated me while I loved Mitch and Jake. Angie picked up for the good guys when they weren’t around and you get to know her really well. Im just rambling at this point but the bottom line is the book is awesome.
After listening to Mr. Maudlin speak so eloquently on his book, it got me to thinking about work and all the underlying egos and agendas that are there. Finally an author has the guts to take a real situation and write about it. In this world of backslapping and golden parachutes, it is nice to see that people are still held accountable for their actions. I say bravo and keep writing about these situations. I am looking forward to the next book about the housing market with bated breath.
Great interview and a great book, not only for people into the business aspect, but from a character standpoint I really think that anyone will find some to enjoy.
Stuart’s portrayal of the naivity of two young entrepreneurs and how “professional” businessmen have the ability to take a budding, profitable company and nearly destroy it is more than just a well written piece of literature about corporate America, it’s a story of dreams and the crushing reality that it might not necessarilly work out in the end.
Maudlin’s attention to detail creates a sense of urgency and importance that stays with the reader throughout the entire book, while his ability to create real likeable (and some dispicable) characters makes anyone lucky enough to pick up this little gem actually CARE about what happens.
Enjoyed every word.
This was a terrific book for anyone considering venturing, and venture capital. I loved the ups and downs and the transitions - all quite real world. The book was entertaining (great characterization, backgrounds, motivation) and educational. The lessons about “be careful who you dance with” really struck home, and, the lessons on all the things that can happen - some are which under the entrepreneur’s control, as well as those that are not.
I look forward to seeing his next work! This is a must for an b-school types (or profs, for that matter)…could save a lot of heartache in the long run!
I recently met Stuart Maudlin, the author, and have since gotten to know him a bit. One of the things that immediately struck me about Stu is that he takes long pauses while expressing an idea. I realized this is because Stu is one of those rare individuals that really thinks through an idea before voicing it. This is evident in his book. It is clearly written, and well planned. The dynamics of the company Stu has thought up are transformed into an engrossing story, and you find yourself a attached to the many characters that find their way into the story. Regular Guys is great for both those with extensive knowledge of the business world, and those that just want a good story.
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