November 29, 2010
Eisner, former Chairman of the Walt Disney Company, writes about his former partnership with the late Frank Wells and profiles duos from finance (Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger), charity (Bill and Melinda Gates), entertainment (Brian Grazer and Ron Howard), fashion (Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti), commerce (Home Depot founders Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus), sports (Joe Torre and Don Zimmer), hospitality (Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell of Studio 54 and restaurateurs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken), and other industries. Though Eisner and Cohen fill their book with success stories, many are already familiar, and the lesser-known partnerships aren't particularly fascinating. Most disappointing is the lack of detail on what makes a partnership succeed. Bill Gates is praised as having formed powerful collaborations but is otherwise left unexplored. And Rubell and Schrager (whose partnership ended with them both in jail) hit it off in college because "Brooklyn guys always have a bond." Contrary to Eisner's titular promise, anyone looking for insight will come away frustrated.