Little Man

Little Man chronicles the rise of Meyer Lansky, a Jewish immigrant who became one of America's most influential organized crime figures during the 20th century. Lacey traces Lansky's journey from the poverty of Poland's Jewish ghettos to his emergence as a power broker in the criminal underworld. The book examines Lansky's complex relationships with notorious gangsters like Lucky Luciano and Bugsy Siegel, as well as his gambling empire that stretched from Cuba to Las Vegas. Through extensive research and interviews, Lacey reconstructs Lansky's navigation of both legitimate business ventures and shadowy criminal enterprises. Robert Lacey's account places Lansky's story within the broader context of American immigration, Jewish identity, and the evolution of organized crime. This biography explores themes of power, assimilation, and the blurred lines between criminal enterprise and American capitalism in the twentieth century.

Readers found this biography illuminating about Michael Bloomberg's rise and approach to power, though many noted it feels outdated since its 2002 publication. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of Bloomberg's business innovations and market data systems - Behind-the-scenes details of his early career at Salomon Brothers - Coverage of his management style and company culture - The author's balanced reporting without obvious bias Common criticisms: - Lacks depth on Bloomberg's personal life and relationships - Too much technical detail about financial systems for casual readers - Ends before his mayoral career, missing key later chapters - Some passages read like PR material Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (157 ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (31 ratings) "Thorough on the business side but leaves you wanting more about the man himself," noted one Amazon reviewer. Multiple Goodreads reviews mentioned it serves better as a business case study than a traditional biography.

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🔸 Michael Jackson owned the film rights to "Little Man" and planned to produce it as a movie about Lacey's subject, automobile pioneer Sir Herbert Austin. 🔸 Robert Lacey is perhaps best known for serving as a historical consultant on Netflix's "The Crown" and writing "The Crown: The Official Companion" series. 🔸 The book's subject, Herbert Austin, started his career making sheep-shearing machines in Australia before revolutionizing British automotive manufacturing. 🔸 The Austin Seven, which features prominently in the book, was nicknamed the "Baby Austin" and became one of Britain's most successful cars, with licensing deals extending to BMW and Nissan. 🔸 Author Robert Lacey conducted over 200 interviews and spent five years researching to create this comprehensive biography of Herbert Austin and the British motor industry.