Alper, the founder of Noah's Bagels (recently sold to Einstein Bros. for $100 million), offers uplifting business wisdom from his own rocky path to success. After an early nervous breakdown and a failed business (selling Israeli products to born-again Christians), he found his way to traditional Judaism and started a small bagel shop in Berkeley, founded and run on the Biblical injunction to "lech lecha"-to embrace one's journey while contributing to the community through volunteerism and "tzedakah"-justice. Alper writes with fervor about the necessity of ethical business dealing and the power of integrating life experience and spirituality into one's path as an entrepreneur, and-especially in these trying economic times-honing the ability to innovate, adapt, and evolve. This earnest book shines with Alper's conviction, business savvy and decency; while he acknowledges the joys of a financial success, he ends with his eyes on the prize: "What's important is providing for your family, conducting yourself with integrity and living a life of meaning."
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Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
This book is a no brainer for anyone interested in starting their own business. It is not a technical book, nor is it strictly a motivational type work. It's a story about a guy who, with chutzpah and some brains,
repeatedly started businesses. One was a single, another a double, later a strike out, and finally a home run. Serendipity plays a part in it, but there's also a lot of drive here. I also appreciated the candor in Noah's mentioning his mental breakdown, and how he was able to move beyond it.
