Toronto Ontario - "N0 BULLSHIT"
 
CEO Hunter Harrison dramatically turned four publicly traded railroads in the US and Canada into cash machines, winning the nickname the "train whisperer."
 
But like Steve Jobs, even as Harrison won the loyalty of investors and those he mentored, his controversial methods alienated many.
 
In this deeply researched biography, National Business Book Award finalist Howard Green explores the life of Harrison in all its contradictions.
 
Starting as a laborer in a Memphis rail yard when he was a wayward teenager, Harrison rose to the top positions at Illinois Central, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, and CSX.
 
Never accepting the status quo, he not only overhauled established railroads, he also forced an industry to shape up.
 
As the pre-eminent proponent of Precision Scheduled Railroading, Harrison created approximately $50 billion in shareholder value in his time as a CEO.
 
Charming, intimidating, and not afraid to make enemies, Harrison let nothing get in his way.
 
At the same time, he was a talent scout and mentor to countless railroaders, as well as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.
 
In his final role as CEO of CSX, and while battling ill health, he implemented changes that vastly improved the railroad's financial performance and shareholder value, improvements that continued even after his untimely death in December 2017.
 
"Railroader" peels back the curtain on the North American railroad industry, which remains essential to the economy and international trade.
 
It also offers insights into running all businesses, from local to multinational.
 
Howard Green's access to Harrison and sources close to him, combined with decades of experience as a business journalist, give him the unparalleled ability to tell the story of this uncompromising leader who both inspired and infuriated.
 
Based on conversations with Harrison over several years, "Railroader" also includes candid stories from Harrison's family and colleagues, those who admired him, and those who criticized him.
 
Like "Shoe Dog" and Walter Isaacson's "Steve Jobs", "Railroader" highlights each facet of this four-time CEO's contrary personality to dazzling effect.
 
Howard Green

Railroader - The Unfiltered Genius and Controversy
of Four-Time CEO Hunter Harrison
Page Two Books 5-175 East 15th Avenue Vancouver BC Canada V5T 2P6
2018
Hardcover
6.25 x 9.25 inches
16 x 23.5 centimetres
291 pages
53 photos
0 drawings
0 maps
$29.32 (Amazon)
A biography of Hunter Harrison.