Made in America

Why I recommend it

This is a complicated recommendation for me. Maybe I know too much about Walmart’s business tactics to fully appreciate Walton’s account of building it. Nonetheless, it’s an interesting read, especially if you’re curious about how a founder thinks about competition, leadership, and management.

What stayed with me

I kept coming back to how we judge success in business. Growing a company to an enormous scale is an achievement, but I also want to think about what that growth asks of employees, competitors, and communities. Those questions matter to me when I’m reading a founder’s story.

Who it’s useful for

Founders, managers, and anyone interested in how companies grow and how their founders shape them. There’s plenty here to think about and discuss, even if you come away disagreeing with Walton.

A tension or limitation

Walmart’s shrewd, deceptive, anti-labor, and anticompetitive tactics are hard for me to set aside. This is Walton’s version of the story, and I read it with that in mind. I can find a memoir interesting without embracing the business practices behind it.