I grew up in a Ford family. Dad loved the big Lincolns, and I still have his treasured 1936 Ford convertible. For that matter, I still own the 1930 Model A he bought for me when I was young, and I use my Ford F-150 on a weekly basis.

The quality of Ford cars has gone up and down over the years, but one thing always remained the same: the Ford family owned the company. The special class of stock the family owns in the company gives them full control, making them what some call the largest family owned business in the world. As you might guess, I like family owned businesses.

The automotive industry has had a wild ride the past decade. Ford is extraordinary because they went from the weakest of the American car manufacturers to the strongest in that time. It’s an amazing turnaround story that few take the time to consider. Not only is it a statement of the companies vitality, it’s a statement that manufacturing can work in America.

Much of this can be attributed to one man: Ford’s CEO, Alan Mulally.

Bruce G. Hoffman, a journalist from Detroit, has written American Icon: Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company to tell that story. It’s fascinating for anybody interested in cars, the financial crisis of 2008, the future of manufacturing in America, or management issues. Mulally was brought in as an automotive outsider, having turned around Boeing in a remarkable way. His lack of experience in Detroit proved to be his big advantage because he saw things in a fresh way. And his talents were remarkable. He is an American treasure in many ways, just as Ford is.

It should also be noted that the Ford family itself deserves some credit. Bill Ford was CEO and Chairman of the company, but he knew he needed help. In a rare moment of corporate humility, he resigned his CEO position to hire somebody even more qualified. That’s how Mulally got the job, and the rest is history. It’s an amazing story and makes me proud of that F-150 parked out front of our house.

A good read  and a compelling story. If you are at all interested in management issues or cars or how business works, it’s first rate stuff.

And if you buy it from the link above, PathLight will get a percentage of your purchase. That’s the way to go!