McDonald's: Behind the Arches

This book tells an insanely detailed history of the McDonald's corporation. By using exact names, dates, and leadership philosophies, this book shows you all of the hard work and innovative thinking that went into making the company what it is today. This is a book not only on history, but business and leadership. There are many lessons to be learned by reading about the trust Kroc had in his franchisees, and the calculated risks he and his team took. When people say McDonald's revolutionized the then fledgling fast food industry, they aren't wrong. Great book for anyone interested in history, business, and leadership.

This is the absolute best business book I have ever read. It tracks no only McDonalds but other fast food companies as well. It gives a good sense of the history of the industry as well as possible future trends. You can see the development of McDonalds for what it is an compare it to others. This book also confirms much of Ray Kroc's account so if you are looking for just the McDonald's story that is an okay substitute. The depth and perspective of this book though cannot be beat. It is very well written and just an excellent source of information on the fast food industry.

The story behind the ubiquitous golden arches, and the man who expanded them coast to coast, (and today they reach the edges of the Earth). This book provides a reader friendly, detailed synopsis of McDonald's through decades of the original brothers, to Ray Kroc's entry and exit of what would become one of the most recognized oranizations of the world. (Whether this fact has positive or negative implications is another matter entirely). This is a good book about Mickey-D's and sheds light on many other aspects of American history, diet, culture, business and advertising. Two brothers named McDonald went west to California from the north-east. They came with about about $8 dollars in their pockets (according to them) and got jobs moving props on movie sets in Hollywood (sound familiar?) After some initial business ventures the brothers opened their own small restaurant in San Bernadino. Meanwhile, in the Midwest Ray Kroc left school at 16, and like almost all other achievers that reached his level of success, he had a strong work ethic and a hard-driving tenacity to succeed. Expecially at concepts that intially proved successful (hence SOP procedures). How ya build opon something that has a good and successful foundation. A gifted, successful salesman from an early age, he got a job selling paper cups and sold them for 17 years as one of the top salesman of his company. Some of his clients for example, were Wrigley field's vendors, among other Chicago establishments. In his late thirties, he started selling shake mixers. McDonald's comes into the picture when Kroc noticed that two brothers who owned a drive-in hamburger restaurant in Southern California, kept ordering lots of shake mixing machines, when Kroc's mixer business was dying out everywhere else in the country. He met the McDonald brothers and was greatly impressed by their practices. Ray implored them to expand and they replied "who'd want to do it, we don't," and Kroc became the seller of their franchises in the Midwest. He was very successful at establishing McD's in that part of the country (hint).For his work he didn't earn a lot because of the deal he made with the brothers (an inkling of what was to come). So he added a creative and logical way to profit from his diligent work in spreading the franchises. He formed a separate corporation, and when setting up franchises he'd purchase the property where a new McDonald's was to be built, from his own original corporation he created. (Read Robert Kiyosaki's "Loophoes of the Rich" for details). So, with his corporations being the owner of the property, Kroc would either collect the rent, or a percentage of the restaurant's profits, whichever was greater, by contract structure. This allowed him to be compensated more fully in addition to his original deal with the McDonald brothers, which wasn't the most favorable.Kroc was selling the franchises and focusing on keeping the model and SOPs identical for every franchise. Perhaps an an

One of my earliest memories as a child is of Mom and Dad taking the whole darn family to the only McDonald's in our area at that time (mid-60's) in Belmont, California - it was still the old fashioned McD's with giant golden arches and outdoor seating (why they decided to tear all of those down, I have no idea - they were wonderful!). A week after my 16th birthday, I started my first real (non-babysitting) job at the local McD's in Foster City. Although I seldom dine there now (waiting for veggie burgers!), the impact and history of McDonald's has always fascinated me. Before picking up "Behind the Arches" the only book I had read about the subject was "Big Mac - the Unauthorized Story of McDonalds" which in fact is not really the story of McDonalds at all, but rather one of franchising in general with a bit more of a focus on McDonalds. Mr. Love's book, however, focuses more on the genius of Ray Kroc and Fred Turner; how the corporation relies on its owner/operators and suppliers for new ideas (Filet-O-Fish, Big Mac, apple pies, McMuffin, etc.). The chapters on the development of the perfect frozen french fry and Chicken McNuggets were especially interesting...as well as how McDonald's moved into Japan and Europe. Even if you detest McDonald's food, read this book - HIGHLY recommended.

Story telling at its best. I couldn't put it down. Miller was given access to inside information about the company far beyond anything I have read anywhere else.

This book will tell you everything and any thing that you want to know about McDonalds. It starts at the very beginning, with the McDonald brothers in San Bernardino, CA and Ray Kroc, the shake machine salesman. Eventually Ray starts selling franchisees in the Chicago area and the rest is history. The book was compiled through countless interviews with people working within the McDonalds Corporation, so it's not an outsiders view.. but actual stories, quotes, and experiences of real employees. This is a great read of how a person with a dream and lots of determination can make it big. If you're interested in McDonalds, and how they got to be the largest restaurant chain in the world... then you'll like this book.