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The Great Beanie Baby Bubble
- Mass Delusion and the Dark Side of Cute
- Narrated by: P.J. Ochlan
- Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins
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Publisher's summary
There has never been a craze like Beanie Babies. The $5 beanbag animals with names like Seaweed the Otter and Gigi the Poodle drove millions of Americans into a greed-fueled frenzy as they chased the rarest Beanie Babies, whose values escalated weekly in the late 1990s.
A single Beanie Baby sold for $10,000, and on eBay the animals comprised 10 percent of all sales. Suburban moms stalked UPS trucks to get the latest models, a retired soap opera star lost his kids' six-figure college funds investing in them, and a New Jersey father sold three million copies of a self-published price guide that predicted what each animal would be worth in 10 years. More than any other consumer good in history, Beanie Babies were carried to the height of success by a collective belief that their values would always rise.
Just as strange as the mass hysteria was the man behind it. From the day he started in the toy industry, after dropping out of college, Ty Warner devoted all his energy to creating what he hoped would be the most perfect stuffed animals the world had ever seen. Sometimes called the "Steve Jobs of plush" by his employees, he obsessed over every detail of every animal. He had no marketing budget and no connections, but he had something more valuable—an intuitive grasp of human psychology that would make him the richest man in the history of toys.
Through first-ever interviews with former Ty Inc. employees, Warner's sister, and the two ex-girlfriends who were by his side as he achieved the American dream, The Great Beanie Baby Bubble tells the inspiring yet tragic story of one of America's most enigmatic self-made tycoons. Best-selling author Zac Bissonnette uncovers Warner's highly original approach to product development, sales, and marketing that enabled the acquisition of plush animals to activate the same endorphins chased by stock speculators and gamblers.
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An intimate and profound reckoning with the changes buffeting the $2 trillion global advertising and marketing business from the perspective of its most powerful players, by the best-selling author of Googled. Advertising and marketing touches on every corner of our lives, and is the invisible fuel powering almost all media. Complain about it though we might, without it the world would be a darker place. And of all the industries wracked by change in the digital age, few have been turned on its head as dramatically as this one has.
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Good; not for beginners
- By DV on 10-05-18
By: Ken Auletta
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Chicken Soup for Entrepreneur's Soul: Advice and Inspiration for Fulfilling Dreams
- By: Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen
- Narrated by: Alan Robertson
- Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur's Soul is a compilation of short stories from entrepreneurs, both large and small, who share their experiences of success, failure and courage, with a little helpful advice mixed in. Many of these stories, told for the first time here, will enlighten you to new methods of entrepreneurship or simply help you believe in the possibilities of getting started.
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Great!
- By Anonymous User on 03-01-20
By: Jack Canfield, and others
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High-Hanging Fruit
- Build Something Great by Going Where No One Else WIll
- By: Mark Rampolla
- Narrated by: Mark Rampolla
- Length: 6 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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When Mark Rampolla filled a notebook with potential start-up ideas, his wife asked him some tough questions. What about this idea is exciting, beyond the possibility of a profit? How will it fit into a life that makes you and your family happy? How will it change the world? Eventually Mark found his great idea: coconut water. He had seen the developing world use coconut water, but this valuable resource was being discarded in the US. While taking on the beverage industry was a big goal - high-hanging fruit - it was worth the risk.
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10 Chapter Infomercial
- By KIM WILLIAMSON on 02-16-20
By: Mark Rampolla
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Alibaba
- The House That Jack Ma Built
- By: Duncan Clark
- Narrated by: Jim Meskimen
- Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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In just a decade and a half, Jack Ma, a man from modest beginnings who started out as an English teacher, founded Alibaba and built it into one of the world's largest companies, an e-commerce empire on which hundreds of millions of Chinese consumers depend. Alibaba's $25 billion IPO in 2014 was the largest global IPO ever. A Rockefeller of his age who is courted by CEOs and presidents around the world, Jack is an icon for China's booming private sector.
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Strange: Best part of story happens "off-screen"
- By Tristan on 09-02-16
By: Duncan Clark
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How Chuck Feeney Made and Gave Away a Fortune
- The Billionaire Who Wasn't
- By: Conor O'Clery
- Narrated by: Erik Synnestvedt
- Length: 16 hrs
- Unabridged
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In 1988 Forbes magazine hailed Chuck Feeney as the 23rd richest American alive. No one knew until then that he was extremely wealthy. Or was he? Born during the Depression in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Feeney had made a fortune as co-founder of Duty Free Shoppers, the world's largest duty-free retail chain. How he did it is one of the great untold retail stories of modern times. The greater untold story is that Feeney had in fact given away his fortune, in its totality, to endow Atlantic Philanthropies - one of the most generous and secretive philanthropic funds in the world.
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Horizons I never knew were there!
- By DTU_Garza on 08-13-17
By: Conor O'Clery
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Sam Walton
- Made in America
- By: John Huey, Sam Walton
- Narrated by: Henry Strozier
- Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Meet a genuine American folk hero cut from the homespun cloth of America's heartland: Sam Walton, who parlayed a single dime store in a hardscrabble cotton town into Wal-Mart, the largest retailer in the world. The undisputed merchant king of the late 20th century, Sam never lost the common touch. Here, finally, inimitable words. Genuinely modest, but always sure of his ambitions and achievements. Sam shares his thinking in a candid, straight-from-the-shoulder style. In a story rich with anecdotes and the "rules of the road" of both Main Street and Wall Street, Sam Walton chronicles the inspiration, heart, and optimism that propelled him to lasso the American Dream.
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Capitalism Is The Way
- By Nathan Ruff on 04-14-19
By: John Huey, and others
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Appetite for Self-Destruction
- The Spectacular Crash of the Record Industry in the Digital Age
- By: Steve Knopper
- Narrated by: Dan John Miller
- Length: 11 hrs
- Unabridged
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For the first time, Appetite for Self-Destruction recounts the story of the precipitous rise and fall of the recording industry over the past three decades, when the incredible success of the CD turned the music business into one of the most glamorous, high-profile industries in the world - and the advent of file sharing brought it to its knees.
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Awesome Book
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By: Steve Knopper
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A Man and His Mountain
- The Everyman Who Created Kendall-Jackson and Became America's Greatest Wine Entrepreneur
- By: Edward Humes
- Narrated by: Mel Foster
- Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist tells the story of the self-made billionaire who built the Kendall-Jackson empire from nothing into the biggest-selling brand of premium wines in the U.S. Jess Stonestreet Jackson was one of a small band of pioneering entrepreneurs who put California's wine country on the map. His life story is a compelling slice of history, daring, innovation, feuds, intrigue, talent, mystique, contrarianism, and luck, offering a unique window on the elegant, adventurous, and cut-throat worlds of Jackson's two passions: wine and horseracing.
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Required listening for any wine maker
- By Michael Carr on 01-10-15
By: Edward Humes
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In-N-Out Burger
- A Behind-the-Counter Look at the Fast-Food Chain That Breaks All the Rules
- By: Stacy Perman
- Narrated by: Loren Lester
- Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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It's the untold story of the renegade burger chain that evokes a passionate following unlike any other. In fast-food corporate America, In-N-Out Burger stands apart. Begun in a tiny shack in the shadow of World War II, this family-owned chain has steadfastly refused to franchise or be sold. It is a testament to old-fashioned values and reminiscent of a simpler time when people, loyalty, and a freshly made, juicy hamburger meant something.
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Flowery Promo Piece
- By Melissa on 02-22-10
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You Only Have to Be Right Once
- The Unprecedented Rise of the Instant Tech Billionaires
- By: Randall Lane
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 5 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Over the last three years, Forbes has published in depth profiles of this new batch of billionaires, including the founders of Spotify, Dropbox, Tumblr, and Twitter. Now, in a compilation introduced and updated by Forbes editor Randall Lane, fans and critics alike will get a comprehensive look at who these super-entrepreneurs are and what they say about their own success and their plans for the future.
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Awesome book!
- By Jamal Love on 06-17-15
By: Randall Lane
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Bitter Brew
- The Rise and Fall of Anheuser-Busch and America's Kings of Beer
- By: William Knoedelseder
- Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
- Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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The engrossing, often scandalous saga of one of the wealthiest, longest-lasting, and most colorful family dynasties in the history of American commerce—a cautionary tale about prosperity, profligacy, hubris, and the blessings and dark consequences of success. This engrossing, vivid narrative captures the Busch saga through five generations. At the same time, it weaves a broader story of American progress and decline over the past 150 years. It's a cautionary tale of prosperity, hubris, and loss.
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Couldn't stop listening...
- By Jeremy McGough on 11-09-12
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Glass House
- The 1% Economy and the Shattering of the All-American Town
- By: Brian Alexander
- Narrated by: Bob Souer
- Length: 11 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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The Anchor Hocking Glass Company, once the world's largest maker of glass tableware, was the base on which Lancaster's society was built. As Glass House unfolds, bankruptcy looms. With access to the company and its leaders, and Lancaster's citizens, Alexander shows how financial engineering took hold in the 1980s, accelerated in the 21st century, and wrecked the company.
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What really happened to the American Dream?
- By Bill on 05-10-17
By: Brian Alexander
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Ahead of the Curve
- Two Years at Harvard Business School
- By: Philip Delves Broughton
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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In 2004 Philip Delves Broughton abandoned a post as Paris bureau chief of the London Daily Telegraph to join 900 other would-be tycoons on the Harvard Business School's plush campus. With acute and often uproarious candor, he assesses the school's success at teaching the traits it extols as most important in business: leadership, decisiveness, ethical behavior, and work/life balance.
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On one breath.
- By Atkins on 05-17-22
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How to Get Rich
- One of the World's Greatest Entrepreneurs Shares His Secrets
- By: Felix Dennis
- Narrated by: Roy McMillan
- Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Felix Dennis is an expert at proving people wrong. Starting as a college dropout with no family money, he created a publishing empire, founded Maxim magazine, made himself one of the richest people in the UK, and had a blast in the process. How to Get Rich is different from any other book on the subject because Dennis isn't selling snake oil, investment tips, or motivational claptrap. He merely wants to help people embrace entrepreneurship, and to share lessons he learned the hard way.
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A picture is worth his 1,000 words
- By Jerry Fletcher on 09-18-21
By: Felix Dennis
What listeners say about The Great Beanie Baby Bubble
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Marie-Claude
- 05-13-15
Dark story, sad life
Where does The Great Beanie Baby Bubble rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
It is in the lower half of my favourites, but the story is so different and dark I kept listening
What three words best describe P.J. Ochlan’s voice?
Robotic, monotone, suitable
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
Dark story, sad life
Any additional comments?
Ty Warner's life is so sad and there is no redemption. Even going through the book, I knew there would be no happy endings for anyone. The narrator's voice was sort of Stephen Hawking like. But given the material, it seemed to fit the material
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1 person found this helpful
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- katherine robinson
- 01-27-18
A truly fascinating account
As a pre-adolescent I discovered a Beanie Baby in a small gift shop in Old Town Spring, a cutesy old-timely town in suburban Houston, 15 min from where I grew up. My 11 yr old self was captivated, and pretty soon I discovered these guys were being collected. By the time the Beanie Baby craze really peaked I had aged out of it’s draw, but not before amassing a collection of about 50, replete with tag protectors.
My childhood Beanie collection has sat in my mother’s garage, in ziploc bags in a big Tupperware tote for about 20 years now. I have reflected on the craze often over the years, with great amusement and bewilderment. Zac Bissonette’s book was the perfect antidote to my deeply curious Beanie Baby obsession. His research was amazingly thorough, he shines light on every possible element of Ty Warner’s unhinged empire. Don’t be surprised if you find a random weird book of poetry about Beanie Babies written by me at some point. People are insane and inspiring in their insanity. Thank you, Zac for indulging my morbid fascination with Ty Warner and Beanie Babies. Highly recommend this book for anyone who was swept up in, or even just confused by, the Beanie Baby craze!
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- Allyson
- 03-18-15
Very interesting story!
What did you like best about this story?
Great story about the persistence in following your passion (Ty Warner) and the downfall of his company lead by greed. However this is not your standard cautionary tale. The craze that swept the nation over little stuffed animals in mind boggling. The craze also coincided with the beginning of mainstream Internet and Ebay which makes the story even more compelling.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I could not stop listening to this book. The Great Beanie Baby Bubble has all 3 attributes I look for in an audiobook - Great story/ well written / excellent narrator
Any additional comments?
Take a chance on this one. It's worth it.
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- charlotte
- 02-11-16
A compelling narrative of an Economic Bubble
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I would, it's a compelling story and strangely gripping.
What did you like best about this story?
The intensely gripping narrative, and the message it sends, if you are involved in a craze, if it's for tulips or beanie babies cash out asap? There is a reason they say "take the money and run"
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
No, but it was very interesting.
Any additional comments?
After reading this story I of course checked out beanie babies on eBay and was shocked to find they are still being sold for prices of up $60. I think it's important to point out that there is still a market out there though it maybe very reduced ? I didn't look very hard to find out how common it was.
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- Brandy Fitzloff
- 04-29-15
Loved it!
Thank you so much for the additional info about Ty and the beanies we all love. I still have my very large collection and am always filling in the gaps. I would love to connect with other collectors still collecting. I hope Leon and Sondra open the museum, I would certainly visit!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Britney Phillips
- 03-29-16
Loved it so much I bought the book so I could quietly read it in bed
This is not only a wonderful look at the bubble we all remember so well in the 90s it's also a look at the nature of bubbles in general. Ochlam does a wonderful job treating a subject which could so easily be taken to comedy as a study in economics and human nature. The narrator fit the tone perfectly, and it's the only audio book I've listened to multiple times.
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- Carole T.
- 03-06-15
King of Crushed Dreams
If, like me, you remember this craze well, I think you'll find this book fascinating, appalling, and a bit unnerving. If you're too young to recall the time, then consider it a cautionary tale.
Never a fan or collector, I do remember being shoved around in line at McDonald's during the frenzy for "teenie beanies". I was there for a fish sandwich and quickly gave up in the wake of shrieking people grabbing Happy Meals they would throw into trash bins outside the store.
So, what is the benefit of listening to this sad tale? Well, it does give whatever insight can be given into the brain and motives of a worthless, hollow billionaire. He's a freakish, intriguing case, but of more interest to me, at least, is the story of the "delusion" mentioned in the title. Beanie Babies may have been a particularly intense example of the boom/bust cycle, but the human psychology behind such phenomena remains forever with us.
Those of us not attracted to that particular plush toy (at least not in adulthood) can still recognize the all too human tendency to be swayed by salesmanship, media hype, mass hysteria and general greed. And to the lies and excuses we are prone to use in justifying rash behavior after we come to our senses. The fact that the one undeniable huge fortune accumulated during the Beanie Baby bubble was that of Ty Warner, a man so insensitive and lacking in gratitude or generosity, pretty much sums up the result of most of the not-infrequent financial bubbles in history. Few benefit, most lose, then we start all over again.
We shake our heads and laugh at the folly of the fans of Ty and his babies, but there's a lesson here for all of us! And it's a lesson interestingly presented and very well narrated. Listen and marvel!
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19 people found this helpful
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- Jeff Rude
- 03-18-15
Great analogical view of bubbles
Way easier to grasp than CDLs or tech bubble debacle from 2001. This is an interesting discussion not only of the beanie baby hysteria but also a bio of the man who created it
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- Philipp Eisenstein
- 04-23-18
Unbelievably compelling tale of a plush empire
Of course, like all empires, it went bust. The characters in this plush to pauper story (for some of the characters at least) is incredibly eye opening. I was in my late teens and then twenties as this story unfolds, so remember the media attention Beanie Babies received. To see behind the curtain is quite a fun ride. An addictive listen.
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- Henry H. Yamamoto
- 03-23-15
Surprisingly engaging
Sucked me into the crazy world of not just Beanie Babies but Ty Warner's as well. I never knew how much went into plush toys.
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1 person found this helpful