Reinhard Mohn, legendary entrepreneur and father of the global media
giant Bertelsmann, offers penetrating insights into his motives,
beliefs, and hopes as one of the world's foremost businesspeople.
Reinhard Mohn has grappled with the political and cultural changes of
recent decades like few other entrepreneurs of his time. In this deeply
personal book, Mohn, for the first time, describes his entrepreneurial
development in the context of his own fascinating personal experiences.
A Global Lesson plumbs the extraordinary depth of Mohn's life, from
his Protestant upbringing and his time as a German soldier in an
American POW camp during World War II to his socially conscious choices
as a young businessman.
The hopes and challenges of booming 1950s Germany influenced Mohn's
early years as an entrepreneur in many ways. He quickly understood that
to be successful he had to combine economic thinking with social
responsibility. Furthermore, as he guided Bertelsmann's evolution from a
medium-sized company to a global media corporation, he realized how
important it was to seek dialogue with other cultures. Through it
all-from the period of German rebuilding after the war through the age
of globalization-Mohn fostered a successful corporate culture that
served as a model for business leaders across the globe.
A Global Lesson reveals the motives that guided Mohn's development,
and shares how his family origins and personal experiences shaped his
life's work. His story is also a testament to his leadership. Throughout
his life and career, Mohn has promoted a unique and important
philosophy: economic thinking and democratic culture cannot be in
opposition-and only by standing up for humanity can we master the
challenges of global cooperation.
