[PDF] Guitar Lessons: A Life's Journey Turning Passion into Business by Bob Taylor at Arts-Photography

Review

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful. Business Book - Fan Book: Excellent On Both Counts!By Rick ShortFull Disclosure: I sampled numerous Taylor guitars in my local guitar shop for years. I participated in a Taylor Guitars factory tour in 2009. and I purchased a Taylor guitar at the conclusion of that tour. I absolutely love my Taylor GS-K.So. I was very intrigued when I learned Bob Taylor was writing a book. I pre-ordered it on and waited. While I cooled my heels I learned more. I heard that it wouldnt be a typical book for brand or hobby fans. it would have a business flavor. But it wouldnt be a typical "how I did it" business tome. Well. what would it be then?When GUITAR LESSONS arrived. I tore into it and completed it in 3 nights. It took a minute to get used to the style and direction - it is mildly off-beat. in a good way. In fact. as I read more. I learned that the writing is. in fact. exactly ON target. It IS Bob Taylor. It is just as unique as he is. and. once you warm to his style. it becomes comfortable. We get to know Bob just a little.In an nutshell. I describe the book as a passionate engineer and craftsman writing his version of a business book. Bobs style is to tell stories and share lessons learned - all while heavily infusing our journey with his passion for building and enhancing guitars.Or. maybe it is an engineering autobiography. focused on the process and product.Who will enjoy this book? Luthiers. musicians. business people. entrepreneurs. engineers. marketers. and more. While easy to read and understand. it is as rich and complicated as its author. The more I think of it. this might be why I describe the book as "off-beat". Bob Taylor has managed to weave a complex and meaningful business and life. capture it in a book. and make it easy and fun to absorb.Well done!8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Excellent book about the realities of businessBy Own OneTo protect me from the next new business fad I read a lot of business books for what I call self-defense. This is not your typical business book. You can read it without fear of being sucked into the next new thing. It is a story of a company that enters a crowded business segment. a segment with long product traditions. and changes everything. It is also a book that addresses the more heady topics of the nature of "equity". the relations between company owners and employees. the concept of lean manufacturing and "one piece flow". the impact of technology on a manufacturing process. and the change that must occur with company growth. As an employee of a company in the music business but in a far different segment than Taylor I have long admired their ability to grow in a very mature and crowded market place. Bob Taylor reveals the secret.. work. work. work. and then more work for 40 years.I highly recommend this book and a careful reading will tell you more about the realities of business than a 100 by the self promoting so called business gurus.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Intriguing. despite repetitive business advice.By DanGAs a longtime guitar player and budding luthier. I rushed out to buy this book as soon as it was released. Honestly. I was looking forward to reading the "juicy details" much more than the business advice (I assume this is true of most people who pick up this book); I wanted to learn about Taylors unique guitar construction methods and the chronology of events that gradually led Bob company to become a household name among guitar players. While there IS plenty of that anecdotal material contained within these pages. theres also a fair amount of very dry business chatter. Certainly Bob Taylor has much advice to offer entrepreneurs on the subjects of trial error. the employer/employee dynamic and plowing forward through adversity. but I found the business-heavy passages to be the least compelling and most clumsily written portions of the book; they felt repetitive and forced. as if the author were rehashing the same point over and over. with slightly different wording. to pad out the page count. Because of this. the book starts out strong and visual. but grinds to an abstract halt by the last two chapters. Perhaps if the publisher had demanded that Taylor use the same well-honed editorial eye that he employs in his guitarmaking. I would have found it to be a much breezier and more enjoyable read. Regardless. for those who want the backstory on Taylor Guitars. you cant beat hearing it straight from the horses mouth.