When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead: Useful Stories from a Persuasive Man

Jerry’s book is incredibly readable. I couldn’t put it down. Talk about a success story- this is it.

What a story, and who knows what the real truth is, because a book like this is a Hollywood book, and like Hollywood accounting, guys like Weintraub re-invent themselves all the time. You dress the part, you look the part, you drive the big fancy car, and meanwhile, the repo man could be coming around the block. That's Hollywood, and the rest is whatever is in print. Now having said that, what a story and Weintraub tells it as only he can. There's a reason however why the book's cover has a giant picture of Weintraub walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. He's got something to sell each of us.A young Jewish boy from the Brooklyn and raised in the Bronx, he ultimately has the good fortune to realize, why work for a living if you don't have it, instead just go Hollywood. The early years are very interesting to me, because they set the tone of the life to follow. At a young age, Weintraub realizes he can create a whole new world for himself out of his sheer will. Now in his 70's, he is full of the wisdom that only a long and reflected life can impart to a human being. This book is truly worth reading. Here is just some of the wisdom and fabulous concepts of living that you are going to find in these pages just full of pearls of wisdom:* Just ENJOY, whatever path you take means there's another path that you can't take. You make one choice, it eliminates another choice.* His dad was in the jewelry business, and taught him that it's not the gem that the customer buys. It's always the story behind the gem. Customers want the romance; give them the romance by giving them a story.* He learned early on that in the end, in business, and in life, the only thing that really mattered were RELATIONSHIPS.* He goes to the Martha Graham's workshop in New York and studies acting. He takes two great lessons from this experience. One is that he learns what actors really need emotionally. This lesson would stay with him the rest of his life. The second is that he is requested to put on slippers and tights for one of the performance classes. He couldn't do it, but young actor James Caan (The Godfather movie) could, and therein lays the difference. Caan is the actor today, and Weintraub is the producer.* If you want to understand the importance of the MENTOR in a person's life read this book. From Weintraub's wife Jane Morgan to Hollywood legend Lew Wasserman, there was always the presence of the MENTOR.* He warns us to never get too attached to things because the world is always changing, and either you change with it, or you get left behind.* Many people do not like starting at the bottom of an organization, but the author insists that if you start at the bottom, the worst jobs are the most instructive. Such a job allows you to observe, to learn and most importantly to float through an organization virtually unseen during the process.* Always act like you're the guy in charge. If you do, no one will have the guts to stop you. I have seen this countless times, whether it is at night clubs, theaters, or the White House. Just walk right through. The mental midgets will get right out of your way.This book is a page turner. It is one magnificent story after another. Every page presents you with wisdom that you can only obtain by living through the author's experiences. Weintraub knew everybody in show business, and he managed the legends. At one time or another he had Joey Bishop, Jack Paar, and the Four Seasons under contract. These contractual agreements led to him getting lucky. He gets a call from the VOICE one day, and it's Frank Sinatra. Weintraub would wind up doing business with Sinatra for years. The same thing would happen with Elvis Presley, and there is no question that the author invented John Denver from scratch. He creates a whole relationship out of thin air with former President George H W Bush. You have to read it to believe it.CONCLUSION:This is a book that you want to dig your teeth into. It's a book to give to a young person to teach him how to be successful. The author could have given it another name, and called it AN OPERATOR'S MANUAL FOR SUCCESS. For in this book, you are truly taken into a world that very few people are ever exposed to, but if you take the time to master the lessons that Weintraub has to teach you, it could change your life. It did change his.I promise you that if you begin to read this book, you will be taken on a transformative joyride. Whether you believe the stories, or just part of them, Weintraub's use of metaphor to explore, to change, and to enlighten you will achieve that goal. You will be better off for it, and you will enjoy the thrill of a first class read. Go ahead; take the chance, and thank you for reading this review.Richard C. Stoyeck

Here is a great fast read of a Player in the 60s, 70s and beyond in the entertainment business. What makes this biography so fascinating is the breadth of his relationships. Jerry is an agent who hits it big in the music business and concert productions which he controls by redefining the cost structure and negotiating tactics. Names are dropped her fast and furious as he produced Elvis and Sinatra and keeps parlaying his success to others. A fascinating story is how he took a down and out newcomer John Denver and turned him into a star. I liked Denver a lot but his career was unique. A Pop folksy star who quickly does schmaltzy TV shows branding him forever as a lightweight. Jerry was that influence. Later Denver fires Jerry and there is much animosity for years. Weintraub is very forthcoming about the story.From music Weintraub segways to movies and is still on the scene as a producer for Oceans 11, 12 and 13. Now he's tight with Clooney, Pitt and Damon although frankly these movies that are vehicles to sucker people for another sequel without a great story are not of interest to me and I only saw the first mediocre one and had had enough. He is truly a player in the industry though and has a story to tell.What may be most fascinating are his relationships with George Bush and Armand Hammer. These interesting sidelights really provide a well rounded book of a guy that has led a fascinating life.Overall I like this book very much and it read very quickly. Frankly this book is a little choppy and I believe he could have added more depth because he clearly has had an interesting life and recognizes his good fortune.

An early morning tv appearance by the author was enough to get me to buy this book. Charming, attractive, and articulate Jerry Weintraub is his own best PR advance man.Happily, this book was all I expected and then some. Weintraub is a lot of things to a lot of people. A largely self-educated man who shrugged off college in order to move on with his life, he was an agent/entertainment manager who expanded his resume to also include movie and music producer and all around entertainment impressario. While this memoir abounds with a lot of personal information concerning his upbringing, two marriages, his children, the death of his parents, and his current domestic situation which includes a legal wife and the bonafide girl friend with whom he resides, Weintraub delves into a lot of stuff concerning his personal and professional relationships with some fairly prominent people who are or were household names. The names? Let's start with Elvis, Julia Roberts, George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Cary Grant among others.....many others. Among my favorite celeb stories: Jerry's account of his firing by music legend and close friend John Denver and George Bush's getting Jerry membership into a 'restricted' tennis club in Kennebunkport. Neither story was flashy or explosive, but they were intimate and gave me a sense of what sort of person Weintraub is.This was a very readable book which exudes the author's formidable personality. It is lively and Weintraub doesn't overwork the written word. He's straightforward and interesting by nature and this book celebrates these qualities. Weintraub appears to be a happy man and it appears that he is never happier when he is busy and working.If you are fond of celebrity memoirs, you may find this book a good fit.

A wonderfully entertaining book! Lots of inside info too. Revealing anecdotes about Elvis, Sinatra, et al from my generation! Worth every penny!

I saw this in the top 10 of Tai Lopez's recommended reading list, thought it would be highly inspirational, but by about 100 pages in, I realised that wouldn't be the case.He seems to just tell his life story, which is more of a guy who's in the right place, at the right time, knows the right people, and takes advantage of those opportunities - nothing extraordinary or inspirational about it. His references to him being able to "connect with older men" - which he mentions a few times in the book - almost sounds like he was willing to have sexual relations with these men in order to get where he wanted, which, in light of recent Hollywood scandals, would not surprise me at all. Pederasty definitely seems to be a thing in Hollywood.I don't trust Tai Lopez as a businessman as I know he used to run scam dating websites. Now I don't trust his judgement on good books either, this is the second book he recommended that I have been disappointed with.

I have read many Hollywood/Music industry bios and auto bios (the latter of which this is).Weintraub's book is useful in that it provides a great insight into the film and music industries in the early days, pimarily in New York and LA. Also, as it says on the cover, Weintraub gives pretty basic but good life and business advice throughout.One niggle: I don't doubt that Jerry Weintraub is a great businessman, but there is a consistent 'Aren't I so wonderful' element to all of Weintraub's listed deals, friends made and other smooth, smug deeds.No matter who you are or what you've done, a little self deprecation is in order (for example, the truly great 'The kid stays in the picture' by Robert Evans).

Must read!

I've decided to learn from big men passing on this earth and Jerry Weintraub is for sure one of them. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone willing to get inspired. My take aways: never stop looking for mentors and when you find them, just listen.

Recommended by Alex Banayans mentor... good enough for me.Interesting and not someone I knew, but worth a read.