I recently read the fantastic book “Boundless: The Rise, Fall, and Escape of Carlos Ghosn,” by two Wall Street Journal reporters Nick Kostov and Sean McLain. It was a riveting read about the success and alleged crimes of business executive Carlos Ghosn who made his career at Michelin in Brazil, Renault in France, and Nissan in Japan. You will have a hard time putting this book about the CEO-turned-fugitive down – it’s entertaining, fun, and to the point!
Ghosn had many global ties and a unique experience as he was born in the Amazon, raised in Beirut, and educated in Paris. He gained prominence through executive positions in multinational companies, earning nicknames like the Le Cost Killer for his business savvy skills and Mr. 7-Eleven for his tireless dedication to his work. People admired Ghosn and believed him to be the leading innovator of his generation. However, once the fame and glory went to his head, he became greedier and began down the path to disgrace.
When Ghosn started to discuss mergers with Renault, it caused rattled executives to question his loyalty to Nissan, who then worked to uncover the truth about Ghosn. He was eventually accused of financial misconduct and arrested for various crimes, all of which (of course) he denied. Although Ghosn rejected these allegations, he was secretly planning a daring escape from Tokyo to Lebanon — that partly included traveling hidden in a claustrophobic box.
The world was captivated by the events that lead to Ghosn’s rise in business and arrest in Japan. It’s a great story with a lot of tidbits about how people find their footing and path to tremendous success throughout the business world. It also gives an inside look at the chaos of the car and automotive industry as well as some of the nuances of mergers and acquisitions that came about in the frenzy of globalization.
Kostov and McLain give readers never-before-seen insider details that were not previously shared with the public. From understanding Japanese legal processes to noting the obvious propaganda from the involved countries and the media, it helps you piece together the bigger picture of stories that were not completely told.
I enjoyed this book so much that I would have welcomed more information and pages to read. The authors nailed the story and made it entertaining. I highly recommend this book!
