Meet Disney'¬'s most recently inducted, eighth dwarf, GREEDY. In corporate America, innovation is being crippled by a blatant focus on short-term profits-the incessant need to maximize share-holder equity. Disney, a company known worldwide for its innovation and creativity, has become an example of this insular thinking. In CULT OF THE MOUSE, ex-Disneyland director of creative services and successful entrepreneur Henry M. Caroselli uses this once-ingenious company as a framework for a timely, compelling discussion of why America'¬'s greatness is in jeopardy and what needs to be fixed to restore our ability to do what we do best, generate paradigm-changing ideas. Drawing upon fascinating historical references not only of Walt Disney, but also of other great innovators, Caroselli provides sage advice for growing a company by giving creativity a boost. Part expos?(c), part how-to, this intriguing, practical business book shows how bad things can happen to even the greatest of companies-giving businesses large and small a much-needed, swift kick in the pants. A business book supporting innovation and creativity that uses Disney as a cautionary tale. Henry M. Caroselli worked as creative director at Disney for six years. Useful for anyone struggling to make something of consequence in the corporate rat race, starting up a business, or trying to expand their established business; insightful for Disney stockholders and fanatics. Disney continually makes national headlines over movie deals, threats of corporate takeover, and controversial CEOs. Another challenge to corporate America from the publisher of HOW WAL-MART IS DESTROYING AMERICA (AND THE WORLD).

"According to this erratic manifesto, the Walt Disney Company, and especially its CEO Michael Eisner, symbolize everything that's wrong with American business. Surrounded by yes-men, indifferent to quality and focused solely on cost-cutting and quarterly earnings, Eisner, the author claims, presides over a totalitarian Disney 'cult' that stifles creative types and has debased Mickey's image in the name of fear and greed. Ex-Disney ad exec Caroselli awkwardly marries this critique to a treatise on 'innovation,' something that few might expect from the world's leading producer of family entertainment. Caroselli's rambling 'free-associative approach' extols such bona-fide innovators as the Wright Brothers and Bill Gates, throws out some vague tips like 'Embrace New Technology' and 'Ask Why? Why? Why?' and warns readers about various types of corporate scumbags who will try to quash or steal their great ideas. But he returns compulsively to the diatribe against Eisner, whom he feels did not grant him enough one-on-one meetings. What Caroselli sees as the decline of Disney from the days when Walt himself ran it is, he contends, emblematic of the triumph of marketing hype over solid 'real-deal ideas' and, indeed, reality itself-whose last refuge, according to Caroselli, is Disneyland, which he feels was an oasis of authenticity before Eisner tarnished it with his 'somewhat phony' add-on California Adventure theme parklet. Hopelessly confused about the distinction between fantasy and reality while bemoaning its loss, Caroselli's axe-grinding abounds in unintended ironies." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Former creative director at Disney for 6 years, Caroselli has written a business book supporting innovation and creatively that uses Disney as a cautionary tale.