Synopses & Reviews
“This book grills up an enjoyable read for both avid foodies and novice diners alike! Permans sneak peek into the fascinating history of In-N-Out is as good as the delicious burgers themselves.”
—Mario Batali, celebrity chef and author of Molto Italiano
A behind-the-counter look at the fast-food chain that breaks all the rules, Stacy Permans In-N-Out Burger is the New York Times bestselling inside story of the family behind the California-based hamburger chain with a cult following large enough to rival the Grateful Deads. A juicy unauthorized history of a small business-turned-big business titan, In-N-Out Burger was named one of Fast Company magazines Best Business Books of 2009, and Fortune Small Business insists that it “should be required reading for family business owners, alongside Rich Cohens Sweet and Low and Thomas Manns Buddenbrooks.”
Review
“Thanks to Stacy Permans book, the term ‘soulful fast food is no longer an oxymoron. Her recounting of the In-N-Out story is one of passion, good intentions, remarkable success and treachery that transcends the burger world to become a tale that is vivid Americana.” Jane and Michael Stern, Roadfood.com
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“Did you ever wonder why the people behind the counter at In-N-Out are always smiling? Now I know thanks to Stacys amazing book.” George Motz, filmmaker and author of Hamburger America
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“ Wow! Stacy Permans In-N-Out Burger isnt just a good book about the rise of a fast-food chainits an exciting saga about a family who created a profitable company that serves great food and still treats its customers and employees decently. What a great story!” ANDREW F. SMITH, author ofAndrew F. Smith, author of Hamburger: A Global History
Review
“Stacy Permans illuminating new book, In-N-Out Burger, is an absorbing case study of how a family business came to be at the center of its own cheerful cult.... [This] should be required reading for family business owners, alongside Rich Cohens Sweet and Low and Thomas Manns Buddenbrooks.” Fortune Small Business
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“At last, the great American small business story gets told. It is a reassuring read in uncertaintimes, reminding business owners to listen to customers, do what you love, and havefun while you do it.” Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group
Review
“This book grills up an enjoyable read for both avid foodies and novice diners alike! Permans sneak peek into the fascinating history of In-N-Out is as good as the delicious burgers themselves, and thats saying a lot!” Mario Batali, chef and author of Molto Italiano
Review
“When fast food restaurants tried to locate in Fishermans Wharf, ourlocal merchants were opposed to every one of themexcept In-N-Out.Because every meal is fresh and made from scratch, In-N-Out is in aclass by itself.” San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom
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“[An] entertaining corporate history....Permans reporting is considerable.” Time magazine
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“The tumultuous history of how one family and the business they fought to control turned the hamburger into the culinary symbol of a century....Told with the same fresh approach that has turned In-N-Out Burger into an American institution, Perman keeps us wanting more.” Tilar J. Mazzeo, author of The Widow Clicquot
Synopsis
The untold story of the renegade burger chain that evokes a passionate following unlike any other
In fast-food corporate America, In-N-Out Burger stands apart. Begun in a tiny shack in the shadow of World War II, this family-owned chain has steadfastly refused to franchise or be sold. Over time, In-N-Out Burger has become nothing less than a cultural institution that can lay claim to an insanely loyal following.
Stacy Perman's In-N-Out Burger is the inside story behind a real American success story—not only a tale of a unique and profitable business but also of a family's struggle to maintain a sustainable pop empire against the industry it helped pioneer. A keenly observed narrative that explores the transformation of a California fad into an enduring cult of popularity, it is also the story of the conflicted, secretive, and ultimately tragic Snyder family, who cooked a billion burgers and hooked a zillion fans.
About the Author
Stacy Perman is a writer with BusinessWeek. A former correspondent for Time, she has also written for Los Angelesmagazine, the Los Angeles Times, and the Wall Street Journal. She is the author of Spies, Inc.: Business Innovation from Israel's Masters of Espionage. Born in Los Angeles, she currently lives in New York.