Book Review: The Fish That Swallowed The Whale: The Life & Times Of America’s Banana King

Sam Zemurray is the subject of The Fish That Ate The Whale: The Story Of America’s Banana King. Sam was a Jewish immigrant from Russia who arrived in New Orleans, penniless, and built a massive multinational fruit empire, by out-smarting, out-hustling and out-innovating a much larger company.

The 3 big lessons I got from this book:

1. Immigrants have a fire in their belly, and this fire can help them build massive success. Sam Zemurray certainly did. You too, can cultivate the fire of the immigrant mentality into how you operate your life and business.

2. Innovation and action were the hallmarks of his success. And you too, can be innovative and take action, and use them to build your success.

3. Sam took total responsibility for his life and his success. He never waited for others nor expected them to take responsibility. This was how he was able to swallow a much larger company and end up in charge of the world’s biggest multinational fruit company.

Sam also was never afraid to get his hands dirty and work in the fields with his workers. It endeared him to them.