Book Review: "When I Stop Talking You'll Know I'm Dead"

"Never give up", "It's all in the packaging", "Your net worth is only as good as your network" -  we hear these expressions all the time from great movers and shakers, and for Jerry Weintraub, these are just a small sampling of the life lessons he shares with us in his autobiography "When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead".



Following dad's advice

One of his earliest lessons was from his father who taught him to sell not just a product but a story; great advice for everyone, whether you’re selling fine clothing to army reservists, booking singers for football stadiums or convincing Fortune 500’s to invest millions in a concept.

Famous Friends: Sinatra, Elvis, Betty Grable...
Jerry may not provide us with a new secret formula to success, but he does give us a rare glimpse into private and vulnerable moments with some of the great idols of our times: a brief encounter with Betty Grable, a failed dance class with Martha Graham, a job review with Lew Wasserman, a tennis match with George W. Bush, a love affair with Jane Morgan, the million dollar tour with Elvis Presley, his lasting friendship with his idol Frank Sinatra…

And of course the story would not be complete without anecdotes from the sets of his most successful films Karate Kid and Oceans Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen. If Jerry was on Facebook today, he would no doubt have the most friends in the world!

Jerry Weintraub has come a long way since that 14 year old delivery boy in the Bronx, and this book is a testament to just how much one man can accomplish in a lifetime … by spinning a yarn.

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Nicole McKechnie is a freelance writer, multimedia producer, and television director. She can be reached at arbonproductions@yahoo.ca