Do yourself a favor – and Never, Ever, enroll at the University of Phoenix (or any of the for-profit online universities, for that matter). They are hucksters, will rob you blind, and if you are lucky, leave you with an overpriced degree that no one will take seriously. Go to your nearest accredited college or state university, but don’t get robbed of an education – not to mention your time and money by enrolling in the University of Phoenix!
Rating: 1 / 5
As I finish this book, I am asking myself, “What was the point?” There are basically three themes to the book:
1)A biography of John Sperling, the founder of University of Phoenix.
2)A documentary of the creation and growth of UOP.
3)An attempt to persuade the reader to support his “causes.”
On the whole, each is a miserable failure and a real chore to endure. It is a chore not only from the obviously biased and overly detailed material, but also from the way it is written. It reads with the eloquence of a junior high term paper of “what I did on my summer vacation.” Throughout the book he writes, “Unfortunately this…” followed by “fortunately that…” If you were given a five-cent discount for each time either one of these words were used, the book would be free.
The first theme of profiling John Sperling read more like a trashy novel than a biography of a leader. It details his sorted affairs, misdealings, and blatant disregard for anyone but himself. It shows a major diversion from the usual theme of business books where ethics is very important and that it is important to support your fellow human being. The portrait he paints of himself is one uncaring of other people personally or professionally. He demonstrates a pompous attitude in the extreme where he is simply “above” speaking to his family or marrying “his one true love.” I simply do not get his point. Does he want us to hate him? Is he trying to say all leaders are scumbags like him?
The book’s historical look of the creation and growth of the University of Phoenix was one of its few redeeming qualities. It details the life of the company and its long up-hill battle overcoming resistance from the existing university structure, accreditation boards, and politicians. It is a case study of determination, overcoming obstacles, and creativity. While it is interesting, the blow-by-blow details become quite tedious and require a substantial amount of dedication to complete. The book also lacks objectivity as Mr. Sperling attempted to draw the reader to “his side” in condemning individuals and organizations that apposed him. With regards to this part of the book, the point is obviously to set up himself as a true visionary and some sort of corporate idol while at the same time disparage those who opposed him. One last comment, as I read the details of his sorted battles, I could not help but wonder if things could have been easier for the company if it were not for his way of dealing with others?
The final chapters of the book titled “Giving Back” detail Mr. Sperling’s other crusades that include seawater agriculture, anti-aging medicine, and his war on the war on drugs. His point in these chapters was obviously to build support for his next endeavors. Unlike other real leaders that “give back” by setting up trusts that support society, his giving back means creating companies that he believes will enhance society. If he is correct, it will be he who reaps the rewards in more wealth of course. Most would not call that “giving back” but rather “investing.” His crusade on the war on “the war on drugs” is equally misguided. It started, not as a genuine desire to help society but to help his failed politician friend, Dick Mahoney, regain power after having lost out to a “republican.” On the whole, the fact that Mr. Sperling titled these chapters “Giving Back” illustrates how selfish and misguided he is.
Unfortunately the book is a waste of time unless one has a strong desire to learn how the University of Phoenix was founded. Fortunately everyone else can save their $20 and skip it.
Rating: 1 / 5
I was really let down. This book struck me as a book written by a kid who is mad at the world. His priority shows to be nothing but money and yet he still seems like he is trying to fill something in his life.
It saddens me, because it is a good school with good intentions yet the author of the book managed to really shed a negative light on the school. If I had read the book before becoming a student I would have thought twice. I hope that this book will not deter people from furthuring their education.
I want to reiterate that the school is a great idea and I have been a very successful student. Please pay no attention to the book when chosing to advance you educational career.
Rating: 1 / 5
Not the first to have grown up poor or the child of a lazy, abusive father, the difference in Sperling’s story is that he acquired two things most do not: A desire to understand the economics of a world in which some go hungry while others do not, and a “nothing to lose” attitude that prevails throughout his life, both in his business dealings and personal relationships. Sperling survived his childhood, but it’s not the Cambridge education, career in acadame, his years as a union leader, or the trail of broken relationships that draw the reader in. During his tenure at San Jose State, Sperling began to focus on a problem no one else wanted to bother with – the barriers to working adults who wanted to return to school. And so this is the real story – his unrelenting determination to create the University of Phoenix, a for-profit institution for working adults that is now the largest private university in the U.S. These chapters, sometimes a little heavy, leave the reader dumbfounded as to the lengths which his detractors will go to quash his efforts. (And isn’t it funny? Most of the traditional universities in the country now copy his model for adult education.) Although at times it seems his determination grew as a result of so many wanting him to fail, it becomes obvious that his sole intent was not the pursuit of wealth. Yet wealthy, he became – albeit in his seventies! It was interesting to learn that contrary to the status quo, acquiring wealth was not the end of his story. Not only does he still play an active role in the continuing evolution of adult education, he’s a proponent of drug law reform, and is investing in numerous other projects destined to change the world; seawater agriculture, anti-aging medicine, and the storage of pet DNA for future cloning. Does he hope to get rich from these ventures as well? You bet he does! Sperling makes no apologies for his “take-no-prisoners” attitude – he’s learned something about economics today’s nouveau rich will never get. You can only buy so many toys, but if you make money trying to make the world a better place, it gives you the ability to keep trying to make the world a better place. I highly recommend this book. This is a great story – honest, fast-paced, thought provoking. His story is certainly proof of the old addage that “winners never quit.” With all Sperling has accomplished – and at 79, still hopes to accomplish -this is one book that motivates you to put down the remote, get up off the sofa, and start making a difference.
Rating: 4 / 5
If you are in your forties and have not yet been wildly successful, take heart. John Sperling, once an unhappy 52 year old Cambridge-educated history professor with $26,000 in savings, grew into an enormously successful entrepreneur. Now in his early 80s, Sperling is a billionaire, and heads the Apollo Group, a holding company whose main component is the University of Phoenix (UoP). UoP is revolutionizing access to business education for working adults in N. America and abroad. Rebel With a Cause is Sperling’s personal memoir of his long struggle against the educational establishment to found and develop the for-profit UoP, transforming American education in the process. Sperling’s background differs from that of many successful entrepreneurs. Born in a backwoods log cabin, Sperling started as a socialist and successful union organizer. Throughout his changing roles, the opportunistic, energetic, and apparently indefatigable Sperling thrived on adversity that would make most give up. In stolid but personal writing, Sperling reveals the details of the endless conflicts and triumphs, up to and including his new fights with the establishment over the legalization of marijuana. Still iconoclastic and entrepreneurial in his ninth decade of life, Sperling is now developing innovative new ventures including the Kronos age management clinics, and Seaphire, a project for developing aquaculture. Good reading for anyone facing adversity as they pursue their vision of something both worthwhile and potentially profitable.
Rating: 4 / 5
#1 by Pomme Frittes on January 18, 2010 - 1:43 am
Do yourself a favor – and Never, Ever, enroll at the University of Phoenix (or any of the for-profit online universities, for that matter). They are hucksters, will rob you blind, and if you are lucky, leave you with an overpriced degree that no one will take seriously. Go to your nearest accredited college or state university, but don’t get robbed of an education – not to mention your time and money by enrolling in the University of Phoenix!
Rating: 1 / 5
#2 by Tim Schmidt on January 18, 2010 - 1:59 am
As I finish this book, I am asking myself, “What was the point?” There are basically three themes to the book:
1)A biography of John Sperling, the founder of University of Phoenix.
2)A documentary of the creation and growth of UOP.
3)An attempt to persuade the reader to support his “causes.”
On the whole, each is a miserable failure and a real chore to endure. It is a chore not only from the obviously biased and overly detailed material, but also from the way it is written. It reads with the eloquence of a junior high term paper of “what I did on my summer vacation.” Throughout the book he writes, “Unfortunately this…” followed by “fortunately that…” If you were given a five-cent discount for each time either one of these words were used, the book would be free.
The first theme of profiling John Sperling read more like a trashy novel than a biography of a leader. It details his sorted affairs, misdealings, and blatant disregard for anyone but himself. It shows a major diversion from the usual theme of business books where ethics is very important and that it is important to support your fellow human being. The portrait he paints of himself is one uncaring of other people personally or professionally. He demonstrates a pompous attitude in the extreme where he is simply “above” speaking to his family or marrying “his one true love.” I simply do not get his point. Does he want us to hate him? Is he trying to say all leaders are scumbags like him?
The book’s historical look of the creation and growth of the University of Phoenix was one of its few redeeming qualities. It details the life of the company and its long up-hill battle overcoming resistance from the existing university structure, accreditation boards, and politicians. It is a case study of determination, overcoming obstacles, and creativity. While it is interesting, the blow-by-blow details become quite tedious and require a substantial amount of dedication to complete. The book also lacks objectivity as Mr. Sperling attempted to draw the reader to “his side” in condemning individuals and organizations that apposed him. With regards to this part of the book, the point is obviously to set up himself as a true visionary and some sort of corporate idol while at the same time disparage those who opposed him. One last comment, as I read the details of his sorted battles, I could not help but wonder if things could have been easier for the company if it were not for his way of dealing with others?
The final chapters of the book titled “Giving Back” detail Mr. Sperling’s other crusades that include seawater agriculture, anti-aging medicine, and his war on the war on drugs. His point in these chapters was obviously to build support for his next endeavors. Unlike other real leaders that “give back” by setting up trusts that support society, his giving back means creating companies that he believes will enhance society. If he is correct, it will be he who reaps the rewards in more wealth of course. Most would not call that “giving back” but rather “investing.” His crusade on the war on “the war on drugs” is equally misguided. It started, not as a genuine desire to help society but to help his failed politician friend, Dick Mahoney, regain power after having lost out to a “republican.” On the whole, the fact that Mr. Sperling titled these chapters “Giving Back” illustrates how selfish and misguided he is.
Unfortunately the book is a waste of time unless one has a strong desire to learn how the University of Phoenix was founded. Fortunately everyone else can save their $20 and skip it.
Rating: 1 / 5
#3 by Anonymous on January 18, 2010 - 2:36 am
I was really let down. This book struck me as a book written by a kid who is mad at the world. His priority shows to be nothing but money and yet he still seems like he is trying to fill something in his life.
It saddens me, because it is a good school with good intentions yet the author of the book managed to really shed a negative light on the school. If I had read the book before becoming a student I would have thought twice. I hope that this book will not deter people from furthuring their education.
I want to reiterate that the school is a great idea and I have been a very successful student. Please pay no attention to the book when chosing to advance you educational career.
Rating: 1 / 5
#4 by Griffin Lewis on January 18, 2010 - 3:53 am
Not the first to have grown up poor or the child of a lazy, abusive father, the difference in Sperling’s story is that he acquired two things most do not: A desire to understand the economics of a world in which some go hungry while others do not, and a “nothing to lose” attitude that prevails throughout his life, both in his business dealings and personal relationships. Sperling survived his childhood, but it’s not the Cambridge education, career in acadame, his years as a union leader, or the trail of broken relationships that draw the reader in. During his tenure at San Jose State, Sperling began to focus on a problem no one else wanted to bother with – the barriers to working adults who wanted to return to school. And so this is the real story – his unrelenting determination to create the University of Phoenix, a for-profit institution for working adults that is now the largest private university in the U.S. These chapters, sometimes a little heavy, leave the reader dumbfounded as to the lengths which his detractors will go to quash his efforts. (And isn’t it funny? Most of the traditional universities in the country now copy his model for adult education.) Although at times it seems his determination grew as a result of so many wanting him to fail, it becomes obvious that his sole intent was not the pursuit of wealth. Yet wealthy, he became – albeit in his seventies! It was interesting to learn that contrary to the status quo, acquiring wealth was not the end of his story. Not only does he still play an active role in the continuing evolution of adult education, he’s a proponent of drug law reform, and is investing in numerous other projects destined to change the world; seawater agriculture, anti-aging medicine, and the storage of pet DNA for future cloning. Does he hope to get rich from these ventures as well? You bet he does! Sperling makes no apologies for his “take-no-prisoners” attitude – he’s learned something about economics today’s nouveau rich will never get. You can only buy so many toys, but if you make money trying to make the world a better place, it gives you the ability to keep trying to make the world a better place. I highly recommend this book. This is a great story – honest, fast-paced, thought provoking. His story is certainly proof of the old addage that “winners never quit.” With all Sperling has accomplished – and at 79, still hopes to accomplish -this is one book that motivates you to put down the remote, get up off the sofa, and start making a difference.
Rating: 4 / 5
#5 by Max More on January 18, 2010 - 5:32 am
If you are in your forties and have not yet been wildly successful, take heart. John Sperling, once an unhappy 52 year old Cambridge-educated history professor with $26,000 in savings, grew into an enormously successful entrepreneur. Now in his early 80s, Sperling is a billionaire, and heads the Apollo Group, a holding company whose main component is the University of Phoenix (UoP). UoP is revolutionizing access to business education for working adults in N. America and abroad. Rebel With a Cause is Sperling’s personal memoir of his long struggle against the educational establishment to found and develop the for-profit UoP, transforming American education in the process. Sperling’s background differs from that of many successful entrepreneurs. Born in a backwoods log cabin, Sperling started as a socialist and successful union organizer. Throughout his changing roles, the opportunistic, energetic, and apparently indefatigable Sperling thrived on adversity that would make most give up. In stolid but personal writing, Sperling reveals the details of the endless conflicts and triumphs, up to and including his new fights with the establishment over the legalization of marijuana. Still iconoclastic and entrepreneurial in his ninth decade of life, Sperling is now developing innovative new ventures including the Kronos age management clinics, and Seaphire, a project for developing aquaculture. Good reading for anyone facing adversity as they pursue their vision of something both worthwhile and potentially profitable.
Rating: 4 / 5