Sam Walton: The Inside Story of America's Richest Man. - editorial - book reviews

Discount Store News, March 18, 1991 by Tony Lisanti

Walton's Bio Leaves Readers Hungry

One of the most difficult assignments for any editor is to a write story about an executive without the person's cooperation. That means without a personal interview, without personal insight and without emotion.

Yet, author Vance Trimble did exactly that in his book "Sam Walton: The Inside Story of America's Richest Man," (Dutton). While thousands of articles have been written about Walton, this is the first book devoted to one of America's richest men and one of its most extraordinary citizens. I read the book after its quiet release last November but decided not to review it for several reasons, including a sense of disappointment. However, recently several executives have inquired about the book, so here are a few comments about it.

The former Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and editor of the Kentucky Post compiled his biography of Walton without his cooperation. Writes Trimble, "In some respects, the lack of ready access to the Waltons and the corporate archives make this a better book because it necessitated much old-fashioned police reporter legwork and careful digging . . ." Nice try, Mr. Trimble!

First, the title is misleading because this book is not an "inside" story. It's an "outside" story, and it reads that way. It lacks the emotion and the charisma of Walton. Trimble uses secondary sources that lend little credibility or new insight into Walton's style, character and accomplishments.

Trimble, a native Arkansan, does an exhaustive historical analysis which at times is slow-moving, but his descriptive narrative does offer interesting tidbits of family history that otherwise may have been overlooked.

The book is worth reading particularly for Walton affecionados. It's got just enough to whet the appetite for Walton's autobiography, which no one is sure will ever be completed. Even Trimble admitted, ". . . I trust this book will fill the void for interested readers until he can tell his own story." And in some ways, it does.

It's a positive, upbeat, if not patronizing, book that favorably portrays Walton as a business hero and makes no attempt--as some biographies do--to uncover the dark side.

I guess even Walton liked the book. A few weeks ago he ordered over 300,000 copies!