A must-read for any real estate thinker, large or small. Re-live the interesting life of Bill Zeckendorf who played the real-life game of Monopoly and won (and later lost) the largest real estate empire in history. Read how he bought and sold property and remodeled whole sections of New York, Denver, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Montreal, and Dallas. Learn how Zeckendorf was the driving force for the United Nations finding a home in New York City. Read how I.M. Pei, the visionary architect, conceived and guided many of Zeckendorf's projects. The book includes sixteen pages of black / white photos of the author's life and legend. You'll enjoy the Zeckendorf story as it comes to life in his autobiography.

This little book provides a very personal and sometimes colourful account of the chronicles of the rise and fall of Webb & Knapp, with particular emphasis on Zeckendorf's companies role in the early years of urban redevelopment. Some extracts:

- On travelling: "We travelled in high style in a chaffeur-driven car through France, across Switzerland, and down to Italy, sampling wines, museums, cathedrals and vistas" (p.25)

- On socializing: "...the Rocky Mountain News gleefully produced a picture of me a la cowboy and some of the wedding guests al fresco" (p.130)

- On leverage: "I was often in debt, sometimes little more than two jumps ahead of the sheriff, and forever scrambling for some way to turn an extra dollar. Whenever I did get a little money ahead, I tried to put it to work" (p.32)

- On ideas: "That night I could hardly sleep as I chased my own ideas, tied them down with facts and figures, altered them, made compromises, returned to original notions, and finally realized I was no dealing with fantasy but with genuine possibility" (p.66)

- On testosterone: "...with our great, masculine building standing up against the Montreal skyline like a man surrounded by boys..." (p.195)

- On attitude: "We hereby offer to the UN approximately 17 acres...for any price they wish to pay" (p.69)

Many more interesting accounts. A good read. Enjoy.

Zeckendorf pioneered the way for many real estate transactions that are now common. What he did with parcelling out the Empire State Building is a fantastic thing to read about. The book is a great read. I'm trying to copy much of his philosophy. Hey if a baker can bake the same piece of bread in NYC as he can in Denver, CO, I should hit paydirt! I'm a small-time Realtor compared to Zeckendorf. This autobiography deals straight with the man and how his mind functioned so he could become incredibly wealthy. And he worked hard AND smart during his career. This book will make you think. You will get understanding in the game of negotiating. You will learn how to pick the right friends and business associates. You will learn lots and lots of stuff that will help you in your real estate career.

Consider this and Nickerson book to be the best to get "the feel" of real estate. Would give much credit to both for helping me on my own book...REQE.