United States of Toyota

<p><strong><em>The United States of Toyota</em></strong> is many stories in one. First and foremost it is a business story detailing the decline of the American automobile industry - and the simultaneous rise of an Asian manufacturer to take its place. It is also a history book providing an intimate portrait of the larger-than-life personalities and cars that led the American auto industry through its glory days and down the path toward extinction. It is a political/current affairs piece presenting the rise of a Japanese company - Toyota - not just in terms of its sales success but also in terms of its cultural success as it works to assimilate into American society. And finally it is a never-before-seen primer on Detroit - The Motor City - a town and a region dominated by the auto companies their suppliers and their ad agencies - and by a mindset and culture all its own. In commentary that is as accurate as it is blunt Peter De Lorenzo presents the players and the action in the auto business in a way not seen before in print. His voice is unique and refreshingly candid. His provocative analyses and assessments - grounded in personal experience and a lifelong immersion in all things automotive - present a compelling picture of the state of the auto business - how it used to be what it has become and where it is headed. From the arrogance and short-sightedness of the Detroit manufacturers to the acumen and relentlessness of Toyota <em>The United States of Toyota</em> paints an insightful portrait of an iconic American industry as it struggles for survival in the early years of the 21st century.</p>