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| The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty | 
 enlarge | Author: Julia Flynn Siler
Publisher: Gotham
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
Buy Used: $2.84
You Save: $12.16 (81%)
New (33) Used (31) Collectible (2) from $2.84
Avg. Customer Rating:  61 reviews
Sales Rank: 45632
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 464
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.2
ISBN: 1592403670
Dewey Decimal Number: 338.766320092273
EAN: 9781592403677
ASIN: 1592403670
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: book has normal wear to cover and is slightly bent Bayfront Books carefully selects the books it offers for sale on Amazon, and only includes those that are worthy of another read. While dust jackets may be missing and covers may show some damage, the contents are very readable... even in those books where previous owners had taken considerable notes or highlighting.
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| Customer Reviews:
A Problem Family August 6, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I found Siler's book very interesting. Many places, schools, Cal professors were all familiar to me. But even if it were not so, I would still find the book fascinating. The interaction of the family members was absorbing and business was also of interest. If a reader ejoys biographies especially, I would surely recommend The House of Mondavi.
 Fascinating look at the family and practices behind an American Wine Institution August 6, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Current history that reads like a novel. It is a well writen and engrossing look behind the scenes of the American Wine Explosion of the 20th Century. Siler kept me going to the dictionary with her marvelous use of the English (and other) languages. This is current history that reads like a novel. She paints vivid pictures of the Mondavi Family Members and their associates and weaves the story together in what seems to be a fair minded manner. If you love wine and have enjoyed the explosion of the wine industry in this country, you will like this book.
One criticism. Siler's editors did a shoddy job of 'fact checking', by identifying the town of Igloo, South Dakota as being in North Dakota. As a Dakota Native, it didn't read right. But the book again forced me to confirm my suspicion, by consulting an atlas. It's a small matter in the big picture, but creates doubt about what else may have been wrongly reported. In the end, I'm willing to look beyond this factual error and hope it was the only such lapse. After all the content deals with much wieghtier issues and I'll have to leave it to those who know those facts to raise any other inconsistencies.
 At First Engaging... August 6, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I dove into this book learning a lot about the history of California wine and just why exactly the Mondavi name had come to prominence. The first part of the book which follows the life and the two sons of the patriach and particularly the bon vivant Robert Mondavi is very interesting.
Although Robert is weaved through the second half of the book, the second half sticks to telling the story of Michael Mondavi's missteps that ultimately lowered the prestige of Mondavi wines. Though it is true and no fault of Stiler, one cannot help feel that Michael squandered the family name and acted (together with his brother Tim) like a spoiled brat bent on greedily dominating the wine industry.
Therefore, the first half is interesting, the second half tiresome.
Great Family Intrigue and Drama August 6, 2007
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
What a great family history, with drama, jealousy, backbiting, and all the other things that make California Italian wine families interesting.
Even if you don't follow the California wine industry, it's a great read.
Book Provides Insider Prospective August 1, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
As a wine/spirits industry insider, I consider this book a must read for anyone interested in learning more about the wine business. People often forget that wine is a business despite the industry's romantic aspects. I also think this book should be read by anyone running a family business and dealing with generational succession issues.
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