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Ray & Joan: The Man Who Made the McDonald's Fortune and the Woman Who Gave It All Away Audiobook
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The movie The Founder, starring Michael Keaton, focused the spotlight on Ray Kroc, the man who amassed a fortune as the chairman of McDonald’s. But what about his wife Joan, the woman who became famous for giving away his fortune? Lisa Napoli tells the fascinating story behind the historic couple. Ray & Joan is a quintessentially American tale of corporate intrigue and private passion: a struggling Mad Men–era salesman with a vision for a fast-food franchise that would become one of the world’s most enduring brands, and a beautiful woman willing to risk her marriage and her reputation to promote controversial causes that touched her deeply. Ray Kroc was peddling franchises around the country for a fledgling hamburger stand in the 1950s—McDonald’s, it was called—when he entered a St. Paul supper club and encountered a beautiful young piano player who would change his life forever. The attraction between Ray and Joan was instantaneous and instantly problematic. Yet even the fact that both were married to other people couldn’t derail their roller coaster of a romance. To the outside world, Ray and Joan were happy, enormously rich, and giving. But privately, Joan was growing troubled over Ray’s temper and dark secret, something she was reluctant to publicly reveal. Those close to them compared their relationship to that of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. And yet, this volatility paved the way for Joan’s transformation into one of the greatest philanthropists of our time. A force in the peace movement, she produced activist films, books, and music and ultimately gave away billions of dollars, including landmark gifts to the Salvation Army and NPR. Together, the two stories form a compelling portrait of the twentieth century: a story of big business, big love, and big giving.
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“Napoli skillfully assembles the saga of their lives as a couple and just as skillfully portrays Joan’s blossoming as a philanthropic force after Ray’s death…A book characterized by deep research and a seamless weaving together of the details of different lives.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
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“This wonderfully moving and entertaining biography will have you thinking differently about what it means to give generously and spend lavishly.”
— Marie Claire -
“This lively and fascinating account by journalist Lisa Napoli offers a behind-the-scenes look at Kroc’s often tumultuous marriage to Joan, who spent the years after his death in 1984 giving much of her $1.7 billion fortune to charity.”
— BookPage -
“To understand Joan, readers must understand Ray. Napoli clearly addresses the flaws of these larger-than-life characters while also endearing them to audiences.”
— Library Journal -
“Napoli’s energetic, slightly tabloidesque narrative style make this a must-read for anyone who loves a good love story behind a business success.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Napoli’s well-researched, compelling portrayals of Ray and Joan Kroc shed light on a dynamic and influential power couple.”
— Shelf Awareness
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A BookPage Top Pick for November 2016
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About Lisa Napoli
Lisa Napoli was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and has had a long career in print, radio, television, and online journalism. She has worked at the New York Times, Marketplace, MSNBC, and KCRW. She is the author of three previous books, Radio Shangri-La, Ray & Joan, and Up All Night: Ted Turner, CNN, and the Birth of 24-Hour News. She has directed several documentaries about Southern culture.