Shepherd Mead
Encyclopedia
Shepherd Mead, born Edward Mead, (April 26, 1914-August 15, 1994), was an American writer
. He is best known as the author of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
, which was adapted into a hit Broadway show
and motion picture
.
Mead, a native of St. Louis
, graduated with an A.B. from Washington University in St. Louis
in 1936. He joined the Benton & Bowles
advertising agency in 1936 as a mail-room clerk, and worked his way up to a vice-presidency by the time he left in 1956 to pursue a writing career. How to Succeed, published in 1952, was written in his spare time - before work and on weekends. The book was a best-seller, and in 1961 it was adapted into a musical by Frank Loesser
, with book by Abe Burrows
.
In 1957 Mead moved to Switzerland and in the following year to Great Britain, where he worked as an advertising consultant. He went on to write 19 novels, including The Big Ball of Wax: A Story of Tomorrow's Happy World (1954) describing life in the future year 1993, and The Carefully Considered Rape of the World: A Novel about the Unspeakable (1965), in which all of Earth's fertile women are simultaneously impregnated by baboon-like extraterrestrials. In 1968 he moved back to Switzerland, but then returned to Great Britain in 1978. He died in London in August 1994.
's Gamesmanship
. Mead's book was inspired by his corporate experiences; How to Succeed satirized contemporary office life in the United States in the guise of a self-help
book. Its subtitle was "The dastard's guide to fame and fortune."
The book was a best-seller, and in 1961 it was adapted into a musical by Frank Loesser
, with book by Abe Burrows
. The stage musical, written by Abe Burrows
and Frank Loesser
with minor input by others, the play differs significantly from the book. It satirizes Mead's own career by depicting the rise of eager young J. Pierrepont Finch ... a window-washer who joins a huge corporation by starting in the mail room, and becomes chairman of the board a week later. The play starred Robert Morse
as the young striver J. Pierrepont Finch and Rudy Vallee
as the company president J.W. Biggley.
The play was a smash hit, with a Broadway run of 1,417 performances between October 1961 and March 1965. It won eight Tony Award
s and the 1962 Pulitzer Prize
for best drama. It was adapted into a movie
, also starring Morse and several other members of the Broadway cast, in 1967. It was successfully revived on Broadway in 1995, starring Matthew Broderick
as Finch. A 2011 revival, starring Daniel Radcliffe
, opened on March 27.
--Shepherd Mead, quoted in the Wall Street Journal, June 18, 1964.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. He is best known as the author of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (book)
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: The Dastard's Guide to Fame and Fortune was a humorous 1952 book by Shepherd Mead. It inspired a successful 1961 musical of the same name, which was made into a movie in 1967.-Description:...
, which was adapted into a hit Broadway show
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead's 1952 book of the same name....
and motion picture
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (film)
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a 1967 American musical comedy film based on the 1961 stage musical of the same name, which in turn was based on the book written by Shepherd Mead...
.
Mead, a native of St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, graduated with an A.B. from Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
in 1936. He joined the Benton & Bowles
Benton & Bowles
Benton & Bowles was a New York-based advertising agency founded by William Benton and Chester Bowles in 1929.-History:The agency's success was closely related to the rise in popularity of radio. Benton & Bowles invented the radio soap opera to promote their clients' products, and by 1936 were...
advertising agency in 1936 as a mail-room clerk, and worked his way up to a vice-presidency by the time he left in 1956 to pursue a writing career. How to Succeed, published in 1952, was written in his spare time - before work and on weekends. The book was a best-seller, and in 1961 it was adapted into a musical by Frank Loesser
Frank Loesser
Frank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for...
, with book by Abe Burrows
Abe Burrows
Abe Burrows was a Tony and Pulitzer-winning American humorist, author, and director for radio and the stage.-Early years:...
.
In 1957 Mead moved to Switzerland and in the following year to Great Britain, where he worked as an advertising consultant. He went on to write 19 novels, including The Big Ball of Wax: A Story of Tomorrow's Happy World (1954) describing life in the future year 1993, and The Carefully Considered Rape of the World: A Novel about the Unspeakable (1965), in which all of Earth's fertile women are simultaneously impregnated by baboon-like extraterrestrials. In 1968 he moved back to Switzerland, but then returned to Great Britain in 1978. He died in London in August 1994.
How to Succeed ...
Mead's best known book has no plot; it is a satire of an instructional manual, very similar in form and subject matter to Stephen PotterStephen Potter
Stephen Meredith Potter was a British author best known for his mocking self-help books, and film and television derivatives from them....
's Gamesmanship
Gamesmanship
Gamesmanship is the use of dubious methods to win a game. It has been described as "Pushing the rules to the limit without getting caught, using whatever dubious methods possible to achieve the desired end"...
. Mead's book was inspired by his corporate experiences; How to Succeed satirized contemporary office life in the United States in the guise of a self-help
Self-help
Self-help, or self-improvement, is a self-guided improvement—economically, intellectually, or emotionally—often with a substantial psychological basis. There are many different self-help movements and each has its own focus, techniques, associated beliefs, proponents and in some cases, leaders...
book. Its subtitle was "The dastard's guide to fame and fortune."
The book was a best-seller, and in 1961 it was adapted into a musical by Frank Loesser
Frank Loesser
Frank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for...
, with book by Abe Burrows
Abe Burrows
Abe Burrows was a Tony and Pulitzer-winning American humorist, author, and director for radio and the stage.-Early years:...
. The stage musical, written by Abe Burrows
Abe Burrows
Abe Burrows was a Tony and Pulitzer-winning American humorist, author, and director for radio and the stage.-Early years:...
and Frank Loesser
Frank Loesser
Frank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for...
with minor input by others, the play differs significantly from the book. It satirizes Mead's own career by depicting the rise of eager young J. Pierrepont Finch ... a window-washer who joins a huge corporation by starting in the mail room, and becomes chairman of the board a week later. The play starred Robert Morse
Robert Morse
Robert Morse is an American actor and singer. Morse is best known for his appearances in musicals and plays on Broadway. He has also acted in movies and television shows. His best known role is that of J. Pierrepont Finch in the 1961 Broadway musical, and 1967 film How to Succeed in Business...
as the young striver J. Pierrepont Finch and Rudy Vallee
Rudy Vallée
Rudy Vallée was an American singer, actor, bandleader, and entertainer.-Early life:Born Hubert Prior Vallée in Island Pond, Vermont, the son of Charles Alphonse and Catherine Lynch Vallée...
as the company president J.W. Biggley.
The play was a smash hit, with a Broadway run of 1,417 performances between October 1961 and March 1965. It won eight Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
s and the 1962 Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for best drama. It was adapted into a movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, also starring Morse and several other members of the Broadway cast, in 1967. It was successfully revived on Broadway in 1995, starring Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his...
as Finch. A 2011 revival, starring Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Jacob Radcliffe is an English actor who rose to prominence playing the titular character in the Harry Potter film series....
, opened on March 27.
Quote
"Not even computers will replace committees, because committees buy computers."--Shepherd Mead, quoted in the Wall Street Journal, June 18, 1964.
Works
- Magnificent MacInnes. (1949)
- Tessie, the hound of channel one. (1951)
- How to succeed in business without really trying; the dastard’s guide to fame and fortune. (1952)(1st Fireside edition) (1995) ISBN 0684800209
- Admen. (1958)
- Big ball of wax; a story of tomorrow’s happy world (Novel, 1954)
- How to get rich in TV without really trying. (1956)
- How to succeed with women without really trying; the dastard’s guide to the birds and bees. (1957)
- Four window girl; or, How to make more money than men; a novel. (1959)
- "Dudley, there is no tomorrow!" "Then how about this afternoon?" (Novel, 1963)
- How to live like a lord without really trying. (1964)
- Carefully considered rape of the world : a novel about the unspeakable. (1965)
- How to succeed at business spying by trying; a novel about industrial espionage. (1968)
- ER; or, The brassbound beauty, the bearded bicyclist, and the gold-colored teen-age grandfather (Novel, 1969)
- How to stay medium-young practically forever without really trying. (1971) ISBN 0671208659
- Free the male man! (1972) ISBN 0671211234
- How to get to the future before it gets to you. (1974)
- Tennessee Williams: an intimate biography (with Dakin Williams, 1983) ISBN 0877954887
- How to succeed in tennis without really trying : the easy tennismanship way to do all the things no tennis pro can teach you. (1977) ISBN 0679507493