MARVIN J. WOLF
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Books by Marvin J. Wolf

award winning author and photographer
'Beating The Odds,' The Untold Story Behind the Rise of ABC, Stars, Struggles and Egos that Transofrmed Netwok TV by the Man who Made it Happen, Leonard Goldenson, with Marvin J. Wolf
495 pages
$24.95
Charles Scribner's Sons, New York

February 1991
ISBN: 978-0684190556

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Overview  ꟾ  Reviews

Beating The Odds

The Untold Story Behind the Rise of ABC: The Stars, Struggles, and Egos that Transformed Network Television by the Man Who Made It Happen.

Veteran journalist Marvin J Wolf teamed with Leonard H. Goldenson, the longtime head of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), to tell the story of that television network's rise to prominence. When Goldenson took over the network in 1951, ABC was considered the weakest of four national television networks. But Goldenson showed a remarkable ability to pick outstanding key executives and a willingness to take programming risks. His memoir includes recollections from some of the network's top stars, including Bob Hope and Barbara Walters.

From Warren Buffet's forward.  "I look at Leonard Goldenson and marvel. At age 84, he is fit, keen-minded and charged with energy. It almost seems unfair. Having accomplished all he has, this man should appear at least a shade tired. The explanation may be that he's having so much fun. I've never seen Leonard other than upbeat."

Below, video featuring Leonard Goldenson on CNN TV's  Booknotes. talking about the stories told in the book Beating The Odds, beginning with whether he agrees with Buffet's assessment.
Leonard Goldenson, CEO of ABC, talks about his life and work building the network for the book, 'Beating The Odds,' written with Marvin J. Wolf.
It was in the writing of this book that Marvin had a remarkable interview with Barbara Walters, who recounted fascinating stories of her encounters with this man of honor, insight, integrity and empathy. It reads in part:
"I was never going to ask Walters what kind of a tree she would be. Obviously, she was a giant redwood, a sequoia sempervirens, towering over the broadcasting industry...In fact, I was able to ask her but one question: 'How did you first meet Leonard Goldenson?'” Read more.


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Marvin J. Wolf is a member of Military Writers of America
Member, Military Writers of America
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  • Home
  • About
  • Books
    • Biography and Nonfiction >
      • Abandoned in Hell
      • Beating The Odds
      • Bhudda's Child
      • The Japanese Conspiracy
      • They Were Soldiers
      • Where White Men Fear to Tread
    • True Crime >
      • Fallen Angels
      • Family Blood
      • Perfect Crimes
      • Rotten Apples
    • Fiction >
      • Rabbi Ben Mysteries >
        • For Whom The Shofar Blows
        • A Tale of Two Rabbis
        • A Scribe Dies in Brooklyn
        • Bride of Finkelstein
      • Chelmin and Spaulding CID Mysteries >
        • M-9, A Chelmin and Spaulding CID Mystery
        • The Zombie Deception
        • Snake Heads
        • El Pistolero
    • Photography Books & Art
  • Film & TV
  • Press
  • Appearances
  • Contact Us
  • Blog