Being at a similar age as Byrne was during his plunge into the unknown, I can relate and feed off the energy. Motivating book and very well written.

I cancelled the order because the delivery of the book was significantly delayed due to vacation of the seller. This fact wasn't disclosed prior to placing the order. The delay was unacceptable and I cancelled and reordered from another source.
The seller promptly issued a credit for the order. They really should have disclosed their vacation down time on their order site before the order was placed and not after the fact.

Murphy's memoir is light-hearted, witty, and very personal, but it simulteneously offers very serious lessons to any aspiring ex-pat entrepreneur. He also does a great job describing social, cultural, and geopolitical context (very important, of course) in addition to the business story. A must-read for those interested in real estate development or international business!

The American economy is absolutely dependant on American businesses being able to successfully sell their goods and services abroad. Exports are vital to American economic health and well being. That's why there are so many "how to" books published every year for the American business community and aspiring entrepreneurs seeking success in foreign markets. What is unique about "Le Deal: How A Young American, In Business, In Love, And In Over His Head, Kick-Started A Multibillion Dollar Industry in Europe" is that it combines J. Byrne Murphy's personal story that took him to Europe and Asia where for fifteen years he conducted his business activities with the riveting elements of a true life adventure story. Of special note are the cultural differences he encountered with respect to how business is conducted. For example, the Italians readily agree to new ideas -- but have a tendency to delay implementation of them. The French are cautious about accepting new ideas and examine every aspect of the concept to extraordinary lengths before implementing them. The Germans (no surprise) are rigid about following rules no matter how outdated and in need of revision they may be. All this contrasts sharply with Americans who tend to move quickly and easily get frustrated when having to deal with other cultures and their approaches to business decision making. Very highly recommended reading, "Le Deal" is a real life case study that combines a fascinating personal story with entrepreneurial and corporate insights that will well serve any who aspire to engage in commerce abroad.

J. Byrne Murphy has written a very rare "business" book. It is a personal story first, with humor and many subtle points about life and business and morals that are all tied together at the end. Very well written. Could not put it down. As a real estate developer who experiences these same struggles it was an inspiration and reminder that we do what we do for love, family, and for life.