California Dreaming
California Dreaming
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Summary
Lawrence Donegan goes to America, an innocent abroad, and finds work in the world's largest car dealership in San Jose, California. Here, he learns what it means to sell for your supper and finds out about the American love of the automobile and the American way of life.
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California Dreaming by Lawrence Donegan
Drawn by the lure of a six-figure salary in computing and fond memories of a low-rent rock-and-roll tour, Lawrence Donegan lands in California to pursue his own American dream. Somehere along the way he takes a wrong turn and ends up employed on Steven's Creek Boulevard, San Jose, home of the world's biggest car lot. Seven thousand cars on sale every day, 45,000 satisfied customers every year - on one street! Donegan quickly picks up a nickname, "Hey Scotty", and a reputation - "You're the worst salesman I've seeen in 20 years". But with mentors such as Mickey "The Legend" McDonald, Tony "The Tank" Tognazzini and Frankie "The Rock" Reames it isn't long before Donegan acquires the brass balls and low cunning he needs to sell his first car. "California Dreaming" is part personal journey, part American adventure. It charts Donegan's career as an asphalt warrior, from the multiple rejections - "Get away from me, sleazeball!" - to his pursuit of the Oscar of the used-car business, the Salesman of the Month Award. Its a brutally honest and brilliantly funny account of modern American and its most maligned tribute. It will change the way people think about used-car salesmen. Then again, it may not.
'Forgive me if this sounds boastful, but I have enjoyed a varied lifeI have played in a pop group in front of 70,000 people at Glastonbury. I have written two books. I have birdied the 17th at the Old Course. I am blessed with the love and friendship of a wonderful woman. But nothing, and I mean nothing, comes close to the feeling of selling a car to someone who, 60 minutes before, believed in his heart of hearts that you were a sleazy, lying, lowlife scumbag. It is better than sex. Trust me, I'm a used-car salesman.' Lawrence Donegan, Guardian (31 July 2000)
Lawrence Donegan was born in Scotland in 1961, and studied politics at Glasgow University. He was a member of the pop group Lloyd Cole and the Commotions before joining the Guardian. He has written two previous books: Four Iron in The Soul, about a year as a professional golf caddie, and No News at Throat Lake.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780670891368 |
| ISBN 10 | 0670891363 |
| Title | California Dreaming |
| Author | Lawrence Donegan |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Penguin Books Ltd |
| Year published | 2001-09-06 |
| Number of pages | 240 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |