Cold Steel

I had heard great things about the book. Still, I was reluctant to spend money on something whose climax is well-known. Given that both cos were Europe-based, government intervention and interference was expected and references to Mittal's racial background could not be ruled out. I presumed the book would follow some kind of a timeline leading upto the finale, but beyond that I had no idea what it offered or why it got such great reviews. So I picked it up with a pinch of salt.

Right from page 1, it sucked me in. I forced myself to put it away so I could get some sleep at nights. The writing was plain and for the most part didnt get in the way of the narrative. The events that unfolded were so intriguing they needed no literary embellishment. Although at times the authors did provide some arbit literary twists. I also found it difficult to remember all the characters given that there were so many of them. And their European names didnt help. The book is little biased towards the Mittal camp, both in terms of coverage as well as characterizations. Maybe the Mittals happily cooperated for the book whereas the erstwhile Arcelor execs werent too forthcoming.

But the big question I have is on the neutrality of the book, or the lack thereof. Right from the time Lakshmi Mittal first wanted to talk to Guy Dolle (Arcelor's CEO at the time) about collaboration, Dolle was shown as a snob whereas Mittal was depicted as a victim of persecution. This, despite the fact that Mittal's team for this bid consisted of the best in the business. I would think Mittal's success is as attributable to the caliber of his team and their clout as it is to his personal humility during the course of the battle. Reading the book, you cant help but get the feeling that it was mostly Mittal's humility that clinched the deal whereas his character flaws are conveniently glossed over. It is quite possible that things did go down this way. Just that it reada bit like a fairy tale.

It would seem the Mittal's PR team has a done a great job not only during the bid but also in managing the aftermath, of which the book is one. In any case, this is a definite must read if only for the visceral thrills on offer.