It is useful, in this connection, to contrast two books on big Japanese firms: John Nathan's new portrait of Sony and John Kotter's 1997 account of Matsushita the plodding Osaka giant that has always loomed larger in Japan than Sony, much as Toyota has overshadowed Nissan.

ECONOMIST: The complex lives of legal persons

His rise to prominence coincided with his success as the best-selling author of two books, 2004's "Big Russ and Me" and 2006's "Wisdom of Our Fathers, " which documented his journey from blue-collar beginnings to law school to Washington powerhouse.

CNN: Newsman Tim Russert dies at 58