In-N-Out Burger: A Behind-The-Counter Look at the Fast-Food Chain That Breaks All the Rules

Marc Notes:
Originally published in hardcover: 2009.;Includes bibliographical references (p. [299]-335) and index.

Review Quotes:

"[An] entertaining corporate history....Perman's reporting is considerable." - Time magazine

"The tumultuous history of how one family and the business they fought to control turned the hamburger into the culinary symbol of a century....Told with the same fresh approach that has turned In-N-Out Burger into an American institution, Perman keeps us wanting more." - Tilar J. Mazzeo, author of The Widow Clicquot

"Stacy Perman's illuminating new book, In-N-Out Burger, is an absorbing case study of how a family business came to be at the center of its own cheerful cult.... [This] should be required reading for family business owners, alongside Rich Cohen's Sweet and Low and Thomas Mann's Buddenbrooks." - Fortune Small Business

"At last, the great American small business story gets told. It is a reassuring read in uncertain times, reminding business owners to listen to customers, do what you love, and have fun while you do it." - Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group

"This book grills up an enjoyable read for both avid foodies and novice diners alike! Perman's sneak peek into the fascinating history of In-N-Out is as good as the delicious burgers themselves, and that's saying a lot!" - Mario Batali, chef and author of Molto Italiano

"When fast food restaurants tried to locate in Fishermans Wharf, our local merchants were opposed to every one of them--except In-N-Out. Because every meal is fresh and made from scratch, In-N-Out is in a class by itself." - San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom

"Thanks to Stacy Perman's book, the term 'soulful fast food' is no longer an oxymoron. Her recounting of the In-N-Out story is one of passion, good intentions, remarkable success and treachery that transcends the burger world to become a tale that is vivid Americana." - Jane and Michael Stern, Roadfood.com

"Did you ever wonder why the people behind the counter at In-N-Out are always smiling? Now I know thanks to Stacy's amazing book." - George Motz, filmmaker and author of Hamburger America

" Wow! Stacy Perman's In-N-Out Burger isn't just a good book about the rise of a fast-food chain--it's an exciting saga about a family who created a profitable company that serves great food and still treats its customers and employees decently. What a great story!" - ANDREW F. SMITH, author of Andrew F. Smith, author of Hamburger: A Global History

The untold story of the renegade burger chain that evokes a passionate following unlike any other

In fast-food corporate America, In-N-Out Burger stands apart. Begun in a tiny shack in the shadow of World War II, this family-owned chain has steadfastly refused to franchise or be sold. Over time, In-N-Out Burger has become nothing less than a cultural institution that can lay claim to an insanely loyal following.

Stacy Perman's In-N-Out Burger is the inside story behind a real American success story--not only a tale of a unique and profitable business but also of a family's struggle to maintain a sustainable pop empire against the industry it helped pioneer. A keenly observed narrative that explores the transformation of a California fad into an enduring cult of popularity, it is also the story of the conflicted, secretive, and ultimately tragic Snyder family, who cooked a billion burgers and hooked a zillion fans.

"This book grills up an enjoyable read for both avid foodies and novice diners alike! Perman's sneak peek into the fascinating history of In-N-Out is as good as the delicious burgers themselves."

--Mario Batali, celebrity chef and author of Molto Italiano

A behind-the-counter look at the fast-food chain that breaks all the rules, Stacy Perman's In-N-Out Burger is the New York Times bestselling inside story of the family behind the California-based hamburger chain with a cult following large enough to rival the Grateful Dead's. A juicy unauthorized history of a small business-turned-big business titan, In-N-Out Burger was named one of Fast Company magazine's Best Business Books of 2009, and Fortune Small Business insists that it "should be required reading for family business owners, alongside Rich Cohen's Sweet and Low and Thomas Mann's Buddenbrooks."

Contributor Bio:Perman, Stacy

Stacy Perman is an award-winning journalist and author. A former writer and correspondent for BusinessWeek and Time, her work has appeared in Los Angeles magazine, the Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. Born in Los Angeles, she currently lives in New York.