Bob Iger to Release New Book Detailing His Tenure at Disney
The former CEO's upcoming memoir, 'One Last Time,' promises a candid look at his leadership, including executive feuds and challenges during his second stint.
Bob Iger, the former chief executive of The Walt Disney Company, is set to release a new book titled "One Last Time: Managing Crisis and Building Resilience at Disney." The book is described as a candid account of his leadership, promising to delve into the "sometimes bumpy, never boring journey" of his career at the entertainment giant.
Iger, who led Disney for 15 years before stepping down in 2020 and then returning as CEO in 2022, is co-authoring the book with Dane Schwerin, a former head speechwriter for Hillary Clinton. The memoir is scheduled for release in March.
The announcement of Iger's book comes shortly after the publication of "Behind the Castle Wall" by his successor, Bob Chapek. Chapek's book reportedly mentions Iger 121 times and includes allegations that Iger orchestrated a campaign to remove him from his position. Chapek referred to Iger as a "sniper" in his account, detailing his belief that Iger regretted his appointment and actively worked to oust him.
It remains to be seen if Iger will directly address the circumstances of Chapek's firing in his own book. In a recent interview with Harvard Business Review, Iger reflected on the succession process that led to Chapek's appointment in 2020, admitting that "looking back, perhaps it wasn’t as thorough as we thought." Iger eventually returned to the CEO role in November 2022, a move that ousted Chapek, before eventually retiring again with Josh D’Amaro taking over as CEO.
Iger's first book, which focused on his initial 15-year tenure and included Disney's acquisition of Fox, was a bestseller. "One Last Time" is expected to cover the more recent and tumultuous period of his leadership. Publisher Random House indicated that the book will also explore challenges faced by the company, such as the temporary suspension of "The Jimmy Kimmel Show" on Disney-owned ABC. Iger also commented on host Jimmy Kimmel's controversial remarks about Charlie Kirk in 2025, deeming them in poor taste.
During Iger's extended period at the helm, Disney faced significant investor pressure, including from activist investor Nelson Peltz, who sought a board seat amid dissatisfaction with the company's streaming performance. Iger has referred to his upcoming book as a "comeback story."