We are happy to announce that Shanghai Dook Publishing has acquired the simplified Chinese rights to Against All Odds (Otava 2013), legendary CEO Jorma Ollila’s autobiography and first-person account of the rise and fall of Nokia. Rights were sold in the beginning of December in the U.S. to Maven House Press.

Dook publishes translated and Chinese non-fiction and fiction, including the works of Mario Puzo, Isaac Asimov and Ursula Le Guin, and has had a prominent business book line since 2010. The publishing house was selected on Forbes’ list of China’s most potential businesses four years in a row, and many of their books have become huge bestsellers in the Chinese market.

Against All Odds, co-authored by Harri Saukkomaa, was Finland’s bestselling narrative nonfiction title in 2013. Jorma Ollila, CEO of  Nokia from 1992 to 2006, turned the company into the world’s leading mobile phone manufacturer. The book narrates Ollila’s personal and professional journey, exploring the fine line between stratospheric success and catastrophic failure, the nature of leadership – and the human element of business, including encounters with figures such as Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

Praise for Against All Odds: 

“The book offers an insightful account of Nokia and the mobile revolution, but just as important Ollila’s riveting stories are filled with lessons about the nature of leadership, the importance of shared values, and the need for strategic thinking.”
– Jim Pennypacker, Publisher, Maven House Press

“Ollila prepared his autobiography for ten years. Journalist Harri Saukkomaa has turned it into an entertaining story in the strongest possible bestseller style. This biography is a meticulously polished diamond.”
– Helsingin Sanomat newspaper, Finland

RIGHTS SOLD:

Original publisher: FINLAND, Otava
CHINA, Shanghai Dook Publishing
ESTONIA, Äripäev (Bonnier)
UNITED STATES, Maven House Press

Reading material:

Full English text
Finnish edition
English synopsis

Contact: info@ahlbackagency.com

We are delighted to announce that Maven House Press has acquired U.S. rights to Against All Odds (Otava 2013), legendary CEO Jorma Ollila’s autobiography and first-person account of the rise and fall of Nokia, for publication in 2016.

“We’re excited to be publishing legendary CEO Jorma Ollila’s compelling memoir. The book offers an insightful account of Nokia and the mobile revolution, but just as important Ollila’s riveting stories are filled with lessons about the nature of leadership, the importance of shared values, and the need for strategic thinking.”
– Jim Pennypacker, Publisher, Maven House Press

An independent publisher specializing in forward-thinking business books by executives, business owners, educators, journalists and other experts, Maven House Press was founded in 2012. Its titles are distributed by Perseus Books Group.

Against All Odds, co-authored by Harri Saukkomaa, was Finland’s bestselling narrative nonfiction title in 2013, and was selected as one of the year’s most fascinating books by the influential Suomen kuvalehti magazine. It has sold tens of thousands of copies since its publication. Contact the Agency for a full English text!

About Against All Odds:

Jorma Ollila, CEO of Nokia from 1992 to 2006, turned the company into the world’s leading mobile phone manufacturer. The book narrates Ollila’s personal and professional journey, exploring the fine line between stratospheric success and catastrophic failure, the nature of leadership – and the human element of business, including encounters with figures such as Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. The book has been translated into English by Richard Powell.

Praise for Against All Odds:

“Ollila prepared his autobiography for ten years. Journalist Harri Saukkomaa has turned it into an entertaining story in the strongest possible bestseller style. This biography is a meticulously polished diamond.”
– Columnist Unto Hämäläinen, Helsingin Sanomat newspaper, Finland

“A well-written book that reflects both the rapid ascent of success and the agony of profit warnings…the book sparks conversation of Nokia’s rise and of its descent ‒ and like all good autobiographies, also of the personality of the author.”
– Savon Sanomat newspaper, Finland

“Clearly and flowingly written, [Against All Odds] is a story of how Jorma Ollila views Nokia….An overarching theme is his appreciation for hard work and learning, which he learned from home. He approaches knowledge and science with great humility.”
– Helsingin sanomat newspaper, Finland

“Ollila’s biography paints a portrait of a hardworking and forward-looking man.
– Suomen kuvalehti magazine, Finland (“Books of the Year 2013”)

RIGHTS SOLD:
Original publisher: FINLAND, Otava
ESTONIA, Äripäev (Bonnier)
UNITED STATES, Maven House Press

Reading material:
Full English text
Finnish edition
English synopsis

Contact: info@ahlbackagency.com

We are very happy to announce that rights to legendary CEO Jorma Ollila’s autobiography, Against All Odds: My Emotional Journey with Nokia (Otava 2013), have been sold in Taiwan to The Wind Publishing and in Estonia to Äripäev.

“This biography is a meticulously polished diamond…Ollila prepared his autobiography for ten years. Journalist Harri Saukkomaa has turned it into an entertaining story in the strongest possible bestseller style.”
– Columnist Unto Hämäläinen, Helsingin sanomat newspaper, Finland

Against All Odds, a first-person account of the rise and fall of Nokia, was Finland’s bestselling narrative nonfiction title in 2013, and was selected as one of the year’s most fascinating books by the influential Suomen kuvalehti magazine. It has sold more than 40,000 copies in Finland.

Contact the Agency for a full English text!

Jorma Ollila, CEO of Nokia from 1992 to 2006, turned the company into the world’s leading mobile phone manufacturer. The book narrates Ollila’s personal and professional journey, exploring the fine line between stratospheric success and catastrophic failure, the nature of leadership – and the human element of business, including encounters with figures such as Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

Praise for Against All Odds:

“Clearly and flowingly written, [Against All Odds] is a story of how Jorma Ollila views Nokia….An overarching theme is his appreciation for hard work and learning, which he learned from home. He approaches knowledge and science with great humility.”
– Helsingin sanomat newspaper, Finland

“Ollila’s biography paints a portrait of a hardworking and forward-looking man.
– Suomen kuvalehti magazine, Finland (“Books of the Year 2013”)

RIGHTS SOLD:
Original publisher: FINLAND, Otava
ESTONIA, Äripäev (Bonnier)
TAIWAN, The Wind Publishing

Reading material:
Full English text
Finnish edition
English synopsis

Contact: info@ahlbackagency.com

Elina Ahlback Literary Agency is proud to present Finland’s bestselling narrative nonfiction title in 2013: Against All Odds: My Emotional Journey with Nokia (Mahdoton menestys: Kasvun paikkana Nokia, Otava 2013), legendary CEO Jorma Ollila’s autobiography of the company that created a global mobile revolution. Selected as one of 2013’s most fascinating books by the influential Suomen kuvalehti magazine, this first-person account of the rise and fall of Nokia has sold 40,000 copies in Finland.

Contact the Agency for a full English text!

Jorma Ollila, CEO of Nokia from 1992 to 2006, turned the company into the world’s leading mobile phone manufacturer. The book narrates Ollila’s personal and professional journey, exploring the fine line between stratospheric success and catastrophic failure, the nature of leadership – and the human element of business, including encounters with figures such as Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Ollila examines the political and economic background of Nokia’s rise, and offers an insider’s look into the company’s recent difficulties.

Praise for Against All Odds:

“This biography is a meticulously polished diamond…Ollila prepared his autobiography for ten years. Journalist Harri Saukkomaa has turned it into an entertaining story in the strongest possible bestseller style.”
– Columnist Unto Hämäläinen, Helsingin sanomat newspaper, Finland

“Ollila’s biography paints a portrait of a hardworking and forward-looking man.
– Suomen kuvalehti magazine, Finland (“Books of the Year 2013”)

“Clearly and flowingly written, [Against All Odds] is a story of how Jorma Ollila views Nokia….An overarching theme is his appreciation for hard work and learning, which he learned from home. He approaches knowledge and science with great humility.”
– Helsingin sanomat newspaper, Finland

About the authors:

Jorma Ollila became the pre-eminent European businessman of his generation during his time as CEO of Nokia Corporation from 1992 to 2006. Ollila currently works as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Royal Dutch Shell and at Outokumpu. He has master’s degrees in economics from the London School of Economics, in engineering from the Helsinki University of Technology and in political science from the University of Helsinki.

Co-author Harri Saukkomaa is a well-known media expert, entrepreneur and author of several nonfiction books.

RIGHTS SOLD:
Original publisher: FINLAND, Otava

Reading material:
Full English text
Finnish edition
English synopsis

Contact: info@ahlbackagency.com