Straight from the Top: The Truth About Air Canada

Robert W. Sexty is a professor of commerce and business administration
at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He is the author of Canadian
Business: Issues and Stakeholders.

The past decade has been challenging for Air Canada and its CEO, Robert
Milton, author of this book. The company has survived a hostile takeover
attempt, the high-technology meltdown, economic downturns (including
those attributable to 9/11 and SARS), high petroleum prices, a merger
with its largest competitor, unhelpful government policy, financial
restructuring, intransigent unions, and the threat from low-cost
airlines. There is a story to be told, but the perspective from which it
is told should be considered.

Straight from the Top is an autobiography co-authored by a ghostwriter.
It is understandable that a busy executive would employ such a
co-author, but there are things that readers should think about. The
book purports in its subtitle to reveal “the truth about Air
Canada,” but how truthful can a book that contains only modest
references to sources other than the CEO really be? In addition,
ghostwriters are well compensated, and it’s not difficult to imagine
that as a result, the CEO most likely gets the version of the story he
wants.

Milton’s insider view of a corporation’s operations has definite
value, but readers may wish to supplement it with a more objective
account, such as Keith McArthur’s Air Monopoly: How Robert Milton’s
Air Canada Won and Lost Control of Canada’s Skies (2004).