Piercing the Irish Ceiling

"Growing up in a middle-class neighborhood in Quincy, Massachusetts, the last thing I had in mind was someday writing a book about my life. On the other hand, thanks to major doses of good luck and hard work, my life has turned out to be far more exciting and productive than I could have dreamed of during those early years."So begins Piercing the Irish Ceiling. With candor, self-deprecating humor, and an insider's look at the American investment world, author Robert E. Riley shares his experiences as he climbed his way from the bottom rung at Putnam Investments-one of the largest investment firms in the country-to the top, eventually becoming CEO of that company. Relying mainly on his characteristic resolve and despite historic deep-seated prejudice against Irish Catholics in the Boston investment community, Riley is a striking example of success in the face of adversity.But his story is not all professionalism and politics. Riley also paints an often comical picture of his personal life as well, including stories about growing up (and getting arrested) in Boston; singing a song with foul lyrics directly, though accidentally, into the face of a Navy chaplain; and, running over his friend's suitcase in a hasty retreat from an incensed naval firefighter. These anecdotes-and so many others-are punctuated with a humble humor that is trademark Riley. These and other anecdotes provide an even more solid understanding of how Riley achieved all that he has, in every aspect of his life.