""J. Peterman" is a name known to more than 40 million Americans, thanks to the witty, entertaining "Owner's Manual" mail-order catalog, hailed as "the stuff of literature" (New York Times Magazine), and regular appearances of a J. Peterman character, played by actor John O'Hurley, on the popular TV comedy, "Seinfeld."" "Now the real J. Peterman steps from behind his persona in a candid memoir that interweaves the rise and fall of The J. Peterman Company with the personal adventures that shaped the man himself." "Starting with a $500 investment and just one product, an ankle-length, cowboy-style duster coat that he bought on impulse in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, John Peterman built a $75 million company. His unconventional catalog used long, literate copy and artful watercolors instead of photos to surround his wares - whether a Navy watch cap or a deck bench from the Titanic - with an aura of romance. Then came a cash-flow crisis, Chapter 11...and a harrowing personal and professional reassessment." "Through autobiographical anecdotes (including his early years as a player with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization), Peterman explains how a person can turn dreams into action, find courage to go beyond the conventional, and be part of a team without sacrificing individuality. He shows how true passion and drive aren't defeated by failure, but use it as a stepping stone for the next venture." "Peterman Rides Again is a chance for readers who enjoyed the Owner's Manual to finally meet up close the bon vivant and raconteur they remember from its pages...and for anyone who is growing a business, or thinking of starting one, the book offers hard-won lessons in entrepreneurship and the painful (but essential) art of learning from mistakes."--BOOK JACKET.