Business Books

Here's the beef: the cultural history of postwar Southern California, as viewed through a quirky hamburger chain. Also, games people play; Trump disses Madoff

TERRY ALLEN FOR TIME

In-N-Out Burger: A Behind-the-Counter Look at the Fast-Food Chain That Breaks All the Rules By Stacy Perman Collins Business; 345 pages

Hamburgers. Fries. Soft drinks. After decades of Big Macs and Whoppers, that combo hardly seems to qualify for cult status. But as this entertaining corporate history demonstrates, doing something basic--but exceedingly well--has catapulted In-N-Out Burger to pop-culture stardom. The California-based chain, which owns 232 restaurants in the Western U.S., causes "burger jams" every time it opens a new location. Famous habitués, from Tom Cruise to Julia Child, have given the fare impassioned (unpaid) endorsements. In short, says Perman (a former...

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