Leonard Lauder's much-anticipated memoir, The Company I Keep: My Life in Beauty, is finally available for presale. All author proceeds from the book's sales will be donated to charity. 

The book is published by HarperCollins, and will ship November 17th. In it, Leonard Lauder shares the life lessons he learned as chairman emeritus and former CEO of The Estée Lauder Companies.

Estée Lauder founded the company in 1946 in the family kitchen. As Estée's oldest son, Leonard Lauder transformed the former mom-and-pop business into the iconic global prestige beauty company it is today. He led the company's growth and success during his remarkable 60-year tenure -- and he envisioned and effected its expansion.

The book is a captivating personal account "complete with great stories as only he can tell them," states the publisher. Leonard Lauder pays loving tribute to his mother and to the employees of the company both past and present, while sharing inside stories -- including tales of cutthroat rivalry with Charles Revson of Revlon and others.

The book also offers keen insights on honing ambition, leveraging success, learning from mistakes, and growing an international company in an age of economic turbulence, uncertainty, and fierce competition.

Remarkable Growth 

The Estée Lauder Companies began as one brand that sold a handful of products during the 1940s and 50s, at just a few prestigious department stores across the United States. 

Today, The Estée Lauder Companies constitutes one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of prestige skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. It comprises more than 25 brands, whose products are sold in over 150 countries and territories.

Leonard Lauder, 87 years old, is now Chief Teaching Officer at The Estée Lauder Companies. He is married to Judy Glickman.