Titan : The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.

Rating:
Summary: The definitive account of John D. Rockefeller's life
Review: Any time you have a person as pivotal a John D. Rockefeller and a biography as thorough and well-written as this one is, you have a winner and an important read.

Chernow is one of the great biographers of our time and this is one of a growing library of definitive works by the man. In "Titan," Chernow lays out the life of a man who impacted America and the world in many meaningful ways. Rockefeller obviously was pivotal in the development of the oil industry, but his approach to oil influenced how every other industry in the United States would be approached forever. In addition, Chernow lays out what drove the man and how he instituted a whole different level of philanthopy than this world had ever known.

Excellent work. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent personal and corporate biography
Review: I just finished reading "Titan", which is the story of John D. Rockefeller. This is a thick book that is 600+ pages long. I was intimidated by the book at first, but once I started, I couldn't put it down. The language was very easy to follow, and the story itself was intereresting.

I found the author a very good story teller. He starts the story before Rockefeller was born, and we gain insights to the period, and the family into which he was born. I found it fascinating to uncover various sources of influence over this very successful man, including his parents, his brothers, the general social and economical climate in Cleveland in late 1800's, and his baptist upbringing. The story is fascinating, because we are able to follow how his roots made him the man he became.

When we are following the life story of the Titan, we are also following the beginnings of industrialism in the USA. We learn how Standard Oil company started out selling kerosene to light up homes around the world. In the background there is Edison, competing for the same market. Interesting historical persons make guest appearances in the story. We learn of Roosevelt, and his fight against monopolies. We come across Carl Jung, who analyzes John D.'s daughter Edith. We meet James Joyce, who is "patronized" by Edith. When building Rockefeller center, John D.'s son junior has to deal with the controversial mural Diego Rivera lovingly paints (and that scene is covered in detail in the movie "Frida", but somehow I had forgotten that the whole event took place in Rockefeller center). We are treated to a journey to the past, of which I knew very little about.

The book is a good corporate biography, as well as a personal one. We learn how Standard Oil became a giant, how it was broken apart after violating the Sherman Act. I find that I understand the fuss about Microsoft much better after reading this book. While following Standard Oil, we learn that this company was the root from which Amoco, Chevron, Exxon, and Mobil sprang. We learn a bit about the roots of Citibank and Chase Manhattan as well.

John D.'s philantrophy is also a main focus of the book. I was somewhat familiar with his connections to University of Chicago, but realized that I did not know the whole extent of it. His many charities, endowments and donations are granted good space in the book.

In terms of the writing, I have only one complaint. The author in general does a good job not taking sides. I never got the feeling that he was taking sides presenting this controversial life, and the life of Standard Oil. However, from time to time I got the feeling that the author changed his mind about John D. across passages, or led the reader to make certain assumptions about the man, but presented contradictory information later on. It is really difficult to pinpoint which exact passages contradicted each other, but it was a feeling I could not shake off.

All in all, great read. I would recommend this if you are looking for a good personal biography, a good corporate biography, or a historical account of US industrialism between 1850-1930.

Rating:
Summary: Understanding Rockefeller
Review: Read this book before reading "Great Fortune."

"Great Fortune" is the story of the building of Rockefeller Center, and inevitably discusses the leadership influence of John D. Rockefeller jr. and Nelson Rockefeller.

However, the man who sired "junior" was John D. Sr., of course, and he was the one who created the values and assumptions which his family took into the 21st century.

I read this book because I had been simply curious about the mechanics of "the robber barons." Exactly how, and under what circumstances, were a few men in our history able to amass huge concentrations of money and thus profoundly direct our nation's affairs? And what were their personalities and values, too.

More so than any history book, Chernow's work in this area sheds needed light onto these questions. And, in learning Rockefeller's story, the reader also gains some understanding of contemporary titans like Bill Gates and - well - Jeff Bezos.

It's not Horatio Alger, exactly. That said, when you read Chernow's thorough and objective study, you realize that certain qualities are timeless:

1. Commitment to hard work.
2. Insight into meta-forces beyond the day to day.
3. Incredible drive and focus.
4. Ruthlessness in competition.
5. Sublime confidence in your own rectitude and success.

This is a great book with lessons well beyond its era.

Rating:
Summary: Shows the man and the cultural myth he became
Review: Whatever your opinion of John D. Rockefeller, Sr., this book will give you information that will allow you to reassess your views in light of new and better information. This book helped me understand what Mr. Rockefeller achieved during his long life and what he was after. And it wasn't just money for money's sake.

Certainly, there is much about his business practices in building Standard Oil that rankle, but you will be surprised how many of them have become standard business practices in our time (no pun intended). The point that is too often overlooked is that this man helped bring better quality, safer, and less expensive lighting oil to the citizenry than they ever had with whale oil (or from any other source, for that matter). And he drove the price of kerosene down and still made money. We shout for better prices for consumers today, don't we?

Mr.Chernow writes vividly on the breakup of Standard Oil and how the advent of the automobile made him richer than ever. The accounts of his building Spelman College, the University of Chicago, the Rockefeller Medical center and more are worth reading. As are the family's connections to some of the largest banks in our country.

Reading about John D. Rockefeller, Jr.'s path in life is absorbing and bracing. The tragedy (massacre) at CFI is awful and the way Junior faced that and went to Colorado and spoke with the people face to face is evidence of great character.

There is something here for everyone to learn about this important man and a family that has an important role in our country to this day.