Rating: 
Summary: Chernow's best work
Review: The House of Morgan is a book that must be read by any and all people who have a significant interest in the early stages of American capitalism and its place in modern global economic history. Chernow demonstrates assiduous research and presents a wonderful review of the nascent stages of a economic and financial clearinghouse at Morgan. He clearly demonstartes the family and it's inner circle of elite and well groomed senior management to harness this power to the benefit of both the parners and the U.S. economy at large. Further, Chernow does a admirable job discussing the more evolved stages of captial formation in the early to mid 20th Century that greatly increased competition and radically diminished the power at Morgan. Where I believe he fell short, as was the case in his Titan tome as well, was in the integration of his specific thesis into a more general historical and socio-economic context. While some may agrue that this would be too much to conquer in one book, I would argue that some editing of certain repitions would make room for this improvement and make these books truly classic.
Rating:
Summary: Chernow's best work
Review: The House of Morgan is a book that must be read by any and all people who have a significant interest in the early stages of American capitalism and its place in modern global economic history. Chernow demonstrates assiduous research and presents a wonderful review of the nascent stages of a economic and financial clearinghouse at Morgan. He clearly demonstartes the family and it's inner circle of elite and well groomed senior management to harness this power to the benefit of both the parners and the U.S. economy at large. Further, Chernow does a admirable job discussing the more evolved stages of captial formation in the early to mid 20th Century that greatly increased competition and radically diminished the power at Morgan. Where I believe he fell short, as was the case in his Titan tome as well, was in the integration of his specific thesis into a more general historical and socio-economic context. While some may agrue that this would be too much to conquer in one book, I would argue that some editing of certain repitions would make room for this improvement and make these books truly classic.
Rating: 
Summary: Historical Background On The Formation Of Amercian Banking
Review: The House Of Morgan provides an excellent insight into the formation of modern Amercian banking and indeed American industry that is accessable both to the working profession and the layman alike. The "House of Morgan" is very commonly viewed as the precursor of the modern federal reserve, and it's chairman. As late as the early 1900's a single man held enough influence to steady the markets on Wall Street (and therefore nationally) and that man was Morgan. After the death of SR the organizations bearing his name would go on to even greater influence through the 20's & 30's and as the U.S. emerged as a superpower following WWII (under JR). The House of Morgan underlines how the foundations where laid for the modern American system. While there are many other players and aspects to the story few are more fascinating than the House of Morgan.
Rating: 
Summary: Not all it's cracked up to be
Review: This book is enormous, and based on the gushing of some of the other reviewers, one wonders if they rate on quantity rather than quality. While it is a huge tome, and it should be considering the enormity of the subject, I repeatedly felt myself looking for more detail. Chernow has a habit of putting a few details in, then glossing over the key points, and editorializing on his own to make the vignette correspond to his thesis. His thesis seems to be this: Morgan (whichever one) was a good man in a dirty business and his monopolistic tendancies were for the moral betterment of humanity. The broader thesis is that the banking titans have been cut down to size for the betterment of the average citizen. Unfortunately I find much of this posturing nothing more than cheerleading for the rich establishment types that Chernow obviously reveres! He neglects to even mention Morgan's involvement with Nikola Tesla at Wardencliffe, yanking out Tesla's funding when it became clear to him that Tesla was working to provide free energy, not the kind that Morgan could monopolize. He leaves out much more as well, such as Morgan's rather shady involvement in Japan at the end of WW II with Herbert Hoover where they managed to gain preferential treatment in the re-emerging Japanese economy... in alliance with Japanese monopolists eager to preserve their power and control. It is incredible how Chernow couches Morgan's ruthless monopolist tendancies in terms that make them sound like he was a benign visionary! His attack on the Glass-Steagall act is also certain to make him a darling of the bankers. I wish he had just presented the facts, and replaced his "apologies" with MORE facts! At any rate, I learned from it, but I recommend viewing much of it with a very jaded eye.
Rating:
Summary: Great story
Review: This book is superbly written.
The House of Morgan tells a fascinating story of the Morgan family's dominance of the American banking industry. After reading this book, you will find out that it was not the famous one, J. Pierpont Morgan, who oversaw the greatest expansion of Morgan power but rather it was his son, Jack Morgan. This doesn't seem to be very known.
Even more interesting than the story of the Morgans and their various firms is the other story that this book tells - the story of the banking business. House of Morgan effectively chronicles the tremendous shift that occurred in the financial industry. When Pierpont opened shop in the 19th Century, banking was a clubby business, where decisions were made by consensus among men. Although certainly not inclusive or politically correct, it almost seems quaint in comparison to modern office life. It was far from the litigious, contentious style that seems to be present in the modern versions of these corporations. Chernow does a great job at depicting it all.
Rating:
Summary: A power house full of investment banking history.
Review: This book simply states that i-bankers to quote a friend of mine "...have always had and still have a unique key role to play in a free market economy." J. Pierpont Morgan the key player in this book comes alive as wonderful, lovable, irascible charachter the pure metaphor of the protestant work ethic and the American dream, with all its glory and its dark side.
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece
Review: This massive biography in one of Ron Chernows brilliant masterpieces. I recommend all three (Titan, The Warburgs and The House of Morgan) to anyone remotely interested in international finance or US history. The House of Morgan is the book which got me interested in Chernow and is a stunning biography based on facts and heavy research my Chernow. It deserves 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: enourmous content and impact!!!
Review: Those fascinated by high finance and history will love this book. Must have time to read as this is no cupcake. This book will give you historical perspective, allowing you to better understand how we got to where we are today. Chernow is now established as a great writer, this book is the one that put him there.
Rating:
Summary: Those were the days
Review: Was it the writing or the main character that made this a fascinating read? answer- both! Chernow brought the character and his environment alive(early 20th Century New York merchant society),and what a character JP Morgan was! I read this book some years ago and what has remained with me ever since is the image of JP Morgan as a somewhat reluctant Titan. Sure he was larger than life and his famous piercing stare DOES come through in the photographs. You can easily imagine people hustling out of his way as he strode down Wall Street. Yet Chernow does a good job of humanizing the man, explaining clearly that he really had no choice (family upbringing, apprenticeship, business inheritance) all worked to make JP Morgan what he was. What also comes across is the fact that the Financial world at the time almost demanded and needed a JP Morgan. The early pioneering days of Wall street are vividly portrayed.JP Morgan's role in leading, cajoling, directing and bullying where necessary,to ensure that industries and markets developed - is explained clearly. You certainly get the sense that the man understood the times and took seriously his responsibility as a person of influence and power. Greed, surprisingly to me, does not seem to be a major factor in explaining JP Morgan. All in all an interesting insight into a bygone era and a fascinating character.
Rating:
Summary: Sticky Money
Review: When it first arrived on his doorstep, bundled in that ubiquitous Amazon cardboard, Sticky thought his new 5-piece bamboo steamer set had finally arrived... this book really is that big. The House of Morgan chronicles in minute detail the meteoric rise and rise of the JP Morgan banking behemoth. But don't despair food fans, it's not all captains of industry and heady stories of bold arbitrage plays. The narrative is punctuated more than occasionally by oddly beautiful recollections of J Pierpont's most memorable sticky rice meals. Satisfying for both mind and stomach...
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