• Who Built That

  • Awe-Inspiring Stories of American Tinkerpreneurs
  • By: Michelle Malkin
  • Narrated by: Michelle Malkin
  • Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (151 ratings)

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Who Built That  By  cover art

Who Built That

By: Michelle Malkin
Narrated by: Michelle Malkin
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Publisher's summary

Firebrand conservative columnist, commentator, Internet entrepreneur, and number-one New York Times best-selling author Michelle Malkin tells the fascinating, little-known stories of the inventors who have contributed to American exceptionalism and technological progress.

In July 2012 President Obama infamously proclaimed, "If you've got a business - you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen."

Malkin wholeheartedly disagrees. Who Built That is a rousing tribute to the hidden American capitalists who pioneered everyday inventions. They're the little big things we take for granted: bottle caps and glassware, door hinges and staples, tissue paper, flashlights, railroad signals, rotary printing presses, bridge cables, and more.

Malkin takes listeners on an eclectic journey of American capitalism, from the colonial period to the Industrial Age to the present, spotlighting awe-inspiring and little-known "tinkerpreneurs" who achieved their dreams of doing well by doing good. You'll learn how Paul Revere became America's first tech titan; how famous patent holders Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain championed the nation's unique system of intellectual property rights; how glass-manufacturing mavericks Edward Libbey and Mike Owens defied naysayers to revolutionize food, beverage, and pharmaceutical packaging; how penniless Croatian immigrant Anthony Maglica started his $400 million Maglite flashlight business in a rented garage; and many more riveting stories that explain our country's fertile climate for scientific advancement and entrepreneurship.

To understand who we are as people, we need first to understand what motivates America's ordinary and extraordinary makers and risk takers. Driven by her own experience as a second-generation beneficiary of the American dream, Malkin skillfully and passionately rebuts collectivist orthodoxy to celebrate the engineers, mechanics, designers, artisans, and relentless tinkerers of all backgrounds who embody our nation's spirit of self-made entrepreneurialism.

©2015 Michelle Malkin (P)2015 Simon & Schuster

What listeners say about Who Built That

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Marvelous

It's an in depth look at the stories behind those that achieved miracles in the face of those who would stop them to attain wealth and power.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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The best stories are true

We stand on the shoulders of giants. Let's remember to reach higher and not instead try to crush their necks with our boots.

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3 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars

beware of the politics involved

Was hoping for a book similar to malcom gladwell "what the dog saw". Was very disappointed in the political views in statin the book. I do not recall seeing any mention of that in any summary. I just wanted to hear the stories of entrepreneurs and what they over came. She certainly is entitled to her opinion and has every right to include it in the book, I just wish it was pointed out that the bulk of the book was not based on these stories.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

It's for gushing patriots

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I was hoping for a comparison between the US and other countries that explains this legendary period of innovation in US history. However, although it mentioned the supposedly unique patent system, it didn't describe how it is unique. This book did nothing to answer my questions about US market/economic history.

but if you're a patriot wanting to gush over accomplishments of your late citizens, then go ahead and read it. It would be a great read for any hand-over-heart American who's not compulsively analytical.

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  • B
  • 10-07-15

History every American should know

History every American should know.
Full of good stories to make the point free people better the world around them.

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For lover's of "I pencil"

Michelle's "I Toilet Paper" alone is worth the price. I used to use the example of "One click purchase" as a patent I felt was too obvious. I may have to rethink that as this book helped me appreciate that someone had to think up the idea of putting TP on a roll... and rightfully received a patent for it!

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Very interesting but it is a history lesson

Goes over numerous different entrepreneurs in American history. This is very interesting, but be sure you want a history lesson. It is also very right wing, which was fine for me but might
not be OK for others.

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Great book!

So many interesting stories. I especially love the essay entitled "I Toilet paper." This is a great listen, and you'll want to invent something yourself after listening to this book.

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Important things to remember.

Very good book. This book should be required reading for junior high and high school students.

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Fabulous

What did you love best about Who Built That?

Michelle Malkin painstakingly tells the stories of those who have built - with their money, with their time, with their intellectual capacities - things that have enhanced all of our lives (even liberals)

Any additional comments?

Malkin should send a signed copy to Michelle and Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett, and all Democrats in Congress.

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