The Tycoons

How Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan Invented the American Supereconomy

De: Charles R. Morris

Narrado por: William Hughes

The modern American economy was the creation of four men: Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan. They were the giants of the Gilded Age, a moment of riotous growth that established America as the richest, most inventive, and most productive country on the planet.

Acclaimed author Charles R. Morris vividly brings these men and their times to life. The ruthlessly competitive Carnegie, the imperial Rockefeller, and the provocateur Gould were obsessed with progress, experiment, and speed. They were balanced by Morgan, the gentleman businessman, who fought, instead, for a global trust in American business. Through their antagonism and verve, they built an industrial behemoth—and a country of middle-class consumers. The Tycoons tells the incredible story of how these four determined men wrenched the economy into the modern age, inventing a nation of full economic participation that could not have been imagined only a few decades earlier.

©2005 Charles R. Morris (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Well written & Narrated

The author has woven together a fascinating mix of history & business; providing a compelling tale of several of America's first large business tycoons. The narrator holds your attention and makes it easy & comfortable to listen to the story.

Good book about the late 19th century

The book provides a great description of the latest decades of the 19th century and the beginning of the following one. It describes how the companies and stories of these tycoons cross each other. As a bonus, the lag chapter has a very good overview on Taylor and his influence. My only points are that the book cover the overall scenario too much and provides much less than expected by me about the main figures.

Not nearly as good as I expected.

I watched a 3 4 or 5 part tv special on the original tycoons and it was incredible. This was extremely boring I can’t believe I finished it. I was trying so hard to think it would get better.. then it just ends. Keep looking ...

Half full

Solid read. Seems to assume a certain knowledge base for the reader. How Morgan accumulated wealth and capital, for example, isn’t clear. For a reader seeking a detailed understanding of the characters, there is much left to be learned. Ownership structures, fees, and impacts are often overlooked when important deals are discussed. Leaves me wanting more despite the sufficient length.

In my opinion...

This book is well performed with a very compelling story, but gets very tedious at times.