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 enlarge | Author: Ron Chernow
Publisher: Vintage
Category: Book
List Price: $18.00
Buy Used: $8.20
You Save: $9.80 (54%)
New (35) Used (30) Collectible (2) from $8.20
Avg. Customer Rating:  43 reviews
Sales Rank: 9677
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 832
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.5
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.7
ISBN: 1400077303
Dewey Decimal Number: 338.7622382092
EAN: 9781400077304
ASIN: 1400077303
Publication Date: March 30, 2004
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| Customer Reviews:
 Everything you could possibly want to know about Rockefeller December 26, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Titan delves into the history and psyche of John Rockefeller, one of the most enterprising individuals in the history of business.
Chernow does an excellent job of presenting an objective view of the controversial figure, explaining his reasoning without apologizing for his actions. Rockefeller planned for philanthropy from the beginning; "I believe it is my duty to make money and still more money and to use the money I make for the good of my fellow man according to the dictates of my conscience." He used his noble goals as an impenetrable moral shield from his critics, immediately shutting out anyone who made objections to his questionable (and now, illegal) actions.
Still, this is ultimately a very long book about an oil tycoon. If that doesn't sound interesting, you'll hate the book. It's 650 very large pages with very small type. In an effort to provide the most comprehensive view of Rockefeller possible, Chernow goes far, far beyond "verbose" to the point that it's hard to read.
One of the best books I've every read! October 8, 2007
This book by Chernow is quite possibly one of the best books I've ever read. It tells a great American story of Rockefeller and his very humble beginings and how anyone willing to take chances, risk everything and in some instances do anything can succeed beyond belief. The book is quite long but in reality you seem to fly through it gaining the full impact of the robber baron days in America. You will see that while today's business greed may seem enormous they have nothing on the robber barons of the past. This book will also give you a great deal of insight into why we have all of those laws on the books involving monopolies, free trade, kick backs, labor and more. Whether you like biographies or just business this is a definite must read.
American Medici September 1, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
We are taught in school to hate the rich, scorn the so-called robber barons, sneer at great achievement as some sort of easy ride. Rockefeller had his faults and no doubt running Standard Oil didn't come easily, but when we see what this remarkable man accomplished, we must tip our hats collectively and recognize him as one of the greatest men in American history. The philanthropy is easily sentimentalized as "giving" rather than understood as "making" and "doing." After all, this titan didn't just write checks - he conceived some of the greatest institutions in America, among them the University of Chicago. When one considers that Rockefeller set up and funded this grand institution, a university which in a mere 100 years can be compared to the finest universities in the world, it has to be recognized that we are dealing with an achievement of an unprecedented scale. Rockefeller we come to recognize belongs to that most rarefied circle of American greats, including the Founding Fathers, Lincoln, FDR, and Martin Luther King. Of course it doesn't end with the founding of U of C. Rockefeller and his son are responsible, along with their equally dedicated spouses, for turning New York City into a world capital. Think about it: Rockefeller Center, the UN, MOMA, the Cloisters. Consider the City without them. New York City became the capital of the world in the 20th century and the Rockefellers are largely responsible for this. Without them, the city would hardly be the jewel it is today; it would be another Sao Paulo, Singapore, or Calcutta. He's earned national praise. He deserves deification.
Entertaining August 21, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I love this book and I am equally impressed with all the precise information. It is presented in a detailed storyline that is chronological. I seriously could not put this book down. Every open minute I could find was spent reading it. It basically takes you back into John D. Rockefeller's childhood and moves into how he became wealthy in his time. It talks about how his dad would leave the family for months at a time, travelling and selling fake potions, and illustrated the instability John faced growing up, both not having a father around and having the financial stress put on the family. His mother stressed the importance of donating to the church and getting involved to raise money for the church. This background influenced his life, as he learned to write down every penny and keep keen book-keeping skills. He also felt a need to gain wealth to give it away. He donated to educate black women, donated funds for a medical facility and other philanthropic endeavors. There are some funny parts as well. One example would be when John himself had children and would make his son wear his sister's clothing for many years or make the children share one tricycle between the three kids, even after he became filthy rich. I laughed at this, while others I mentioned this to thought he was terrible. His kids were also not allowed to have friends over, according to the book. It is a quirky read that draws you into the life of one of the world's wealthiest people to enable understanding of why he was the way he was. It does not take long to read if you are really interested in it. It is entertaining and packed full of historical information.
Titan: the Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. June 27, 2007
I have been a readaholic for about 50 years, and this is one of the best ever. This guy was a truly fascinating individual, made tremoundous contributions (both good and bad) to American life as we know it. The author does an excellent job of covering his life, the book reads as easily as a novel. I ordered this for my brother-in-law, as I felt anyone with an interest in business and history has to read this.
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