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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
I am just going to admit it upfront - I never could have actually read this whole book! I did listen to all 32 hours of it though (much to the chagrin of all my favorite podcast hosts who are undoubtedly waiting for me to come running back to them)! Speaking of podcasters, it was all of Dax Shepherd’s raving about this book that got me to read (I mean, listen to) it. He loved it beyond belief, best book he ever read (pretty sure he listened too), and life changing. Well, Dax is a LOT richer than me, so I think the life changing part all had to do with how to structure his philanthropy efforts and I don’t think I will need to concentrate as much on that in my life.
I really liked the book - I learned so much, not just about Rockefeller, but about the history of the time period. I can’t imagine the research that Ron Chernow had to do for this book. Rockefeller’s life is incredible, all that he accomplished in business and all he did through philanthropy after that. I do have to say, I think it could have been a shorter book and still been great and for that, I had to take away one star.
I really liked the book - I learned so much, not just about Rockefeller, but about the history of the time period. I can’t imagine the research that Ron Chernow had to do for this book. Rockefeller’s life is incredible, all that he accomplished in business and all he did through philanthropy after that. I do have to say, I think it could have been a shorter book and still been great and for that, I had to take away one star.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Another phenomenal biography from Chernow, and perhaps his most enlightening in my mind. While I had very few preconceptions of the man outside of what's shown up in other volumes (notably Goodwin's "The Bully Pulpit"), I was stunned at how austere, gentle and faith-bound the man was in his personal life.
Notes (full review later)
-Monstrosity of a book that was clearly thoroughly researched
-will enjoy if you are interested in the history of capitalism and industrialism in the US
-the case for and against large scale philanthropy vs government programs
-Monstrosity of a book that was clearly thoroughly researched
-will enjoy if you are interested in the history of capitalism and industrialism in the US
-the case for and against large scale philanthropy vs government programs
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Very detailed. Great look into one of the Giants of the Industrial Age.
A study in contrasts this is an exploration of a person’s devotion to the accumulation of unfathomable wealth and power and his methodical drive toward philanthropy that gave us modern charitable giving. Thoroughly researched and engagingly written Chernow brings to life a figure whose life and its consequences are still being felt across the globe even today.
Recommended if you need to know a lot about JD Rockefeller, but otherwise I'd pass.
The life of John d Rockefeller... I was not that impressed. I learned a bit but wasn’t wowed.