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mattvarosky 's review for:
Kochland: The Secret History of Koch Industries and Corporate Power in America
by Christopher Leonard
A detailed overview of Koch Industries' diligent rise in business from an unheard of fossil fuels firm to a secretive, data-driven goliath regarded as the most impactful private entity in the United States.
The book jumps into the company timeline at various points, taking the points of view of employees and leaders from the bottom to top of the company hierarchy. Some of the internal Koch family power struggle is discussed but the primary focus is chiefly Charles Koch with some time spent on both Bill Koch's challenge to Charles' leadership and later a profile of possible heir apparent Chase Koch. All the while it charts the revolutionary secondary effects of the company on American life and politics. There are interesting side stories including the Tea Party defeat of onetime Koch favorite Bob Inglis (R-SC) for supporting a cap and trade bill, struggling union leaders far outmatched at the negotiating table, and the Obama and Trump White Houses being brought to heel by Koch's 40-year old political network.
The analysis is even-handed. The crushing treatment of unions and repeated disregard for the environment are depicted for instance, but understood through the lens of the company's relentless pursuit of its Market Based Management philosophy, created by Charles Koch, that prizes efficiency and pressing any competitive advantage above and beyond all else. It is the American work ethic writ as a corporate mission statement. Koch Industries success derives almost entirely from the MBM™ (yes, a trademark) philosophy and its leaders are true believers in the free market. Their catechism: taxation is theft, natural resources are for exploitation, and workers are better off without the state even if it leaves them wholly unprotected in the marketplace. You might disagree -- and indeed Leonard does at points -- but how do you argue with a religion?
The book jumps into the company timeline at various points, taking the points of view of employees and leaders from the bottom to top of the company hierarchy. Some of the internal Koch family power struggle is discussed but the primary focus is chiefly Charles Koch with some time spent on both Bill Koch's challenge to Charles' leadership and later a profile of possible heir apparent Chase Koch. All the while it charts the revolutionary secondary effects of the company on American life and politics. There are interesting side stories including the Tea Party defeat of onetime Koch favorite Bob Inglis (R-SC) for supporting a cap and trade bill, struggling union leaders far outmatched at the negotiating table, and the Obama and Trump White Houses being brought to heel by Koch's 40-year old political network.
The analysis is even-handed. The crushing treatment of unions and repeated disregard for the environment are depicted for instance, but understood through the lens of the company's relentless pursuit of its Market Based Management philosophy, created by Charles Koch, that prizes efficiency and pressing any competitive advantage above and beyond all else. It is the American work ethic writ as a corporate mission statement. Koch Industries success derives almost entirely from the MBM™ (yes, a trademark) philosophy and its leaders are true believers in the free market. Their catechism: taxation is theft, natural resources are for exploitation, and workers are better off without the state even if it leaves them wholly unprotected in the marketplace. You might disagree -- and indeed Leonard does at points -- but how do you argue with a religion?