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meet_shu 's review for:
Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.
by Ron Chernow
Not a big fan of biographies, but the way Chernow delves into the psychological depths of J.D. Rockefeller's mind, with his seamless story-telling, I must say he kept me hooked.
It is strange, this book, although non-fiction, doesn't feel real! How can a single person climb such a ladder, and personify such a strong force that shaped American Society— and possibly the world as a whole? Maybe it was the age, or his unmatched cunningness, perhaps both?
Rockefeller emblems both worst and the best of Capitalism. Through his corporate greed, and unruly acquisitive instinct, he controlled over 90% of American Oil, but again, he gave away a huge portion from his earnings to charities. Building American's first medical research institute, he donated significantly to eliminate Yellow fever, hookworms, and other infectious diseases in the U.S. Likewise, he also founded Chicago University, which now holds an unparalleled reputation in research and various academic programs. His charities, such as his life, are wide and all-encompassing.
Personally, for me, his private life & values hold greater interest than his outlandish financial gains. Rockefeller was a man who strongly abide by his principles, held many little idiosyncrasies.
He was a man who never smoked nor drank, never shouted, was deeply religious and embodied an stoic calmness, and yet he was poor at introspection and couldn't scrutinize his own moral lapses. Like many other great men, he found philosophies to justify behavior who some found to be a manifestation of evil.
Chernow in the end says that Rockefeller had left a contradictory legacy, and it is true. As of today, some people still hail Rockefeller as a man who built America, while some chide him as a robber baron who amassed a fortune out of loyal, hard-working workers.
In the end, what a delight it was to read about the life and adventure of J.D. Rockefeller. Would definitely love to peruse through other biographies of Chernow—could it be of George Washington?
It is strange, this book, although non-fiction, doesn't feel real! How can a single person climb such a ladder, and personify such a strong force that shaped American Society— and possibly the world as a whole? Maybe it was the age, or his unmatched cunningness, perhaps both?
Rockefeller emblems both worst and the best of Capitalism. Through his corporate greed, and unruly acquisitive instinct, he controlled over 90% of American Oil, but again, he gave away a huge portion from his earnings to charities. Building American's first medical research institute, he donated significantly to eliminate Yellow fever, hookworms, and other infectious diseases in the U.S. Likewise, he also founded Chicago University, which now holds an unparalleled reputation in research and various academic programs. His charities, such as his life, are wide and all-encompassing.
Personally, for me, his private life & values hold greater interest than his outlandish financial gains. Rockefeller was a man who strongly abide by his principles, held many little idiosyncrasies.
He was a man who never smoked nor drank, never shouted, was deeply religious and embodied an stoic calmness, and yet he was poor at introspection and couldn't scrutinize his own moral lapses. Like many other great men, he found philosophies to justify behavior who some found to be a manifestation of evil.
Chernow in the end says that Rockefeller had left a contradictory legacy, and it is true. As of today, some people still hail Rockefeller as a man who built America, while some chide him as a robber baron who amassed a fortune out of loyal, hard-working workers.
In the end, what a delight it was to read about the life and adventure of J.D. Rockefeller. Would definitely love to peruse through other biographies of Chernow—could it be of George Washington?