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Andrew Carnegie
This masterful biography of a giant of American industry--the first full life of Andrew Carnegie in more than a generation--triumphantly reveals every aspect of the man's complex personality and fabulous career. So varied were Carnegie's activities in industry, politics, education, philanthropy, and pacifism that his life encompasses much of the general history of the United States and of Great Britain down to the outbreak of World War I. Professor Wall is particularly successful in capturing the excitement of America's dynamic period of business expansion in the generation after the Civil War.
Carnegie the man remains at the center of the book--impulsive, haughty, idealistic, warm, loyal, and shrewd--and the drama of his life from telegraph boy to millionaire philanthropist is emphasized. His Scottish background is thoroughly investigated: Professor Wall is concerned throughout with Carnegie's attempts to reconcile his spectacular business success and position in the American plutocracy with the egalitarian and Radical Chartist ideas of his family and youth.
Carnegie's letterbooks and early business files, in the possession of the United States Steel Corporation and until now inaccessible to historians, were made available to the author. This vital and valuable collection of records is unsurpassed in its revelation of how Carnegie's own corporations operated, and also as an actual example of the development of a great American industry. Dr. Wall also consulted the huge collection of Carnegie material in the Library of Congress and the papers of Carnegie's business secretary, Robert Franks. Carnegie's daughter, Mrs. Roswell Miller, was kind enough to allow Professor Wall to read the private correspondence between Andrew Carnegie and his wife Louise, also not previously available to scholars.
The epic, highly-charged relationship between Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick emerges brilliantly, and the story of Carnegie's ventures in oil, railroad building, telegraphy, and iron and steel is clearly and fully presented. The book gives place also to a myriad of fascinating figures in America and Europe, including William Gladstone, Matthew Arnold, and Herbert Spencer in England, and J. P. Morgan, George Pullman, Mark Twain, William Jennings Bryan, Booker T. Washington, and Presidents Lincoln, McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and Wilson in America. It has much to say also about the impact of the Civil War on American industrialism, industrial statesmen and robber barons, and the influence of Social Darwinism on the business community.
This rounded, honest biography, while compassionate, does not hesitate to call Carnegie to task for some of his financial dealings, his often arbitrary personal relationships and his occasional hypocrisy, or to show him at his worst--when dealing with the tragic Homestead strike of 1892. But the reader takes from the book a full understanding of why to so many Americans Carnegie's death meant the end of an era in American history.
Carnegie the man remains at the center of the book--impulsive, haughty, idealistic, warm, loyal, and shrewd--and the drama of his life from telegraph boy to millionaire philanthropist is emphasized. His Scottish background is thoroughly investigated: Professor Wall is concerned throughout with Carnegie's attempts to reconcile his spectacular business success and position in the American plutocracy with the egalitarian and Radical Chartist ideas of his family and youth.
Carnegie's letterbooks and early business files, in the possession of the United States Steel Corporation and until now inaccessible to historians, were made available to the author. This vital and valuable collection of records is unsurpassed in its revelation of how Carnegie's own corporations operated, and also as an actual example of the development of a great American industry. Dr. Wall also consulted the huge collection of Carnegie material in the Library of Congress and the papers of Carnegie's business secretary, Robert Franks. Carnegie's daughter, Mrs. Roswell Miller, was kind enough to allow Professor Wall to read the private correspondence between Andrew Carnegie and his wife Louise, also not previously available to scholars.
The epic, highly-charged relationship between Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick emerges brilliantly, and the story of Carnegie's ventures in oil, railroad building, telegraphy, and iron and steel is clearly and fully presented. The book gives place also to a myriad of fascinating figures in America and Europe, including William Gladstone, Matthew Arnold, and Herbert Spencer in England, and J. P. Morgan, George Pullman, Mark Twain, William Jennings Bryan, Booker T. Washington, and Presidents Lincoln, McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and Wilson in America. It has much to say also about the impact of the Civil War on American industrialism, industrial statesmen and robber barons, and the influence of Social Darwinism on the business community.
This rounded, honest biography, while compassionate, does not hesitate to call Carnegie to task for some of his financial dealings, his often arbitrary personal relationships and his occasional hypocrisy, or to show him at his worst--when dealing with the tragic Homestead strike of 1892. But the reader takes from the book a full understanding of why to so many Americans Carnegie's death meant the end of an era in American history.
1168 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 17, 2021
Few people exemplify the “rags-to-riches” ideal of the American success story as well as Andrew Carnegie. Born to poverty in Scotland, after emigrating to the United States he built a fortune that made him one of the wealthiest Americans in history. That his name lives on today is because of what he did with his wealth, as he spent his retirement giving away his millions through gifts, endowments, and bequests to a variety of causes in which he fervently believed.
Carnegie lived a long life that was filled with controversy, conflict, and achievement. Telling it in full is a formidable task, yet it is one which Joseph Frazier Wall accomplishes admirably with this book. Over the space of a thousand pages he details the span of Carnegie’s life, from his impoverished childhood in Dunfermline through his final years as a transatlantic philanthropist and peacemaker. It’s a task that requires him to explain not just Carnegie’s activities, but the context in which they took place, providing a history of the times in which he lived – and affected profoundly.
None of this seemed possible, let alone likely, during Carnegie’s early years in Scotland. His father, Will, a handloom weaver, fell on hard times as automated looms increasingly made his skills unnecessary. Though the family emigrated to the United States in 1848, William proved as unable to make a success of his trade in the New World as he was in the old one. Forced to find work at a cotton mill in Pittsburgh, he was soon joined by his son who worked as a bobbin boy before gaining a promotion as a clerk to the mill’s owner – the start of his meteoric rise in business.
Much like Horatio Alger’s central characters, Carnegie benefited throughout his early years from catching the attention of important people. Yet Wall demonstrates that Carnegie’s work ethic was the key to his rise. Abandoning mill work for a job as a telegraph boy, his commitment to his duties led to swift promotion, followed by a position as a telegrapher and personal secretary to Thomas Scott, a rising executive in the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. By the age of 24 “Andy” was superintendent of the railroad’s entire Western Division, and when Scott was appointed Assistant Secretary of War in 1861 Carnegie joined him in the War Department, where he was placed in charge of military transportation.
George McClellan’s centralization of Union Army operations in his own staff led Carnegie to return to Pittsburgh, where he engaged in a range of business activities. Wall recounts these in detail, yet in a way that makes the operations never less than interesting. His ability to draw the personal relationships and personality conflicts from the dry minutes of board meetings is a real asset, one that highlights the conflicting approaches of Carnegie and his partners to their business operations. This allows him to show Carnegie’s gifts, particularly his ability to manage people, his sense for opportunity, and his aptitude for dealmaking. For all of the success of his subject’s activities during this period, though, Wall notes as well Carnegie’s growing dissatisfaction with his success and a desire to do more.
By the early 1870s this dissatisfaction led Carnegie to focus his attention on steel manufacturing, then a rapidly growing manufacturing sector thanks to the introduction of the Bessemer process and other innovations. Over the next quarter century Carnegie built a company that dominated the market. Carnegie’s success soon made him one of the nation’s leading industrialists, giving him a social prominence that made it possible for him to associate with authors and educators on both sides of the Atlantic. In the process, Carnegie became one of the foremost apostles of Herbert Spencer’s theories of Social Darwinism, of which he regarded himself as a prime example. To this he tied his belief that his burgeoning fortune should be used for public uplift, and he increasingly engaged in a variety of charitable activities.
Carnegie straddled the twin worlds of business and philanthropy until he sold his company to J. P. Morgan in 1901. With a fortune that now numbered in the hundreds of millions (at a time when the average yearly wage for men was less than $600), Carnegie dedicated the remainder of his life to giving it all away. Wall chronicles the breadth of Carnegie’s activism during these years, from his funding of library construction to the equipping of churches with organs and the providing of pensions for worthy individuals. Yet the cause most dear to Carnegie proved that of world peace, and he used his millions and his range of personal connections to achieve it. His hopes of its enduring attainment were dashed by the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, however, and while Carnegie survived to see its end and the promise of a League of Nations, it remains the ongoing work of the institutions he financed in the hope of realizing it in his lifetime.
Wall’s achievement with this book is impressive. In it he relates the full scope of Carnegie’s life in a way that entertains as well as informs. The many details never overwhelm the text, and though laudatory his narrative fully addresses his subject’s failures and flaws as well, from his harsh usage of his younger brother Tom to his role in the bloody Homestead Strike that forever marred his public image as a benevolent businessman. Moreover, in the process of recounting Carnegie’s activities Wall supplies his readers with an insightful account as well of the times in which he lived and some of the key figures of the era, many of whose activities intersected with those of Carnegie. Taken together it makes for a magnificent biography, one that should be read by everyone interested in Carnegie, the Gilded Age, or the history of big business in America.
Carnegie lived a long life that was filled with controversy, conflict, and achievement. Telling it in full is a formidable task, yet it is one which Joseph Frazier Wall accomplishes admirably with this book. Over the space of a thousand pages he details the span of Carnegie’s life, from his impoverished childhood in Dunfermline through his final years as a transatlantic philanthropist and peacemaker. It’s a task that requires him to explain not just Carnegie’s activities, but the context in which they took place, providing a history of the times in which he lived – and affected profoundly.
None of this seemed possible, let alone likely, during Carnegie’s early years in Scotland. His father, Will, a handloom weaver, fell on hard times as automated looms increasingly made his skills unnecessary. Though the family emigrated to the United States in 1848, William proved as unable to make a success of his trade in the New World as he was in the old one. Forced to find work at a cotton mill in Pittsburgh, he was soon joined by his son who worked as a bobbin boy before gaining a promotion as a clerk to the mill’s owner – the start of his meteoric rise in business.
Much like Horatio Alger’s central characters, Carnegie benefited throughout his early years from catching the attention of important people. Yet Wall demonstrates that Carnegie’s work ethic was the key to his rise. Abandoning mill work for a job as a telegraph boy, his commitment to his duties led to swift promotion, followed by a position as a telegrapher and personal secretary to Thomas Scott, a rising executive in the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. By the age of 24 “Andy” was superintendent of the railroad’s entire Western Division, and when Scott was appointed Assistant Secretary of War in 1861 Carnegie joined him in the War Department, where he was placed in charge of military transportation.
George McClellan’s centralization of Union Army operations in his own staff led Carnegie to return to Pittsburgh, where he engaged in a range of business activities. Wall recounts these in detail, yet in a way that makes the operations never less than interesting. His ability to draw the personal relationships and personality conflicts from the dry minutes of board meetings is a real asset, one that highlights the conflicting approaches of Carnegie and his partners to their business operations. This allows him to show Carnegie’s gifts, particularly his ability to manage people, his sense for opportunity, and his aptitude for dealmaking. For all of the success of his subject’s activities during this period, though, Wall notes as well Carnegie’s growing dissatisfaction with his success and a desire to do more.
By the early 1870s this dissatisfaction led Carnegie to focus his attention on steel manufacturing, then a rapidly growing manufacturing sector thanks to the introduction of the Bessemer process and other innovations. Over the next quarter century Carnegie built a company that dominated the market. Carnegie’s success soon made him one of the nation’s leading industrialists, giving him a social prominence that made it possible for him to associate with authors and educators on both sides of the Atlantic. In the process, Carnegie became one of the foremost apostles of Herbert Spencer’s theories of Social Darwinism, of which he regarded himself as a prime example. To this he tied his belief that his burgeoning fortune should be used for public uplift, and he increasingly engaged in a variety of charitable activities.
Carnegie straddled the twin worlds of business and philanthropy until he sold his company to J. P. Morgan in 1901. With a fortune that now numbered in the hundreds of millions (at a time when the average yearly wage for men was less than $600), Carnegie dedicated the remainder of his life to giving it all away. Wall chronicles the breadth of Carnegie’s activism during these years, from his funding of library construction to the equipping of churches with organs and the providing of pensions for worthy individuals. Yet the cause most dear to Carnegie proved that of world peace, and he used his millions and his range of personal connections to achieve it. His hopes of its enduring attainment were dashed by the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, however, and while Carnegie survived to see its end and the promise of a League of Nations, it remains the ongoing work of the institutions he financed in the hope of realizing it in his lifetime.
Wall’s achievement with this book is impressive. In it he relates the full scope of Carnegie’s life in a way that entertains as well as informs. The many details never overwhelm the text, and though laudatory his narrative fully addresses his subject’s failures and flaws as well, from his harsh usage of his younger brother Tom to his role in the bloody Homestead Strike that forever marred his public image as a benevolent businessman. Moreover, in the process of recounting Carnegie’s activities Wall supplies his readers with an insightful account as well of the times in which he lived and some of the key figures of the era, many of whose activities intersected with those of Carnegie. Taken together it makes for a magnificent biography, one that should be read by everyone interested in Carnegie, the Gilded Age, or the history of big business in America.
October 27, 2016
I picked this up impulsively at a book sale. Although very long, it was well worth taking the time to read it.
July 21, 2007
The first business biography I ever read. A very good and well researched book that has been recently superseded in quality by David Nasaw's new book. Thoroughly enjoyed Wall's observations on the motives and business decisions for all involved. The author struck a perfect balance between business history and personal history, although it helped that Carnegie was pretty much focused on nothing but business until he was done with his career. A very good book.
February 23, 2021
I have wanted to read this book ever since taking a class with its author. They had copies in the college book store, but I was too busy and too poor in those days to buy it, much less to read a 1047 book not on a class reading list. Then when I finally had enough free time and money, it was out of print and not readily available. So for years it was on my To Buy And Read. The only book left on that list.
Then in searching for another out-of-print book for one of my book groups, I thought I might just as well check to see if my used book supplier of choice had this one, and Lucky Me! So now I'm on page 307. Only 740 pages to go, and I'll be finished with it.
The weird thing is that my other book group is reading a John Le Carre, and as good as that is, I'm having trouble getting to it because this book is so good I'd rather read it.
Then in searching for another out-of-print book for one of my book groups, I thought I might just as well check to see if my used book supplier of choice had this one, and Lucky Me! So now I'm on page 307. Only 740 pages to go, and I'll be finished with it.
The weird thing is that my other book group is reading a John Le Carre, and as good as that is, I'm having trouble getting to it because this book is so good I'd rather read it.
March 14, 2023
I don’t know what it is about Spring Break and the beach with my reading historical times, but during last year’s “snowbirding,” I read Chernow’s Rockefeller biography and this year it’s Iowa’s renowned historian, Joseph Frazier Wall’s biography of another captain of industry, Andrew Carnegie…Like Chernow, Wall identifies the curious, repeating nature found in our history…Plenty of parallels that could be applied to today’s problems and issues…A lot of reading, but worth it!
September 18, 2017
Mind blown.
February 16, 2018
Great biography of one of the greatest businessman/ investors of all time.
March 16, 2017
This is a fabulous biography both of the man, his business career, his philanthropic efforts, his political activities, and of his character and public opinions.
Very highly recommended.
Very highly recommended.
July 6, 2012
I finally had to give up on this book. I have no doubt the Author knows the subject matter. But the writing style was just too scattered, and assumed the reader had too much knowledge in the time period, for me to follow what he was writing about. For my tastes, the author wondered off on side topics so often, and so suddenly that narrative was difficult to follow.
Again, I'm sure the Author knows his subject, and this book might be appropriate for someone that already know the time period well. It's just not for me.
I think I will try to round up David Nassw's book on Carnegie.....
Again, I'm sure the Author knows his subject, and this book might be appropriate for someone that already know the time period well. It's just not for me.
I think I will try to round up David Nassw's book on Carnegie.....
February 16, 2014
I have three main problems with this book:
1) The author explores the social critiques of Carnigie's life in detail and seems to side with a leftist point of view.
2) The author dwells on the personal side of Carnigie's life to the detriment of the business side of his life.
3) The first two issues result in a long tedius book to read.
I definitely would not suggest buying this book. I finally gave up on the book about 2/3 of the way through it.
It would be nice to read a book on Carnigie by someone who understands, business, capitalism and freedom.
1) The author explores the social critiques of Carnigie's life in detail and seems to side with a leftist point of view.
2) The author dwells on the personal side of Carnigie's life to the detriment of the business side of his life.
3) The first two issues result in a long tedius book to read.
I definitely would not suggest buying this book. I finally gave up on the book about 2/3 of the way through it.
It would be nice to read a book on Carnigie by someone who understands, business, capitalism and freedom.
Read
November 24, 2018A very detailed biography written in 1970. I do not feel that the author was biased in his analysis of Carnegie, which is tough considering the controversy surrounding his life. This book was recommended by Peter Kaufman and Charlie Munger. I learned a great deal from reading this, and I highly recommend it to individuals with interests in industry, finance, or philanthropy.
160 libraries in the state of Indiana were funded by Andrew, more than in any other state. More than 1500 libraries in the USA exist today because of him.
160 libraries in the state of Indiana were funded by Andrew, more than in any other state. More than 1500 libraries in the USA exist today because of him.
February 29, 2012
Far too much contextual historical background for my taste, but very thorough coverage.
August 26, 2013
very well done biography. interesting and good correlative history.
July 25, 2014
A very readable cradle to grave biography of this rags to riches success story.
December 7, 2016
Comprehensive book about the life of Andrew Carnegie. Well researched, showing both the good and bad sides of this 19th century robber baron and his later philanthropy.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews