Description: John D. Rockefeller, Sr., history's first billionaire and the patriarch of America's most famous dynasty, is an icon whose true nature has eluded generations of historians. Ron Chernow offers a detailed and insightful history of the mogul based on unrestricted access to Rockefeller's rich trove of papers. Rockefeller was likely the most controversial businessman in our nation's history, spending more than thirty years dodging investigations. While providing abundant evidence of Rockefeller's misdeeds, Chernow discards the stereotype of the cold-blooded monster to sketch an unforgettably human portrait of a quirky, eccentric original.
Brief description:
Ron Chernow is the prizewinning author of eight books and the recipient of the 2015 National Humanities Medal. His first book, The House of Morgan, won the National Book Award and the Ambassador Award for his contribution to the study of American culture. Washington: A Life won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Biography, and Alexander Hamilton was the inspiration for the Broadway musical. The Warburgs won the Eccles Prize for Excellence in Economic Writing in 1993 and was also selected by the American Library Association as one of that year's best nonfiction books.
Review Quotes:
"A scrupulously balanced, frequently fascinating, and humanizing portrait of a figure of seemingly superhuman energy and ambition."
-- "People"