The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie
The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie is a work by Andrew Carnegie now brought to you in this new edition of the timeless classic.
The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie is a work by Andrew Carnegie now brought to you in this new edition of the timeless classic.
Different than what I expected, but still a very rich book I’ll admit that my primary motivation for reading this book was somewhat shallow–I basically wanted to read about how one of history’s most successful businessmen amassed so much wealth. To be honest, the book didn’t really give as many details as I would have liked on that particular interest. But what I got along the way made the book worth it.
The Bill Gates of a century ago. This book was pracitically written for the ambitious young man, as there are many references to this. Mr. Carnegie serves as a great role model, which I feel is quite important, especially considering the terrible events in schools lately. Carnegie emphasizes the importance of self-improvement, knowing your talents, being kind, and also the importance of public speaking. You will learn important lessons thru personal anecdotes of his life. This book should be required reading for every adolescent attending high school.
Essential Reading in the History of American 19th Century Business Born in Scotland but an immigrant to the United States as a teenager, Andrew Carnegie has been variously characterized as a “captain of industry” or a “robber baron” by those who have chronicled his rise to wealth and fame in the latter nineteenth century. After selling his steel company to J.P. Morgan at the turn of the century, Carnegie devoted himself to philanthropic goals. He gave away more than $350 million to various causes and endowed more than 250,000 libraries. His philanthropic activities were underpinned by a fundamental belief in the virtue of hard work, perseverance, and self-improvement through education, hence his emphasis on libraries and the endowing of other educational organizations. Fundamentally, this book offers a restatement of the “Horatio Alger” myth of the “American dream” of success through personal commitment. At the same time Carnegie seeks to pass on his wisdom gained through a lifetime of effort. A significant and fascinating statement of American industrial individualism that is required reading for all who wish to understand the history of the United States in the latter nineteenth century, Carnegie’s autobiography also served as a model for many others to follow. Unfortunately, few achieved the success that Carnegie enjoyed despite the diligence they may have registered.