A Review of "Famous Leaders of Industry: Second Series"
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Published January 5, 2023
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A Review of "Famous Leaders of Industry: Second Series"
- Reviews of the Day: 1921–22
- Edwin Wildman on "Famous Leaders of Industry: Second Series"
- This Author’s Thoughts on "Famous Leaders of Industry: Second Series"
- Industrialists Listed in the Second Series
Reviews of the Day: 1921–22
“Famous Leaders of Industry is the kind of book that should be in every school library. Through short and interesting biographies of industrial leaders it tells the story of modern industrial progress. In no more attractive way could this history, which has been sadly neglected in our schools, be studied.”
The Indiana Daily Times, “In the World of Books,” November 29, 1921
“This book … is intended for boy readers. … Some might hold that they were too unequivocal, that some of the heroes might be disqualified by nice distinctions. … If some of them are monopolists, then they are greater heroes. This justifies more than anything the choice of men for these studies.”
The Columbia, South Carolina State, “Books of the Day,” February 2, 1922
Edwin Wildman on "Famous Leaders of Industry: Second Series"
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On Andrew Carnegie, Carnegie Steel Company
“Andrew Carnegie must be credited as the promoter of lady railway operators. It was he who sent me to a little station near the South Fork Reservoir, to instruct the young daughter of an old railroad switchman. I showed her how to make the dots and dashes. …
"There are now thousands of worthy lady operators earning an independent livelihood due to Mr. Carnegie's initiative.” Business Associate of Andrew Carnegie’s
“Andrew Carnegie was a little man. He was only five feet four inches, not at all like the colossus most people fancied him. He was pleasant to meet, very polite, very agreeable, Someone said his face suggested a ‘benevolent steel hammer.’ ”
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On Julius Rosenwald, Sears, Roebuck & Company
“A few years ago when Julius Rosenwald celebrated his fiftieth birthday, he distributed about three-quarters of a million dollars, for he thought it ‘a crime for a man to pile up money after he has enough for himself and family.’
“The money went to universities, institutes and rural schools for Negroes, Jewish charities, Y. M. C. A’s, and the like.”
“The money went to universities, institutes and rural schools for Negroes, Jewish charities, Y. M. C. A’s, and the like.”
On Theodore N. Vail, American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T)
“One secret to my [Vail’s] success was to ‘never being unwilling—when young, to do another man’s work, and then—when older, never doing anything somebody else could do better for me.’ ”
On Bartlett Arkell, Beech-Nut Company
“I [Bartlett Arkell] have often wondered if a man could make a million dollars honestly. ...
"If I can't—I don't want to make it.”
"If I can't—I don't want to make it.”
This Author’s Thoughts on "Famous Leaders of Industry: Second Series"
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I don’t think I would ever accept the task that this author did: to write a multitude of short articles consolidated in a single book capturing the lives of some of America’s greatest industrialists. Elbert H. Gary (Judge Gary), who was one of our greatest, only gets five pages. How can anyone—even the greatest of authors, capture a man’s life in such a short, terse amount of space?
When I finished this particular excerpt, I shook my head comparing it to what Ida Tarbell wrote in “The Life of Elbert H. Gary: The Story of Steel.” The two books, of course, are different in degree and kind. |
Read more about Judge Gary
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There were times when I discovered quotes or insights that I had not seen anywhere else. Such as that which is highlighted above about Andrew Carnegie training and employing women in the railroad industry. Of course, no details, no footnotes, and no references are provided to guide a researcher for more information to expand on the topic.
Another example is Edwin Wildman’s coverage of George Washington Goethals. He writes: “No matter what was given him to do, his superiors could always bank upon its being done—and done right. So, as he was faithful in little things, he was entrusted with big things.” The author offers little to support this statement. It must be taken on faith by the reader—the target reader being an adolescent. The author fails to lay out the specifics, build a case, and then summarize with an observation.
It would be inappropriate to use any of these materials in any research effort unless the information is collaborated elsewhere. Most of the material appears to have been drawn from previously written articles by other authors and not from new interviews or original research. For the most part, the information needs verification and elaboration.
Using this information would be similar to using Wikipedia to establish a base to work from, but, as with Wikipedia, a researcher shouldn’t accept the information as credible without further research. On the other side, there is information in here that would be hard to find consolidated in one place such as the number of these individuals who lost their fathers in early life and supported their families in their place. So, enjoy the brief insights provided in this book.
If more detailed information on individual industrialists is available on this website, I have provided links in the following list of leaders covered in this book.
Cheers,
- Pete
It would be inappropriate to use any of these materials in any research effort unless the information is collaborated elsewhere. Most of the material appears to have been drawn from previously written articles by other authors and not from new interviews or original research. For the most part, the information needs verification and elaboration.
Using this information would be similar to using Wikipedia to establish a base to work from, but, as with Wikipedia, a researcher shouldn’t accept the information as credible without further research. On the other side, there is information in here that would be hard to find consolidated in one place such as the number of these individuals who lost their fathers in early life and supported their families in their place. So, enjoy the brief insights provided in this book.
If more detailed information on individual industrialists is available on this website, I have provided links in the following list of leaders covered in this book.
Cheers,
- Pete
The Twenty-Eight Industrialists in "Famous Leaders of Industry: Second Series"
Industrialist
Description from "Famous Leaders of Industry: Second Series"
More Information on this Website
Description from "Famous Leaders of Industry: Second Series"
More Information on this Website
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