Andrew Carnegie

By: David Nasaw

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Andrew Carnegie, whose lifetime spanned the era from the beginning of the Industrial Revolution to the First World War was America's first modern titan. In this magnificent biography, celebrated historian David Nasaw brings to life this period of unprecedented transition - a time of self-made millionaires, scabs, strikes, and a new kind of philanthropy - through the fascinating rags-to-riches story of one of our most iconic business legends.

The Scottish-born son of a failed weaver and a mother who supported the family by binding shoes, Andrew Carnegie was the embodiment of the American dream. In his rise from a job as a bobbin boy in a cotton factory to being the richest man in the world, he was single-minded, relentless, and a major player in some of the most violent and notorious labor strikes of the time. The prototype of today's billionaire, he was a visionary in the way he earned his money and in the way he gave it away.

Nasaw explains how Carnegie made his fortune and how he tried to pull the world back from a war he predicted. Brimming with new material, personal letters, diaries, prenuptial agreements, letters to and from presidents and prime ministers, Nasaw plumbs the core of this fascinating man, fixing him in his place as one of the most compelling, elusive, and multifaceted personalities of the 20th century.

©2006 David Nasaw (P)2007 Gildan Media Corp

Critic reviews

"This is biography on the grand scale." ( Washington Post Book World)

The autor hates him, but Carnegie was awesome

You can get a lot of inspiration from this biography. I like Carnegie even more after listening to this audiobook.

Well paced, Performed with succinct clarity!

Not too much, just right balance of facts, insight, relationships. Excellent over all. Well Done!

Nothing the man.

All great the story and narrator spoke clearly. Andrew Carnegie was a very special person in his time. Not a good man but a special man.

Fascinating story of a fascinating man

Andrew Carnegie had a huge bank account and a huge heart. His rags to riches story is enjoyable and touching;

Great “read”

Narrations was excellent. Content was dense but on message. Fascinating man who lived in even more interesting times.

Voice not right

Too hard to listen to the voice reading the story. Tried but couldn’t finish it.

A biography by someone who dislikes his subject

I wish the author spent a lot less time on labor relations and a lot more time discussing technology. Sometimes I felt like listening to a book from the Soviet Union.

Wish it will talk more about his business

Less about his business, more about his charity and politics. Overall still a good read about AC's life. Amazing how much he can and has accomplished by writing letters.

I'd get abridged next time

What made the experience of listening to Andrew Carnegie the most enjoyable?

Too much history - when someone was sick and why - too much info - too long! Take the short version! Great story though - self made and hustled - I liked it!

What other book might you compare Andrew Carnegie to and why?

Rockefellers - same thing as above!

Great Story

I learned so much about Andrew Carnegie from this book. I never knew how much he did for countries all over the world. He gave sways billions in his life time. Please give this a listen.