Andrew Carnegie

This is one of the longest books I have ever read, but every page was filled with extremely interesting knowledge of a man that I had only heard about or read about briefly. This book is about a very complex man who was always ready since a child to go to work and who was filled with unbridled optimism. Carnegie had an extreme almost pendulum ability to grasp extremes. He was a devotee of Spencer but often had lunch with Matthew Arnold, a seemingly opposite to Spencer. It is a very long book. However, every page has details that held my interest right to the very end. Highly recommend. I only wish there were more pictures.

A fascinating biography of the exuberant Scottish-American tycoon and philanthropist.Nasaw covers all of Carnegie's life from early boyhood in 1830's Scotland, to ambitious telegraph boy in Pittsburgh, to iron and steel magnate, to philanthropist and finally to international peace advocate. Most of the 800 pages go swiftly. Nasaw writes well and I generally found his very detailed account valuable, especially for Carnegie's business adventures and for his final peace activities, although perhaps rather less so for all the details of his family life.In Nasaw's account Carnegie comes across as much more of a "businessman" than an "industrialist". His initial fortune was made in his twenties through insider dealings from his role as a key aide to railroad magnates who were making their own fortunes by tricks such as awarding lucrative contracts to companies that they themselves owned. But starting in his late twenties Carnegie did build a mighty iron and steel empire, with remorseless business logic.Carnegie in his middle age inevitably comes across as a great hypocrite. He had given speeches extolling the virtues of unions and of the need for employers to treat workers fairly, but he went on to mercilessly repress workers at his own plants, including cutting wages, extending hours, and suppressing all unions. He denied responsibility for the climactic Homestead lockout which was designed to break the steel unions, but Nasaw shows that he was kept fully informed and must have either made or supported the key decisions. Nasaw explains how Carnegie rationalized this harshness to himself, as a necessary part of business and of social evolution, but still his deeds fit poorly with his words.However in his later life, especially after selling Carnegie Steel, Carnegie became indisputably a genuine exuberant philanthropist. He lived well (very well indeed!) but he also gave away a vast fortune, founding an astounding 2500 libraries, plus many Institutions, the Carnegie Hall, various Hero funds, and many peace organizations.In his latter years, Carnegie's incessant lobbying for international peace is truly striking. Nasaw sometimes deprecates Carnegie's endless expressions of optimism in the face of repeated failures and his ceaseless lobbying of presidents, monarchs, and statesmen. But given that Carnegie believed war would be a disaster (as WWI proved all too well) and was committed to doing whatever he could for peace, then his behavior seems both entirely rationale and commendable. Yes, he was often grasping at straws and he did aggressively pester and "name drop" to try to move things forward, but given the stakes it is difficult to condemn his donning of a bold face and his trying again and again in the face of failures and cynicism. Alas, his efforts were probably inevitably doomed, but given his beliefs and commitment, it seems hard to criticize him for trying as hard as he did.Overall, Carnegie's life is a fascinating one, involving many contrasts and apparent contradictions. Nasaw captures it well and succeeds in making Carnegie a surprisingly sympathetic character, without concealing his flaws.

David Nasaw has written an insightful biography, comprehensive in scope, revealing an apparently paradoxical figure who lived a life true to his worldview.The emphasis is on "apparency;" for, when one considers the man as of his time it is not absurd that he should have advocated a "Gospel of Wealth," his apologia for accumulation. Therein he argued that it is a law of nature that some should accumulate wealth greater ever than they ever can expend on themselves while most others have so little in comparison. For Carnegie, the paradox is resolved by proper administration of one's wealth; the many may be benefitted by the few.The law of nature that propelled Carnegie's philosophy of accumulation was Spencerian; through evolutionary processes the fittest not only survive, they prosper. But, as the fit must recognize, progress may be realized to the degree that they act responsibly. To Carnegie, philanthropy is most reasonable. And, give he did, as few others have before or since.Neither is there genuine paradox in a man who advocated that the laboring class be less fettered in the act of uniting in common purpose while, at the same time, restricting access to unionization of his enterprises; pushing for greater profits at the expense of jobs; constructing libraries for the workers while demanding a seven day per week-twelve hour shift. For Carnegie, greater profits contribute to expansive philanthropy. Expansive philanthropy benefits a greater number.Lastly, it is not paradoxical that one who would oversee an enterprise almost brought to ruin (at least in public opinion) by Pinkerton suppression of a strike would, in time, become one of the foremost proponents of world peace, principally through methods of arbitration. When the motive is constant - i.e., benevolence in the interest of progress - there is no contradiction.Carnegie is a fascinating study and Nasaw has performed well. Although a massive biography (by today's standards), the author has captured the man. And, in the process, he has, in part, explained the spirit of Carnegie's age. Note the following: "When news reached America of the slaughter of the Russian Jews in 1905, Carnegie joined in the relief effort by sending a check for $10,000 to his friend Oscar Straus. 'The terrible crimes being committed,' he wrote on November 11, 'are such as might lead one to lose faith in humanity. . . .Do not be discouraged, however. Under the law of evolution, we must steadily, though slowly, march upward, and finally reach the true conception of the brotherhood of man.'"(p.674). Thus was his creed; he acted and dreamed accordingly.This work indirectly expains much more than Andrew Carnegie; it contributes to one's understanding of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. There are lessons to learn from those like Carnegie who hoped, yet, whose hope was, fairly reckoned, illusory, lacking foundation (as the 20th century has illustrated). There are also lessons to learn from one who acted immeasurably in conformity with an unabashed love (albeit the author intimates more selfish motives) for his fellow man.

I thought it was a great book. Very detailed and down to earth. It was not pretty in some respects as David Nasaw did no paper over the cracks and wrote the truth about Carnegie and not like his own autobiography as he made himself out to be some kind of saint I felt.

this was a very inspirational piece of literature. Very well written and filled with many practical examples.Will highly recommend it.

The book was good quality and it was delivered very quickly.

A fascinating account of a most remarkable man.

This book has to read by everyone,it's Our social history about the people of the time,and a more Rags to Riches story like no other.