Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.

Three generations of historians have failed to uncover the actual character of the iconic John D. Rockefeller, Sr., the first billionaire in history and the head of the most well-known family in America. We now have a history of the mogul "etched with uncommon objectivity and literary grace... as detailed, balanced, and psychologically insightful a portrait of the tycoon as we may ever have" (Kirkus Reviews) thanks to Ron Chernow, the National Book Award-winning biographer of the Morgan and Warburg banking families. Titan is the first comprehensive biography derived from unfettered access to Rockefeller's very abundant archive of documents. The book is a groundbreaking release that contains shocking insights that will permanently change our perception of this most mysterious businessman.The son of a bigamous, flashy snake-oil salesman and a religious, straitlaced mother, Rockefeller ascended from humble beginnings to become the wealthiest man in the world by founding Standard Oil, the most formidable and feared monopoly in America. Known as "the Octopus" by hordes of investigative journalists, the trust processed and sold around 90% of the oil produced in the United States.Probably the most contentious businessman in the history of our country was Rockefeller. Critics said that his empire was founded on dishonest business practices, including widespread railroad cooperation, predatory pricing, industrial espionage, and massive governmental official bribery. The behemoth evaded scrutiny for almost thirty years until Teddy Roosevelt and his trustbusters launched an extensive campaign to expose Standard Oil.Chernow breaks out from the cliché of the cold-blooded monster to paint an unforgettable human portrayal of a quirky, eccentric unique while presenting a wealth of fresh proof of Rockefeller's wrongdoings. A devoted Baptist and supporter of temperance, Rockefeller was the most generous donor of money, choosing to donate to the University of Chicago, the Rockefeller Foundation, and what is now Rockefeller University, among other philanthropies. Titan synthesizes his public and private life and reveals a number of family scandals, tragedies, and misfortunes that have never previously come to light, painting a beautifully nuanced picture of an intriguing, multifaceted guy.The life narrative of John D. Rockefeller encapsulates a critical juncture in American history, tracing the abrupt transition after the Civil War from tiny enterprises to the emergence of massive conglomerates that permanently altered the course of the country. Titan transforms Rockefeller's life into a vivid tapestry of American society in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with cameos by Joseph Pulitzer, William Randolph Hearst, Jay Gould, William Vanderbilt, Ida Tarbell, Andrew Carnegie, Carl Jung, J. Pierpont Morgan, William James, Henry Clay Frick, Mark Twain, and Will Rogers. The fact that Ron Chernow tells this epic story with all the grandeur, drama, and wisdom that this weighty topic merits is his great achievement.

taken from the hardback copy.