June 07, 2023
Best andrew carnegie biography
During my research, I examined five sources, including a Reddit discussion on best biographies and memoirs, a list of the top 10 best books on Andrew Carnegie from the Brooksy Society, user reviews on Goodreads, Amazon reviews of a popular Carnegie biography by David Nasaw, and a detailed biography of Carnegie on the Encyclopedia Britannica website. There was some consensus regarding David Nasaw's biography, "Andrew Carnegie," as a comprehensive and insightful portrayal of Carnegie's life. Other sources provided additional recommendations, but the majority of the praise and discussions were focused on Nasaw's biography.
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Andrew Carnegie by David Nasaw
"Carnegie, the son of an impoverished linen weaver, moved to Pittsburgh at the age of thirteen."
"I really enjoyed David Nasaw's book... 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."
The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie
Carnegie by Peter Krass
The Gospel of Wealth by Andrew Carnegie
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"https://brooksysociety.com/the-10-best-books-on-andrew-carnegie/"
- Andrew Carnegie is considered one of the most consequential figures in American history.
- Carnegie is best known for his achievements in the American steel industry in the late 19th century and for becoming one of the wealthiest men in history.
- In the last 18 years of his life, he gave away almost 90 percent of his wealth to charities, foundations, and universities.
- He founded Carnegie Mellon University, built Carnegie Hall, and established 1,600 libraries across the country.
- David Nasaw wrote a biography titled Andrew Carnegie that tells the story of Carnegie’s entire life. It explains how Carnegie made his early fortune, what motivated him to give it all away, and his efforts towards world peace. It describes his friendships with presidents and prime ministers and how he used them to try and prevent disaster.
- The Tycoons by Charles R. Morris is a book that tells the story of four prominent men - Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J.P. Morgan - who were the giants of the Gilded Age. It explains how they built an industrial behemoth and a country of middle-class consumers.
- Andrew Carnegie’s Mental Dynamite by Napoleon Hill is based on an epic conversation with Andrew Carnegie that took place in 1908. Napoleon Hill spent twenty years collating a formula that propelled people of all backgrounds to happiness, harmony, and prosperity. The book has three major principles: self-discipline, learning from defeat, and the Golden Rule applied for developing rewarding relationships, peace of mind and a strengthened consciousness.
- The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie tells the story of Carnegie’s life, including how he immigrated from Scotland to America at the age of 13, his humble beginnings as a bobbin factory worker, and how he went on to amass an unprecedented fortune and become one of the wealthiest men in history. He writes about his philosophy of philanthropy and how he gave away more than 90 percent of his wealth for the good of humankind.
- Meet You in Hell by Les Standiford tells the story of Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and the bloody steelworkers’ strike that transformed their fabled partnership into a furious rivalry. It describes the majesty and danger of steel manufacturing, the rough-and-tumble of the business world, and the fraught relationship between “the world’s richest man” and the ruthless coke magnate to whom he entrusted his companies.
- Carnegie by Peter Krass reconstructs the life of Carnegie who used his wealth to ascend the world’s political stage,
"https://www.britannica.com/biography/Andrew-Carnegie"
The webpage titled “Andrew Carnegie | Biography, Company, Steel, Philanthropy, Books, & Facts” published on the Britannica website provides detailed information on the life and work of Andrew Carnegie. Here are the notes from the webpage that might be helpful to answer the query on the best Andrew Carnegie biography:
- Andrew Carnegie, born on November 25, 1835, was a Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist.
- His father was a handloom weaver who later became a factor, a middleman between linen weavers and merchants.
- As a boy, Carnegie attended the local parish school and then went to work at age 13 as a bobbin boy in a cotton factory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- Further, he worked for Pennsylvania Railroad and then the Western Union Telegraph Company.
- At the age of 24, Carnegie started his own business where he and his partners produced iron and steel.
- In 1901, he sold his steel company to J.P. Morgan for $480 million, making him one of the world’s richest people.
- Carnegie was a generous philanthropist and gave away most of his fortune, supporting organizations and causes such as libraries, education, world peace, and scientific research.
- Carnegie wrote several books, including “Triumphant Democracy” (1886), “The Gospel of Wealth” (1889), and “The Empire of Business” (1902).
- Carnegie’s philanthropy was guided by his belief that wealth brings with it a responsibility to use it to improve the state of the common people.
- The Carnegie Corporation of New York, created by Carnegie in 1911, gave away almost $3.7 billion (inflation-adjusted) to charitable causes and organizations.
- Carnegie died on August 11, 1919, at the age of 83.
- Carnegie’s legacy is still felt today in his contributions to education and public libraries, along with his ideas on philanthropy, wealth, and the responsibility that comes with great success.
Overall, the webpage is a valuable resource for getting a good understanding of Andrew Carnegie’s life, work, and contribution to society. Lastly, there is no mention of Reddit on the webpage, so it’s safe to assume that there is no information matching the query on the best Andrew Carnegie biography on Reddit on the site.
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"https://www.amazon.com/Andrew-Carnegie-David-Nasaw/dp/0143112449"
- The webpage is a book review for “Andrew Carnegie” by David Nasaw, published on Amazon.com;
- The book is a biography about the life of Scottish-American tycoon and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie;
- Reviewers offer opinions on the book, and many praise it for its comprehensive scope and revealing insight into Carnegie’s life;
- Many reviewers note that the book does not hide Carnegie’s flaws as a businessman, including his aggressive approach to unions and his role in suppressing worker rights;
- Other reviewers also mention the book’s focus on philanthropy, including its coverage of Carnegie’s donation of an astounding 2500 libraries, many other institutions, Carnegie Hall, and various peace organizations;
- Reviewers note that the book covers Carnegie’s life from boyhood in Scotland to his successful business ventures in Pittsburgh and beyond, and his advocacy for international peace;
- One reviewer comments on the book’s length, calling it one of the longest books they have ever read, but noting that every page was filled with extremely interesting knowledge;
- The same reviewer appreciates that the book portrays Carnegie as a complex man, who was always ready since a child to go to work and who was filled with unbridled optimism;
- Another reviewer notes that Nasaw’s writing is valuable, especially for Carnegie’s business adventures and his final peace activities;
- A few reviewers mention the contradictions in Carnegie’s beliefs and actions, such as his advocacy for worker’s rights but his restriction of access to unionization in his enterprises;
- Another reviewer mentions how Carnegie’s philosophy of philanthropy benefited a greater number, and how he thinks Carnegie’s creed was commitment to a philanthropic action in conformity with an unabashed love for his fellow man;
- One reviewer mentions that the book indirectly explains much more than Andrew Carnegie, it contributes to one’s understanding of the late 19th and early 20th centuries;
- In the UK, few reviewers rated the book highly and two appreciated how well the book was written and how practical it is.
- Reviewers also appreciated the quality of the book and the quick delivery.
- Several reviews reference specific pages or sections of the book that they found particularly compelling or informative;
- There are no Reddit recommendations for this book because the cited webpage is Amazon.com.
"https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5486.Andrew_Carnegie"
Relevant: True Importance: 8 Notes:
- The webpage contains three reviews of a biography on Andrew Carnegie written by different people on different dates.
- The first review was posted on February 15, 2018, and the reviewer raises a significant question about how Carnegie became rich, while also acknowledging the benefits of Carnegie’s philanthropy.
- According to the reviewer, Carnegie’s competitive advantage was his access to capital, which enabled him to buy successful steelworks and subsidiary industries, buy expertise, buy patent security, buy political support for armaments projects that required steel and to break strikes.
- The reviewer critiques the biography for not fully answering the question of how Carnegie got rich and questions the ethics of his behavior regarding acquiring wealth and philanthropy.
- The second review was posted on April 13, 2017, and the reviewer shares their mixed feelings about the character of Andrew Carnegie, describing him as a quirky fellow, talkative, and full of himself.
- The reviewer observes that Carnegie was highly focused on making money, and although he was dedicated to philanthropy, he mistreated his workers by not providing them with decent wages. The reviewer also highlights the perspective of Carnegie’s optimistic enthusiasm in support of world peace and arbitration that fell on deaf ears, making him an idealist as well as a hypocrite.
- The third review was posted on November 2, 2015, and describes the coverage of the full life and character of Andrew Carnegie in an 800-page biography. The reviewer highlights the author’s thorough research, lively presentation of the era and the personalities, and lucid writing style.
- The reviewer notes Carnegie’s humble beginnings in Scotland and his rise to becoming a rich businessman. Carnegie is recognised as a man of letters, who was forever optimistic and formed lasting friendships easily, but oblivious to the struggles of his workers.
- Carnegie’s limitations on overworking himself, his traveling and entertaining, and interest to implement the importance of time off were not extended to his factory workers.
- Carnegie is perceived as an indifferent boss who refused to give decent wages to his workers, despite his concern for returning his wealth to the poor being limited to philanthropy and endowments, rather than fundamental worker welfare.
- The author ultimately critiques the “quirky fellow” who engaged in forgetful attitudes towards the workers and promoted world peace while simultaneously exerting dominance over other individuals and institutions.
"Best Biographies / Memoirs"
- The webpage is a discussion on Reddit titled “Best Biographies / Memoirs”
- The post is a request for suggestions of biographies and memoirs of real-life people
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Some suggested books are:
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“Night” by Elie Wiesel
- A memoir of World War II concentration camps
- Suggested by a user with 5 karma points
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“West with the Night” by Beryl Markham
- A memoir of an adventurer in Kenya in the 1920s
- Suggested by a user with 5 karma points
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“Yeager: An Autobiography” by Chuck Yeager
- An adventure biography
- Suggested by a user with 5 karma points who expresses admiration for Chuck Yeager
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“The Glass Castle” by Jeanette Walls
- A memoir that describes the author’s childhood in a dysfunctional family
- Suggested by a user with 5 karma points
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“The End of Your Life Book Club” by Will Schwalbe
- A memoir recounting the author’s conversations with his mother while she undergoes chemotherapy and their shared passion for books
- Suggested by a user with 5 karma points
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Pablo Neruda’s memoirs
- Suggested by a user with 3 karma points who liked them as a teen
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“Bruce” by Peter Ames Carlin
- A biography of Bruce Springsteen
- Suggested by a user with 3 karma points who considers it the best biography about Springsteen
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The autobiography of Isadora Duncan
- Suggested by a user with 2 karma points who loved her personality and writing style
- The book describes Duncan’s life as an amazing and witty personality with some challenging and controversial opinions.
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“Eighty Days” by Matthew Goodman
- A biography of Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland as female journalists who went on separate trips around the world.
- Suggested by a user with 2 karma points who felt like they knew both women well
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“Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman” by Richard Feynman
- A memoir of the physicist Richard Feynman
- Suggested by a user with 2 karma points who praised Feynman’s sense of fascination of the world and need to discover
- “Theodora” by Paolo Cesare
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“Night” by Elie Wiesel
💭 Looking into
An overview of Andrew Carnegie's life and achievements
💭 Looking into
A list of the most acclaimed Andrew Carnegie biographies