Titan
The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.
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Titan
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Narrated by:
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Grover Gardner
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By:
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Ron Chernow
About this listen
John D. Rockefeller, Sr., history’s first billionaire and the patriarch of America’s most famous dynasty, is an icon whose true nature has eluded three generations of historians. Now Ron Chernow, a National Book Award-winning biographer, gives us a detailed and insightful history of the mogul. Titan is the first full-length biography based on unrestricted access to Rockefeller’s exceptionally rich trove of papers. A landmark publication full of startling revelations, the book indelibly alters our image of this most enigmatic capitalist.
Born the son of a flamboyant, bigamous snake-oil salesman and a pious, straitlaced mother, Rockefeller rose from rustic origins to become the world’s richest man by creating America’s most powerful and feared monopoly, Standard Oil. Branded "the Octopus" by legions of muckrakers, the trust refined and marketed nearly 90 percent of the oil produced in America.
Rockefeller was likely the most controversial businessman in our nation’s history. Critics charged that his empire was built on unscrupulous tactics: grand-scale collusion with the railroads, predatory pricing, industrial espionage, and wholesale bribery of political officials. The titan spent more than 30 years dodging investigations until Teddy Roosevelt and his trustbusters embarked on a marathon crusade to bring Standard Oil to bay.
While providing abundant evidence of Rockefeller’s misdeeds, Chernow discards the stereotype of the cold-blooded monster to sketch an unforgettably human portrait of a quirky, eccentric original. A devout Baptist and temperance advocate, Rockefeller gave money more generously than anyone before him - his chosen philanthropies included the Rockefeller Foundation, the University of Chicago, and what is today Rockefeller University. Titan presents a finely nuanced portrait of a fascinating, complex man, synthesizing his public and private lives and disclosing numerous family scandals, tragedies, and misfortunes that have never before come to light.
John D. Rockefeller’s story captures a pivotal moment in American history, documenting the dramatic post–Civil War shift from small business to the rise of giant corporations that irrevocably transformed the nation. With cameos by Joseph Pulitzer, William Randolph Hearst, Jay Gould, William Vanderbilt, Ida Tarbell, Andrew Carnegie, Carl Jung, J. P. Morgan, William James, Henry Clay Frick, Mark Twain, and Will Rogers, Titan turns Rockefeller’s life into a vivid tapestry of American society in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is Ron Chernow’s signal triumph that he writes this monumental saga with all the sweep, drama, and insight that this giant subject deserves.
©2004 Ron Chernow (P)2013 Blackstone AudioListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Titan
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Simon
- 01-05-18
A True Titan
This book is a must listen, a truley worthwhile listen letting us in to the world of John D Rockefeller and the world of Standard Oil.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- JCM
- 29-06-20
An Unexpected Pleasure
I took a punt on this book and I am very glad I did. I enjoy both the author and narrator so thought I'd be in safe hands but the story of JDR was better than I could have hoped for. There are far better and more detailed reviews than I can give below but if you fancy something different I can thoroughly recommend this book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Norris
- 29-03-20
Wow
Can’t believe I’d say this, but I didn’t want it to end ever after 35 hours! Fantastic
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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- Neil
- 12-04-18
Villain or Hero
John D Rockerfeller, senior wicked capitalisation of global markets while performing the greatest philanthropic deeds the world has ever seen.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Paul Hennigan
- 28-04-22
What a biography.
I can't believe how much I loved this biography. I cried when Senior dies at the end, only a master biographer could do that. What a life, what a book. The narration was absolutely brilliant. Thank you.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- James Gorman
- 07-07-14
The Unknown Man
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I would definitely recommend this book to a friend who enjoys history or business. It is an incredibly detailed account of how John D. Rockefeller rose from a humble beginning to become the richest man to ever walk the face of this earth. Ron Chernow goes into details that I had never known about Rockefeller, including his sleezy father and his strict Baptist following.
Any additional comments?
This book is incredibly long, but I was hooked to it. I would listen to it on the way to work, at the gym, and at night lying on my couch. There is so much detail in it, that you feel like you are there watching Rockefeller grow old. John D. Rockefeller is usually portrayed as an evil man by most accounts. This book did go into some of his lesser moments, but it was an absolutely fair depiction of the man and the greatness that he was able to achieve.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in business, especially in starting your own company.
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16 people found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 07-07-20
brilliant!
great book, and even greater man!
This book broadens your borders of what is possible.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Paschal
- 15-01-17
Gambler
This 35 hour audio book is 7 hours longer than the extremely long Andrew Carnagie book that I also listened to.
I preferred this book and I got to like John D more than Andrew.
One would almost need to be retired to get time to listen to these books.
I suppose it is important to be thorough for historical reasons as they are all real people.
It is balanced and shows both sides of this great man.
He was very much a gambler but did not like to take any risks.
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- dale
- 17-03-21
Gripping
Learn to be a master accountant and businessman from real life experience.
Very good book.
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- Maximilian B.
- 05-09-22
Loved it
I learned a lot. Definitely a classic. Will have to read again in the future.
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