The Robber Barons: The Great American Capitalists, 1861-1901 (Harvest Book)

Originally published in the early 1930s, this book remains a classic account of the period; it is also a very fine read, and still relevant to today's Wall Street. That said, I should perhaps have deducted one star for the plethora of typos.

As yet unread, but no doubt it will provide a useful insight into the financial activities that were the order of the day.

This book was first written in 1934 and remains the definite description of the Robber Barons. The author describes the Barons in the context of the political, social, and industrial trends of the time. It describes how they were shaped by the industries they were in, and by the competitive forces set in motion by each other. It is very well written, well researched, and the stories are simply fascinating.This book has a certain bias against the Barons and the laissez-faire system that created them, but it is not overwhelming. Keep in mind that it was written in the depths of the Great Depression, when many people questioned their faith in the free market system. While the author describes their many great accomplishments, he also spends plenty of time on their weaknesses and excesses, especially in the latter chapters. But remember, even the most admirable Barons also bribed politicians, abused their workers, and cheated ordinary investors by manipulating their own stock. Many of their actions would be illegal today.This book contains a lot of detail (though if you are like me, you will soon be wanting more). It is not a light book for a lazy Sunday afternoon. But if you are really interested, this is the place to start.

This was written in 1934 or so, and I think it coulod have benefited from some more modern scholarship, but mostly from better knowledge of the government alteration of the markets. I think (not sure) that John Rockefelleer, James Hiill, Cornelius Vanderb ilt were NOT robbers, but shrewd cutthroat businessmen, who defrauded no one and HUGELY benefited the consumer. There is a better bookout there ; Burton Folsom, "The Myth of the Robber Barons"

excellent