The Business of America
By John Steele Gordon
Touchstone Books, 1999-6th ed - 365 pages

This book didn’t cause me to have a “paradigm shift” or see the world from a different perspective but I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Those interested in American history or economic history should  enjoy this book.  I loved reading the book because Mr. Gordon’s work clearly shows his in-depth knowledge of American history and his excellent storytelling capabilities. 

These 47 articles, gathered from Gordon's 10 years as an American Heritage columnist, cover the post-Revolutionary period through the 1950s.  Each article is written, as the title portrays, from an American perspective.  Mr. Gordon talks, for example, about the railroads and the characters behind them in the American boom but rarely does he specifically address who invented a product / technology, unless an American did.  Additionally, I found that little attention was given to air conditioning, as it has impacted migration patterns dramatically in the U.S.  

 

About the Author: John Steele Gordon is a business history columnist for American Heritage and a commentator for PRI Marketplace.  One of his books, the Great Game, was made into a CNBC special with Gordon providing a great deal of the commentary.