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The Lords of Creation: The History of America's 1 Percent (Forbidden Bookshelf) Paperback – October 31, 2017
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A “stimulating” account of the capitalists who changed America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, setting the stage for the 1929 crash and Great Depression (Kirkus Reviews).
In the decades following the Civil War, America entered an era of unprecedented corporate expansion, with ultimate financial power in the hands of a few wealthy industrialists who exploited the system for everything it was worth. The Rockefellers, Fords, Morgans, and Vanderbilts were the “lords of creation” who, along with like-minded magnates, controlled the economic destiny of the country, unrestrained by regulations or moral imperatives. Through a combination of foresight, ingenuity, ruthlessness, and greed, America’s giants of industry remolded the US economy in their own image. They established their power and authority, ensuring that they—and they alone—would control the means of production, transportation, energy, and commerce—creating the conditions for the stock market collapse of 1929 and the Great Depression that followed.
As modern society continues to be affected by wealth inequality and cycles of boom and bust, it’s as important as ever to understand the origins of financial disaster, and the policies, practices, and people who bring them on. The Lords of Creation, first published when the catastrophe of the 1930s was still painfully fresh, is a fascinating story of bankers, railroad tycoons, steel magnates, speculators, scoundrels, and robber barons. It is a tale of innovation and shocking exploitation—and a sobering reminder that history can indeed repeat itself.
- Print length444 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherOpen Road Media
- Publication dateOctober 31, 2017
- Dimensions5.25 x 0.9 x 8 inches
- ISBN-101504047877
- ISBN-13978-1504047876
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“A diligent and perceptive reporter. . . . So much of what he has to say is almost eerie to read [today].” —Forbes
“A grand job—good reading, and a challenge to sound thinking. . . . A thoughtful and stimulating book, which shows careful research into facts and human motives, a thoughtful viewing of cause and effect, and a constructive approach to controversial subjects.” —Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Frederick Lewis Allen (1890–1954) was born in Boston, studied at Groton, and graduated from Harvard in 1912. He was assistant and associate editor of Harper’s Magazine for eighteen years, then the magazine’s sixth editor in chief for twelve years until his death. In addition to The Lords of Creation, Allen was well known for Only Yesterday, Since Yesterday, and The Big Change.
Product details
- Publisher : Open Road Media (October 31, 2017)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 444 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1504047877
- ISBN-13 : 978-1504047876
- Item Weight : 1.16 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.25 x 0.9 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #325,620 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #135 in Venture Capital (Books)
- #706 in Economic History (Books)
- #1,044 in Biographies of Business & Industrial Professionals
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Customers find the book informative and interesting. They describe it as a good primer on the subject for those new to it. The writing is well-written and easy to understand.
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Customers find the book informative and interesting. They say it provides a good primer on the subject for someone new to it. The book is relevant today and provides good insight into how American businesses grew during the first third of the 20th century.
"...But even more striking were references and descriptions of practices that so closely mirror what's happening in the world in 2024...." Read more
"...This book reads easily and is still very relevant today. Besides its historical interest, it rings many bells of warning about the current situation...." Read more
"A detailed account of the financial expansion in the U.S. from the 1890's up to the Depression...." Read more
"...This book technically provides insight as to the methods the super rich and influential control the economies of the world...." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and a good primer on current tax issues. They say it's worth having.
"...to the editors of Forbidden Bookshelf for bringing back this great book." Read more
"...This is a good book, well written. The authors account of NYC high society and the Panic of 1907 was riveting. He is a fine writer...." Read more
"...Their enrichment is all that matters. This book is a good study on what is going on right now in 2017 with the tax codes changes being proposed by..." Read more
"Great read, informative and interesting." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's writing quality. They find it well-written, easy to read, and comprehensive. The narrator is great, and the story is interesting and historic.
"...This book reads easily and is still very relevant today. Besides its historical interest, it rings many bells of warning about the current situation...." Read more
"...This is a good book, well written. The authors account of NYC high society and the Panic of 1907 was riveting. He is a fine writer...." Read more
"...Allen was such a gifted historical writer, if you have any interest in this period of time in American history then read all of Allen's books, you..." Read more
"An easy-to-read, yet comprehensive, overview of the vast expansion of corporations and finance in the US between the 1890’s and the 1930’s...." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2024A fascinating account of the American economy for the first third of the 20th Century. But even more striking were references and descriptions of practices that so closely mirror what's happening in the world in 2024. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2014This book offers insights into the predominent role of financial and corporate elites in the development of the American economy during the early 20th century. Notably, it deals with the relations of these elites with labour and government; the excesses such as corporate pyramiding, extreme leverage, insider dealings and market manipulation that led to the great depression; and the tug-of-war between pro-business laissez-faire on the one hand and government intervention and regulations on the other, particularly during the Roosevelt era. This book reads easily and is still very relevant today. Besides its historical interest, it rings many bells of warning about the current situation. Congratulations to the editors of Forbidden Bookshelf for bringing back this great book.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2024I think the forward and introduction to the book overstates the thesis that this book was out of print because the oligarch's wanted it that way.
I read the book hoping for an explosive revelation that would change my worldview on the time period. This is a good book, well written. The authors account of NYC high society and the Panic of 1907 was riveting. He is a fine writer. Yet there is no information here that lives up to the hype placed on it by Crispin Miller and Morgenson.
I recommend the book though. Do not be dissuaded. You will learn a lot about the mechanics of the various financial schemes and speculations of the Street.
But be advised, this book was written in 1935. Hoover was not a laissez faire guy at all. The author takes a hardline on laissez faire, but still recognizes that Hoover and the oligarchs never took the laissez faire medicine. Fair enough. The author also skips over how the economy got through the depression of '21. Why? This omission is somewhat fatal to his analysis of Hoover, because that was regarded as a true laissez-faire approach to a depression
Also, being that this book was written in '35 - on one hand we get a real insight into the sentiments of Roosevelt in his time. On the other hand, we know so much more about Roosevelt's New Deal 90 years later that a student should take of the authors claims about him with a grain of salt.
If you're interested in a hardline laissez faire critique of Hoover you should read Rothbard's America's Great Depression. I know this may be jarring to some, but if you want to know how a dyed in the wool free market partisan reads Hoover, it will challenge you.
Also, for Roosevelt consider the book- the Three New Deals by Schivelbusch.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2012A detailed account of the financial expansion in the U.S. from the 1890's up to the Depression. In spite of the complexities of this subject Allen manages to make it understandable and interesting. There are so many similarities to what is happening in our country today that it should be a must read for everyone. I'll be saving this one for future reading and reference. Allen was such a gifted historical writer, if you have any interest in this period of time in American history then read all of Allen's books, you won't be disappointed.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2017When we look at how big business views it's role in US capitalism, the view is uncomfortable at best. This book technically provides insight as to the methods the super rich and influential control the economies of the world. Their enrichment is all that matters. This book is a good study on what is going on right now in 2017 with the tax codes changes being proposed by congress.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2014An easy-to-read, yet comprehensive, overview of the vast expansion of corporations and finance in the US between the 1890’s and the 1930’s. There are fascinating vignettes of selected “captains of industry and finance”, many of whom were born into poverty but had the skill and the drive to learn the financial tricks and became billionaires. Financial malpractice was egregious and rampant and lead directly and repeatedly to economic crises. Lessons learned, if any, were soon forgotten or ignored. Today, in 2014, one can see the same self-serving financial greed in action. Excessive speculation in dubious financial instruments follows a pattern similar to the excesses of the 1920’s.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2014This book is full with information and is brilliantly written. A little difficult read at times.
There is a way to generate income by creating a real value. It takes effort and talent and imagination and inspiration. Much more effective, quicker and powerful way to enrichment is by plundering or stealing from someone who creates a real value. It worked this way since before Roman times. You can check Tacitus: "Annals". The model Morgan applied: to borrow from the public and then let the expanding industry pay off his debt and generate profit was exhausted when the railroad and metal industry reached high noon. So this book takes us to the dawn of the Military Industrial Complex, when Big Money experienced a spike in profits due to the First World War, feeding the carnage in Europe. This model works well.
Top reviews from other countries
- JRSReviewed in Canada on December 1, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
A great, terrifying book
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in the United Kingdom on May 31, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly timely
Despite being published more than 80 years ago it wouldn't take much editing to make this read like a contemporary commentary. The prose is a tad old fashioned but if you replace references to steel and rail conglomerates with big tech and social media companies .. As for pyramiding, holding companies etc we have the panama papers and other such leaks as confirmation that times change but the tricks and techniques in the business world stay the same.
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TremereReviewed in France on January 13, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent livre qui explique très bien ce que peu bien peu savent
Très bon livre qui expliquent qui contrôle le monde avec des documents prouvant les dires de l'auteur, ainsi que des explications claires, que toutes personnes cultivées sait plus ou moins, mais là, c'est clair et précis, expliqué dans toute sa complexité. Il faut savoir que ce livre a été caché (mais non interdit) par le gouvernement américain : je l'ai découvert à grâce un professeur d'économie de l'université de Columbia aux USA, qui montrait sur RT TV, les cinq livres les plus importants (pour le gouvernement) qui étaient cachés au grand public, car trop gênant : j'ai donc acheté un de ceux-là, avant qu'il ne disparaisse complètement de la distribution. Amazon a déjà retiré 76 livres révisionnistes gênants pour la communauté juive, suite à leurs pressions ; maintenant Amazon va lentement retirer d'autres livres gênants : achetez-le avant qu'il ne soit trop tard... La liberté d'expression commence à disparaître partout (le dernier rapport international sur ce sujet rapporte que la France est un des pays dont la liberté d'expression est la plus réprimé au monde !!), et la Censure ne cesse de grandir partout (Google, Youtube, Facebook, et même Amazon...).
- Roger TurnerReviewed in Germany on April 25, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read
Eye-opening review of the way that the rich get rich and stay that way, usually at the expense of the rest of us...
- Joanne Sandra RussoReviewed in Australia on November 8, 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
A clear, easy-to-understand book about finance. Fascinating recent history