From Wall Street to Main Street, John Brooks, longtime contributor to the New Yorker, brings to life in vivid fashion twelve classic and timeless tales of corporate and financial life in America.
What do the $350 million Ford Motor Company disaster known as the Edsel, the fast and incredible rise of Xerox, and the unbelievable scandals at General Electric and Texas Gulf Sulphur have in common? Each is an example of how an iconic company was defined by a particular moment of fame or notoriety; these notable and fascinating accounts are as relevant today to understanding the intricacies of corporate life as they were when the events happened. Stories about Wall Street are infused with drama and adventure and reveal the machinations and volatile nature of the world of finance. John Brooks's insightful reportage is so full of personality and critical detail that whether he is looking at the astounding market crash of 1962, the collapse of a well-known brokerage firm, or the bold attempt by American bankers to save the British pound, one gets the sense that history repeats itself. Five additional stories on equally fascinating subjects round out this wonderful collection that will both entertain and inform listeners. . . Business Adventures is truly financial journalism at its liveliest and best.
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“Johnny
Heller narrates twelve detailed essays on the history of business, written
between 1959 and 1968 for the New Yorker. In measured tones, Heller covers such
topics as the 1962 stock market crash, IRS code codification, Texas Gulf oil,
the Xerox machine, the creation and failure of the Edsel, the Piggly Wiggly
supermarket chain, General Electric, the New York Stock Exchange, Tennessee
Valley Authority administrator David Lilienthal, BF Goodrich, the Federal
Exchange versus the pound sterling, and more. Affecting a newscaster’s
matter-of-fact tone, Heller reports the events as if they occurred yesterday.
This audiobook is the perfect gift for listeners who love the history of
business and want to understand how technology evolved to what we know today.”
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AudioFile