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Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II Audiobook
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(4.05) - 129 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
New York Times best-selling author and Pulitzer Prize finalist Arthur Herman pens this fascinating look at how two businessmen turned the U.S. into a military powerhouse during World War II. In 1940, FDR asked General Motors CEO William Knudsen to oversee the production of guns, tanks, and planes needed for the war. Meanwhile, industrialist Henry J. Kaiser presided over the building of "Liberty ships"-vessels that came to symbolize America's great wartime output.
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"I'm still not sure why I enjoyed this book so much. I was fascinated by it, while at the same time wondered if I were the only person in the world who was. The premise of this book is a review of all the events that helped ready America to enter WWII with the power that would soon end it. In the meantime, so many new inventions, technologies and ideas were put into play that America emerged from the war as the world leader it was for so many years. This part was compelling to me, but so were the people who happened to "be at the right place at the right time" that brought it all to pass. These things could only have taken place in a country where freedom allowed it. It is freedom that fosters forward, productive thinking and doing. Without it, we stifle ourselves. Here is a prayer for the future, that we don't let go of the precious little freedom remaining to us."
— Sher (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Freedom’s Forge is the story of how the ingenuity and energy of the American private sector was turned loose to equip the finest military force on the face of the earth. In an era of gathering threats and shrinking defense budgets, it is a timely lesson told by one of the great historians of our time.”
— Donald Rumsfeld -
“A rarely told industrial saga, rich with particulars of the growing pains and eventual triumphs of American industry…Arthur Herman has set out to right an injustice: the loss, down history’s memory hole, of the epic achievements of American business in helping the United States and its allies win World War II.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“A rambunctious book that is itself alive with the animal spirits of the marketplace.”
— Wall Street Journal -
“The production statistics cited by Mr. Herman…astound.”
— Economist -
“[A] fantastic book.”
— Forbes -
“A compulsively readable tribute to ‘the miracle of mass production.’”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Invaluable insights regarding how government administrators and industry leaders worked together to produce a winning arsenal. Economists and general readers alike will benefit from its historical perspective.”
— Library Journal -
“A magnificent, controversial reexamination of the role of American business in winning WWII.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“World War II could not have been won without the vital support and innovation of American industry. Arthur Herman’s engrossing and superbly researched account of how this came about, and the two men primarily responsible for orchestrating it, is one of the last great, untold stories of the war.”
— Carlo D’Este, author of Patton: A Genius for War -
“It takes a writer of Arthur Herman’s caliber to make a story essentially based on industrial production exciting, but this book is a truly thrilling story of the contribution made by American business to the destruction of Fascism. With America producing two-thirds of the Allies’ weapons in World War II, the contribution of those who played a vital part in winning the war, yet who never once donned a uniform, has been downplayed or ignored for long enough. Here is their story, with new heroes to admire—such as William Knudsen and Henry Kaiser—who personified the can-do spirit of those stirring times.”
— Andrew Roberts, author of The Storm of War
Awards
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An Economist Best Book of the Year, 2012
Freedom's Forge Listener Reviews
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" Well researched, very interesting. Great narrative and a very fast read. I really enjoyed this. "
— Todd, 1/8/2014 -
" A very interesting look at American industrial capability and management in the pre-WWII and WWII years. Anyone who thinks the Government ran the whole show should read this and discover the truth about how both Government and private business contributed to this extraordinary story. "
— Stan, 1/6/2014 -
" Great book covering outstanding efforts in industry in the US to build the arsenal for World War II. "
— Robin, 12/11/2013 -
" Excellent.... "
— Michael, 12/11/2013 -
" Important history for a capitalist economy. What could be a boring subject was well presented by the author. His take on labor unions and the Roosevelts were most interesting. The production figures and like data got a little tedious toward the end. "
— William, 11/27/2013 -
" Lots of information to process in this book. Why isn't something in the Detroit area named after Bill Knudsen? There should be some kind of tribute to this amazing man. "
— Karen, 11/23/2013 -
" Great book so far. It's a page-turner about historical figures that until have faded into the background. Another great example of the "ordinary people who became extraordinary leaders" who built America and then helped save it fascism. "
— Aneil, 11/12/2013 -
" A fascinating and well told story of two industrialists who had the foresight and stepped up to the plate to prepare America for war before December of 1941. Knudsen and Kaiser were mavericks who knew how to harness the power of the American people. "
— Oldesq, 9/9/2013 -
" Written by one of my favorite professors at George Mason. I read it for my Progressive Book Club. Very interesting story of how private industry mobilized for production before WWII. A part of history that is overlooked. "
— Rae, 7/18/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this book. It's history of WWII and American business. "
— Debbie, 7/9/2013 -
" Really enjoyable read but unfortunately definitly has a pro big business agenda. It has me looking do more material on the subject. "
— Aaron, 6/16/2013 -
" I've read a lot of books on World War 2, but this one was from a different angle. Seeing what went into building the infrastructure to support the war efforts was neat. "
— Tim, 5/20/2013 -
" Excellent book and well written history. Read just like a novel "
— Diane, 4/26/2013
About Arthur Herman
Arthur Herman is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and the author of nine books, including How the Scots Invented the Modern World and Gandhi and Churchill, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
About John McDonough
John McDonough, one of AudioFile magazine’s Golden Voices, has narrated dozens of audiobooks, and won eleven Earphones Awards. He is known for his narrations of children’s books, including Robert McCloskey’s Centerburg Tales and Albert Marrin’s Commander-in-Chief Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Outside of his audiobook work, he has starred in a revival of Captain Kangaroo on the Fox Network.