Hershey

Milton S. Hershey's Extraordinary Life of Wealth, Empire, and Utopian Dreams

By: Michael D'Antonio

Narrated by: Jonathan Yen

The name Hershey evokes many things: chocolate bars, the company town in Pennsylvania, one of America's most recognizable brands. But who was the man behind the name? In this compelling biography, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michael D'Antonio gives us the real-life rags-to-riches story of Milton S. Hershey, a largely uneducated businessman whose idealistic sense of purpose created an immense financial empire, a town, and a legacy that lasts to this day.

Hershey, the son of a minister's daughter and an irresponsible father who deserted the family, began his career inauspiciously when the two candy shops he opened both went bankrupt. Undeterred, he started the Lancaster Caramel Company, which brought him success at last. Eventually, he sold his caramel operation and went on to perfect the production process of chocolate to create a stable, consistent bar with a long shelf life...and an American icon was born.

Hershey was more than a successful businessman - he was a progressive thinker who believed in capitalism as a means to higher goals. He built the world's largest chocolate factory and a utopian village for his workers on a large tract of land in rural Pennsylvania and used his own fortune to keep his workers employed during the Great Depression. In addition, he secretly willed his fortune to a boys' school and orphanage, both of which now control a vast endowment.

Extensively researched and vividly written, Hershey is the fascinating story of this uniquely American visionary.

©2006 Michael D’Antonio (P)2019 Tantor

Critic reviews

“D'Antonio offers a balanced and genial look at the man who brought America the five-cent chocolate bar.” (Publishers Weekly)

interesting story about an invisible man

Milton S. Hershey created a company and a town within 100km of where I grew up, but I never heard about him. I did go to Hershey (the town) and to Hersheypark, but I never knew how fascinating the founder's life was. The events on this book took place during a fascinating era in America and there are many echoes into the world of today.

Americana

I felt the author had an edge against Hershey throughout even though he upheld M.S. Hershey’s vision.

Well, written

A perfect overview in history of Hershey. Not too in-depth with too much technology and just enough history involved. Well written, and an excellent book. Great listen.


Good but don’t really get a taste of who Hershey was as man

Good performance, well written book on the gilded age but I didn’t really get a taste of who Milton Hershey was as a person. A recent review said it talked a lot about the gilded age and such but understanding who Milton Hershey was as a person was lacking imho. It wasn’t like he didn’t try to get that info to us but I didn’t really taste it. At the end of book, I didn’t even know what Milton would have done in regards to the 2002 buyout with wrigley. Even though, the question was. What would Milton do

Quality Read of Hershey

This book was very well written, capturing the history leading up to Milton Hershey through to today’s more recent history. It also did a fantastic job of painting the picture of current events, and how Milton lived life in allowed you to see from a historic and personal view why he did what he did, and how he became his successful.