Sons of Wichita

How the Koch Brothers Became America's Most Powerful and Private Dynasty

By: Daniel Schulman

Narrated by: Allen O'Reilly

Like the Rockefellers and the Kennedys, the Kochs are one of the most influential dynasties of the modern age, but they have never been the subject of a major biography... until now.

Not long after the death of his father, Charles Koch, then in his early 30s, discovered a letter the family patriarch had written to his sons. "You will receive what now seems to be a large sum of money," Fred Koch cautioned. "It may either be a blessing or a curse."

Fred's legacy would become a blessing and a curse to his four sons - Frederick, Charles, and fraternal twins David and Bill - who in the ensuing decades fought bitterly over their birthright, the oil and cattle-ranching empire their father left behind in 1967. Against a backdrop of scorched-earth legal skirmishes, Charles and David built Koch Industries into one of the largest private corporations in the world - bigger than Boeing and Disney - and they rose to become two of the wealthiest men on the planet.

Influenced by the sentiments of their father, who was present at the birth of the John Birch Society, Charles and David have spent decades trying to remake the American political landscape and mainline their libertarian views into the national bloodstream. They now control a machine that is a center of gravity within the Republican Party. To their supporters, they are liberating America from the scourge of Big Government. To their detractors, they are political "contract killers", as David Axelrod, President Barack Obama's chief strategist, put it during the 2012 campaign.

Bill, meanwhile, built a multi-billion dollar energy empire all his own, and earned notoriety as an America's Cup-winning yachtsman, a flamboyant playboy, and as a litigious collector of fine wine and Western memorabilia. Frederick lived an intensely private life as an arts patron, refurbishing a series of historic homes and estates.

Sons of Wichita traces the complicated lives and legacies of these four tycoons, as well as their business, social, and political ambitions. No matter where you fall on the ideological spectrum, the Kochs are one of the most influential dynasties of our era, but so little is publicly known about this family, their origins, how they make their money, and how they live their lives. Based on hundreds of interviews with friends, relatives, business associates, and many others, Sons of Wichita is the first major biography about this wealthy and powerful family - warts and all.

©2014 Daniel Schulman (P)2014 Hachette Audio

Good Business History

Good review of large private business in the US. Good review of trouble passing asset down the generations.

In depth portrayal of the uber rich and powerful Koch family

A real attempt is made to understand how each family members' character and ideas were shaped. Neither vilifies nor extolled. Also furthered my understanding of the Koch brand of Libertarianism.

Good book.

A very interesting book about the Koch family, which is also very well narrated.

Good read

Good book, lots to learn. Good book, lots to learn. Good book, lots to learn. Kansas residents should read it

A Great story of an American dynasty

Detailed and factual account of the turbulent and remarkable times of a family who created s storied business empire, contributed to the public good with generous donations and who remain controversial with their political views. All different, smart and very interesting people indeed. This book is a must read. (Listen)

The Koch brothers and their squabbles

If you could sum up Sons of Wichita in three words, what would they be?

Family, money, power

Who was your favorite character and why?

William, one of the twins--he had 5 children with 4 women, and 3 wives. He had serious issues with his brothers and it seemed to taint his entire life. I wanted to know more about what was going on inside his head.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extreme reaction except that I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.

lots of politics in this one

I bought the book hoping to hear about they're businesses but 70% was about how they have money in politics.

Good read too much politics not enough business

Great overview of the family upbringing talked too much about the political issues not enough on their business growth.

Great book

Having read both The Science of Success and Good Profit, it was nice to learn more of the family's history rather than just that of Koch Industries.

Fascinating!

Fascinating! I could not put it down. A well researched and evenly presented biography. Of the Koch family.