Titan

The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.

By: Ron Chernow

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 35 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

John D. Rockefeller, Sr., history’s first billionaire and the patriarch of America’s most famous dynasty, is an icon whose true nature has eluded three generations of historians. Now Ron Chernow, a National Book Award-winning biographer, gives us a detailed and insightful history of the mogul. Titan is the first full-length biography based on unrestricted access to Rockefeller’s exceptionally rich trove of papers. A landmark publication full of startling revelations, the book indelibly alters our image of this most enigmatic capitalist.

Born the son of a flamboyant, bigamous snake-oil salesman and a pious, straitlaced mother, Rockefeller rose from rustic origins to become the world’s richest man by creating America’s most powerful and feared monopoly, Standard Oil. Branded "the Octopus" by legions of muckrakers, the trust refined and marketed nearly 90 percent of the oil produced in America.

Rockefeller was likely the most controversial businessman in our nation’s history. Critics charged that his empire was built on unscrupulous tactics: grand-scale collusion with the railroads, predatory pricing, industrial espionage, and wholesale bribery of political officials. The titan spent more than 30 years dodging investigations until Teddy Roosevelt and his trustbusters embarked on a marathon crusade to bring Standard Oil to bay.

While providing abundant evidence of Rockefeller’s misdeeds, Chernow discards the stereotype of the cold-blooded monster to sketch an unforgettably human portrait of a quirky, eccentric original. A devout Baptist and temperance advocate, Rockefeller gave money more generously than anyone before him - his chosen philanthropies included the Rockefeller Foundation, the University of Chicago, and what is today Rockefeller University. Titan presents a finely nuanced portrait of a fascinating, complex man, synthesizing his public and private lives and disclosing numerous family scandals, tragedies, and misfortunes that have never before come to light.

John D. Rockefeller’s story captures a pivotal moment in American history, documenting the dramatic post–Civil War shift from small business to the rise of giant corporations that irrevocably transformed the nation. With cameos by Joseph Pulitzer, William Randolph Hearst, Jay Gould, William Vanderbilt, Ida Tarbell, Andrew Carnegie, Carl Jung, J. P. Morgan, William James, Henry Clay Frick, Mark Twain, and Will Rogers, Titan turns Rockefeller’s life into a vivid tapestry of American society in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is Ron Chernow’s signal triumph that he writes this monumental saga with all the sweep, drama, and insight that this giant subject deserves.

©2004 Ron Chernow (P)2013 Blackstone Audio

Phenomenal in-depth look at the world’s richest man

Fascinating read, though it gets hard to follow with so many characters. The physical book helps with pictures of the family and important figures. There are quite a few large vocabulary words that needed looking up, and again, having the physical book helps.

Excellent book!

This book was excellent. Very thorough, thoughtful. The book tells the story of Rockefeller in a fair and accurate way.

good historical biography

pretty thorough made interesting about the events over several decades. performance was well done as well

the man, the myth, and the facts

didn't like: points deducted for preface and introduction.
liked: fascinating story with so many details and information, sheds light on the man and dispels the myths and legends on a whole variety of fronts.

Incredible

Ron Chernow does an excellent job of presenting both sides of Rockefeller Sr.’s contradictory life. If you’re looking for a thorough, fair understanding of one of this world’s most incredible and terrible people, look no further.

Inspirational and educational

Loved this book I learned a lot about this confrontational character and about the history of our country.

Well written and well read. Definitely recommend.

Well written and well read. Definitely recommend.
Inspired me to look for other biography's. Very thorough but not boring.

Best voice ever

I was very nervous to down a 35 hour audible book. After all, it’s a semester course for crying out loud. But, Grover made it entertaining and I learned a ton of US History.

a great story of a man that can't be duplicated

I can't say enough on how much I loved the story and the reading of this great book

Fantastic!

Chernow is an excellent biographer, a new favorite. I learned so much that I can apply to my own life. Never a dull moment in his writing, I will read all his work on other historical figures!