Samuel Bostaph is emeritus professor of economics at the University of Dallas.

Bostaph succinctly and effectively distills the career and economic context of steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, packing the punch of a book twice its length . . . After a brief overview of how to conceptualize entrepreneurship, the volume methodically follows Carnegie from childhood in Scotland to successes in business and philanthropic endeavors. Bostaph shows that much of Carnegie’s early success relied on questionable insider dealings with Pennsylvania Railroad colleagues but notes that his ability to adopt innovations, motivate subordinates, relentlessly cut costs, and efficiently coordinate markets was the ultimate cause of his phenomenal successes. The best chapter explains that condemnations of Carnegie’s labor relations (especially during the Homestead Strike) are ill-founded, yet Bostaph is quick to criticize Carnegie’s self-deluded misrepresentations and mistreatment of his key partner, Henry Clay Frick. Although the Kirznerian 'market process' approach adopted by Bostaph is useful, the dynamic Carnegie who emerges in this biography comes across as a truly 'unique being' along the lines described by Joseph Schumpeter. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels.

• Chapter One Entrepreneurial, Entrepreneurship, and EntrepreneursChapter Two Early Life in ScotlandChapter Three Youth in Western PennsylvaniaChapter Four On the Road to WealthChapter Five A Man of SteelChapter Six Labor RelationsChapter Seven Empire BuilderChapter Eight PhilanthropistChapter Nine A Summing Up

Samuel Bostaph is emeritus professor of economics at the University of Dallas.

Bostaph succinctly and effectively distills the career and economic context of steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, packing the punch of a book twice its length . . . After a brief overview of how to conceptualize entrepreneurship, the volume methodically follows Carnegie from childhood in Scotland to successes in business and philanthropic endeavors. Bostaph shows that much of Carnegie’s early success relied on questionable insider dealings with Pennsylvania Railroad colleagues but notes that his ability to adopt innovations, motivate subordinates, relentlessly cut costs, and efficiently coordinate markets was the ultimate cause of his phenomenal successes. The best chapter explains that condemnations of Carnegie’s labor relations (especially during the Homestead Strike) are ill-founded, yet Bostaph is quick to criticize Carnegie’s self-deluded misrepresentations and mistreatment of his key partner, Henry Clay Frick. Although the Kirznerian 'market process' approach adopted by Bostaph is useful, the dynamic Carnegie who emerges in this biography comes across as a truly 'unique being' along the lines described by Joseph Schumpeter. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels.

• Chapter One Entrepreneurial, Entrepreneurship, and EntrepreneursChapter Two Early Life in ScotlandChapter Three Youth in Western PennsylvaniaChapter Four On the Road to WealthChapter Five A Man of SteelChapter Six Labor RelationsChapter Seven Empire BuilderChapter Eight PhilanthropistChapter Nine A Summing Up

Samuel Bostaph is emeritus professor of economics at the University of Dallas.

Bostaph succinctly and effectively distills the career and economic context of steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, packing the punch of a book twice its length . . . After a brief overview of how to conceptualize entrepreneurship, the volume methodically follows Carnegie from childhood in Scotland to successes in business and philanthropic endeavors. Bostaph shows that much of Carnegie’s early success relied on questionable insider dealings with Pennsylvania Railroad colleagues but notes that his ability to adopt innovations, motivate subordinates, relentlessly cut costs, and efficiently coordinate markets was the ultimate cause of his phenomenal successes. The best chapter explains that condemnations of Carnegie’s labor relations (especially during the Homestead Strike) are ill-founded, yet Bostaph is quick to criticize Carnegie’s self-deluded misrepresentations and mistreatment of his key partner, Henry Clay Frick. Although the Kirznerian 'market process' approach adopted by Bostaph is useful, the dynamic Carnegie who emerges in this biography comes across as a truly 'unique being' along the lines described by Joseph Schumpeter. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels.

• Chapter One Entrepreneurial, Entrepreneurship, and EntrepreneursChapter Two Early Life in ScotlandChapter Three Youth in Western PennsylvaniaChapter Four On the Road to WealthChapter Five A Man of SteelChapter Six Labor RelationsChapter Seven Empire BuilderChapter Eight PhilanthropistChapter Nine A Summing Up