No comments about The Man Who Saw the Future: William Patersons Vision of Free Trade.

3 comments about Isabella Greenway: An Enterprising Woman.

1. This is a biography that reads like an engrossing novel -- except that you'd never believe it as fiction. Isabella Greenway was not just enterprising; she was courageous, committed, visionary, passionate, a true pioneer. Miller, a brilliant historian and a graceful writer, makes Greenway and her era come alive. Each of her lives -- frontier woman, wife of two of Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders, close friend of Eleanor Roosevelt (their letters are touching and illuminating), one of the first women elected to Congress -- is riveting reading.



2. Despite my years of interest in Arizona history (primarily 19th century), I never knew anything about Isabella Greenway beyond "the wife of Jack Greenway" (who I also knew almost nothing about).
   
   What an oversight! She was a remarkable woman and this book does an excellent job of bringing her to life through the many letters that she wrote to her family, friends (such as Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt), and lovers.
   
   Growing up on the periphery of New York high society in the 1890s, she was the "poor cousin" who socialized with the Roosevelts, Astors and many others. Following her NY debut, she married a much older man and then spent fifteen years living on a ranch outside of Silver City, NM as she nursed him through a long struggle with tuberculosis. For several years their home was a pair of wooden-floored tents and she spent her days building callouses as she hauled water, chopped wood and tended the horses and chickens. What a change from New York society life! But, her letters reveal a spirit that remained positive throughout her ordeal and her family developed an intense love for the west and the ranching life.
   
   Her fortunes changed dramatically after the death of her husband when she married her longtime love, Jack Greenway, an extremely wealthy mining engineer and executive. Her happiness, however, was short-lived. Several years later, following her establishment of the Arizona Inn, she responded to a call to public service and ran successfully for Congress after transforming the Arizona Democratic party in her role as Arizona's National Democratic Committeewoman.
   
   Through her use of resources from the AHS' extensive Greenway collection (several hundred boxes of materials) Author Kristie Miller has revealed the most intimate thoughts of Isabella Greenway to compose a remarkable portrait of a most remarkable woman. It is very well written and reflects her meticulous research skills. Interestingly, while her public life is adequately covered, it was the glimpses into her personal relationships that intrigued me the most.



3. Isabella Greenway: An Enterprising Woman is the biography of an amazing woman, who played a crucial role in FDR's nomination for President. Married and widowed twice to two of Theodore Roosevelt's rough riders, an energetic businessperson who managed a ranch, an airline, and a resort, a leader who was elected to Congress as Arizona's only U.S. Representative, and was dubbed the "most talked-about woman" at the National Democratic Convention by the New York Times, her contribution to women's role in politics is nothing less than trailblazing. Illustrated with a scattering of black-and-white photographs, Isabella Greenway: An Enterprising Woman chronicles her life in a narrative manner as vibrant and evocative as Greenway herself must have once been.

No comments about Some Experiences of a Barrister\'s Life: Volume 2.

4 comments about Book of Daniel Drew.

1. This was a very interesting book right from the begining. Going through the life of Daniel Drew from a youth all the way to his 82nd year. He was an uneducated man who made it big. His life as a cattle drover and how he "watered the stock" are all in here. Numerous funny stories that will have the reader laughing out loud. From cattle to steamships to railroads his life was very diverse. It includes some details of his religous life which I would call his views questionable considering all the stories of how he lied to everyone about his business transactions even fellow church members. But it was not surprising considering he told how he had made a promise to donate $250,000 to start Drew Theological Seminary and then never could part with all of the money. Interesting enough is that the seminary is still around and very active.
   
   He did business with some of the biggest names of the time, Astor, Gould, Fisk, Vanderbilt. He details how Gould and Fisk became his partners as stock traders. There are stories of revenge and the ups and downs of his wall street career. Also some insightful wisdom of how the market works from an insiders perspective. It was a funny story and sad at the same time but one that I believe most will enjoy.



2. So you thought you knew everything about Wall Street. Think again! Here's one you can relax and really enjoy. Extremely entertaining history! An unusual book.

   "He Who Sells What Isn't His'n
   Must Buy it Back or Go to Pris'n."
   --"Uncle Dan'l" Drew

   For decades, the "sanctimonious and treacherous" Uncle Dan'l was the scourge of Wall Street.

   Here is the colorful story, told largely in his own salty language, of his early life as a cattle drover - his discovery of the profit to be gained from "watered" cattle which he later used in watering the stock in the famed Erie Railroad operation - his building of a fortune in Wall Street - his epic struggles with Commodore Vanderbilt and his unholy alliances with Gould, Fisk and Tweed.

   The BOOK OF DANIEL DREW has been out of print and virtually unobtainable for many years. It is a real classic of the stock market - a fascinating view of an era in American history and a period when anything went in the stock market - and, above all, an irresistible story of a country boy who grew up with this country and became one of its legendary figures.




3. This is where the expression "watered stock" comes from. The book is written from Drew's point of view - looking back over his life from age 80. Unlike Edwin Lefevre's characters, this guy is an unscrupulous arrogant !@#$%&. However, he is a !@#$%& with religion! A couple of annoying things: he writes the way uneducated people talk, rather than in correct English (eg "speckilation"); he uses quite objectional words to refer to dark skinned people (as was perhaps the custom in the 1850's or 1860's). Goes hand-in-hand with the work of Edwin Lefevre (Reminiscences of a Stock Operator, Wall Street Stories, The Golden Flood, The Plunderers, Sampson Rock of Wall Street) if you want a picture of the of the financial world of 100 years ago.




4. "The Book of Daniel Drew" is an amusing portrait of "Uncle Dan" Drew, founder of Drew University and well-known nineteenth-century Wall Street schemer.Written from Drew's point of view, the book describes his progress from a circus hand and cattle drover to his rivalry with Commodore Cornelieus Vanderbilt and alliance with Jim Fiskand Jay Gould - a partership made infamous by the attempt to corner the gold market in the mid-1800s.

   The book contains interesting tidbits of life in New York City when people still celebrated Evacuation Day, John Jacob Astor's brother worked as a butcher and Madison Square was covered by a pond! The book also explains the bovine origin of "watered stock."

   Drew's various schemes, plots and religious inclinations are treated with an ironic humor that quickly reveals him as a sly hypocrite.

   Bouck White claimed his book was based on a secret diary discovered after Drew's death. This claim has nver been verified and Drew's family threatened to sue for libel!

   Bouck White was a character in his own right. He was a Harvard-educated minster turned political agitator in pre-WWI New York. In later life, he built a "home-made" castle near Albany, New York. He made pottery and talked philosophy with curious vistors. He died in 1951.

2 comments about Brosnan: The Railroads' Messiah.

1. As unlikely as it may seem, the foundation for Norfolk Southern's management style can be found within the pages of these two books. Brosnan had quite a role in the earliest days of Norfolk Southern and certainly was no admirer of Norfolk And Western as Volume 2 makes abundantly clear.
   
   It is shocking to read of the horrid treatment so many received at the hands of this man. Morgret strives mightly to depict Brosnan in a positive light, but the autocratic manner in which he ruled Southern Railway comes through loud and clear.
   
   For all the blather about Brosnan's "innovations", the case could be made he was simply lucky to have the booming economy of the 1960's Deep South to work with. Al Perlman of New York Central was just as quick to adopt modernized technology and management styles, but was unsuccessful because of the economic situation within the northeast US during the same time period.
   
   This book is highly recommended as one of the best depictions of modern era railroad management.



2. The evolution of the railroad business was forseen and then affected more by one man than by the entire rest of the industry. The life-story of Bill Brosnan is a compelling account of a man obsessed with ensuring the long term viability of railroads in general and the Southern Railroad in particular. Some readers may be discouraged from reading this book due to its length, but for those who do start it in earnest, learning of Brosnan's timely intiatives and inventions and observing his unique management style make this book hard to put down. The book's sub-title, "The Railroad's Mesiah" is well put and if you have any interest in 20th century railroading or just in business biographies, this book is full of surprises.

No comments about The Turnaround Kid.

1 comments about Iniquities of the Father.

1. INIQUITIES OF THE FATHER is a heartfelt captivating reflection of the hero Otto Kiefer dealing with the temptations, struggles and challenges presented by life in the Midwest throughout the 20th century. It shows the mistakes Otto made and lessons he learnt throughout his life from being a college graduate to being a happy grandfather. Mr. Keiper's writing style kept me the teenage reader so interested that I finished the short novel in two days.

No comments about Who's Who in Finance and Industry, 1994-95 (Who's Who in Finance & Business).

5 comments about From Strength to Strength: An Autobiography.

1. Whether you are an Australian City Slicker or from another part of our planet this book will delight. Henderson provides a great intimate look into her life - one not so dissimilar to others in the outback of Australia. You will learn how life really is in a remote and desolate world of outback Australia. You are sure to sympathise with Henderson and the lot of others in a similar situation.



2. Australia is my hobby, and I lived in a half dozen towns between Adelaide and Mackay covering two years. If you like reading Australian authors and stories, this is the book for you. If this is your first Australian book, you'll probably give it about a B-, because although Sara Henderson's life was exciting to her, she left out most of the juicy details which would have made it a compelling read. For example, many times she described her day by naming the cities she visited without giving us the nitty gritty. I've read four of her books. Unless I missed something, Sara Henderson never had a date in the 20 years following her husband's death. I admire her accomplishments in life, but they didn't make her an author. About the Strength series, read one and you've read them all.



3. Thankfully we get to find out what happens after Strength to Strength in Sara's next two books in this series about her life in the outback, The Strength in Us All, and most recently, The Strength of our Dreams. I love her stories peppered with humor as she moves through life with such an indomitable spirit. I wish these books were easier to find in the U.S.



4. Sara Henderson demonstrates an inter strength that only people dream about. She is a survivor from the start and must save her ranch from foreclosure and deal with the daily harshness of the out back environment. With an undying love for her girls, her ranch, and the people whom she works with side by side she must pull herself up by the "boot straps" and move forward. Having the strength to go on in spite of the hard ships she faces in her life and in a land that is unforgiving. Her story is moving, funny, and full of inspiration. I just hope her other books come back into print someday soon.



5. This is one of the best books that i have ever read and i would like to read more of her books

No comments about Henry Ford.