Titan

What’s it about?: Ron Chernow‘s biography of John D. Rockefeller, Sr, America’s first billionaire and the patriarch of one of the greatest dynasty families of the modern world. From his humble beginnings in the Rust Belt to sitting atop of his powerful monopoly, Chernow paints a vivid picture of the life and times of this figure.

My opinion: This has to be one of my favourite biographies ever, and another one for my desert island list of books.

People always try to put a label on these kinds of figures. Visionary, pioneer, ruthless business magnate, capitalist robber baron. I can see why; he was nothing if not ruthless when eliminating his business rivals. In some ways, the Rockefellers of the world defy categorisation. But then, there is value and inspiration to be found. Ryan Holiday describes Rockefeller as “strangely stoic, incredibly resilient, and, despite his reputation as a robber baron, humble and compassionate.”

The way he put his rivals out of business was stone cold, but as he became successful, he shared his wealth. His philanthropic efforts included funding advanced public health and medical research, and promoting education “without the distinction of race, sex, or creed.” I think that’s pretty cool. He founded the University of Chicago in 1892. He established the Rockefeller Foundation in 1913, which funds scientific and medical research, and the arts, and efforts to counter climate change.

There is a saying that goes around, that one should be socially conscious when they’re young, and more conservative as they get older. Rockefeller ought to serve as an example, to show that one can grow to be more mindful of society and the people around them as they age. Having the means to give back to society helps a lot, no denying that. But that wealth needed to be combined with level-headedness and compassion. Rockefeller had that combination.

Chernow’s detailing of Rockefeller is just incredible. The positives and negatives of his life are explored and detailed so thoroughly, in a way that you rarely get to see in other works. It is a long read (832 pages), but it is impossible to put down, it’s that good.

To this day, I still wonder, between the ruthless businessman and the philanthropist, which Rockefeller was the genuine article?

Maybe if I read it again and again, I’ll work it out eventually.