The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie and The Gospel of Wealth (Signet Classics) [Paperback]

Andrew Carnegie (Author), Gordon Hutner (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 7, 2006 | Series: Signet Classics

Here is the enlightening memoir of the industrialist as famous for his philanthropy as for his fortune.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Andrew Carnegie emigrated from Scotland to the United States in 1848 at the age of 13. At age 65 he sold the Carnegie Steel Company to JP Morgan for $480 million and devoted the rest of his life to writing and philanthropy.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Signet Classics (November 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451530381
• ISBN-13: 978-0451530387
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Professionals & Academics > Business
  • #20 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Memoirs
  • #21 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical > General

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Lessons for the budding Entrepreneur, April 18, 2007

By 

R. Johnson "Billionaire" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie and The Gospel of Wealth (Signet Classics) (Paperback)

Andrew Carnegie played the game of life to perfection, which is how he ended up the richest man in the world. He had so much amazing wisdom. He made very wise choices starting from the earliest age up to the end of his life. Many people gain some wisdom as they grow older, but what's even more amazing about Andrew Carnegie is that he was wise even as a child and a teenager. Perhaps his parents and other elders taught him very well. It seems like Carnegie always made the best and wisest business decisions. The few times something went wrong, it wasn't his fault and it didn't set him back much. Lately I've been learning a lot about business, marketing, and success. I've gotten a lot of great advice about success. And when I read Carnegie's book, I got to see all these success principles in action. Carnegie's life is full of great examples of what you should do to be successful as a person and as a businessman.

I've seen some claims that he was just another ruthless robber barron, but I think that is a very unfair depiction. I think he did a great job of leading the steel industry and making sure that it took advantage of the most advanced technology available at the time and did things on the most efficient and secure basis. He had a great ability to get along with people and I believe he did treat people very fairly. And by the time he died, he had given away 90% of his fortune to benefit the world through education, culture, etc. I think that is a large piece of evidence showing that he was a well-intentioned, good-hearted person.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An insightful view into one of the wealthiest and most charitable moguls in history, April 15, 2008

By 

TW - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie and The Gospel of Wealth (Signet Classics) (Paperback)

Andrew Carnegie offers an intriguing look into his life story that chronicles his ancestry in Scotland to his journey from child to business tycoon in the US. Carnegie writes in a style applicable to the times, thus there is inevitably a period of acclimatization with the material; however, within a short period of familiarizing yourself with this style of English, you will find it hardly represents an encumbrance.

Carnegie has a knack for being very productive with his abilities as well as often finding himself in the right place and time. Much of his success could be perceived as lucky; however, it will not take long for any reader to see that the effects of his always going the extra mile permitted Carnegie to stand out as a result of his own principles, hardly dependant on luck.

Carnegie exemplifies what one hopes to find among great men; integrity, honesty, hard work, and a passion for profit. Carnegie's giant success is only matched by his good will to human kind. Carnegie explains his thoughts on why he felt the most immoral thing a man can do is to die rich, thus he spent his retirement giving as much of his wealth away as possible. The evidence of Carnegie's lasting name and historical significance provides ample reason to read this Carnegie autobiography. His candidness and honest approach make this book even better.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for inspiration, June 26, 2007

By 

Peter Kowalski (Kelowna, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie and The Gospel of Wealth (Signet Classics) (Paperback)

I read this book as a recommendation from the book "Success through a positive mental attitude" and it is a good read. It is a bit slow at first and its written in an older style of English. Once you pick up the style though the book becomes very interesting, I often read it before sales calls to motivate myself.