E. Bronson Ingram: Complete These Unfinished Tasks of Mine (Thl (Series).) [Hardcover]

Martha River Ingram (Author)

Book Description

Series: Thl (Series). | Publication Date: November 1, 2001

Biography of E. Bronson Ingram, a complex, private man who was best known for his vast business interests and his many philanthropic efforts. Written by his wife, Martha Rivers Ingram, this is a candid behind-the-scenes look at his early life, business principles and practices, and family.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ingram sets out to create the definitive history of her husband's life and succeeds in documenting all the important milestones in the career of the man who, among other achievements, created the Ingram book distributor. Long on corporate record but short on personal details or insights, the book conveys that Ingram's husband was born wealthy and substantially expanded the family fortune in oil, shipping and natural resources before his death, at age 63, in 1995. Along the way, readers learn, in passing, about most of his business dealings. Ingram bought into the book business as a favor to his friend Harry Hoffman. According to the author, Ingram Book is responsible for popularizing the use of microfiche to track book sales to libraries and bookstores, and also takes credit for creating what became the now ubiquitous ISBN. But Ingram himself was not very connected to the book world: "He did not get involved in publisher relations. He did not get involved in customer relations. He did not go to the meetings of the American Booksellers Association." Aside from chronicles about the growth of Ingram's book distribution business, there are no anecdotes about the book publishing realm. In a magazine article in the 1980s, Bronson Ingram told a reporter, "there's just no need for me to be the center of attention." While his widow would understandably want to respect that sentiment, not treating the subject of a book as the center of attention produces an imbalance. Thus readers (especially those in the book business) do not learn much about how Ingram left behind a billion-dollar company.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In 2001, Ingram Distribution Group Inc. stocked 600,000 titles and provided libraries and booksellers access to a comprehensive database of 1.5 million titles in print. The development of this part of the Ingram Industries conglomerate is but one aspect in this tribute to E. Bronson Ingram (1935-95), the founder of this vital library partner. This biography by Ingram's wife of 37 years presents the life of a successful businessman who was also a father, civic leader, avid sportsman, and supporter of Vanderbilt University. The author offers a succinct history of the Ingram family tree, Ingram's entry into his father's business in Nashville, his inheriting the family business in 1963, and the split of the business into the Ingram Corporation and Ingram Industries. She shows how his unwavering commitment to integrity, his devotion to his four children, and their success in the expanding Ingram enterprises form the basis for the 14th-largest private company in the United States. This personal story of a thriving business is highly recommended for all libraries, especially those in the Nashville area. Dale Farris, Groves, TX
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Hillsboro Press (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577362160
• ISBN-13: 978-1577362166
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #666,888 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written, interesting bio about an amazing man., December 21, 2009

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Athena - See all my reviews

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This review is from: E. Bronson Ingram: Complete These Unfinished Tasks of Mine (Thl (Series).) (Hardcover)

Nashville is a great city, with small-town charm. It is often said that a community is its people. After reading this bio on the life of E. Bronson Ingram, one does not have to wonder why Nashville is such a great city. He was an amazing person, who used his wealth and his intelligence to benefit his community. He was fortunate to have been born to a family with resources, and, although, she has far too much class to state it in the bio, his greatest good fortune, obviously, was in meeting her, his wife, Martha Ingram. She is one intelligent lady. It was a great read!