Henry J. Kaiser: Western Colossus [Paperback]

Albert Heiner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1991 | ISBN-10: 0962287431 | ISBN-13: 978-0962287435

A full-dimension view of America's boldest most spectacular entrepreneur. Here is the larger-than-life builder who created a legendary industrial empire established the nation's most successful health care program helped win World War II and changed forever the face of western America. Through a good portion of Kaiser's career Al Heiner was there-as a public relations officer for Kaiser Steel but also as an eyewitness to many of the events that make this biography such lively reading.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Henry J. Kaiser was quite as Heiner depicts him and as I knew him-an incredible business genius and fascinating personality.

Product Details

• Paperback: 434 pages
• Publisher: Halo Books (August 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0962287431
• ISBN-13: 978-0962287435
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #734,045 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Kaiser the Great!, November 5, 2006

By 

Biz Reader (OK, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Henry J. Kaiser: Western Colossus (Paperback)

Henry Kaiser was an incredible man and one of the greatest entrepreneurs to walk on this earth. This story is about a man who had dropped out of school at the age of 13 and who received the greatest part of his education by reading and working. He learned early on in life the greatest lesson that serving people lead to success. He kept the principles of high quality and high standards of ethics and honesty. At one time he had a subcontractor bid too low on a job and was loosing money. After Kaiser found out about it he decide to pay them more for the job then they bid because he didn't want anyone who worked for him to loose money.

He had been a road builder, dam builder (Hoover and others), ship builder, car manufacturer, housing developer, hotel builder and operator, steel manufacturer, aluminum manufacturer, boat racer, and the first person to to start an HMO company. He found early success during the war in the building of ships at record speed. At one time his company built a ship in record time. From start to time of delivery to the navy was 7 1/2 days! Throughout his entire life Kaiser was known as someone who could get the job done.

The book goes into some detail of his personal life although it is short. It is written by a man who used to work for Kaiser and most of the book focuses on work. After the first half the book seemed to loose momentum. That is the reason for the 3 stars. The story is a great one about the life of one incredible individual without any education who became successful at so many different business ventures. Anyone desiring to learn more about this great man will find it interesting enough to endure the times when the momentum of the story slows down.

5.0 out of 5 stars HENRY J. KAISER: WESTERN COLOSSUS, August 13, 2010

By 

prietok - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Henry J. Kaiser: Western Colossus (Paperback)

Henry J. Kaiser: an intrepid man! This is a wonderful book that not only depicts a true American entrepreneur in the engineering field, but provides a window into the fluid conditions - political and economic - that prevailed during the first half of the 20th Century.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Industrialist, May 6, 2010

By 

R. Gilbert (California Gold Country) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Henry J. Kaiser: Western Colossus (Paperback)

Having lived in the Bay Area for over forty years I find this book especially interesting. I knew the author Al Heiner and some of the indviduals that are a part of this well written biography. I could not put the book down and I highly recommend it.