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Life of an American Workman (American Biography Series)

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This book belongs to every one automobilehistorian's library. A amazing story of a self-made man, a hard worker climbing up to highest levels of automobile industry. Interesting that so many of those were of German origin!

Life of an American Workman by Walter P. Chrysler in Collaboration with Boyden Sparkes. Long out of print, this book is an excellent biography of one of the founders of the North American automobile industry and is in many respects essential to an understanding of the history of the industry itself. In addition to its history of Chrysler Corporation it also provides much insight into General Motors prior to 1920.

Everyone knows about Henry Ford and his Model T. Many know of William Crapo Durant and his creation, the colossial General Motors Corporation. Romanced today are the stories of the Stanley brothers and their steamer and the Studebakers and their cars. But few know of the man who established the Chrysler Corporation from the ruins of the Maxwell-Chambers Auto Works, then bought out the much larger Dodge Brothers Motor Co. This book is a must-read for automotive enthusiasts. Walter Chrysler writes an anecdotal and easy-reading autobiography. He doesn't waste time defending himself against any rumors that may have persisted about him at the time of its writing. He doesn't needlessly spill ink on accusations of others. He merely tells his story about growing up, working on the railroads, turning around financially strapped American Locomotive, hired by Durant to turn Buick's fortunes around, then hired by the bancruptcy trustees to save Maxwell-Chambers. Soon, the cars this company put out bore Chrysler's own name and the rest is history. Chrysler writes about his belief that Research and Development are the vital elements to the success of any company (a section every corporate officer should read today). He also talks about the plans to build the Chrysler Building and, even, making his children work their way up in the company starting at the bottom--no doubt teaching his children that every job has a function and every individual has dignity and value. The best anecdote that Walter Chrysler tells is how he drove his first car--but I'll let you read that for yourself!