Review

    This book was an excellent read and necessarily demands a sequel.  The best way to describe Money and Power, which is the textual companion to the CNBC documentary, is a cross between a storybook and a historical text.  In the world of business and finance people become caught up in ratios and the ever-important “bottom line”, but forget the most basic (and exciting) equation –people.  Finance can be described in two simple words, greed (opportunity) and fear (risk).  The alchemic mix of these two potions has created a plethora of personalities that have shaped the perceptions and practices of business.

    Money and Power goes into detailed account of the following personalities: Sir Godric, Cosimo de' Medici, Philip II, those involved with "Tulipmania", James Watt and Matthew Boulton, those involved with the Transcontinental Railway, J. Pierpont Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, Henry Ford, Robert Woodruff, the key players involved in the merger which created Time Warner, and Bill Gates.  Means’ character analysis of these various personalities gives the reader a true insight into the desires and motivations of a person.  Turmoil between St. Godric’s conflicting desire to amass fortune and morals explains his final renunciation of wealth and his commitment to a monastery.  The various anecdotal segments spice up the read by adding information as well as entertainment.  A personal favorite anecdote came from the life of Robert Woodruff.  Once Woodruff visited a factory that had ties to Coke.  He became appalled at the state of the plant and immediately demanded an explanation from the foreman who claimed that keeping the facility clean daily was impossible.  At this response Woodruff remained silence for a few seconds and then promptly counteracted, “You wipe your ass, don’t you?”  

     This book is an excellent read for those who look beyond the numbers in business.  David Grubin best supports this assertion in the introduction with the following comment:

-Anoop K. Dave
Economic Analyst
theshortrun.com

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