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J. R. Simplot: A Billion the Hard Way
This is the story of John Richard "Jack" Simplot-who dropped out
of school at age 14 to parlay a few pigs into one of the largest
privately-held companies in America.
Today public stock offerings for new "dot com" companies make their young
founders rich (at least on paper) overnight. J. R. Simplot is one of the
last classic Horatio Alger success stories. He spent 75 years building his
empire
the hard way.
The 90-year-old Simplot also is one of the few 20th century industrialists
to successfully make the transition to the high tech business world of the
new millennium.
Dr. Louie Attebery uses hundreds of hours of research and interviews to
paint a fascinating word portrait of this colorful, outspoken billionaire.
About The Author
Dr. Louie W. Attebery is an authority on American
folklore. He is former chairman of the Department of English at The College
of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho. He was a member of the first executive council
of the Western Literature Association. He has given numerous talks on
American and Western folklore and was folklife consultant for the 1974
World's Fair in Spokane, Washington. He has written numerous articles for
regional and national publications. Dr. Attebery is a former editor of
Northwest Foklore and is a contributor to the Encyclopedia of American
Folklore. He has written several books, and edited Idaho
Homesteads to Headstones.
of school at age 14 to parlay a few pigs into one of the largest
privately-held companies in America.
Today public stock offerings for new "dot com" companies make their young
founders rich (at least on paper) overnight. J. R. Simplot is one of the
last classic Horatio Alger success stories. He spent 75 years building his
empire
the hard way.
The 90-year-old Simplot also is one of the few 20th century industrialists
to successfully make the transition to the high tech business world of the
new millennium.
Dr. Louie Attebery uses hundreds of hours of research and interviews to
paint a fascinating word portrait of this colorful, outspoken billionaire.
About The Author
Dr. Louie W. Attebery is an authority on American
folklore. He is former chairman of the Department of English at The College
of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho. He was a member of the first executive council
of the Western Literature Association. He has given numerous talks on
American and Western folklore and was folklife consultant for the 1974
World's Fair in Spokane, Washington. He has written numerous articles for
regional and national publications. Dr. Attebery is a former editor of
Northwest Foklore and is a contributor to the Encyclopedia of American
Folklore. He has written several books, and edited Idaho
Homesteads to Headstones.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 24, 2020
"The great cream separator, brings to the top those whose struggles to get there are in harmony with the operations of the centrifuge"
"you start thinking about other planets...we've got to run the universe"
"... if we don't get it under one head you're gonna get two, and when you get two you're apt to be back fightin'"
On monopoly: "Those creatures that survive are those most fit to survive, and if nature's great cream separator brings to the top those creations that result from cooperation, their triumph is no less secure"
"you start thinking about other planets...we've got to run the universe"
"... if we don't get it under one head you're gonna get two, and when you get two you're apt to be back fightin'"
On monopoly: "Those creatures that survive are those most fit to survive, and if nature's great cream separator brings to the top those creations that result from cooperation, their triumph is no less secure"
February 18, 2022
What could have been a great story was bogged down with some really poor writing.
January 25, 2025
Interesting read about Simplot and his work the built his company; light on business details; easy read except for a handful of big words that weren't necessary
March 19, 2010
It was interesting to learn more about the man/company my grandpa and mom worked for over a combined 50 years. Grandpa was always so impressed with him. I didn't realize before reading the book how multi-faceted the JR Simplot company was. It was really inspiring to learn more about how a man started with nothing, worked hard - physically and creatively - and built a legacy. I was a bit surprised by his comments about one currency/government/language, though. And his beliefs regarding God.
April 11, 2012
Interesting to learn the history of how Idaho earned much of their state land (through the Carey Act) in 1984. The federal govt would cede as much as one million acres to any western state that would take on the responsibility of irrigating those acres. This increased the land quality and brought many farmers from the mid west to Idaho.
April 22, 2022
Re-read
April 27, 2023
Hardly a guide but evidently educational.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews