50 Companies That Changed the World: Inclusive Profiles of the 50 Organizations, Large and Small, That Have Shaped the Course of Modern Business

by Howard Rothman

A subjective list of the 50 Companies that had the msot profound impact on the world around them. The firms included are ranked by the author according to their influence and contributions. International in scope, the selections range from obvious choices like Microsoft, AT&T, Toyota, and McDonald's, to more provocative selections like CNN, The Walt Disney Company, and Ben & Jerry's Homemade. For each company, the author presents a lively, historical sketch and discusses its strengths and weaknesses in the context of each company's individual operation, historical context, and specific industry. Each sketch also entertainingly and informatively spotlights the distinctive personalities, along with the unique products or services, that set it apart from its competitors.

Genres: Business

253 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2001

About the author

Author of 11 non-fiction books published in 9 languages, including "Companies With A Conscience: Intimate Portraits of Twelve Firms That Make A Difference" and "50 Companies That Changed the World," as well as more than 1,500 articles that have appeared in over 150 different magazines, newspapers and online media that range from The Denver Post and Philadelphia Inquirer to Yahoo Finance and TheStreet.com to Men's Fitness and National Geographic Adventure. Consultant to corporate clients and institutional investors on communications and global business issues. Founder or co-founder of four companies in the business services, marketing and Internet industries.

His first novel, "Eighteen Stories," was published in September 2019. It is currently available here: https://amzn.to/2mmUFru

Reviews

[Nguyễn Ánh Phượng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Khi đọc tên sách mình kỳ vọng cuốn sách sẽ đi sâu phân tích những kinh nghiệm, bài học có thể rút ra từ các cty hàng đầu thế giới hay những cty đó đã thay đổi thế giới ntn.
Nhưng sau khi đọc thì mình thấy cuốn sách thiên về liệt kê hơn là phân tích và đưa ra quan điểm. Đọc để đơn giản là có thêm kiến thức về các cty (lịch sử hình thành, quá trình phát triển) thì oke

[Anh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is more like a collection of information of companies that base mainly in the USA. Of course, there are also companies whose headquarters are in different nations but not many.
If you want to broaden your knowledge about many companies, this book is one of the options since it summarizes history, business field, leaders, etc. of each company.
However, there were 2 things making me not interested in this book. The first was the writing style. And the second was the feeling that some companies were listed just to fulfill the list of 50, with some companies even went bankrupt.

[Dhiran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Howard Rothman has provided and excellent account of 50 Multinational companies, some still exist and some don’t, besides these companies that changed the world, one will also find interesting names that were part of making this change happen. #BookLovers #LoveToRead #dntjbookclub #atozentrepreneurship

[Jaafarnajimyahoo.com · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book well summarized the journey of companies that impacted our world today. However it could be better structured by categorizing the companies by it major I didn’t like jumping back and forth among retailers to technology to media to technology again ... etc

[Minh Trí · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mình nghĩ đây không phải là một cuốn sách đáng để đọc ở thời điểm hiện tại, nhưng dùng nó như một cuốn sách tham khảo thì vẫn tốt, thay vì lên wikipedia xem thì đọc cuốn này cũng được mặc dù nhiều số liệu đã rất cũ.

[Emmanuel Ayeni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with great insights into how great companies were launched and survived above all odds.

[Roshan · Rating 4 out of 5]

50 Companies That Changed the World, aptly titled, this book is for the Entrepreneurs, and to the Entrepreneurs. This book authored by Howard Rothman gives a brief, yet informative insight into the fifty establishments that he thinks have influenced and changed the world for good. The author follows a certain devised and decisive pattern, while elucidating the impact, the 50 companies have had on their common objective i.e. betterment of the humanity and the world, as a whole. The pattern implemented while describing the accomplishments of every single company off the fifty, which find their mention in the book; starts with a gist on the companies' formative years - all time highest revenue earned, the initial operating income, the number of employees working in those organizations, the annual turnover of the corporate, the year of establishment, followed by other details such as the Company name, the founder's name, the company website among others. The 50 companies described in the book, include many surprise entries from my viewpoint. Needless to say, the compilation has several obvious entries too. On a lighter note, much to the delight of a reader with a good and healthy appetite for information, the book has chapters dedicated to Food and Beverages companies namely Kellogg, Coca-Cola, and McDonald's. I must confess, the Corporate culture in the United States provides good scope for the company researchers to propose an all-round development persona of many founders and co-founders of an establishment. This book is well formed, with a readily available standard template at its disposal, while facilitating easy access of information with regard to the companies, which find a mention of, herein. Many well established Information Technology giants also make it to Howard Rothman's elite list of companies. Apple, AT&T, IBM, Microsoft, Intel occupy the core in this book amongst the many corporations included in the elite list. There is a lot of useful information that the book provides to its base of readers. The book delivers certain promises to its readers, and thrives on embellishment and embodiment considerably to fulfill them.

Another aspect that the book covers is that of the tough competition and adversities faced by the 50 organizations, on the economic, socio-economic, and political front. The many instances of the fluctuation in Economy Growth that the world, mostly the United States (many companies listed in the book are headquartered in America) has witnessed over the past hundred years projects the commendable level of self sustenance achieved by many companies in good light in this compilation. A more reliable aspect of the book, is the notion, which yield conclusive evidence on the different periods, during which these companies gained momentum to make an impact in the world of Business and Technology. The race to the top and rise to prominence of these companies, depicts and reveals a mind-blowing history on the resistance offered by their competitors, assistance offered by their bankable financial firms, and the incredible will showcased for adaptability towards co existence by these organizations. As a reader and for a reader, with the turn of every page, it becomes more and more obvious that the book does not delve deep into the importance factor of many prominent modern day Internet giants, which could be found in the list of exclusions. However, the most surprising omission is Google. It understandably fails to make it to the Top 50 of the author, as the time of writing of this book coincides with the time, when Google had set its first foot in the Internet domain industry.

To wind up, this book focuses on delivery of information about several companies ruling the roost in the Information Technology, Automobile, Food and Beverages, Finance, Computer Hardware, and many other eminent Sectors, essential for the development and progress of a nation and the world, on the whole. A good read which keep its reader's mind completely occupied through its thorough, compact and detailed presentation on the matter in debate, which is, 50 Companies That Changed the World. This book scores a boundary (in cricketing terms) four on five, solely for the boundary it manages to cross, and in the process, demarcates the 50 companies based on their contribution and the influence they have had on the changing world. Enjoy reading.

[Vy Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my style of reading but this book is very informative. Not really enjoy it but thanks for the knowledge it provides

[Don't Look · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a new respect for some of these companies. Intel is my new hero.

[Lori Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A should-read book on entrepreneurial success stories for the knowledge worker or aspiring entrepreneur.

[Suman Srivastava · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty dry listing of the histories of 50 companies that were very important in 2001, but aren't all relevant today. I guess lists have relevance only in the very short term.

[Gaurav Kumar Verma · Rating 3 out of 5]

mostly historical, but nice one to read for info :)

[Seun · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's a great book for anyone who has a thick for business.