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The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie
The Man that inspired -Think and Grow Rich
Andrew Carnegie was born to a poor family but had a fierce ambition, a pleasant personality and a devotion to both hard work and self-improvement. When he gained wealth Carnegie used it to help others, establishing many libraries and schools and universities in both America and Scotland. His story is a classic -Rags to Riches- story as Andrew Carnegie was one of the inspirations for the book -Think and Grow Rich.
Andrew Carnegie was born to a poor family but had a fierce ambition, a pleasant personality and a devotion to both hard work and self-improvement. When he gained wealth Carnegie used it to help others, establishing many libraries and schools and universities in both America and Scotland. His story is a classic -Rags to Riches- story as Andrew Carnegie was one of the inspirations for the book -Think and Grow Rich.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 7, 2006
395 people are currently reading
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About the author
Andrew Carnegie
588 books215 followersScottish-born American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie amassed a fortune in the steel industry and donated millions of dollars for the benefit of the public.
He led the enormous expansion in the late 19th century. He built a leadership role for the British Empire. During the last 18 years of his life, he gave away $350 million (in 2011, $225 billion), almost nine-tenths, to charities, foundations, and universities. His article, proclaiming "The Gospel of Wealth," in 1889 called on the rich to use their wealth to improve society, and it stimulated a wave.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_...
He led the enormous expansion in the late 19th century. He built a leadership role for the British Empire. During the last 18 years of his life, he gave away $350 million (in 2011, $225 billion), almost nine-tenths, to charities, foundations, and universities. His article, proclaiming "The Gospel of Wealth," in 1889 called on the rich to use their wealth to improve society, and it stimulated a wave.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
October 23, 2010
I love how his optimism in life really comes through in his writings. He never says anything bad about anyone and always has a positive outlook on things. I think he would have been an enjoyable person to be around. Before reading this book, I assumed he was a stuck-up rich guy (being incredibly wealthy in his lifetime) however, it amazed me how gracious he was and how much he really gave back to the world.
This book was written in his spare time over several vacations and follows his life from starting in a poor Scottish town to the end of his life. I always keep this book around when it is rainy or dreary out, and I feel a bit down because Carnegie's cheery temperament always gets rid of my blues.
This book was written in his spare time over several vacations and follows his life from starting in a poor Scottish town to the end of his life. I always keep this book around when it is rainy or dreary out, and I feel a bit down because Carnegie's cheery temperament always gets rid of my blues.
November 9, 2020
I enjoyed this autobiography of the second richest man in the world from a bit over a hundred years ago. Carnegie's book, while written around the turn of the century, feels much more modern. At times, I had the feel I got when reading Sloan's "My Years with General Motors", which was written 40 years later or so. Carnegie delves into his childhood quite extensively, as well as his early working life. Least covered was his middle years, while he grew his company. His stories of those times seemed of two parts - dealing with technical issues in the steel making process, and working on finances and negotiation. You can tell Carnegie relished the technical aspects of steel-making and being involved on the cutting edge of technology. His negotiation and finance stories seemed there more to show he was a common-sense leader. By the last third of his book, Carnegie focuses on giving away his fortune and working with governments. He really enjoyed this phase of his life, and seems to be into name-dropping the leaders of the times. He really got around. I can easily picture him as the host of "The Apprentice" or a shark on "Shark Tank" had he been around today. He seems to have that personality, a bit star-struck, while also quite full of himself. Overall, I liked Carnegie's stories and how he explains his thoughts. He made being fabulously wealthy sound pretty good.
December 11, 2013
I could only make it 1/3 of the way through this book before giving up. I really like reading about business and biographies, but this is an example of how an autobiography should not be written.
People are quite bad at analysing themselves and their own life and that came off in the part of the book I read. Carnegie doesn't do a good job of identifying key points in his life and writing in an entertaining manner. In parts of the book he goes off on tangents that really don't have anything to do with his life leaving the reader confused and wondering what the point is.
He seems to advance in his career without giving much thought as to why that happened. What made him different than others? One day he is working as a courier and the next day he is in charge of managing the railroad. He does try to identify some points (like loyalty and taking risks) but, in my view, there is probably a lot he left out. It would have been better to write his autobiography with a biographer, similar to Malcolm X, who could have probed more into these situations and discovered the real reasons behind his rise to fortune.
Recently I read the autobiography of Henry Ford which I really enjoyed. It wasn't so much an autobiography as a collection of his business values and principles. While I didn't agree with them and found him hypocritical in places, it was valuable to see Ford's thinking process and where he was coming from. I would have preferred more like that for Carnegie's book. There were some lessons and thought process but they were spaced too few between the long, drawn out stories to make it worthwhile continuing to read the book.
Despite not liking this book, I would still be interested in reading a good biography about the man if anyone has suggestions.
People are quite bad at analysing themselves and their own life and that came off in the part of the book I read. Carnegie doesn't do a good job of identifying key points in his life and writing in an entertaining manner. In parts of the book he goes off on tangents that really don't have anything to do with his life leaving the reader confused and wondering what the point is.
He seems to advance in his career without giving much thought as to why that happened. What made him different than others? One day he is working as a courier and the next day he is in charge of managing the railroad. He does try to identify some points (like loyalty and taking risks) but, in my view, there is probably a lot he left out. It would have been better to write his autobiography with a biographer, similar to Malcolm X, who could have probed more into these situations and discovered the real reasons behind his rise to fortune.
Recently I read the autobiography of Henry Ford which I really enjoyed. It wasn't so much an autobiography as a collection of his business values and principles. While I didn't agree with them and found him hypocritical in places, it was valuable to see Ford's thinking process and where he was coming from. I would have preferred more like that for Carnegie's book. There were some lessons and thought process but they were spaced too few between the long, drawn out stories to make it worthwhile continuing to read the book.
Despite not liking this book, I would still be interested in reading a good biography about the man if anyone has suggestions.
July 23, 2017
It was interesting book to read, although most biographies and autobiographies are pack of lies but you learn the techniques of creating and selling the image. These kind of books are the fav of American self help industry. So this is an inspirational story of an poor Irish immigrant child who became one of the wealthiest person in America. It is the story of remarkable success through hardwork in a liberal, egalitarian and just society (Sound too good to be true!!). Well for me the most interesting thing was his interest in books and libraries. He had built many libraries or funded many. This is the most inspirational aspect of some of the blood sucking capitalists . (Or its another promotional tool).
January 21, 2023
This book was available with my audible subscription, it was an interesting look into the rise of one of the wealthiest men of his time, and how he gave most of it away before his death. The last chapter was the most interesting as he was both a staunch proponent of both capitalism and the death tax . Basically that upon the death of a millionaire, the state should tax him heavily, the more he accumulated, the more the state taxes him. His description of why communism wouldn't work was prophetic, but if only the modern republican party still held to his position of the redistribution of the wealth of the most prosperous upon their death.
May 30, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I found it very encouraging as a business owner. My two major takeaways were:
1) Put all of your eggs in one basket - then watch that basket. He argues that YOUR business is the best one to invest in. Focus on your expertise - beware of diversification.
2) There is not much worse than a person who does not want to do what they are best at. Some people get sidetracked by power and don't realize their skills are best served as technicians rather than as managers or entrepreneurs (terminology borrowed from one of my other favorite books The E-Myth: Revisited by Michael Gerber)
He also loved reading, which is something I can obviously identify with! If you don't know, I read a new book every week - and you can sign up to receive my reviews and summaries in your email free every 4 months (only 3 emails a year) at https://nexjuice.com
Catch my live review and summary on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LX_X...
1) Put all of your eggs in one basket - then watch that basket. He argues that YOUR business is the best one to invest in. Focus on your expertise - beware of diversification.
2) There is not much worse than a person who does not want to do what they are best at. Some people get sidetracked by power and don't realize their skills are best served as technicians rather than as managers or entrepreneurs (terminology borrowed from one of my other favorite books The E-Myth: Revisited by Michael Gerber)
He also loved reading, which is something I can obviously identify with! If you don't know, I read a new book every week - and you can sign up to receive my reviews and summaries in your email free every 4 months (only 3 emails a year) at https://nexjuice.com
Catch my live review and summary on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LX_X...
October 27, 2017
There's a lot of reasons to get to know Andrew Carnegie, not the least of which are the libraries he bequeathed to America. I think that is my favorite Carnegie legacy. But it turns out there are so many more. He devoted the last years of his life to divesting his fortune to mankind. The pensions he set up for less fortunate are too many to name. It's an intriguing read, although the latter half of the book dragged a bit for me
December 29, 2021
I am often told that your attitude, income, and wisdom will be an average of the ten people you surround yourself with the most. I have also heard that if you cannot change your company, change what you feed your brain. And one more thing along those same lines is that reading biographical material of great people who have done great things is one of the best ways that you can trick your mind into believing you are hangin' with the greats, and at the same time you are feeding your brain information that could rewire YOU for greatness!
I don't know what you have been taught about Andrew Carnegie. I knew very little about him before reading this book. The image I had of him in my mind was not really a positive one, but it also was not an attitude of indifference. I mostly envisioned him as a hard man. What I learned in this book was something a bit different. Andrew tells his story, and tells it very well.
I believe this is a story that needs to be told to young people today. I don't think most folks today know just what this man did for the growth and greatness of the United States of America. His story gives the reader a good reference point for when they hear things like "Make America Great Again!"
\I also believe that a young person needs to pay attention to certain details about how young Andrew maneuvered his way in and out of many opportunities, both business and political, to mold himself into a person who could achieve great things because of his great network of influential people. Don't just take my word for it....read the book.
Because of the timeframe of when this book was written there are many things that he refers to and talks at length about that may seem a bit dull to modern readers. Just know that these things come up, but if you press through you won't regret it.
This is a two books for the price of one deal. The last chapter is Andrew Carnegie's The Gospel Of Wealth. Contrary to what one may perceive here, this is not a book on how to obtain wealth. This book is about how to use your wealth. It also helps you to define wealth. I was astounded by Mr Carnegie's philanthropic stance, his praise for capitalism, and his complete disdain for marxism. He goes to great lengths to clearly explain how we should use our wealth for good while helping the reader understand the difference in giving to help someone in need and giving to fill our own egos. This section of the gospel will cause an honest person to examine their intentions, and others to stop reading...
Go do something great! Be a blessing!!
I don't know what you have been taught about Andrew Carnegie. I knew very little about him before reading this book. The image I had of him in my mind was not really a positive one, but it also was not an attitude of indifference. I mostly envisioned him as a hard man. What I learned in this book was something a bit different. Andrew tells his story, and tells it very well.
I believe this is a story that needs to be told to young people today. I don't think most folks today know just what this man did for the growth and greatness of the United States of America. His story gives the reader a good reference point for when they hear things like "Make America Great Again!"
\I also believe that a young person needs to pay attention to certain details about how young Andrew maneuvered his way in and out of many opportunities, both business and political, to mold himself into a person who could achieve great things because of his great network of influential people. Don't just take my word for it....read the book.
Because of the timeframe of when this book was written there are many things that he refers to and talks at length about that may seem a bit dull to modern readers. Just know that these things come up, but if you press through you won't regret it.
This is a two books for the price of one deal. The last chapter is Andrew Carnegie's The Gospel Of Wealth. Contrary to what one may perceive here, this is not a book on how to obtain wealth. This book is about how to use your wealth. It also helps you to define wealth. I was astounded by Mr Carnegie's philanthropic stance, his praise for capitalism, and his complete disdain for marxism. He goes to great lengths to clearly explain how we should use our wealth for good while helping the reader understand the difference in giving to help someone in need and giving to fill our own egos. This section of the gospel will cause an honest person to examine their intentions, and others to stop reading...
Go do something great! Be a blessing!!
July 22, 2023
A fantastical vision of the American Nightmare.
The horror which stems through this auto-biography is not the cruelty treated to unions, the genuine belief that the few should hoard all wealth, or an endless abundance of privilage, but the genuine belief that what he is doing is right.
And much like Lolita's Humbert, he is endlessly charming, and it takes all the courage in the world to see through his facade.
Sold as a gospel of wealth, it is much more a condemnation of the less fortunate.
In the eyes of a man like Carnegige, the spoils go to the victor, and the victor is he who works the hardest, plain and simple.
A touching sentiment, and yet even in his own telling the cognitive bias is baffling.
But so is the required reading of every wanna be socialist, for a true understanding of economics cannot come from Smith, or Marx, or Friedman alone, but rather from all (a task I just recently finished).
It is foolish to believe that one philosphy is absurd and the other gospel. Rather, the truth lies somewhere in between, and there is some truth to be found in this.
In this the truth is that when fortune bats it's pretty eyes at you, take heed and do whatever you can. Success and hard work are certainly correlated, but so too is a fair anount of luck, and timing too.
Despite his ignorance of most of these things, one point I find endlessly fascinating, and simultaneously contradictory and not, is the belief that wealth dies with they who made it.
While his wealth very could have matched that of Rockafellar or JP Morgan, he chose to spend the second half of his life giving away everything he ever had, and assured his death would not lead to the millions of a few, but the education of the many.
So in this perhaps Carnegie is different from his contemporaries, for he truly believed in the power of education, and unlike so many others, acted upon such beliefs.
One can only hope todays billionaires can gleam something out of this, and perhaps the world might just be a better place to be.
The horror which stems through this auto-biography is not the cruelty treated to unions, the genuine belief that the few should hoard all wealth, or an endless abundance of privilage, but the genuine belief that what he is doing is right.
And much like Lolita's Humbert, he is endlessly charming, and it takes all the courage in the world to see through his facade.
Sold as a gospel of wealth, it is much more a condemnation of the less fortunate.
In the eyes of a man like Carnegige, the spoils go to the victor, and the victor is he who works the hardest, plain and simple.
A touching sentiment, and yet even in his own telling the cognitive bias is baffling.
But so is the required reading of every wanna be socialist, for a true understanding of economics cannot come from Smith, or Marx, or Friedman alone, but rather from all (a task I just recently finished).
It is foolish to believe that one philosphy is absurd and the other gospel. Rather, the truth lies somewhere in between, and there is some truth to be found in this.
In this the truth is that when fortune bats it's pretty eyes at you, take heed and do whatever you can. Success and hard work are certainly correlated, but so too is a fair anount of luck, and timing too.
Despite his ignorance of most of these things, one point I find endlessly fascinating, and simultaneously contradictory and not, is the belief that wealth dies with they who made it.
While his wealth very could have matched that of Rockafellar or JP Morgan, he chose to spend the second half of his life giving away everything he ever had, and assured his death would not lead to the millions of a few, but the education of the many.
So in this perhaps Carnegie is different from his contemporaries, for he truly believed in the power of education, and unlike so many others, acted upon such beliefs.
One can only hope todays billionaires can gleam something out of this, and perhaps the world might just be a better place to be.
March 22, 2023
An inspiring an instructive glimpse of the industrialization of 19th century America
Andrew Carnegie, born in Scotland in 1835, arrived in America at the age of 13, in reduced circumstances but with years of schooling behind him. Thanks to this education and to the devotion of his parents, he developed a drive to succeed. And succeed he did. Starting as a boy messenger in a Pennsylvania small town, he eventually became the second richest man in the world (after John D. Rockefeller, Jr.) while playing an important role in the development of railroads and the steel industry.
This part of the story is well told but, inevitably, the most fascinating part is about his early years at work, when he seized the opportunities that came his way and improved his position in life almost one step at a time. It is also instructive to learn how the seeds of knowledge planted in his mind during childhood bore fruit and left him with a lifelong belief in the importance of learning and self improvement.
In his later years, this belief would lead to the donation of almost his entire fortune - hundreds of millions of dollars - to the creation of 2800 public libraries in the United States, as well as other institutions devoted to the education and wellbeing of the public.
As a success story, few can surpass it, even though it’s not exactly rags to riches. Back in Carnegie’s native Scotland, before his father lost money for his failure to adapt to new production methods, his family had been relatively well off, and he had the advantage of a stimulating education. Still, not everyone, no matter how instructed, could be expected to seize every oppotunity in his way and improve his lot in life.
The final chapters of the interrupted manuscript (in fact, a compilation of texts put together after his death by a friend) are devoted to his efforts on behalf of world peace. We see him meeting presidents, kings, emperors, statesmen and thinkers in general. An annotated edition would have been particularly useful in this section of the book.
Carnegie was, almost to the end of his writing (the last manuscript dates from 1912 or 1913), optimistic about the prospects for peace after the creation of the International Court of Justice in the Hague. Unfortunately for him, he lived to see the more than four years of carnage of the Great War and died, in 1919, a heartbroken man.
Andrew Carnegie’s true legacy does not lie in his important contributions to the building of American infrastructure in the 19th century, but to his numerous endowments. The institutions he created are still with us today: the public libraries, the initiatives for international peace, the universities, the public parks, the monuments. According to his own professed views in the “Gospel of Wealth” (also included in this Signet Classics edition), people who die rich will pass away “unwept, unsorrowed, and unsung”: “The man who dies thus dies disgraced.”
This is an autobiography, and there seems to be evidence that Carnegie’s relations with his workers were not always as harmonious as he makes them out to be. He doesn’t admit to any personal guilt regarding the Homestead Strike of 1892, and yet other sources seem to imply that his handling of the crisis (which resulted in a number of deaths) was not beyond reproach. I’m looking forward to reading the biographies by David Nasaw and Peter Krass to find out more.
Does it really matter? Yes, to some extent, it does. We are nowadays more sensitive to issues of fairness in the workplace, and rightly so. Yet any assessment of Andrew Carnegie the man, warts and all, will have to take the unprecedented magnitude of his philanthropic deeds into account. And also the fact that, with his actions and ideas (as set forth in the Gospel of Wealth and other texts), he set an example for the wealthy to follow. When Bill Gates or Warren Buffett pledge to give away almost their entire fortune, we hear an echo of Andrew Carnegie’s ideal. He couldn’t prevent war, but he did leave the world a better place.
Andrew Carnegie, born in Scotland in 1835, arrived in America at the age of 13, in reduced circumstances but with years of schooling behind him. Thanks to this education and to the devotion of his parents, he developed a drive to succeed. And succeed he did. Starting as a boy messenger in a Pennsylvania small town, he eventually became the second richest man in the world (after John D. Rockefeller, Jr.) while playing an important role in the development of railroads and the steel industry.
This part of the story is well told but, inevitably, the most fascinating part is about his early years at work, when he seized the opportunities that came his way and improved his position in life almost one step at a time. It is also instructive to learn how the seeds of knowledge planted in his mind during childhood bore fruit and left him with a lifelong belief in the importance of learning and self improvement.
In his later years, this belief would lead to the donation of almost his entire fortune - hundreds of millions of dollars - to the creation of 2800 public libraries in the United States, as well as other institutions devoted to the education and wellbeing of the public.
As a success story, few can surpass it, even though it’s not exactly rags to riches. Back in Carnegie’s native Scotland, before his father lost money for his failure to adapt to new production methods, his family had been relatively well off, and he had the advantage of a stimulating education. Still, not everyone, no matter how instructed, could be expected to seize every oppotunity in his way and improve his lot in life.
The final chapters of the interrupted manuscript (in fact, a compilation of texts put together after his death by a friend) are devoted to his efforts on behalf of world peace. We see him meeting presidents, kings, emperors, statesmen and thinkers in general. An annotated edition would have been particularly useful in this section of the book.
Carnegie was, almost to the end of his writing (the last manuscript dates from 1912 or 1913), optimistic about the prospects for peace after the creation of the International Court of Justice in the Hague. Unfortunately for him, he lived to see the more than four years of carnage of the Great War and died, in 1919, a heartbroken man.
Andrew Carnegie’s true legacy does not lie in his important contributions to the building of American infrastructure in the 19th century, but to his numerous endowments. The institutions he created are still with us today: the public libraries, the initiatives for international peace, the universities, the public parks, the monuments. According to his own professed views in the “Gospel of Wealth” (also included in this Signet Classics edition), people who die rich will pass away “unwept, unsorrowed, and unsung”: “The man who dies thus dies disgraced.”
This is an autobiography, and there seems to be evidence that Carnegie’s relations with his workers were not always as harmonious as he makes them out to be. He doesn’t admit to any personal guilt regarding the Homestead Strike of 1892, and yet other sources seem to imply that his handling of the crisis (which resulted in a number of deaths) was not beyond reproach. I’m looking forward to reading the biographies by David Nasaw and Peter Krass to find out more.
Does it really matter? Yes, to some extent, it does. We are nowadays more sensitive to issues of fairness in the workplace, and rightly so. Yet any assessment of Andrew Carnegie the man, warts and all, will have to take the unprecedented magnitude of his philanthropic deeds into account. And also the fact that, with his actions and ideas (as set forth in the Gospel of Wealth and other texts), he set an example for the wealthy to follow. When Bill Gates or Warren Buffett pledge to give away almost their entire fortune, we hear an echo of Andrew Carnegie’s ideal. He couldn’t prevent war, but he did leave the world a better place.
April 18, 2019
I enjoyed Andrew Carnegie’s lightly edited autobiography a lot more than I expected I would. He had a very interesting life and is truly an American Dream rags to riches success story. It’s a little bit over the top in showing how good he was and sometimes it rambled from one thing to another without any rhyme or reason. For the most part, though, even when it totally rambled, it was quite fascinating. I highly recommend The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie and The Gospel of Wealth to older teens and adults interested in Carnegie.
December 30, 2021
Really good. Interesting man and his rise to power. I liked his relentless hard work and the way he handled his employees. He was a good man and a shrewd businessman.
His Gospel of Wealth was 'meh' had some good moments, but I really couldn't get past his wanting the government to cease all wealth at the death of the millionaire so that they'd be encouraged to distribute it themselves.
His Gospel of Wealth was 'meh' had some good moments, but I really couldn't get past his wanting the government to cease all wealth at the death of the millionaire so that they'd be encouraged to distribute it themselves.
May 19, 2024
First half of book was interesting, following his start as telegraph runner through his US Steel. But I have to say the second half of the book was hard to stay interested in. I just didn’t find his philanthropic part of life interesting. And I don’t recall him talking much about his wife or daughter Margaret.
November 28, 2021
College paper
So I needed some more information about Carnegie and his involvement in the library industry. Great book. Lots of good information from him about him and his thoughts about how to disperse wealth
So I needed some more information about Carnegie and his involvement in the library industry. Great book. Lots of good information from him about him and his thoughts about how to disperse wealth
January 13, 2022
I went into this book skeptical of Carnegie, but he came across like a pretty cool guy. On the contrary, reading Booker T, I expected to love him, but couldn't stand his arrogance after reading the book. It was nice that Washington was mentioned in here as not wanting to take advantage of his status and accept personal money.
Carnegie gave away 90% of his wealth, he had empathy for workers, and he was an abolitionist (at least according to himself) and seems like an awesome guy. The book isn't all that interesting, but it was good to learn more.
Carnegie gave away 90% of his wealth, he had empathy for workers, and he was an abolitionist (at least according to himself) and seems like an awesome guy. The book isn't all that interesting, but it was good to learn more.
January 3, 2015
Whilst reflecting on his life, Andrew Carnegie (in his autobiography) inspires his readers with an abundance of life-lessons. He describes how his family moved to the United States. He plainly describes how he took on responsibility early on in life. He isn't boastful of the steel corporations he helps build. And in the end he shows gratitude and ends up giving away almost his whole fortune. In his autobiography Andrew Carnegie never gets too personal, but we can still learn a lot from his life.
Youth: Always learning, always working
As a kid Carnegie already understood two big life lessons (lessons that many people never seem to grasp). The first was that you should work hard to start earning. As a deliverer of messages he made it his job to learn everybodies name. When moving up the (corporate) ladder he learned on the job, wasn't afraid to ask for advice and grew to become one of the richest men in history. The second lesson is that he knew to learn when he was not working, reading books in the evening and keeping in good company. In his own words "There was scarcely a minute in which I couldn't learn something or find out how much there was to learn and how little I knew."
When speaking about his upbringing I believe we get the best insight into the person who Carnegie was. Always a sunny disposition to life, he describes how he has benefited from having poor parents. His parents fulfilled all the roles a kid looks up to (nurse, cook, teacher, saint, exemplar, guide, friend). He shows great gratitude for their support and start contributing to the family at a very young age. In later chapters they are rarely mentioned, but it's hard to imagine that they weren't taken good care of.
Business: Keep your focus and listen to people
When Carnegie proved himself very resourceful and capable in his first few jobs he soon rose to high positions. First he moved up the ladder in the railroad business, and then switched to become a business owner in production (most famously steel). For me he portraits that even in those early days a honest and kind person can always win from the cheating and deceiving kinds. When he speaks of his workers he is apt to name names and attribute positive traits to them. Even when in conflict with others he knows that first listening is more important than being heard.
One thing Carnegie is quoted for a lot is the following "Put all your eggs in one basket, and then watch that basket!" In the following sentences he argues that this doesn't mean you can't pursue multiple goals, nor to miss opportunities because you weren't looking beyond your own reach. He states that you should be fully committed and have single minded focus on your core business to make it a success. Looking at what he did you can see that this is true, he became big by focussing on steel. In his free time however he was very busy distributing his wealth, shortly engaged in politics and more generally used his power for the good.
Charity: Give it all away
His autobiography almost never mentions how much Carnegie has given away. In his lifetime Carnegie gave away more than 350 million dollars (giving away the remaining 30 million in his will). He used this money to build over 2,000 libraries, fund universities and promote world peace. One thing that is genius in the way he distributed his money is that he made sure the institutions he erected would stand for centuries to come. Municipalities were asked to maintain the libraries and each fund had very qualified boards.
In the essay The Gospel of Wealth Carnegie writes more about his giving philosophy. He states that it's a disgrace for rich people to die rich. He argues that the capitalist system can work because smart rich people can best distribute that wealth back to the people. He uses the example of a library as something that can better a society, but if that money would be evenly distributed would be lost to trifling matters (i.e. booze or other excesses). Carnegie states "In bestowing charity, the main consideration should be to help those who will help themselves."
"People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents." - Andrew Carnegie
The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie is one of the best biographies that I have read to date. It reflects on a great career, has a human touch and is packed with timeless lessons. It may forget to go into depth about his personal feelings or fail to expose flaws in his character. These miscomings are however forgiven when you consider the amazing legacy Carnegie has left behind. Please take your time to read this book when convenient.
Youth: Always learning, always working
As a kid Carnegie already understood two big life lessons (lessons that many people never seem to grasp). The first was that you should work hard to start earning. As a deliverer of messages he made it his job to learn everybodies name. When moving up the (corporate) ladder he learned on the job, wasn't afraid to ask for advice and grew to become one of the richest men in history. The second lesson is that he knew to learn when he was not working, reading books in the evening and keeping in good company. In his own words "There was scarcely a minute in which I couldn't learn something or find out how much there was to learn and how little I knew."
When speaking about his upbringing I believe we get the best insight into the person who Carnegie was. Always a sunny disposition to life, he describes how he has benefited from having poor parents. His parents fulfilled all the roles a kid looks up to (nurse, cook, teacher, saint, exemplar, guide, friend). He shows great gratitude for their support and start contributing to the family at a very young age. In later chapters they are rarely mentioned, but it's hard to imagine that they weren't taken good care of.
Business: Keep your focus and listen to people
When Carnegie proved himself very resourceful and capable in his first few jobs he soon rose to high positions. First he moved up the ladder in the railroad business, and then switched to become a business owner in production (most famously steel). For me he portraits that even in those early days a honest and kind person can always win from the cheating and deceiving kinds. When he speaks of his workers he is apt to name names and attribute positive traits to them. Even when in conflict with others he knows that first listening is more important than being heard.
One thing Carnegie is quoted for a lot is the following "Put all your eggs in one basket, and then watch that basket!" In the following sentences he argues that this doesn't mean you can't pursue multiple goals, nor to miss opportunities because you weren't looking beyond your own reach. He states that you should be fully committed and have single minded focus on your core business to make it a success. Looking at what he did you can see that this is true, he became big by focussing on steel. In his free time however he was very busy distributing his wealth, shortly engaged in politics and more generally used his power for the good.
Charity: Give it all away
His autobiography almost never mentions how much Carnegie has given away. In his lifetime Carnegie gave away more than 350 million dollars (giving away the remaining 30 million in his will). He used this money to build over 2,000 libraries, fund universities and promote world peace. One thing that is genius in the way he distributed his money is that he made sure the institutions he erected would stand for centuries to come. Municipalities were asked to maintain the libraries and each fund had very qualified boards.
In the essay The Gospel of Wealth Carnegie writes more about his giving philosophy. He states that it's a disgrace for rich people to die rich. He argues that the capitalist system can work because smart rich people can best distribute that wealth back to the people. He uses the example of a library as something that can better a society, but if that money would be evenly distributed would be lost to trifling matters (i.e. booze or other excesses). Carnegie states "In bestowing charity, the main consideration should be to help those who will help themselves."
"People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents." - Andrew Carnegie
The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie is one of the best biographies that I have read to date. It reflects on a great career, has a human touch and is packed with timeless lessons. It may forget to go into depth about his personal feelings or fail to expose flaws in his character. These miscomings are however forgiven when you consider the amazing legacy Carnegie has left behind. Please take your time to read this book when convenient.
June 5, 2023
I am normally pretty cynical about super rich people. But, I found this book quite enjoyable. This book also gave perspective to life in the early days of American republic. His interactions with government officials at the later part of the book were interesting as well ( especially the part about Cuba and Philippines )
Carnegie seems like a reasonable guy and he certainly worked hard to be where he was. But, would someone with a different skin color have been successful like him even if he would have done exactly the same thing as Carnegie. I don’t think so. I guess it is not his fault either. It is just how things worked at the time.
I like how he favor inheritance tax, and his philosophy on gospel of wealth. It just seems reasonable. Too bad most rich people don’t follow his counsel.
Carnegie seems like a reasonable guy and he certainly worked hard to be where he was. But, would someone with a different skin color have been successful like him even if he would have done exactly the same thing as Carnegie. I don’t think so. I guess it is not his fault either. It is just how things worked at the time.
I like how he favor inheritance tax, and his philosophy on gospel of wealth. It just seems reasonable. Too bad most rich people don’t follow his counsel.
March 7, 2024
amazing he saw liberalism as the right move for future and that American is taking over UK and forecast of fail of comunnism
October 19, 2024
The beginning of the autobiography was interesting. Carnegie grew up in Scotland and moved to America when he was 12. He started working in factories but got his big break when a family relation got him a job as a message boy. The beginning of his career was also interesting, but the narrative in the book came apart once he secured more lofty positions. The rest of the book was a slog.
By contrast, the Gospel of Wealth is a genius article on the natural wealth disparity in capitalism and what the successful accumulator of wealth should do with their possessions. It feels like it could have been written today, it's so clearly expressed.
By contrast, the Gospel of Wealth is a genius article on the natural wealth disparity in capitalism and what the successful accumulator of wealth should do with their possessions. It feels like it could have been written today, it's so clearly expressed.
June 28, 2019
The book is written in a very simple but boring manner. He just describes his encounters with important people in his life and talks a little bit about how to manage employees. Other than that, he doesn't touch on any important topics like what were the major factors in his life which made him successful or anything like what are his principles when dealing with life problems. The book was a bit disappointing and boring.
June 21, 2021
This book is just fantastic. It chronicles a young man who came from a relatively poor family to becoming the second richest man in American history (after Rockefeller). His story is so interesting from beginning to end. From being a paperboy who really values his work to becoming a great business magnate concerned about the productivity of his enterprises, always putting consumers first and interested in long-term gains instead of superficially following quick bucks. Andrew Carnegie exemplifies the great entrepreneur. His great endeavours are not even topics he was interested in. His interest was to exert himself and do a great job, and he has done that extremely well.
Andrew Carnegie perhaps is the most (affectively) altruistic human being in the history of mankind, giving hundreds of billions of dollars to others in need, creating public utilities that helped secure knowledge and education to all (through public libraries and universities, mostly). But his greatest help for mankind is his investments into steel, which has reshaped the modern world. However, Carnegie is not without his faults. For being a very influential and important figure, he has abused his powers in several locations: Once, in encouraging tarriffs to "help domestic steel," and the other time in his spreading of altruistic ethos throughout the United States, especially considering the consequences of many such consequences this idea has yielded.
My favorite bits of the book are about his abolitionistic tendencies and the funny and inspiring stories he talks about. I shall share several quotes.
1) His encounter with the Wilkins'.
2) The slave who ran away and the judge who wanted to teach him a lesson.
3) His relationship with the English philosopher and sociologist, Herbert Spencer:
Andrew Carnegie perhaps is the most (affectively) altruistic human being in the history of mankind, giving hundreds of billions of dollars to others in need, creating public utilities that helped secure knowledge and education to all (through public libraries and universities, mostly). But his greatest help for mankind is his investments into steel, which has reshaped the modern world. However, Carnegie is not without his faults. For being a very influential and important figure, he has abused his powers in several locations: Once, in encouraging tarriffs to "help domestic steel," and the other time in his spreading of altruistic ethos throughout the United States, especially considering the consequences of many such consequences this idea has yielded.
My favorite bits of the book are about his abolitionistic tendencies and the funny and inspiring stories he talks about. I shall share several quotes.
1) His encounter with the Wilkins'.
The only subject upon which there was always a decided, though silent, antagonism between the Wilkins family and myself was politics. I was an ardent FreeSoiler in days when to be an abolitionist was somewhat akin to being a republican in Britain. The Wilkinses were strong Democrats with leanings toward the South, being closely connected with leading Southern families.
On one occasion at Homewood, on entering the drawingroom, I found the family excitedly onversing about a terrible incident that had recently occurred.
''What do you think!" said Mrs. Wilkins to me; ''Dallas" (her grandson) "writes me that he has been compelled by the commandant of West Point to sit next a negro! Did you ever hear the like of that? Is it not disgraceful? Negroes admitted to West Point!"
"Oh!" I said, "Mrs. Wilkins, there is something even worse than that. I understand that some of them have been admitted to heaven!"
There was a silence that could be felt. Then dear Mrs. Wilkins said gravely:
"That is a different matter, Mr. Carnegie."
2) The slave who ran away and the judge who wanted to teach him a lesson.
In the days of slavery and the underground railroads, there lived on the banks of the Ohio River near Gallipolis, a noted Democrat named Judge French, who said to some anti-slavery friends that he should like them to bring to his office the first runaway negro that crossed the river, bound northward by the underground. He could n't understand why they wished to run away. This was done, and the following conversation took place:
Judge: " So you have run away from Kentucky. Bad master, I suppose?"
Slave: "Oh, no. Judge; very good, kind massa."
Judge: "He worked you too hard?"
Slave: "No, sah, never overworked myself all my life."
Judge, hesitatingly: "He did not give you enough to eat?"
Slave: "Not enough to eat down in Kaintuck? Oh, Lor', plenty to eat."
Judge: "He did not clothe you well?"
Slave: "Good enough clothes for me, Judge."
Judge: "You had n't a comfortable home?"
Slave: " Oh, Lor', makes me cry to think of my pretty little cabin down dar in old Kaintuck."
Judge, after a 'pause: "You had a good, kind master, you were not overworked, plenty to eat, good clothes, fine home. I don't see why the devil you wished to run away."
Slave: "Well, Judge, I lef de situation down dar open. You kin go rite down and git it."
The Judge had seen a great light.
''Freedom has a thousand charms to show,
That slaves, however contented, never know.''
That the colored people in such numbers risked all for liberty is the best possible proof that they will steadily approach and finally reach the full stature of citizenship in the Republic.
3) His relationship with the English philosopher and sociologist, Herbert Spencer:
Mr. Spencer said: "I feel just so myself, but I will tell you how I curb my indignation. Whenever I feel it rising I am calmed by this story of Emerson's: He had been hooted and hustled from the platform in Faneuil Hall for daring to speak against slavery. He describes himself walking home in violent anger, until opening his garden gate and looking up through the branches of the tall elms that grew between the gate and his modest home, he saw the stars shining through. They said to him: 'What, so hot, my little sir?'" I laughed and he laughed, and I thanked him for that story. Not seldom I have to repeat to myself, "What, so hot, my little sir? and it suffices."
March 7, 2023
If only more people with wealth followed his lead. Have a good insight into how someone raised with want becomes one of the biggest philanthropists.
February 14, 2024
After reading Carnegie’s Maid, I got really curious about Andrew Carnegie and what he was really like, so I got this book. First of all, I had no idea he’d be so funny! He had me laughing so hard I was crying with some of his early stories and remarks.
I wanted to find out what I could learn from his massive success. What worked for him? What made it possible to go from penniless immigrant to one of the richest men in the world and one of the greatest philanthropists?
Here are a few patterns:
- He was very smart, and he learned all he could, always developing new skills, adopting new technologies, and growing
- He was committed to doing everything with excellence, and he went to extra mile to outgrow all of his jobs as an employee. As a business owner, he followed the same rules, always making the best products and always getting the best new tools and processes.
- He had great mentors who brought him along in their wake, and who happened to be well-placed so that their wakes led to greatness.
- He also had what Think and Grow Rich would call a mastermind group: five or so friends who were all on the same path as he was, and they passed each other opportunities and learned from each other
- He had the gift of vision to see clearly where the opportunities were developing and put himself in front of them
- He worked hard
- He took risks and overstepped his responsibilities in big ways, which sped him up the ladder
- He also had a lot of good luck
- He was optimistic and generally cheerful
- He was good with people. He knew how to persuade people, and he knew how to connect with them. He knew the value of business connections, and he cultivated them from his days as a messenger on. He also knew the value of treating his employees well and empowering them.
- He was aggressive with risk-taking, but only risks that met his specific criteria. And his criteria were apparently really damn sound.
- Based on my reading of this, it seems like he really enjoyed his work and had fun with the exhilaration of building the businesses and creating all this success and wealth.
I really enjoyed this book.
Now I’m pondering what of this I can apply to my own life and business. Andrew Carnegie started with iron, and as he saw steel taking over, he jumped on that—and bridges and railroads, and coal, and how it all came together to transform everything and create one of the most enormous opportunities ever. What’s like that now? AI, I guess? But ??? What do you even do with AI?
Bill Gates and Steve Jobs saw it with computers. Jeff Bezos saw it with online shopping. I guess you could say Zuck saw it with online advertising. Maybe Elon Musk thinks space travel is the next one?
Interesting to ponder. And I take comfort in the fact that even Andrew Carnegie didn’t foresee everything. It was heartbreaking to read just two years before WWI, his impression of the German Emperor as someone we could count on for word peace. Now I’m curious how that all went so wrong so fast. But maybe I’ve had enough history for now. The book did start to drag toward the end, when it seemed to be just a bunch of stories about important people I’ve never heard of, with no apparent through-line. Even that part had enough funny stories to keep me going, though.
I may read a biography of Andrew Carnegie, just to get the whole story with more narrative flow. Based on the introduction, I suspect that many biographers may have a lot of negative spin to put on his story. I’ve thought a lot about that. The Andrew Carnegie of the autobiography is a very good man. Do we believe him? Other people have plenty negative to say about him. Is that the real truth?
But I’ve decided that Andrew Carnegie as he presents himself is his ideal of who he was working to be in this life. Even if he didn’t live up to all of his ideal, well, who does? I think the ideal and best effort still counts. If he was really a bad guy, it seems like he would have hoarded his wealth and not given it away until he died, rather than founding 3000+ libraries and everything else.
I wanted to find out what I could learn from his massive success. What worked for him? What made it possible to go from penniless immigrant to one of the richest men in the world and one of the greatest philanthropists?
Here are a few patterns:
- He was very smart, and he learned all he could, always developing new skills, adopting new technologies, and growing
- He was committed to doing everything with excellence, and he went to extra mile to outgrow all of his jobs as an employee. As a business owner, he followed the same rules, always making the best products and always getting the best new tools and processes.
- He had great mentors who brought him along in their wake, and who happened to be well-placed so that their wakes led to greatness.
- He also had what Think and Grow Rich would call a mastermind group: five or so friends who were all on the same path as he was, and they passed each other opportunities and learned from each other
- He had the gift of vision to see clearly where the opportunities were developing and put himself in front of them
- He worked hard
- He took risks and overstepped his responsibilities in big ways, which sped him up the ladder
- He also had a lot of good luck
- He was optimistic and generally cheerful
- He was good with people. He knew how to persuade people, and he knew how to connect with them. He knew the value of business connections, and he cultivated them from his days as a messenger on. He also knew the value of treating his employees well and empowering them.
- He was aggressive with risk-taking, but only risks that met his specific criteria. And his criteria were apparently really damn sound.
- Based on my reading of this, it seems like he really enjoyed his work and had fun with the exhilaration of building the businesses and creating all this success and wealth.
I really enjoyed this book.
Now I’m pondering what of this I can apply to my own life and business. Andrew Carnegie started with iron, and as he saw steel taking over, he jumped on that—and bridges and railroads, and coal, and how it all came together to transform everything and create one of the most enormous opportunities ever. What’s like that now? AI, I guess? But ??? What do you even do with AI?
Bill Gates and Steve Jobs saw it with computers. Jeff Bezos saw it with online shopping. I guess you could say Zuck saw it with online advertising. Maybe Elon Musk thinks space travel is the next one?
Interesting to ponder. And I take comfort in the fact that even Andrew Carnegie didn’t foresee everything. It was heartbreaking to read just two years before WWI, his impression of the German Emperor as someone we could count on for word peace. Now I’m curious how that all went so wrong so fast. But maybe I’ve had enough history for now. The book did start to drag toward the end, when it seemed to be just a bunch of stories about important people I’ve never heard of, with no apparent through-line. Even that part had enough funny stories to keep me going, though.
I may read a biography of Andrew Carnegie, just to get the whole story with more narrative flow. Based on the introduction, I suspect that many biographers may have a lot of negative spin to put on his story. I’ve thought a lot about that. The Andrew Carnegie of the autobiography is a very good man. Do we believe him? Other people have plenty negative to say about him. Is that the real truth?
But I’ve decided that Andrew Carnegie as he presents himself is his ideal of who he was working to be in this life. Even if he didn’t live up to all of his ideal, well, who does? I think the ideal and best effort still counts. If he was really a bad guy, it seems like he would have hoarded his wealth and not given it away until he died, rather than founding 3000+ libraries and everything else.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2025
Autobiographies are always a coin flip. How truthful and self-aware is the author? Will it be crispy or thoroughly boring? This one is a bit disappointing. I hope the author won't be too mad at my review.
I am not sure the second half of the book it's worth reading. It's a lot of virtue signaling, showing how great of a man Carnegie was for his workers, how cool his friendships are with Gladstone & Herbert Spencer, etc. One chapter is just the story of when he met Kaiser Wilhelm on his yacht once, and the few uninteresting words they exchanged.
In the first half, he weaves his life story. I jotted down a few interesting ideas on the margins, compiled here :
* Had the habit of looking past trouble to move forward: seems like a key component of his determination
* Knowing who to work with was what contributed the most to his material success: funny thing, I read Jack Ma telling the exact same thing
* Seizing the opportunity without delay: "He asked me how soon [...], and I said [...] now if wanted. [...] The position was offered to me, something might occur, some other boy might be sent for."
* How he broke a strike: they bluffed, saying they knew who all the workers who'd pledged to strike were (which they didn't) and that they were all dismissed and should come collect their pay. This lead to consternation among the ranks and broke the strike.
* He built his reputation working for other people for many years, which helped him secure capital quickly when his first good opportunity came along, it's interesting he says his reputation was always his biggest asset. It's a lot the same in tech now, because pasted step 1, how much capital you get entrusted by the industry is a lot a function of your reputation.
* Very young, he started working as the secretary of a railroad branch manager. He got to shadow him for a few years and become an expert in railroads management. When his boss became regional manager, Carnegie got his old job. That was pivotal. It's funny, because it's exactly how Julien Sorel climbed the social hierarchy in the Read and the Black, the novel that I just read the day before.
* Always obsessed with learning, he tried to absorb anything new.
* How insatiable he always was with output, always seeking to increase production.
* Interestingly, what got him in the steel business was an early investment (later he would join all in) in a practical steel application : bridges. Building steel bridges was a beachhead. Once they were making the best ones and leading there, they expanded to other stuff.
* He preferred investing in what he knew a lot about. His first investment, when he was assistant to a railroad manager, was in one of the first train sleeping cars. Later, he'd always rather invest in improving the tooling of his factory than buying stocks. For a while he only had one stock: his manufacturing concern in Pittsburgh. His policy: "To put all good eggs in one basket, and watch the basket." Outlines well the convex nature of the output curve.
* He always aimed for high quality over lower prices. Though it starts slower in the beginning, the benefits vastly outweigh the costs in the end.
* He used pride or ego to close deals. It's cheaper than money. He managed a merger with a competitor by calling the newly formed company the later's name, the Pullman Palace Car Company, though he was the majority shareholder for years.
* He advocates - as one would expect - for vertical integration. I wonder if it's not a natural consequence of the quality strategy. When you control production very deeply, it's less important to control distribution, few companies can offer the same quality and prices you do. So maybe it's not a coincidence that both Carnegie/United Steel and Musk/Tesla/SpaceX have a vertical integration strategy and an obsession over quality.
Well, after listing those principles, not quite a bad book in the end.
Enjoy, if you elect to read (the first half) of this book.
I am not sure the second half of the book it's worth reading. It's a lot of virtue signaling, showing how great of a man Carnegie was for his workers, how cool his friendships are with Gladstone & Herbert Spencer, etc. One chapter is just the story of when he met Kaiser Wilhelm on his yacht once, and the few uninteresting words they exchanged.
In the first half, he weaves his life story. I jotted down a few interesting ideas on the margins, compiled here :
* Had the habit of looking past trouble to move forward: seems like a key component of his determination
* Knowing who to work with was what contributed the most to his material success: funny thing, I read Jack Ma telling the exact same thing
* Seizing the opportunity without delay: "He asked me how soon [...], and I said [...] now if wanted. [...] The position was offered to me, something might occur, some other boy might be sent for."
* How he broke a strike: they bluffed, saying they knew who all the workers who'd pledged to strike were (which they didn't) and that they were all dismissed and should come collect their pay. This lead to consternation among the ranks and broke the strike.
* He built his reputation working for other people for many years, which helped him secure capital quickly when his first good opportunity came along, it's interesting he says his reputation was always his biggest asset. It's a lot the same in tech now, because pasted step 1, how much capital you get entrusted by the industry is a lot a function of your reputation.
* Very young, he started working as the secretary of a railroad branch manager. He got to shadow him for a few years and become an expert in railroads management. When his boss became regional manager, Carnegie got his old job. That was pivotal. It's funny, because it's exactly how Julien Sorel climbed the social hierarchy in the Read and the Black, the novel that I just read the day before.
* Always obsessed with learning, he tried to absorb anything new.
* How insatiable he always was with output, always seeking to increase production.
* Interestingly, what got him in the steel business was an early investment (later he would join all in) in a practical steel application : bridges. Building steel bridges was a beachhead. Once they were making the best ones and leading there, they expanded to other stuff.
* He preferred investing in what he knew a lot about. His first investment, when he was assistant to a railroad manager, was in one of the first train sleeping cars. Later, he'd always rather invest in improving the tooling of his factory than buying stocks. For a while he only had one stock: his manufacturing concern in Pittsburgh. His policy: "To put all good eggs in one basket, and watch the basket." Outlines well the convex nature of the output curve.
* He always aimed for high quality over lower prices. Though it starts slower in the beginning, the benefits vastly outweigh the costs in the end.
* He used pride or ego to close deals. It's cheaper than money. He managed a merger with a competitor by calling the newly formed company the later's name, the Pullman Palace Car Company, though he was the majority shareholder for years.
* He advocates - as one would expect - for vertical integration. I wonder if it's not a natural consequence of the quality strategy. When you control production very deeply, it's less important to control distribution, few companies can offer the same quality and prices you do. So maybe it's not a coincidence that both Carnegie/United Steel and Musk/Tesla/SpaceX have a vertical integration strategy and an obsession over quality.
Well, after listing those principles, not quite a bad book in the end.
Enjoy, if you elect to read (the first half) of this book.
June 24, 2019
Amazing to step into the shoes of the richest man in the world!
I wished he had shared a little bit more on how he suddenly transitioned from an exceptionally hard-working clerk to an outstanding businessman!
A few thoughts which I had along:
Andrew Carnegie
Gospel of Wealth
Child is primed by environment
- Carnegie patriotic
- Power to memorise
-
Organised people to take care of pets for the privilege of having one named after them!!
Faculty of knowing and choosing other who had know better!!!
Notice it starts with KNOWING!!
->>> strive to understand MAN!
$300 per household
He felt like a real disciple of Wallace and Bruce
Among trifles the best gifts of the gods hang
The best gifts of God are where most people see mundane things.
Notice that ever Saturday you wear your best cloths to feel good about yourself!!!!
Memorise firms in street
At night practice!!!
It is not the rich man’s son that the young advancements has to fear, but the boy who beggins by sweeping 🧹
Wise man are always looking out for clever boys
A boy only needs to attract attention
Work until 11 one day and then 6
Read a book in the hours that can be snatched from duty!!!!!!!
Taste of Shakespeare
Taste of literature
Founder of free libraries!
No better thing anybody can do for boys than the creation of a public library!!
If only 1 boy gets half value of a whole library, the library was worth it!!
As the tree is bend, the twigs incline
Library gives nothing for nothing???
Acquire knowledge yourself
Memorise Shakespeare without effort!
Rhythm and melody!
Vagner
Confucius:
To perform the duties of one lives well, troubling not with the lives of other is the prime wisdom
Two weeks of holiday in summer!!!!
United family with transparency
Disgrace the family - something higher than just him!!
Gave the $11 kept the two
New chance - constantly look fo opportunity
Apply knowledge ASAP
Learn to receive message by ear
17 years -> telegraph for $25/month
Guessing work- not to interrupt sender!
Also knowing will always come useful!
Created a literary club and stuck together!!
Reading is concentrated towards debate!
Gives purpose and clarity and focus
Scot is reserved - feels most, says the least
18y -$35
Friends with eminent people gradually into politics until he reached Lincoln and General Grant
Andrew Carnegie worked for a big company, which meant that many people went to talk to him!
For opportunities
That means I can go and talk to such people for opportunities
Before it is over lay hand on someone and make him personally accountable
when one party gets excited the other should keep cool
He was doing a lot of other deals while operating the iron business
Because he had two good partners
when one party gets excited the other should keep cool
Put all eggs in one basket
Invest every dollar in The ONE business you operate!!
I wished he had shared a little bit more on how he suddenly transitioned from an exceptionally hard-working clerk to an outstanding businessman!
A few thoughts which I had along:
Andrew Carnegie
Gospel of Wealth
Child is primed by environment
- Carnegie patriotic
- Power to memorise
-
Organised people to take care of pets for the privilege of having one named after them!!
Faculty of knowing and choosing other who had know better!!!
Notice it starts with KNOWING!!
->>> strive to understand MAN!
$300 per household
He felt like a real disciple of Wallace and Bruce
Among trifles the best gifts of the gods hang
The best gifts of God are where most people see mundane things.
Notice that ever Saturday you wear your best cloths to feel good about yourself!!!!
Memorise firms in street
At night practice!!!
It is not the rich man’s son that the young advancements has to fear, but the boy who beggins by sweeping 🧹
Wise man are always looking out for clever boys
A boy only needs to attract attention
Work until 11 one day and then 6
Read a book in the hours that can be snatched from duty!!!!!!!
Taste of Shakespeare
Taste of literature
Founder of free libraries!
No better thing anybody can do for boys than the creation of a public library!!
If only 1 boy gets half value of a whole library, the library was worth it!!
As the tree is bend, the twigs incline
Library gives nothing for nothing???
Acquire knowledge yourself
Memorise Shakespeare without effort!
Rhythm and melody!
Vagner
Confucius:
To perform the duties of one lives well, troubling not with the lives of other is the prime wisdom
Two weeks of holiday in summer!!!!
United family with transparency
Disgrace the family - something higher than just him!!
Gave the $11 kept the two
New chance - constantly look fo opportunity
Apply knowledge ASAP
Learn to receive message by ear
17 years -> telegraph for $25/month
Guessing work- not to interrupt sender!
Also knowing will always come useful!
Created a literary club and stuck together!!
Reading is concentrated towards debate!
Gives purpose and clarity and focus
Scot is reserved - feels most, says the least
18y -$35
Friends with eminent people gradually into politics until he reached Lincoln and General Grant
Andrew Carnegie worked for a big company, which meant that many people went to talk to him!
For opportunities
That means I can go and talk to such people for opportunities
Before it is over lay hand on someone and make him personally accountable
when one party gets excited the other should keep cool
He was doing a lot of other deals while operating the iron business
Because he had two good partners
when one party gets excited the other should keep cool
Put all eggs in one basket
Invest every dollar in The ONE business you operate!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2017
** Review of Audio Format **
Raised Himself Up by the Bootstraps
Andrew Carnegie was a poor Scottish boy who scrimped and saved and earned and worked hard and honestly to become the great man he was. He took care of his mother until the end of her days and built first an iron and then a steel empire not rivaled by many. Where he couldn’t beat someone, he would join with them to make his company stronger. He dealt with his workers honestly and fairly. He never bought anything he couldn’t pay cash for and he never invested where he couldn’t cover the loss.
I think there is a little bit of self promotion and more than a tinge of preaching to Carnegie’s autobiography. Especially in the case of the 1896 riots, he absolves himself of all responsibility for how the negotiations went and the bloodshed that followed. He congratulates himself quite a lot throughout on various financial catastrophes he avoided as well. But he published it when he was still alive so he has to present himself in the best possible light. Carnegie grew up in a time when children were expected to work at a very young again and only schooled as a luxury. He really did bring himself up from the very bottom of society to the pinnacle.
It was very, very interesting to read about the Civil War and his perspective of the personalities of Abraham Lincoln and General Grant. I did not know the part he himself played in the war so it was eye opening to hear this history through his eyes.
The narration was just OK for me. The material was fairly dry so that may be an unfair assessment. Kevin Theis’ voice is great for the material but the delivery was a little dull for me. I would listen to other things he has narrated before saying I don’t like his style of narration.
I received this audiobook for free through Audiobook Boom! in exchange for an honest review.
Raised Himself Up by the Bootstraps
Andrew Carnegie was a poor Scottish boy who scrimped and saved and earned and worked hard and honestly to become the great man he was. He took care of his mother until the end of her days and built first an iron and then a steel empire not rivaled by many. Where he couldn’t beat someone, he would join with them to make his company stronger. He dealt with his workers honestly and fairly. He never bought anything he couldn’t pay cash for and he never invested where he couldn’t cover the loss.
I think there is a little bit of self promotion and more than a tinge of preaching to Carnegie’s autobiography. Especially in the case of the 1896 riots, he absolves himself of all responsibility for how the negotiations went and the bloodshed that followed. He congratulates himself quite a lot throughout on various financial catastrophes he avoided as well. But he published it when he was still alive so he has to present himself in the best possible light. Carnegie grew up in a time when children were expected to work at a very young again and only schooled as a luxury. He really did bring himself up from the very bottom of society to the pinnacle.
It was very, very interesting to read about the Civil War and his perspective of the personalities of Abraham Lincoln and General Grant. I did not know the part he himself played in the war so it was eye opening to hear this history through his eyes.
The narration was just OK for me. The material was fairly dry so that may be an unfair assessment. Kevin Theis’ voice is great for the material but the delivery was a little dull for me. I would listen to other things he has narrated before saying I don’t like his style of narration.
I received this audiobook for free through Audiobook Boom! in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2020
This was a good read. Mostly because I was familiar with Andrew Carnegie's life story previously. get lessons on having character and integrity in business and allowing that to drive your passion. Started off humble as a apprentice to Mr. Scott of the Pennsylvania railroad company and slowly moved to bridge building and eventually to steel where he made his real money.
It was a little biased especially when talking about the strike and Mr. Frick. I felt that he made it seem as though he was clear of any wrong doing but I know he and Mr. Frick had alot of friction.
I also felt in his gospel of wealth that he seemed to say that the rich should keep the money since they know how to dispose of it for the betterment of the community. Better to concentrate the wealth with those that will do good with it than to disperse it among the many.
Dont think I would agree with that.
Still I have alot of admiration for Andrew Carnegie.
1- “People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents.”
2-“If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes.”
3- “Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”
4-“It marks a big step in your development when you come to realize that other people can help you do a better job than you could do alone.”
5-“Perhaps the most tragic thing about mankind is that we are all dreaming about some magical garden over the horizon, instead of enjoying the roses that are right outside today.”
6-“Put all your eggs in one basket and then watch that basket.”
7-“All human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes.”
8-“He that cannot reason is a fool. He that will not is a bigot. He that dare not is a slave.”
It was a little biased especially when talking about the strike and Mr. Frick. I felt that he made it seem as though he was clear of any wrong doing but I know he and Mr. Frick had alot of friction.
I also felt in his gospel of wealth that he seemed to say that the rich should keep the money since they know how to dispose of it for the betterment of the community. Better to concentrate the wealth with those that will do good with it than to disperse it among the many.
Dont think I would agree with that.
Still I have alot of admiration for Andrew Carnegie.
1- “People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents.”
2-“If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes.”
3- “Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”
4-“It marks a big step in your development when you come to realize that other people can help you do a better job than you could do alone.”
5-“Perhaps the most tragic thing about mankind is that we are all dreaming about some magical garden over the horizon, instead of enjoying the roses that are right outside today.”
6-“Put all your eggs in one basket and then watch that basket.”
7-“All human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes.”
8-“He that cannot reason is a fool. He that will not is a bigot. He that dare not is a slave.”
June 25, 2021
Fascinating insight in the rise of a man in 1835 through 1919 and his learning along the path to excess wealth like the english speaking world had yet experienced. He was an avid reader and used science to gain competitive advances in cast iron and steal production needed in bridge and train track building. He would detect areas in the market near a cusp of high market demand and gain interest in the company and help it realize economic benefits. He retired young out of train management using his capitol to gain interests in companies or buy companies that he felt with other partnership could add more value and increase wealth. He took a market that was selling at $90 a ton and with innovations got it down to $30 a ton. This increased production and labor while helping diverse other industries gain success too. He did not living lavishly and was able to accrue wealth at a pace few others could match. I especially appreciated how he highlighted many workers who were critical to a company competitive advantage of the time.
Yikes Germany emperor 1907 was not the expected catalyst for WWI.
“The poor enjoy what the rich could ill afford” as a measure of progress and sucres for industrialization. Loved the last chapter.
Yikes Germany emperor 1907 was not the expected catalyst for WWI.
“The poor enjoy what the rich could ill afford” as a measure of progress and sucres for industrialization. Loved the last chapter.
Read
November 6, 2025A sunny disposition is worth more than fortune.
the mind like the body can be moved from the shade into sunshine. Let us move it then.
in my youth I learned to make and mend shoes.
three hundred dollars a year—twenty-five dollars monthly
1850 I got my first real start in life. steam-engine at two dollars a week, begrimed with coal
This pooling of extra earnings not being intended to create artificial prices was really coöperation. It was my first essay in financial organization.
it was seldom that I reached home before eleven o’clock. On the alternating nights we were relieved at six. This did not leave much time for self-improvement, nor did the wants of the family leave any money to spend on books.
Colonel James Anderson—I bless his name as I write—announced that he would open his library of four hundred volumes to boys, so that any young man could take out, each Saturday afternoon, a book which could be exchanged for another on the succeeding Saturday.
My parents were wise and nothing was withheld from me. I knew every week the receipts of each of the three who were working—my father, my mother, and myself. I also knew all the expenditures.
operator wished to be absent, and in this way I learned the art of telegraphy.
the mind like the body can be moved from the shade into sunshine. Let us move it then.
in my youth I learned to make and mend shoes.
three hundred dollars a year—twenty-five dollars monthly
1850 I got my first real start in life. steam-engine at two dollars a week, begrimed with coal
This pooling of extra earnings not being intended to create artificial prices was really coöperation. It was my first essay in financial organization.
it was seldom that I reached home before eleven o’clock. On the alternating nights we were relieved at six. This did not leave much time for self-improvement, nor did the wants of the family leave any money to spend on books.
Colonel James Anderson—I bless his name as I write—announced that he would open his library of four hundred volumes to boys, so that any young man could take out, each Saturday afternoon, a book which could be exchanged for another on the succeeding Saturday.
My parents were wise and nothing was withheld from me. I knew every week the receipts of each of the three who were working—my father, my mother, and myself. I also knew all the expenditures.
operator wished to be absent, and in this way I learned the art of telegraphy.
December 28, 2020
Learned a lot about him --how he started i a poor family in Scotland, moved w them to Pittsburgh, and eventually made a success of himself and helped his parents.
Not very modest in this story about himself --or maybe he's just truthful about his life. He credits his honesty and kindness to others, which often was paid back to him in favors and assistance.
then he helped the US and England --felt reading was so important that he started libraries that would benefit people regardless of their financial status. It seems that part of his success was from Scottish contacts he kept running into in PA.
Last section seemed to be just a bunch of letters people had written nominating worthy people for Carnegie awards.
I personally liked this because i'm familiar with most of the locations where he lived and worked --and can picture them, altho' more recently than in his lifetime.
overdrive@ normal speed except speeded thru final section.
Not very modest in this story about himself --or maybe he's just truthful about his life. He credits his honesty and kindness to others, which often was paid back to him in favors and assistance.
then he helped the US and England --felt reading was so important that he started libraries that would benefit people regardless of their financial status. It seems that part of his success was from Scottish contacts he kept running into in PA.
Last section seemed to be just a bunch of letters people had written nominating worthy people for Carnegie awards.
I personally liked this because i'm familiar with most of the locations where he lived and worked --and can picture them, altho' more recently than in his lifetime.
overdrive@ normal speed except speeded thru final section.
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