Ed Curtin’s Reviews > Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. > Status Update
Ed Curtin
is on page 501 of 832
So he goes around telling people “The entire Southern US has hookworm” and people laugh at him because they think he’s playing up a joke - there was already a big stereotype that Southern workers were lazy. He bashes his head against the wall for years until he catches the ear of the man who runs the Rockefeller philanthropies. Rockefeller turns on the money spigot and they cured a million people in 2 years.
— Jul 03, 2025 12:47PM
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Ed’s Previous Updates
Ed Curtin
is on page 540 of 832
Regarding the first fine in the Standard Oil antitrust case, which was the maximum penalty possible - “Asked about the penalty, Mark Twain said it reminded him of the bride’s words the next morning: ‘I expected it but didn’t suppose it would be so big!’”
Rockefeller shot a 53 on 9 holes that day, which was his personal best and very good for a 68 year old on an “era adjusted youthfulness” scale
— Jul 04, 2025 10:27AM
Rockefeller shot a 53 on 9 holes that day, which was his personal best and very good for a 68 year old on an “era adjusted youthfulness” scale
Ed Curtin
is on page 500 of 832
Back on the grind. There is a massive chunk of this book dedicated to the Rockefeller philanthropies, and this bit is my favorite:
There was a zoologist who had just returned from curing a massive hookworm outbreak in Cuba. He returns to the US, looks around, and realizes that most of the people in the Southern US are also suffering from hookworm. Hookworm causes lethargy and declined mental capacity
— Jul 03, 2025 12:45PM
There was a zoologist who had just returned from curing a massive hookworm outbreak in Cuba. He returns to the US, looks around, and realizes that most of the people in the Southern US are also suffering from hookworm. Hookworm causes lethargy and declined mental capacity
Ed Curtin
is on page 150 of 832
Interrupting your feed to insert my favorite John D Rockefeller stat: John Rockefeller was the richest man in the world, and Standard Oil was the largest company in the world, BEFORE the invention of the automobile and the advent of the gas powered engine. Kerosene, fertilizers, and industrial lubricants were the main revenue drivers, and they got broken up before gasoline sales even took off.
— Apr 24, 2025 02:20PM
Ed Curtin
is starting
I’VE ABANDONED MY YEARLY READING QUOTA! I’VE ABANDONED MY YEARLY READING QUOTA! I’VE ABANDONED MY GOAL!
— Apr 22, 2025 02:23PM
