
Mellon
An American Life
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Narrated by:
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John H. Mayer
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By:
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David Cannadine
Following a boyhood in 19th-century Pittsburgh, during which he learned from his Scotch-Irish immigrant father the lessons of self-sufficiency and wealth accumulation, Andrew Mellon overcame painful shyness to become one of America's greatest financiers. Across an unusually diverse range of enterprises, from banking to oil to aluminum manufacture, he built a legendary personal fortune, tracking America's course to global economic supremacy. The Mellon way was to hold companies closely, including such iconic enterprises as Alcoa and Gulf Oil.
Personal happiness eluded Mellon, however: his loveless marriage at 45 to a British girl less than half his age ended in a scandalous divorce, and for all his best efforts, he would remain a stranger to his children. He had been bred to do one thing, and that he did with brilliant and innovative entrepreneurship. Collecting art, a pursuit inspired by his close friend Henry Clay Frick, would become his only nonprofessional gratification. And by the end of his life, Mellon's "pictures" would constitute one of the world's foremost private collections.
The issues Andrew W. Mellon confronted, concerning government, business, influence, the individual and the public good, remain at the center of our national discourse to this day. Indeed, the positions he steadfastly held reemerged relatively intact with the Reagan revolution, having lain dormant since the New Deal. David Cannadine's magisterial biography brings to life a towering, controversial figure, casting new light on our history and the evolution of our public values.
©2006 David Cannadine (P)2006 Books on TapeListeners also enjoyed...




















Critic reviews
"Lavish....Insightful....Grand successes and epic failures, engrossingly recounted....Emphasizes the man rather than the money." (Kirkus)
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Very in-depth life story
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Mellon Biography is one of the best
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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
AbsolutelyWhat does John H. Mayer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
A great reader. Good inflection, soothing voice; one of your bestWas this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
noAny additional comments?
An extraordinarily and unexpectedly interesting biography of an important but little known or understood man.Fascinating life
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remarkably evenhanded
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Long, but good.
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great book
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Narrator was terrific
Epilogue was excellent also
I highly recommend
Wow
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So many Mellons in this story made it hard to follow at times, but overall good listen to learn about his years at the Treasury.
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Great Book
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Wonderful biography of a forgotten titan
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