John Jacob Astor

Business and Finance in the Early Republic (Great Lakes Books Series)

By: John Denis Haeger

Narrated by: James McSorley

John Jacob Astor was the best-known and most important American businessman for more than a half-century. His career encompassed the country's formative economic years from the precarious days following the American Revolution to the emergence of an urban-centered manufacturing economy in the late 1840s.

In this biography of John Jacob Astor, John Denis Haeger uses Astor's life and his career as a merchant, fur trader, and land speculator as vehicles for examining several important themes and issues in American economic and urban development between 1790 and 1860.

More than just a personal biography, John Jacob Astor combines economic theories with a fascinating narrative that demonstrates, like no other book has, Astor's impact on the early republic.

The book is published by The University of Alabama Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

"Offers a fascinating, deft treatment of European conceptions of the Caribbean landscape as viewed through the eyes of Christopher Columbus and Iberian explorers beginning in the late 15th century. Highly recommended." (CHOICE)

©2015 The University of Alabama Press (P)2019 Redwood Audiobooks

Fascinating bit of history

This is scholarly work and the author takes his time to place his work in the context of other works. Not for everyone. It was good to learn about a period of American history that is not given much attention in school or at least not with the business perspective.

The presentation is challenging. A bit like the sound track for a junior high film strip. I don’t fault the narrator, but the producer.