Mellon

An American Life

By: David Cannadine

Narrated by: John H. Mayer

A landmark work from one of the preeminent historians of our time: the first published biography of Andrew W. Mellon, the American colossus who bestrode the worlds of industry, government, and philanthropy, leaving his transformative stamp on each.

Following a boyhood in nineteenth-century Pittsburgh, Andrew Mellon overcame painful shyness to become one of America’s greatest financiers. Across an unusually diverse range of enterprises, he would build a legendary personal fortune, tracking America’s course to global economic supremacy. Personal happiness, however, eluded him. He had been bred to do one thing, and that he did with brilliant and innovative entrepreneurship.

Mellon’s wealth and name allowed him to dominate Pennsylvania politics, and under presidents Harding, Coolidge, and finally Hoover, he made the federal government run like a business. But this man of straightforward conservative politics was no politician. He would be hailed as the architect of the Roaring Twenties, but, staying too long, would be blamed for the Great Depression, eventually to find himself a broken idol.

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.

Very in-depth life story

Went from hearing the name to a deep knowledge of the family history of the Mellon family

Mellon Biography is one of the best

The biography of Andrew Mellon is one of the best written biographies that I have ever read. The story of the man laced with the history of his incredible 82 years is literally a page turner. The reader is one of the best.

Fascinating life

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely

What 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 best

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no

Any additional comments?

An extraordinarily and unexpectedly interesting biography of an important but little known or understood man.

remarkably evenhanded

for the author openly stating he prefers FDR, he is very fair to Mellon. very long, but very informative and most all of the information truly helps to establish the character of a man who shaped America more than most Americans realize, or likely would be comfortable with.

Long, but good.

The book is extremely thorough. The author is quite skillful in his writing, but the book is almost too long. Also the narrator reads horribly slow. Set it to 1.25x speed and its perfect.