American Inventors, Entrepreneurs, and Business Visionaries (American Biographies)

This book is excellent. If you are like me, someone who derives inspiration from the entrepreneurial achievements of others, then this book is for you. It takes you through the difficulties and triumphs of so many inventors and entrepreneurs, who have persisted against difficult odds in order to achieve great things. I was looking for exactly such a book when I purchased this book, and I am glad I purchased it. One other nice thing about this book is that it provides these insights into the accomplishments of these hard working and persistent people who believed in their dreams, in small doses. Each description of the achievements of each of the people covered is provided in small stories no more than two or three or so pages in length. This makes it ideal for repetitive small, casual reading experiences. One can pick up this book and read about, for example, one or two of these remarkable achievers and then put the book down until the next time when one has a few moments to pick it up again and read about a couple of more achievers. I would recommend this book to anyone who is starting a business or to any entrepreneur who is going through some of the inevitable difficult times that all entrepreneurs face sooner or later. Read this book and feel inspired to know that others have had dark and difficult moments and have triumphed. This book offers a look at those men and women who have made history with their innovative ideas, entrepreneurial daring, and abilities to take the seemingly impossible and make it real. While not every person in the book is well known, many are household names. Their successes, the diversity of their backgrounds, and the talents that these individuals have honed to get to the apex of U.S. inventive and entrepreneurial society ensure that their stories will inspire future generations of innovators. The book offers a glimpse into the lives and achievements of 280+ individuals who have played a significant role in making the United States the most prosperous country in the world. It is intended for any reader with an interest in U.S. business, U.S. history, or the history of innovation and invention. It contains a general bibliography; two subject indexes that list entries by invention/business type and year of birth; a comprehensive index; and 50 photographs depicting these varied individuals. Individuals profiled in the book include: Wally Amos, Bill Gates, Thomas Alva Edison, Walt Disney, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington Carver, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, William Randolph Hearst, Candido Jacuzzi, Vince McMahon, Muriel Siebert, Martha Stewart, Ted Turner, and Oprah Winfrey. (BT) "American Inventors, Entrepreneurs, and Business Visionaries offers a look at those men and women who have made history with their innovative ideas, entrepreneurial daring, and abilities to take the seemingly impossible and make it real. While not every person in this book is well known, many are household names. Their successes, the extraordinary diversity of their backgrounds, and the talents that these individuals have honed to get to the apex of American inventive and entrepreneurial society ensure that their stories will inspire future generations of innovators. This book offers a glimpse into the lives and achievements of more than 280 individuals who have played a significant role in making the United States the most prosperous country in the world. This volume explores the lives of such people as Wally Amos, Romana Acosta Banuelos, Gail Borden, Thomas Alva Edison, Walt Disney, Benjamin Franklin, Sybilla Righton Masters and Martha Stewart." Any reader with an interest in American business, U.S. history, or the history of innovation and invention will want this book. It contains a general bibliography; two subject indexes that list entries by invention/business type and year of birth; a comprehensive index; and 50 photographs depicting these remarkable individuals. Cover......Page 1 Front Matter......Page 2 Note On Photos......Page 5 List of Entries......Page 6 Author's Note......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Introduction......Page 14 A......Page 24 B......Page 35 C......Page 69 D......Page 107 E......Page 129 F......Page 141 G......Page 162 H......Page 192 I......Page 228 J......Page 232 K......Page 239 L......Page 261 M......Page 274 N......Page 299 O......Page 306 P......Page 312 R......Page 332 S......Page 339 T......Page 360 V......Page 371 W......Page 375 Y......Page 404 Z......Page 407 Bibliography & Recommended Sources......Page 409 Entries by Invention/Business Type......Page 411 Entries by Year of Birth......Page 415 Index......Page 418 This A to Z biographical dictionary contains 260 entries on important Americans from colonial times to the present. Each entry begins with a short description of the person's importance, then the entry provides the person's birth date and information, and proceeds chronologically though his/her life. Suggestions for further reading follow each entry. There is a topical introduction to the book, a bibliography at the end of the book, two subject indexes, and a general index. Offers portraits of more than 280 innovators who contributed to the prosperity of the United States, including Gail Borden, the inventor of condensed milk, and Wally Amos, founder of Famous Amos cookies