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Summary: Great man's life in his own words
Comment: ...is rare and should not be missed. Its now been sometime since i finished the book and some of the big messages continue to linger
- This is not a textbook autobiography - it wasn't meant as such. Andrew Carnegie wrote of his life at different times for a potential future publication. Post his death, these unpublished notes were put together to form a coherent autobiography
- Andrew Carnegie was the 2nd richest man in history (in similar $s)and he gave away 90% of his wealth before his death. As he saw it, 'you die disgraced, if you die rich'. Mark Twain used to call him Saint Andrew
- His model of philanthrophy involved government involvement of some kind, to extend longevity of the entity, post his own lifetime. He built hundreds of libraries across America
- He hated to postpone things. He would do things right now, lest an opportunity disappear. And he firmly believed that great opportunities/fortunes often come to us as 'trifles'
- He hated stock markets - considered them too speculative. He wanted a tangible contribution to the world and not merely rolling paper.
- He enlisted Napoleon Hill to interview 500 millionaires (the gist is chronicled in 'Think and Grow rich'). What is called 'Law of attraction' by some of today's writers like Stephen Covey/John Assaraf (or 'akashic field' by some others like Ervin Laszlo; or advanced variation of quantum entanglement by some scientists who write in Nature) were concepts Carnegie seem to somehow understand 100 years before their arrival in popular writing/science today. The essence of it was that what you will deeply in your subconcious,can manifest in physical reality - by enabling forces that bring it to fruition.
I learnt a lot from this book and i guess some of the learnings may keep paying well into the future
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Book Review
Comment: It's great. Very interesting and informative. Glad I purchased it. Lets you know you have a chance at making it big, even if you're starting with little!
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Summary: Very Inspiring...
Comment: I've recently read a very inspiring book titled, "The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie and his essay The Gospel of Wealth.
Reading this was like stepping back into time as it was all written by Andrew himself in his private diaries around 100 - 150 years ago. Compelling work of history, family, business and ethics all combined into one 336 page book.
I find it pretty humbling to find out that he was once the second riches man in the country, only to give away his entire fortune to charities at the end of his life and after his passing on. This man made fortunes then proceeded to give away most of his $350,000,000 in wealth.
He opened thousands of libraries, music halls and parks for the public to enjoy. These were great feats in his time as there were not many libraries around 150 years ago. Nowadays of course you can find one in most every town and city in developed countries.
His philosophies on creating the best products, providing outstanding customer service and doing business with partners is really insiteful to read. Pretty amazing to think he started out at $1.20 a week as a teen to go on to amass one of the largest fortunes in America in his time.
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Summary: From Bobbin-Boy to Billionaire
Comment: Andrew Carnegie was a man of deadly focus, superhuman energy, and fierce intelligence. Lay down the book and you can hear his steady voice, setting forth in spare, lucid prose the studied steps and happy fortuities by which he reached his pinnacle, driven by dogged industry, breathless ambition, native wit, daring and innovation. We watch over his shoulder, as he builds his empire, one brick at a time, his magical ascent seemingly guided by the hand of providence. As we succumb to the charisma of the man himself, we get a growing feeling of invincibility, of an age when genius might always be turned into gold. Difficulties, obstacles, conundrums--problems that would fell the ordinary mortal--all seemed to vanish at his touch. The story is inspiring, humbling, and totally consuming. I could not put it down.
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Summary: Manufacturing Quality
Comment: "The surest foundation of a manufacturing concern is quality. After that, and a long way after, comes cost" (Andrew Carnegie. \\
Should be required reading for anyone going into business.
Unfortunately, too many American manufacturers, in general, have forgotten Andy's advice. Had the CEOs in Detroit followed his principle, they would have never been surpassed by Toyota and I would be driving an American car instead of a Lexus hybrid.
Larry Pisoni
President of Gourmet Italia
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