I have a degree in History and studied business history at the university level. I love all things history, and can generally read through most any books on history. Some histories are boring no matter what, some are just mesmerizing no matter who reads it.
For me, I wanted to read more about Pierpont Sr. The first 200 or so pages cover him amazingly. It even reads like an action packed movie, covering every action and conversation he had. Personal letters are discussed, as well as private memos sent to overseas partners. The author basically frames the rest of the book in the shadow of Pierpont Sr.
Once you finish that first third of the book, however, the author seems to rely more on public record than anything else. Court proceedings and interviews are referenced frequently, as well as public announcements from well known political figures such as US Presidents, etc.
I’m currently in the middle of the book because I had to take a long break. The rest of the book reads as though it were written by a different author. This is not a jab at the author, though. Rather, I think Pierpont Sr was just such an interesting figure that anything that comes after him pales in comparison. The author even touches on that notion, but for me, I’m not sure if I will finish the book. I’m not entirely excited about endlessly reading about obscure court cases relating to the Morgan bank. I was hoping for more of an internal story, but what I’m seeing is more of a discussion based on public record.
In my opinion, a better book along the same topic is “For Peace and Money: French and British Finance in the Service of Tsars and Commissars,” written by Jennifer Siegel. Siegel is a historian whereas Chernow is more of a journalist. Siegel gained access to private Rothschild archives where she discussed internal Morgan bank happenings throughout her book; secret letters between family members, government officials, and business partners were discussed. Chernow did just that with the first 200 or so pages of his book, but the rest is weaker in my opinion.
ShaggyLa13