Have you ever wondered how they do it? Can anyone reach the same level of success? What do these great men have that enabled them to beat against the odds?
Here we are going to look at the life of the richest man of American History. Can you guess who? It's, none other than, John D. Rockefeller! Here we’ll be examining a biography of his life authored by Michael W. Simmons. Read on!
A Little Chit Chat
Do you know how I was pulled in to read this book? Well, most would likely say it’s the man’s success or his enormous amount of wealth. Partly true!What got my interest piqued is actually this great man’s philanthropy. And It all started by tithing his first earnings to the church! No matter how small it is.
“I never would have been able to tithe the first million dollars I ever made if I had not tithed my first salary, which was $1.50 per week.”
~ John D. Rockefeller
Wow! That’s amazing!
Okay, I understand many would turn sour at the thought of tithing or giving. Tithing or giving is a personal decision. It’s your money, your freedom! But I wouldn’t discount the fact that generous giving brings great rewards. Just look at this great man’s life!
He believed throughout his life that God had enabled him to acquire massive wealth precisely so he could use that money to do God’s work in the world.
~ excerpt from John D. Rockefeller by Michael Simmons
5 Nuggets of John D. Rockefeller’s Biography
Here are 5 of my gleanings from the book.- Curiously, considering what he achieved later in life, John was not considered to be especially talented when he was a boy. He was a plodder, a faithful hard worker—slow, but dogged. He demonstrated no flashes of brilliance or genius as a student.
- As a boy, John was deeply affected by the conviction that he was called, as a Christian, to effect positive change in the world using whatever talents and resources he possessed.
- John received no pay for his work at Hewitt and Tuttle until he had been working for them for three months. Nonetheless, he performed his duties with as much zeal as if he were their most highly respected employee.
- In truth, even when he was a mere clerk, Rockefeller assumed a greater degree of responsibility for the smooth running of Hewitt and Tuttle’s business than the partners assumed themselves.
- Rockefeller claimed that this was the secret to his enormous productivity: by resting and pacing himself, he kept his energies up, his mind clear, and preserved his health.
Book Review
The book is 228 pages long. That’s about 3 ½ to 4 hours of reading time. It’s not for everyone unless you're someone eager to learn how the richest man of American History did it!This biography by Michael Simmons covers John D. Rockefeller’s lineage, childhood, his career as an office clerk, his business enterprise notably Standard Oil and practices, criticisms or public outcry, and philanthropy.
Rating: 5/5
In Conclusion
John D. Rockefeller: The Wealthiest Man in American History is a comprehensive biography of the philanthropist life. It might take a while to finish reading the book but it’s worth it!My greatest takeaway is this... "To succeed you must possess the following: focus, perseverance, determination, willingness to put in the hard work, bold ess to take risks, responsibility, and shrewdness. Because when the opportunity hits, you will be rewarded tremendously."
I hope my review of John D. Rockefeller: The Wealthiest Man In American History by Michael W. Simmons is helpful.
Is your interest piqued now? Grab your copy below! Just click the link!
Well, you have an awesome day then! See you in my next book review. ;)