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Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include From the library of labels. Shrink wrap dust covers or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media. Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include From the library of labels. Shrink wrap dust covers or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media. See less

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Americana: A 400-Year History of American Capitalism Paperback – December 4, 2018

by Bhu Srinivasan (Author)

4.7 754 ratings

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An absorbing and original narrative history of American capitalism

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF 2017 BY THE ECONOMIST

From the days of the Mayflower and the Virginia Company, America has been a place for people to dream, invent, build, tinker, and bet the farm in pursuit of a better life. Americana takes us on a four-hundred-year journey of this spirit of innovation and ambition through a series of Next Big Things -- the inventions, techniques, and industries that drove American history forward: from the telegraph, the railroad, guns, radio, and banking to flight, suburbia, and sneakers, culminating with the Internet and mobile technology at the turn of the twenty-first century. The result is a thrilling alternative history of modern America that reframes events, trends, and people we thought we knew through the prism of the value that, for better or for worse, this nation holds dearest: capitalism.

In a winning, accessible style, Bhu Srinivasan boldly takes on four centuries of American enterprise, revealing the unexpected connections that link them. We learn how Andrew Carnegie's early job as a telegraph messenger boy paved the way for his leadership of the steel empire that would make him one of the nation's richest men; how the gunmaker Remington reinvented itself in the postwar years to sell typewriters; how the inner workings of the Mafia mirrored the trend of consolidation and regulation in more traditional business; and how a 1950s infrastructure bill triggered a series of events that produced one of America's most enduring brands: KFC. Reliving the heady early days of Silicon Valley, we are reminded that the start-up is an idea as old as America itself.

Entertaining, eye-opening, and sweeping in its reach, Americana is an exhilarating new work of narrative history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A delightful tour through the businesses and industries that turned America into the biggest economy in the world. Not only is the book written in a light and informative style, it is cleverly constructed. . . . There is plenty of surprising detail. . . . An excellent book.”—The Economist

“The historical parallels his work provokes are striking and illustrative, and modern innovators would benefit from looking more closely at how the past may inform their future.”— Quartz

“Bhu Srinivasan is an expert storyteller who deftly navigates the history of American innovation. In a world preoccupied with Zuckerberg and Musk, he tells a series of bite-size narratives that are individually digestible yet comprehensive in their survey of capitalism, from that of ferry-captain Cornelius Vanderbilt to that of Samuel Morse, portrait-painter-turned-telegraph-inventor. Painting the backdrop of four centuries of ingenuity, he reminds us how far America has come. A great book.”—Scott Hartley, venture capitalist and author of The Fuzzy and the Techie

“In Americana, Bhu Srinivasan ranges widely and insightfully through the long, tangled history of capitalism and democracy in America. Provocative and lucid, Americana deserves and rewards attention from citizens, present and future, of our troubled yet alluring nation.”—Alan Taylor, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for The Internal Enemy

“A wonderfully readable and entertaining panorama of the innovators and entrepreneurs who have shaped our history. Lively and original, brimming with surprising details and full of brilliant insights, this is narrative history at its best.”—Liaquat Ahamed, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Lords of Finance

“A colorful, engaging, and incisive account of the evolving varieties of American capitalism told through the new technologies that drove it forward, the ideas that shaped it, the institutions that enabled it, the goods it produced, and the people who made and resisted it. It is a book that is both personal and historically sweeping.”—Richard White, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Railroaded

“[Srinivasan] is particularly insightful on cycles of technological revolution, as with Andrew Carnegie’s innovations as a steel baron and the rise of the automobile industry. . . . Spryly and with just the right amount of circumstantial detail, Srinivasan places all this against the context of his own history in America. . . . A smart, accessible contribution to the nation’s economic history.”—Kirkus

“An informative, fluently written history. . . . An intelligent survey of U.S. business history. . . accessible to a wide audience.”—Library Journal

About the Author

Bhu Srinivasan is an accomplished media entrepreneur whose career has spanned digital media, pop culture, technology, publishing, and financial content. Srinivasan arrived in the U.S. with his family at the age of eight, and as a child lived in the South, the Rust Belt, Southern California, and the Pacific Northwest. He lives in New Canaan, CT with his wife and four children.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; Reprint edition (December 4, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 576 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0399563814
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0399563812
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.44 x 1.25 x 8.4 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #65,964 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #113 in Economic Conditions (Books)
- #182 in Economic History (Books)
- #1,582 in World History (Books)

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4.7 754 ratings

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Customers find the book instructive and interesting, providing an excellent guide to US history. They describe the writing as simple and accessible. Readers appreciate the clear explanations of capitalism and the economy in a non-boring way. The book provides an entertaining and detailed picture into our past as Americans. However, some customers feel the academic content is too professorial and not suitable for general readers.

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History lesson Readability Writing quality Capitalism Entertainment value Picture quality Academic content

61 customers mention "History lesson"61 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides an instructive guide to US history. They describe it as a summary of fascinating periods and connections in the country's history, providing excellent insights. The book takes you through American history through an economic lens, from venture capital and the tobacco industry. Readers praise the well-researched and well-written content, although some find the subject matter dense.

"...is a fascinating collection of bite-sized chapters that capture the history of America through portrayal of innovations and the development of..." Read more

"...Thank you, Mr. S, I so enjoyed your wonderful writing, insights, and point of view, colored I think by having one foot in another culture as well as..." Read more

"...This book will take you though American history through an economic lens, from venture capital and the tobacco economy all the way through the..." Read more

"...tastes and political tendencies. It is interesting to approach the history of a country from tangible events that since their inception have..." Read more

47 customers mention "Readability"44 positive3 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They say it's one of the most readable history books they've ever read. The chapters are concise yet thorough, providing an original perspective on history.

"...The result is a pleasant and informative work for readers of various tastes and political tendencies. It is interesting to approach the..." Read more

"...most engaging economic history of the United States I've read: a real page-turner...." Read more

"...the 400-year American business and industries developments; An amazing and unbelievable positive power of capitalism, each chapter themed with a..." Read more

"...of suspense and 'what comes next,' it really is one of the most readable history books i've ever picked up." Read more

25 customers mention "Writing quality"25 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and accessible. They appreciate the clear presentation of the information in an easy-to-follow narrative. The storyline is clean and simple to follow, providing a quick overview of 400 years of American capitalism. While not intended for specialists, it provides a first-class introduction for general readers.

"...An easy read, lots of fun anecdotes that keep it light and lively - even my wife has enjoyed my repeated, "hey, you've gotta hear this!"..." Read more

"...Thank you, Mr. S, I so enjoyed your wonderful writing, insights, and point of view, colored I think by having one foot in another culture as well as..." Read more

"...Most of what up is here I have seen before but the book is very well written and very well researched...." Read more

"...But written very well and I'd recommend it." Read more

12 customers mention "Capitalism"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. It provides an introduction to capitalism and the US economy in a clear and concise way. Readers appreciate the interesting perspective on economic events and their impact on the US. The book is suitable for both economic experts and general readers.

"...I think this book would be engaging for both economic experts and general readers such as myself...." Read more

"...and industries developments; An amazing and unbelievable positive power of capitalism, each chapter themed with a shining bead of evolving ‘next..." Read more

"This is a book everyone should read. I think it is a rational look at the growth of America from a very different but important viewpoint...." Read more

"I was very impressed with this books coverage of capitalism. I would highly recommend this for anyone one interest in capitalism...." Read more

6 customers mention "Entertainment value"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining, with an interesting and detailed look into American history. The discourse keeps it light and lively, even for their wives.

"...An easy read, lots of fun anecdotes that keep it light and lively - even my wife has enjoyed my repeated, "hey, you've gotta hear this!"..." Read more

"Great boom...." Read more

"...Every major innovation of wealth accumulation was explained in a fascinating , riveting manor...." Read more

"I would prefer more reasoned analysis of data, but an entertaining discourse that makes me want to look deeper on several fronts." Read more

4 customers mention "Picture quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides an interesting and detailed picture into our past as Americans. They say it paints clear pictures of the various eras of American enterprise, covering the beautiful, difficult, shameful, and surprising aspects. The author provides an honest look at the perfectly imperfect, exceptional view through a lens that all Americans can benefit from.

"...He paints clear pictures of the various eras of American enterprise that take you back to your American History class, but now wanting to really..." Read more

"Exceptional view through a lens that all Americans can benefit...." Read more

"...The author provides an honest look at the perfectly imperfect American experiment." Read more

"An interesting and detailed picture into our past as Americans. Covering the beautiful, the difficult, the shameful, and surprising aspects of a..." Read more

6 customers mention "Academic content"3 positive3 negative

Customers have different views on the academic content. Some find the style conversational and appropriate for both novices and experts. Others feel it's not a comprehensive treatise, lacking depth and detail.

"...The author's style is conversational, not too 'professorial'...." Read more

"...The chapters are relatively short and do not include all the facts subsequent to those of the initial stage...." Read more

"...specialist, but a first class introduction for the general, educated non-specialist." Read more

"...This is not an academic treatise, even as the bibliography shows that the research is extensive and well sourced Srinivasan was able to look at old..." Read more

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P. Gici
Great book! Title and subtitle limit readership.
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2024
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This book is a fascinating collection of bite-sized chapters that capture the history of America through portrayal of innovations and the development of dozens of American institutions - press, oil, retail, computers, regulation, transportation and many more. An easy read, lots of fun anecdotes that keep it light and lively - even my wife has enjoyed my repeated, "hey, you've gotta hear this!" interruptions - but very informative. Definitely more a history book than a business book. Author refers to it as a "time-lapse view of history" through 4 centuries of innovations, each regarded in its time as "the next big thing." Highly recommended!

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Constance R. White
I loved this book!
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2022
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I bought this after seeing the author on TV answer his own question: How did the pilgrims - not a wealthy bunch - manage to rent a large sea-going ship, with an experienced crew and plenty of supplies? good question, and I was hooked! I’m an old woman who missed out on a history education because I could never read the textbooks. Srinivasan tells stories, and that’s the way history unfolds, isn’t it? And keeps me reading.

If you already know it all, you’re going to be disappointed - but it wasn’t written for you. It was written for me. Sure, it doesn’t cover everything - the title tells you that - but it covers enough, with an important base to ground it, that I feel like I’ve had a worthy education. Thank you, Mr. S, I so enjoyed your wonderful writing, insights, and point of view, colored I think by having one foot in another culture as well as your success in America.

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James Muncy
A Fresh Take
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2024
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I read this book while studying for the FSOT (it has been added to the recommended reading list). It is a great way to tackle economics and history at the same time. This book will take you though American history through an economic lens, from venture capital and the tobacco economy all the way through the internet and smart phones. Dealing with one concept/ focus area per chapter, the reader will see how the American economy has evolved over the past few hundred years, and the country with it.

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Hernando Mena
The history of the United States described through its industry.
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2020
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This book describes the industrial development of the United States over the last 400 years, whose favorable outcome has endured and made the country the world's leading power in its most recent history. To do this, Mr. Srinivasan chose 35 outstanding themes that he develops in an equal number of chapters. In each topic he emphasizes the circumstances of its origin and the individuals, who as pioneers, contributed to its success. The chapters are relatively short and do not include all the facts subsequent to those of the initial stage. The result is a pleasant and informative work for readers of various tastes and political tendencies.
It is interesting to approach the history of a country from tangible events that since their inception have played so an important role in the lives of its inhabitants. This work is not about discussing political, economic, religious, philosophical or social ideas. The aim is to demonstrate the impact that many industries like radio have played in the capitalist advance of the American Nation.
Mr. Srinivasan deserves our recognition for his efforts to present us with an unbiased work based on numerous citations and references, as well as for his impartiality since he does not neglect some Marxist concepts.
For a better understanding of the history of the United States, this treatise should be read and reviewed many times.

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2 people found this helpful

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Janet
Gripping primer on 'how we got here'
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2018
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This is supposedly the first book that Srinivasan has penned; if true, he's clearly a Hamiltonesque polymath, as it's the most engaging economic history of the United States I've read: a real page-turner. I've also enjoyed John Steele Gordon's 'Empire of Wealth'; this is a similar quick-sweep-of-history that provides excellent insights on why we shouldn't be surprised by the current economic and political dynamics today. Srinivasan offers a new depth of understanding as he draws on his tech background to translate historic events into modern ("scaling up"/ 'going public') terms. His analysis of the economic value of the slave trade, pointing out how both the North and Great Britain were so integrally dependent on the system, was a revelation that I don't recall hearing in university courses. His description of the pre-"Compromise of 1850" dynamics regarding runaway slaves clarifies that today's "sanctuary cities" are nothing new. I think this book would be engaging for both economic experts and general readers such as myself. Srinivasan is a gifted communicator; I hope this will be the first of dozens more such efforts.

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26 people found this helpful

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A. Bell
Interesting read
Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2020
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I am 61 years old and have been an amateur student of history and economics most of my life. Most of what up is here I have seen before but the book is very well written and very well researched. Enough so, that there was a lot of new facts and twists I hadn’t seen or considered.

One of the most compelling parts involved the economics of slavery, specifically the degree many Southerners were locked in because the value of their slaves was collateral for loans on everything they owned. Most slave holders who may have had an inclination of emancipating their slaves could do so only at the cost of total financial ruin.

There were a lot of other interesting parts as well and I found several of them fascinating in that the book reveals facts and stories about events I lived through and participated in. The perspective of an historian looking back is just not the same as experiencing first hand. You would think it would be the other way around and in some respects I believe it is. But the author can separate from personal bias of an individual and offer insights that you just don’t see living through it.

I would highly recommend this book to anybody.

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Mr X
Such a good book!
Reviewed in Italy on October 31, 2024
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Outstanding!

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Anantha Narayan
Comprehensive & interesting
Reviewed in India on February 19, 2021
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Americana is a fascinating look into the various capitalistic ventures in America’s history, ranging from tobacco, cotton, and gold to slavery and from various industries to the American way of life. And in all of this, there’s a common thread, first voiced by Adam Smith — despite the risk of total loss, money finds its way to opportunity when the potential rewards are high enough. For a non-American like me, the nuances and origins of many of these were extremely interesting, especially factors such as slavery or anti-completive behaviour, which are clearly to be hated now but have played a role in America’s progress.

In all of this, it is interesting to see how history repeats itself. The formation of “trusts” to overcome laws against pricing collusion and the government’s battles against them in the nineteenth century seems to have its echoes even now. The concept of venture or risk capital used to finance the first shipload of passengers to America came back after 350 years to fund technology companies. Or corporate America’s tendency to latch on to investor fads have remained unchanged from the time pointless trusts were formed to the time when existing companies rechristened themselves as “dotcoms” towards the end of the last century.

Given the vast number of topics covered, there may be an element of superficiality in their coverage but Srinivasan’s focus is more on making it comprehensive rather than detailed. His writing is pacy and interesting which makes the 500+ page length quite easy to read. He makes an attempt at humour as well, as when he sardonically explains the movie Pretty Woman away by saying that it is entirely plausible that a call girl could serve as the moral compass for a financier!

A bonus is the presence of several interesting factoids through the book. For example, slaves formed the single biggest asset class around 1850 with an estimated value of US$2.8 billion at that time. Or the origin of the term, “$300 man” is from the Civil War where rich men could pay that amount for a substitute to take their place. Or that the Remington typewriter is probably what facilitated women into the white-collared working class!

Pros: A comprehensive look into nearly all of America’s capitalistic ventures, pacy and interesting

Cons: Some superficiality in the coverage of topics

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Liam Kelleher
Really fascinating history of the US
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 12, 2020
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I have read a few history books of the US, and most are very heavily focused on the people who occupied the White House rather than the rest of the nation. If Howard Zinn wrote the the People’s History of America, then America Inc book could be best described as an entrepreneurs history of America.

The book has 35 chapters, each on one subject - coal, oil, steel, banking etc which take us all the way from the early colonisers in the 1600s to iPhone waving protestors in 2008. The writing is an excellent mix of the people and companies which drove the development of America. The book is really well researched and soundly written. There is a lot of learning in this book, but rarely lags and zips along nicely.

Highly recommended book if you are interested in American history from a slightly different perspective. My only gripe is that the renaming of the book America Inc, rather than keeping the original name Americana, cheapens the book and sounds childish.

But don’t let that distract you from the contents. It’s great and reminder that an author does not have to be an academic to write a great history book!

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Reviewed in Spain on May 24, 2020
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Buenas, he recibido el libro en el estado de las fotografías adjuntas. Muy mal.

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Reviewed in Spain on May 24, 2020
Buenas, he recibido el libro en el estado de las fotografías adjuntas. Muy mal.

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Sigmund Roseth
Easily readable and fascinating overview of American capitalism and economic ...
Reviewed in Canada on November 6, 2017
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Exceptionally well-written economic history; outlining the steady development of American industry, business leaders and innovators. He is using a rather unusual system of short chapters ( Venture; Tobacco; Taxes; Cotton; Steam; Canals; Railroads and so on), covering American economic history from the Mayflower to the present day. He weaves the story around individual actors; including a background of social issues; including unions and civil rights. Easily readable and fascinating overview of American capitalism and economic growth.

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Capitalism, Spirit of ‘Adam Smith’ are stronger than nation’s leader, better than politics. The best is yet to come~

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5.0 out of 5 stars Great book! Title and subtitle limit readership.

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book!

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fresh Take

5.0 out of 5 stars The history of the United States described through its industry.

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping primer on 'how we got here'

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read

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5.0 out of 5 stars Such a good book!

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive & interesting

5.0 out of 5 stars Really fascinating history of the US

5.0 out of 5 stars Páginas cortadas

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5.0 out of 5 stars Easily readable and fascinating overview of American capitalism and economic ...

Great book! Title and subtitle limit readership.

I loved this book!

A Fresh Take

The history of the United States described through its industry.

Gripping primer on 'how we got here'

Interesting read

Such a good book!

Comprehensive & interesting

Really fascinating history of the US

Páginas cortadas

Easily readable and fascinating overview of American capitalism and economic ...