Before the 99% occupied Wall Street... Before the concept of social justice had impinged on the social conscience... Before the social safety net had even been conceived... By the turn of the 20th Century, the era of the robber barons, Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) had already accumulated a staggeringly large fortune; he was one of the wealthiest people on the globe. He guaranteed his position as one of the wealthiest men ever when he sold his steel business to create the United States Steel Corporation. Following that sale, he spent his last 18 years, he gave away nearly 90% of his fortune to charities, foundations, and universities. His charitable efforts actually started far earlier. At the age of 33, he wrote a memo to himself, noting ..".The amassing of wealth is one of the worse species of idolatry. No idol more debasing than the worship of money." In 1881, he gave a library to his hometown of Dunfermline, Scotland. In 1889, he spelled out his belief that the rich should use their wealth to help enrich society, in an article called "The Gospel of Wealth" this book. Carnegie writes that the best way of dealing with wealth inequality is for the wealthy to redistribute their surplus means in a responsible and thoughtful manner, arguing that surplus wealth produces the greatest net benefit to society when it is administered carefully by the wealthy. He also argues against extravagance, irresponsible spending, or self-indulgence, instead promoting the administration of capital during one's lifetime toward the cause of reducing the stratification between the rich and poor. Though written more than a century ago, Carnegie's words still ring true today, urging a better, more equitable world through greater social consciousness.

CHAPTER I PARENTS AND CHILDHOOD CHAPTER II DUNFERMLINE AND AMERICA CHAPTER III PITTSBURGH AND WORK CHAPTER IV COLONEL ANDERSON AND BOOKS CHAPTER V THE TELEGRAPH OFFICE CHAPTER VI RAILROAD SERVICE CHAPTER VII SUPERINTENDENT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER VIII CIVIL WAR PERIOD CHAPTER IX BRIDGE-BUILDING CHAPTER X THE IRON WORKS CHAPTER XI NEW YORK AS HEADQUARTERS CHAPTER XII BUSINESS NEGOTIATIONS CHAPTER XIII THE AGE OF STEEL CHAPTER XIV PARTNERS, BOOKS, AND TRAVEL CHAPTER XV COACHING TRIP AND MARRIAGE CHAPTER XVI MILLS AND THE MEN CHAPTER XVII THE HOMESTEAD STRIKE CHAPTER XVIII PROBLEMS OF LABOR CHAPTER XIX THE "GOSPEL OF WEALTH" CHAPTER XX EDUCATIONAL AND PENSION FUNDS CHAPTER XXI THE PEACE PALACE AND PITTENCRIEFF CHAPTER XXII MATHEW ARNOLD AND OTHERS CHAPTER XXIII BRITISH POLITICAL LEADERS CHAPTER XXIV GLADSTONE AND MORLEY CHAPTER XXV HERBERT SPENCER AND HIS DISCIPLE CHAPTER XXVI BLAINE AND HARRISON CHAPTER XXVII WASHINGTON DIPLOMACY CHAPTER XXVIII HAY AND McKINLEY CHAPTER XXIX MEETING THE GERMAN EMPEROR

Much more than a book of sage business advice-though it is that, too-this extraordinary autobiography of one of the greatest American success stories is the tale of the nation's entrepreneurial spirit itself. The man who made a fortune in steel relates, in a lively and at times even poetic voice, the story of his life, from the vital lessons he learned from his "poor but honest" family about the value of hard work and a generous, liberal philosophy and his early work in telegraph and railroad offices to his investments in oil and steel and the great pleasure he took in his philanthropic causes, including setting up pensions for his steelworkers. Published in 1920, just after his death, and written as if to family and friends, this is an important reminder that there was a time in American business when a multimillion-dollar deal could be conducted on a handshake and greed wasn't good. Entrepreneur and philanthropist ANDREW CARNEGIE (1835-1919) was born in Scotland and emigrated to America as a teenager. His Carnegie Steel Company launched the steel industry in Pittsburgh, and after its sale to J.P. Morgan, he devoted his life to philanthropic causes. His charitable organizations built more than 2,500 public libraries around the world, and gave away more than $350 million during his lifetime.

The book presents Carnegies' memories from his early childhood to the days of his creations, including his overview of significant world events and prognosis for the future, which he saw as very optimistic. A reader learns a lot about Carnegie's childhood, first work, and then first business undertakings, which led him to the position of one of the richest men in the world. The second part of the book "The Gospel of Wealth" is Carnegie's on how the rich should improve society by sharing money for the common good. There he supported the idea of progressive taxation and estate tax and set a fashion for philanthropy.

Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie - Popular Edition.

One of the earliest memoirs of an American capitalist, this 1920 volume recounts an immigrant's rise from clerk to captain of industry and steel magnate. Includes Carnegie's treatise on his philanthropic views.