America Inc: The 400-Year History of American Capitalism by Bhu Srinivasan (Paperback)

Why has the United States become the most successful economy in history?

Named one of The Economist’s Best Books of 2017, America, Inc. by Bhu Srinivasan offers a compelling exploration of the rise of America’s economic power and the success of its businesses. Written in an engaging and accessible style, Srinivasan takes readers on a journey through four centuries of American enterprise, uncovering surprising connections between key moments and innovations that shaped the nation’s economic dominance.

From the telegraph and railroads to guns, radio, banking, flight, suburbia, and sneakers, America, Inc. delves into the industries and inventions that propelled the United States forward. The narrative culminates with the transformative impact of the Internet and mobile technology in the 21st century. Along the way, Srinivasan brings history to life with captivating stories: Andrew Carnegie’s humble beginnings as a telegraph messenger boy and his rise to become a steel magnate; Remington’s postwar reinvention from gunmaker to typewriter manufacturer; and the Mafia’s parallels with the era’s trends of business consolidation and regulation.

Through these insights, America, Inc. reframes the story of American capitalism, showing that even the modern start-up has roots deeply embedded in the country’s long history of innovation and ambition. Entertaining, insightful, and far-reaching, this book provides a fresh perspective on the forces that made the U.S. a global economic powerhouse.