Major Problems in American Business History: Documents and Essays

Business has always been part of American life, and it is impossible to understand either the history of living or the history of business without knowing something of the other. This book, which should really be called Major *Solutions* in Business and Economic History, offers an extraordinary opportunity to learn about both business and life in America. You won't have to read this book from cover-to-cover to enjoy it. It consists of dozens of carefully selected short essays by leading scholars and over a hundred fascinating documents from original sources, such as pieces by Benjamin Franklin and Andrew Carnegie on success. Others include one by John Wanamaker on how to run a department store in 1911 and one from 1893 on the proper business roles for women. Some "documents" are actually images from the past, which add to the pleasure. Although this book was intended primarily for classroom use, everyone will enjoy it who has an interest in U.S. business, how its multiple forms evolved, and how it has interacted with every part of life over the centuries, right up to present-day globalization.