audiobook A Brief History of Entrepreneurship: The Pioneers; Profiteers; and Racketeers Who Shaped Our World (Columbia Business School Publishing) by Joe Carlen in History

Review

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. but we have never made you feel bad about thisBy LeelaThis should be on the reading list for all college and AP beginning economics classes. Reading this history; one often gets ah-huh moments; such the author's comments that enterprise does poorly in authoritarian regimes with reactionary agrarian ideals. (The example given is Rome; my mind connects the dots to the antebellum South; Mao and Pol Pot)Very well written and engaging especially when the author cites from actual sources:" 30 years ago you left the city of Assur; you have never made a deposit since; and we have not recovered when shekel of silver from you; but we have never made you feel bad about this. Our tablets have been going out to you with caravan after caravan; but no report from you have ever come here we have addressed claims to your father but we have not been claiming one shekel of your private silver. Please; do come back right away; should you be too busy with your new business; deposit the silver for us. We have never made you feel bad about this matter but we are now forced to appear; in your eyes acting as gentleman should not. If not we will send you a notice from the local ruler and the police and thus put you in shame in the assembly of merchants..."The city of Assur was founded approximately 4500 years ago. Things do not change!2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. I enjoyed the historical quality of both of MrBy Gerald RyanI enjoyed the historical quality of both of Mr. Carlen's books; The Einsten of Money; ans the The Brief History of Entreprenuership.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Phoenicia to Silicon ValleyBy GderfThe book traces entrepreneurship; a prime mover of societal progress through the ages; but emphasizing recent developments. Carlen relates history and motives of what he calls pioneers; profiteers and racketeers. He book covers contributions of Phoenician traders and pirates beginnings of the slave trade; Mesopotamia; the Industrial Revolution complete with Luddite fears then and now; democratization of the automobile industry by Henry Ford; Prohibition era Chicago; culminating in Silicon Valley and Internet along with the PC Revolution. He says the Greeks built trading networks while the Romans were low on entrepreneurship; an arguable contention. We read about careers of Gates; Musk; Bazos and many others. Among the few practical ideas is the suggestion of good business to be made in Africa where there is a discrepancy between perception and reality. Most interesting is development of modern international trade with the British East India Company (BEIC); Dutch VOC; and French East India Company in an era of “no trade without war.” Does it continue today?