Book Review: The People’s Tycoon

Review: Watts’ biography is well-written in prose, but could benefit from more selective curation of stories. At times, it veers into mini-biographies of Ford’s employees and acquaintances, creating numerous tangents that can overshadow the main narrative. The abundance of details, while informative, can make it challenging to retain information from earlier chapters by the book’s end.

Despite this, the biography offers intimate insights into Ford’s life that are both fascinating and revealing. Beyond his public image as a folk hero who shaped American life at the turn of the 20th century, Ford is portrayed as a man with a boyish vigor for life. This is exemplified by his frequent camping trips with notable figures like Thomas Edison and Mark Twain. (Oh to hear those conversations!)

However, as with many biographies of eminent figures, a more complex and flawed individual emerges as the story unfolds. The book doesn’t shy away from Ford’s darker aspects, including his extramarital affair with a woman 30 years his junior, his illegitimate son, and his strong anti-Semitic views. It also reveals Ford’s overwhelming ego, which led him to undermine his own son’s efforts at the Ford Company, unable to share the spotlight even with his heir.

While the biography is sprinkled with interesting stories, it was an overall tedious read due to its length and the abundance of tangential information. 

Rating: 2.5/5