Andrew Carnegie And The Rise Of Big Business

Livesay describes two different father figures for Carnegie: his actual father, Will, and his mentor, Tom Scott. What role do each of these figures play in shaping Carnegie’s career trajectory?

Livesay remarks in the book that the biographer is always limited in his ability to understand his subject. Though biographers can report the facts of an individual’s life, “the precise motivation always remains something of a mystery” (27). What are some of the strategies Livesay employs to shed light onto Andrew Carnegie’s personality and character? Does Livesay succeed in uncovering Carnegie’s motivations?

 Throughout the book, Livesay will describe the 19th century as a societal shift spanning “two worlds”: the old pre-industrial world to the modern industrial world. Would you characterize Carnegie as belonging to the old world, the new world, or somewhere in-between the two?

 In a letter to his cousin, a young Carnegie writes that “if I don’t [succeed] it will be my own fault, for anyone can get along in this country” (25). Carnegie suggests that America is a place of total opportunity, regardless of one’s personal background. Do you agree with Carnegie’s assessment of 19th-century American society? Use specific historical examples in your answer.

Livesay describes numerous business deals Carnegie performed that allowed him to grow his business. Pick one and describe the strategies Carnegie employed in his deal that aided in his success.

 Carnegie credited “Fortunatus,” or good fortune, in offering him the opportunities to advance his career. Discuss the role that chance plays throughout Carnegie’s life.

According to Livesay, it is within the steel and iron manufacturing industries that Carnegie first acts as a true “innovator” (83). Describe the policies Carnegie enacted that set Carnegie Steel apart from other manufacturing industries. Are these business practices still relevant today?

Though the biography focuses on Carnegie’s businesses, numerous personal relationships—such as his mentor, Tom Scott, his brother, and his wife, Louise Whitfield—appear in the biography. How do Carnegie’s business ambitions intersect with his personal relationships?