Wheels for the World: Henry Ford, His Company, and a Century of Progress

Published by Penguin Books, 2004, softcover, index, illustrated, 858 pages, condition: new.

In this monumental work, one of our finest historians reveals the riveting details of Ford Motor Companys epic achievements, from the outlandish success of the Model T and V-8 to the glory days of the Thunderbird, Mustang, and Taurus. Brilliant innovators, colorful businessmen, and clever eccentrics, as well as the three Ford factories themselves, all become characters in this gripping drama. Douglas Brinkley is a master at crafting compelling historical narratives, and this exemplary history of one of the preeminent American corporations is his finest achievement yet.

An exhaustive but very well written historical account of Henry Ford and his successors, Ford Motor Company from the late 1800s to the first decade of the 21st century and the 100th anniversary of Ford Motor Company. It is quite a tale of ups and downs, political and financial challenges, the oil crisis of the 1970s, World War I and World War II, globalization of the market and all things linked to selling cars. It is a history of a tradition (cars) that is so much apart of our American history. It is long and full of minutiae but the author never seems to loss track of the details and keeps the reader right on track as he works through everything that happened. What amazed me most was how many times, one of the largest manufacturing enterprises in America came close to closing its doors for many reasons, not the least, was leadership. Even the "biggies" can fall if poorly lead.