Siemens, 1918-1945

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contributions edited by Andy Serwer

"What does it mean to be an American? What are American ideas and values? American Enterprise, the companion book to a major exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, aims to answer these questions about the American experience through an exploration of its economic and commercial history. It argues that by looking at the intersection of capitalism and democracy, we can see where we as a nation have come from and where we might be going in the future. Richly illustrated with images of objects from the museum's collections, American Enterprise includes an early Thomas Edison light bulb, a wheat thresher, a Barbie doll, a Google server, and many other goods and services that have shaped American culture. Historical and contemporary advertisements are also featured, emphasizing the evolution of the relationship between producers and consumers over time. Interspersed in the historical narrative are essays from today's industry leaders--including Sheila Bair, Adam Davidson, Bill Ford, Sally Greenberg, Fisk Johnson, Hank Paulson, Richard Trumka, and Pat Woertz--that pose provocative questions about the state of contemporary American business and society. American Enterprise is a multi-faceted survey of the nation's business heritage and corresponding social effects that is fundamental to an understanding of the lives of the American people, the history of the United States, and the nation's role in global affairs"-- "American Enterprise is a dramatic exploration of how the United States transformed from a small dependent nation into one of the world's most vibrant and trend-setting economies. This companion book to the National Museum of American History's exhibition of the same name argues that the American experience has been shaped by economic and commercial philosophies. Founding ideals of capitalism and democracy fostered national values of competition and innovation. These values in turn became the building blocks of American business and sparked a tradition of constant creative destruction. The ongoing transformation of the marketplace has provided opportunities for many, benefits for some, and hardships for others. This powerful book explores the perspectives of both producers and consumers and illustrates the complex interplay between these two groups throughout history. It does so through four major eras: Merchant (1770s - 1850s), Corporate (1860s - 1930s), Consumer (1940s - 1970s), and Global (1980s - 2010s). The goods, machinery, advertisements, and business leaders of each era are brought to life with objects from the Smithsonian's unparalleled collections and explanations by the exhibition's curators. Each era concludes with two essays by famous and influential business leaders who play off the history to pose provocative questions about the state of contemporary American business and society. American Enterprise provides an understanding of the nation's business heritage and corresponding social effects that is fundamental to the lives of the American people, the history of the United States, and the nation's role in global affairs"--

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Koichi Hamada ... [et al

Sixty-five years have passed since the end of World War II. It is timely to reflect upon this short but curious Japanese economic history, beginning with the extreme hunger and poverty in the late 1940s, followed by quick recovery and "miraculous" growth since the late 1950s, to the first oil shock in 1972, slow growth in the reset of the 1970s and 1980s, and finally almost complete stagnation over the last two decades. This book attempts to make sense of Japan's economic history for these past sixty-five years.

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Diana Davids Olien and Roger M. Olien

"As the twentieth century began, oil in Texas was easy to find, but of little commercial value. Oil and natural gas bubbled up in many a water well, but in quantities too small to attract industrial capital and production. Then, on January 10, 1901, the Spindletop gusher blew in. Over the next fifty years, oil transformed the state of Texas, creating a booming economy that built cities, attracted out-of-state workers and companies, funded schools and universities, and generated wealth that raised the overall standard of living - even for blue-collar workers. No other twentieth-century development had a more profound effect upon the state.". "In this book, Diana Davids Olien and Roger M. Olien chronicle the explosive growth of the Texas oil industry from the first commercial production at Corsicana in the 1890s through the vital role of Texas oil in World War II. Using both archival records and oral histories, they follow the wildcatters and the gushers as the oil industry spread into almost every region of the state. The authors trace the development of many branches of the petroleum industry - pipelines, refining, petrochemicals, and natural gas. They also explore how overproduction and volatile prices led to increasing regulation and gave broad regulatory powers to the Texas Railroad Commission.". "This overview of the gusher years of Texas oil offers an essential key to understanding the state's transition from a rural, agrarian-based economy to the urban, industrialized society of today. Refuting a common belief that natural resource development ultimately impoverishes a region, it demonstrates that Texans quickly recognized the opportunities created by the oil boom and took full advantage of them."--BOOK JACKET.

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Theodore B. Kinni and Donna Kinni

General Douglas A. MacArthur's extraordinary life of leadership spanned three wars and more than six decades inside and outside the military. He defined principles of leadership that were decades ahead of their time: principles reflecting extraordinary wisdom about strategy, motivation, organization, execution, and personal growth. Now, Theodore and Donna Kinni distill 52 powerful leadership lessons from MacArthur's life: lessons you can use, no matter what you intend to accomplish. On MacArthur's command, millions of American soldiers risked their lives. After winning the peace in World War II, he led 80 million citizens of Japan to embrace the most radical and successful cultural change any nation has ever achieved: the transformation from militaristic emperorship to modern democracy. Those extraordinary achievements arose directly from MacArthur's singular approach to leadership. This book reveals what MacArthur knew about setting the right goals... building sleek, fast-response organizations... inspiring subordinates to unprecedented performance... focusing relentlessly on results... pursuing personal excellence... and winning. Because there's no substitute for victory in your life, either. Define victory... and pursue it relentlessly Know exactly what you want to achieve—and inculcate the will to achieve it Use all your weapons—including speed and surprise Magnify your power in war and in business You can't fight what you can't see The urgency of "personal reconnaissance" and superior intelligence "I Shall Return": The power of symbol—and personal resolve Speak the right words; then back them with the right actions After Japan—s surrender: taking command, establishing trust MacArthur—s entrance into Japan: the value of personal courage MacArthur at Inchon: Master strategist at work Build breakthrough strategies on observation, clear thinking, and realism Transforming West Point: Enduring values, constant learning Timely lessons about changing culture—and making it stick