The Merchant of Power: Sam Insull, Thomas Edison, and the Creation of the Modern Metropolis

John F. Wasik

Macmillan, Mar 7, 2006 - Biography & Autobiography - 270 pages

A timely rags-to-riches story, The Merchant of Power recounts how Sam Insull--right hand to Thomas Edison--went on to become one of the richest men in the world, pivotal in the birth of General Electric and instrumental in the creation of the modern metropolis with his invention of the power grid, which fuels major cities today. John Wasik, awarded the National Press Club Award for Consumer Journalism, had unprecedented access to Sam Insull's archives, which includes private correspondence with Thomas Edison. The extraordinary fall of a man extraordinary for his time is revealed in this cautionary tale about the excesses of corporate power.

About the author

John F. Wasik is the author of The Kitchen-Table Investor, The Late-Start Investor, The Investment Club Book, and Retire Early-and Live the Life You Want Now. He is an award-winning special-projects editor of Consumer's Digest magazine and a lecturer at the University of Chicago. He lives with his family in Lake County, Illinois.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Merchant of Power: Sam Insull, Thomas Edison, and the Creation of the Modern Metropolis
• Author: John F. Wasik
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Macmillan, 2006
• ISBN: 1403968845, 9781403968845
• Length: 270 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Business; Biography & Autobiography / Historical; Biography & Autobiography / Science & Technology; Business & Economics / Corporate & Business History; History / Americas (North, Central, South, West Indies); History / General; History / United States / 20th Century; History / United States / General