The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived Book Summary - The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived summary

Ralph Watson McElvenny Marc Wortman

Tom Watson Jr. and the Epic Story of How IBM Created the Digital Age

4.2 (18 ratings)
16 mins

Brief summary

The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived is a fascinating exploration of the life and achievements of a true business magnate. With compelling storytelling, this book sheds light on the exceptional entrepreneurial journey and undeniable influence of this remarkable individual.

Table of Contents

    The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived
    Summary of 5 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    Key idea 1 of 5

    The rebel

    Thomas J. Watson Jr.’s early life was marked by turbulence and rebellion, setting the stage for his unexpected transformation into a corporate titan. 

    Born in 1914, he was an angry child and adults called him “Terrible Tommy.” He rebelled against school from the get-go, flunking out of three boarding schools and barely graduating from a fourth. His rage was directed at his emotionally distant, cruel, and occasionally indulgent father. Thomas J. Watson Sr., his son later recalled, was “like a blanket” – he smothered everything and everyone. As much as he hated his father, though, Watson Jr. still craved his approval. 

    Watson Jr. was a rebellious teen. He stole, set fires, and shot at animals in a swamp near the family home in New Jersey. But for all his resistance to his father, he was deeply entrenched in the world of the company Watson Sr. had built: IBM. Often, the boy was forced to don a jacket and tie and accompany his father to one of the company’s factories, where dutiful employees lined up to applaud the youngster who would one day succeed their boss. 

    There was nothing the younger Watson dreaded more than that day. As he entered his late teens, he used the lavish allowance his father had given him – some $7,000 a month in today’s money – to pursue a life of thoughtless hedonism. He raced sports cars, sailed boats, chased pretty girls, and continued to underperform academically.

    His father, though, pulled some strings, so Watson was admitted to Brown University despite his lousy grades. When he graduated with a business degree in 1937, the inevitable loomed: he’d have to join the family business. He did, but he found a new way to defy his father – or so he thought. In 1939, Watson was offered a job selling pavilion space at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Watson happily accepted – here was his chance to travel the world and dodge the IBM bullet. After landing in Paris, however, Watson learned that his father had orchestrated the entire arrangement, including paying his salary. It was a brutal blow to his pride.

    That blow had its intended effect: defeated and dejected, Watson rejoined IBM as a sales trainee. His father, who was used to getting his way, was satisfied. Neither could have predicted what happened next. Within a year, the younger Watson had climbed from vice president to executive vice president; by 1952, aged 38, he was president of IBM. 

    He’d always hated the family business, but it turned out he was every bit as shrewd a businessman as his father. 

    Want to see all full key ideas from The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived?

    Key ideas in The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    What is The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived about?

    The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived (2023) narrates the remarkable journey of Thomas Watson Jr., the visionary leader of IBM who shook up the worlds of technology and business in the mid-twentieth century. Delving into his decision to develop the IBM System 360, a pioneering mainframe computer, it shows us how Watson’s IBM laid the foundations for today’s digital age. But this book isn’t only a study of business strategy – it’s also a fascinating portrait of a complex man and his equally complex relationship with his domineering father.

    The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived Review

    The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived (2021) is a fascinating exploration of the life and legacy of a remarkable entrepreneur. Here's why this book is worth your time:

    • Discover the pioneering strategies this capitalist employed to build an empire, offering valuable insights for aspiring business leaders.
    • Through engaging storytelling and meticulous research, the authors provide a comprehensive account of this extraordinary individual's journey.
    • Uncover the untold stories and lesser-known aspects of this capitalist's life, revealing the complexities and human side behind the empire.

    Who should read The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived?

    • Fans of business history and corporate leadership stories
    • Admirers of IBM and tech industry evolution
    • Readers interested in personal transformation and family dynamics

    About the Author

    Ralph Watson McElvenny is the eldest grandson of Thomas J. Watson Jr. With a background in investment and as a host of the book review program Intelligent Talk, McElvenny combines personal insight and professional experience in his writing.

    Marc Wortman is an acclaimed writer with several best-sellers to his name, including Admiral Hyman Rickover: Engineer of Power and 1941: Fighting the Shadow War. His work The Millionaires' Unit was adapted into an award-winning documentary.

    Categories with The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived

    Book summaries like The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived

    People ❤️ Blinkist 
    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

    Thi Viet Quynh N.

    Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

    People also liked these summaries

    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    35 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    10+ years
    Experience igniting personal growth
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Start your free trial

    The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived FAQs 

    What is the main message of The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived?

    The main message of The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived is about the remarkable life and achievements of Ralph Watson McElvenny, a true capitalist pioneer.

    How long does it take to read The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived?

    The reading time for The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived a good book? Is it worth reading?

    The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived is worth reading because it provides a fascinating insight into the life of a remarkable capitalist and the impact he had on the business world.

    Who is the author of The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived?

    The authors of The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived are Ralph Watson McElvenny and Marc Wortman.

    What to read after The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived?

    If you're wondering what to read next after The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • New Cold Wars by David E. Sanger
    • Help Me, I Have No Discipline and Zero Self-Control by Vaughn Carter
    • The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
    • The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma
    • Peak Mind by Amishi Jha
    • Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
    • A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume
    • The Sports Gene by David Epstein
    • Raising Mentally Strong Kids by Amen MD Daniel G. & Charles Fay
    • The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud