The History of Standard Oil: Volume 1


Read by Tom Weiss

(4.7 stars; 60 reviews)

The History of the Standard Oil Company is a book written by journalist Ida Tarbell in 1904. It was an exposé of the Standard Oil Company, run at that time by oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller the richest figure in America's history. Originally serialized in 19 parts in McClure's magazine, the book was a seminal example of muckraking, and inspired many other journalists to write about trusts, large businesses that (in the absence of strong antitrust law in the 19th century) attempted to gain monopolies in various industries. The History of the Standard Oil Company was credited with hastening the breakup of Standard Oil, which came about in 1911. ( Summary by Wikipedia )

Note: This reading does not include any of the 36 Appendices.

Chapters

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01- Preface and Chapter 1, Part 1 42:24 Read by Tom Weiss
02 - Chapter 1, Part 2 42:07 Read by Tom Weiss
03 - Chapter 2, Part 1 - The Rise of The Standard Oil Company 43:03 Read by Tom Weiss
04 - Chapter 2, Part 2, The Rise of The Standard Oil Company 22:22 Read by Tom Weiss
05 - Chapter 3, Part 1 - The Oil War of 1872 40:23 Read by Tom Weiss
06 - Chapter 3, Part 2 - The Oil War of 1872 33:02 Read by Tom Weiss
07 - Chapter 4, Part 1 - An Unholy Alliance 36:35 Read by Tom Weiss
08 - Chapter 4, Part 2 - An Unholy Alliance 15:30 Read by Tom Weiss
09 - Chapter 5, Part 1 - Laying The Foundations Of A Trust 38:53 Read by Tom Weiss
10 - Chapter 5, Part 2 - Laying The Foundations Of A Trust 45:38 Read by Tom Weiss
11 - Chapter 6, Part 1 - Strengthening The Foundations 45:07 Read by Tom Weiss
12 - Chapter 6, Part 2 - Strengthening The Foundations 46:08 Read by Tom Weiss
13 - Chapter 7, Part 1 - The Crisis of 1878 36:28 Read by Tom Weiss
14 - Chapter 7, Part 2 - The Crisis of 1878 31:48 Read by Tom Weiss
15 - Chapter 8, The Compromise of 1880 45:43 Read by Tom Weiss

Reviews

Fascinating expose


(5 stars)

An excellent expose of how a corporation acquires monopoly power and uses it to dominate the market, law and politics. The audio book is long, but very well read. I listen to the recording at a slightly faster pace.

Very good


(5 stars)

If this was journalism, we have fallen very far. Very fair in explaining things. The reader did a great job.

Excellent Recording


(5 stars)

Great recording. Maybe... too great. Are you in the secret employ of the Standard Tom? Thanks for your work on this. I am looking forward to Part 2.


(5 stars)

Loved this story about how the monopoly of standard oil come to be


(4 stars)

Interesting book. Easy to listen to

Standard oil should not have been broken up


(5 stars)

We need huge immensely powerfully corporations to controll the unruly masses. People on their own will think untowed thoughts contrary to diversity, equity, and inclusion. If Standard Oil were still around it would be making huge contributions to social justice and BIPOC affirming programs. Freedom is an anathema to social justice. We need to recreate standard oil. That way our lives can be more controlled and less anarchic. Always remember Big Corporations along with all encompassing government poverty programs are designed to help the little guy.

As exhaustive as it is exhausting


(3.5 stars)