The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt by T. J. Stiles

The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt by T. J. Stiles documents the journey of one of America’s most successful entrepreneurs ever, Cornelius Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt was known as the “First Tycoon,” as his empire became the largest business of its time. His traits of ambition, vision, and instinctive shrewdness are just some of the reasons he became so successful. He built an unparalleled fortune as an entrepreneur and tycoon that was larger than those of his contemporaries.

Vanderbilt was born in 1794 in poor conditions, but had a steely determination to succeed. During his life he navigated the transition from a nation driven by agrarian roots to one driven by industrial capitalism. He began his entrepreneurial journey at the young age of 16, when he started a boat service on the Hudson River. This would begin his domination in the transportation market. Over the years, he would take advantage of government sponsored monopolies, create strategic partnerships and acquisitions, and invest his wealth in other industries.

He was an early pioneer of using a “hub-and-spoke” system to run the nation’s largest rail system. Eventually, he created one of the world’s great shipping lines, which monopolized the trade routes between New York City and California. He mastered the art of consolidation, offering millions of dollars to low-priced business owners and then combining the assets.

As Vanderbilt's career progressed, he won ruthless economic battles, making him much wealthier and further consolidating his power. He was viewed as a "hard-driving monopolist" and other entrepreneurs often described his ambition and aggressiveness as a "bull in a china shop." He brought to American business an accompanying mix of innovation and efficiency, people’s admiration, and fear.

Though Vanderbilt did not possess great literary imagination, and often utilized what Stiles referred to as “non-classical” modes of success, his immense success in business has seldom been matched. Vanderbilt’s story has been described as the “American dream in motion,” as he started from nothing and was able to amass a great fortune despite numerous obstacles.

Throughout Stiles’ book, readers can learn about the beginnings of capitalism, the transition from agrarian to industrial societies, and the ruthlessness that one must possess to make their dreams come true. The First Tycoon is not only an engaging biography of an iconic American entrepreneur, but an enjoyable and educational read. Stiles brings forth an intriguing look into the life of the man considered to be one of the greatest business minds ever.