A Breakdown In Harold Livesay's The Joy Luck Club

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With all his businesses, investments, and accomplishments, Carnegie still struggle with some of his partners and managers, especially after his brother Tom dies. He hires Henry C. Frick and names him chairman in 1889, pleased with his choice as Frick increases profits from $2 million to $5.4 million by 1890. However, times become difficult during a four-year depression and strike, damaging Carnegie’s reputation. He comes to lose trust in Frick, and their relationship suffers as they disagree on managerial issues. Frick resigns and Carnegie forces other partners out to cut cost and labor. He monopolizes the industry, making a deal with John D. Rockefeller to purchase his iron ore, keeping him from becoming competition in the steel industry. At 63 years old, Andrew Carnegie is approached to sell Carnegie Steel to an unknown buyer, whom Frick vouches for. However, because he is suspicious of Frisk, he seeks out the mystery buyer. After revealing Frisk’s dishonesty, Carnegie eliminates him from the buyout deal, causing a year-long conflict. That conflict results in Frick taking a loss and Carnegie taking control of both Carnegie Steel and Frisk Coke, worth $320 million in capital. The Carnegie company is later sold …show more content…

He can relate to Andrew’s story as he also started out poor in the land of opportunity. Livesay’s respect for Carnegie shows as he describes the triumphs and achievements obtained through hard work and determination. Livesay can be deemed biased because he admires Carnegie despite his reputation as a penny-pincher who schemed to make money. The book is not a simple read, as it flashes back and forth to cover certain areas of significance in Carnegie’s life. It is confusing at points and readers may find themselves rereading parts to make sense of it. However, the use of chapter titles that each portray a period of Carnegie’s life makes the story easy to

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