The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived
Tom Watson Jr. and the Epic Story of How IBM Created the Digital Age
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“A compelling new biography… [The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived] spins the Watsons into near-Shakespearean figures, as if ‘Succession’ were set in the era of ‘Mad Men’.” ―The New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice
The enduring story of Thomas Watson Jr.—a figure more important to the creation of the modern world than Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, and Morgan.
Nearly fifty years into IBM’s existence, Thomas Watson Jr. undertook the biggest gamble in business history when he “bet the farm” on the creation of the IBM System/360, the world’s first fully integrated and compatible mainframe computer. As CEO, Watson drove a revolution no other company—then or now—would dare, laying the foundation for the digital age that has transformed every society, corporation, and government.
The story of Watson being “present at the creation” of the digital age is intertwined with near-Shakespearean personal drama. While he put IBM and its employees at risk, Watson also carried out a family-shattering battle over the future of the company with his brother Dick. This titanic struggle between brothers led to Dick’s death and almost killed Watson Jr. himself.
Though he was eventually touted by Fortune magazine as “the greatest capitalist who ever lived,” Watson’s directionless, playboy early years made him an unlikely candidate for corporate titan. How he pulled his life together and, despite personal demons, paved the way for what became a global industry is an epic tale full of drama, inspiration, and valuable lessons in leadership, risk-taking, and social responsibility.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
As the rebellious eldest son of the founder of IBM, Tom Watson Jr. (1914–1993) spent his childhood chafing under the influence of his domineering father. McElvenny, Watson's eldest grandson, and historian Wortman (Admiral Hyland Rickover) offer a nuanced portrait of Watson, who went on to unexpectedly make business history. Subject to bouts of depression and considerable self-doubt stemming from his meritless promotions within the company, Watson found purpose during WWII. Trained as a pilot, he was commanded by Maj. Gen. Follett Bradley, a father figure under whose guidance Watson studied international diplomacy, managed enlisted servicemen, and learned to succeed on his own merit. He returned to IBM in 1946 and served as president from 1952 to 1971, where he is credited with bringing America (and the world) into the computer age. The authors outline the agonizing period when Watson bet the company on the IBM 360, the first scalable business computer (it allowed companies to expand their computer operations from small to larger computers while maintaining the same software), which led to the widespread adoption of business computing. Watson retired in 1971, and later was appointed U.S. ambassador to Russia. The authors skillfully weave this profile of a recalcitrant heir together with a chronicle of computing in the 20th century. It's an informative and entertaining study.
