Kindred Spirits : Harvard Business School's Extraordinary Class of 1949 and How They Transformed American Business

Raised in the Great Depression and shaped by World War II, they changed the business world and helped build modern America . . . Kindred Spirits tells the story of Harvard Business School2s remarkable class of 1949, which included some of the most innovative business visionaries of the postwar era. Among the members of this exceptional class, 28 percent retired as presidents, chairmen, or CEOs. Kindred Spirits shows how these businessmen shaped the business trends that transformed America: from the advent of modern marketing techniques, fueled by television and a growing middle class, to the rise of high technology as key driver of the American economy and the importance of using Wall Street to leverage wealth and build companies. Among the legendary figures intimately profiled are Marvin Traub, who built Bloomingdale2s; Jim Burke, who guided Johnson & Johnson2s tremendous rise and saw the company through the trauma of the Tylenol poisonings; and Peter McCullough, who transformed a little-known company into the powerhouse Xerox. Kindred Spirits is more than a story of an extraordinary group of business leaders; it is a story of how today2s America came to be.

<b>DAVID CALLAHAN</b> has written extensively on American history, politics, and business. He is the author of four books, including the critically acclaimed biography, Dangerous Capabilities: Paul Nitze and the Cold War. His articles have appeared in such publications as the New York Times, USA Today, the Washington Post, and the American Prospect. Callahan has been a frequent commentator on television and radio programs. He is currently Director of Research at Demos, a public policy organization in New York City.