First published 2012
Journalist William Knoedelseder chronicles the turbulent history of the Busch family, creators of Budweiser and Michelob beers. The Anheuser-Busch dynasty represents one of America's wealthiest and most enduring commercial empires. Knoedelseder traces their story from the Civil War through modern times, revealing a family marked by extraordinary success and spectacular dysfunction. The narrative exposes how prosperity bred excess, hubris led to scandal, and power corrupted across generations. Through meticulous reporting, the author unveils the dark consequences that followed the family's meteoric rise. This saga captures both the triumph and tragedy of American capitalism, showing how a brewing fortune became a cautionary tale of wealth's destructive potential.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, business, american, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: cautionary-tale, tragedy
Setting: America
Period: Civil War, Modern Times
416 pages · Kindle Edition · Harper Business