by Kai Bird
First published 2017
John J. McCloy begins life with nothing but ambition in small-town America. The young man watches wealthy financiers from the outside, determined to join their ranks. He claws his way up Wall Street's ladder, mastering the art of corporate law and high-stakes dealmaking. Presidents seek his counsel as he navigates between business empires and government corridors. McCloy faces the constant tension between his humble origins and the aristocratic world he now inhabits. Each success brings new challenges as he balances loyalty to his roots with the demands of power. Bird captures the internal struggle of a man who built himself into American royalty while never forgetting where he started. The story reveals how one person's relentless drive can reshape both personal destiny and national influence.
Genres: biography, historical-fiction, 20th-century, business, american, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, rags-to-riches
Setting: Wall Street, America
Period: 20th Century, 21st Century
800 pages · Paperback · Simon & Schuster