Sons of Wichita

How the Koch Brothers Became America's Most Powerful and Private Dynasty

De: Daniel Schulman

Narrado por: Allen O'Reilly

Like the Rockefellers and the Kennedys, the Kochs are one of the most influential dynasties of the modern age, but they have never been the subject of a major biography... until now.

Not long after the death of his father, Charles Koch, then in his early 30s, discovered a letter the family patriarch had written to his sons. "You will receive what now seems to be a large sum of money," Fred Koch cautioned. "It may either be a blessing or a curse."

Fred's legacy would become a blessing and a curse to his four sons - Frederick, Charles, and fraternal twins David and Bill - who in the ensuing decades fought bitterly over their birthright, the oil and cattle-ranching empire their father left behind in 1967. Against a backdrop of scorched-earth legal skirmishes, Charles and David built Koch Industries into one of the largest private corporations in the world - bigger than Boeing and Disney - and they rose to become two of the wealthiest men on the planet.

Influenced by the sentiments of their father, who was present at the birth of the John Birch Society, Charles and David have spent decades trying to remake the American political landscape and mainline their libertarian views into the national bloodstream. They now control a machine that is a center of gravity within the Republican Party. To their supporters, they are liberating America from the scourge of Big Government. To their detractors, they are political "contract killers", as David Axelrod, President Barack Obama's chief strategist, put it during the 2012 campaign.

Bill, meanwhile, built a multi-billion dollar energy empire all his own, and earned notoriety as an America's Cup-winning yachtsman, a flamboyant playboy, and as a litigious collector of fine wine and Western memorabilia. Frederick lived an intensely private life as an arts patron, refurbishing a series of historic homes and estates.

Sons of Wichita traces the complicated lives and legacies of these four tycoons, as well as their business, social, and political ambitions. No matter where you fall on the ideological spectrum, the Kochs are one of the most influential dynasties of our era, but so little is publicly known about this family, their origins, how they make their money, and how they live their lives. Based on hundreds of interviews with friends, relatives, business associates, and many others, Sons of Wichita is the first major biography about this wealthy and powerful family - warts and all.

©2014 Daniel Schulman (P)2014 Hachette Audio

Good Business History

Good review of large private business in the US. Good review of trouble passing asset down the generations.

In depth portrayal of the uber rich and powerful Koch family

A real attempt is made to understand how each family members' character and ideas were shaped. Neither vilifies nor extolled. Also furthered my understanding of the Koch brand of Libertarianism.

Good book.

A very interesting book about the Koch family, which is also very well narrated.

Good read

Good book, lots to learn. Good book, lots to learn. Good book, lots to learn. Kansas residents should read it

A Great story of an American dynasty

Detailed and factual account of the turbulent and remarkable times of a family who created s storied business empire, contributed to the public good with generous donations and who remain controversial with their political views. All different, smart and very interesting people indeed. This book is a must read. (Listen)

Liberal bias

If you are a liberal, you will find this book "objective". If not, you will notice the subtle and sometimes not so subtle manifestation of the authors left wing agenda. You might even suspect the author to intentionally attempt a character assasination on the Koch brothers. The book appears to be well researched though, but I have no way of verifying most of the statements presented as facts. Interesting read (listen), but only two stars because of the political bias. The audio performance was excellent, the voice was pleasant even at 1.5x speed.

Interesting but not gripping

Interesting but not gripping. Gives some insight into a powerful family. In the end it drags. Valuable source for contemporary history.

Meet the architects of America's mass psychosis

What did you love best about Sons of Wichita?

The detail of this look at the notoriously private Kochs is astounding.

Any additional comments?

My sole issue with this edition is the breakneck pace of Allen O'Reilly's narration. It's very nearly breathless. I'm not quite sure what the rush was, but after a while, I felt like asking O'Reilly where the fire was.

Good audiobook but slightly less than neutral politically

Overall the book was pretty good but the author makes his political biases known albeit in a less extreme manner than most in the media today. It’d have been a great book otherwise.

Good context

I wanted a better understanding of the Koch’s and their political priorities. While this book is growing outdated (ends 2013), it does a good job of that.