The Kelloggs

The Battling Brothers of Battle Creek

By: Howard Markel

Narrated by: David Colacci

John Harvey Kellogg was one of America's most beloved physicians; a best-selling author, lecturer, and health-magazine publisher; founder of the Battle Creek Sanitarium; and patron saint of the pursuit of wellness. His youngest brother, Will, was the founder of the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company, which revolutionized the mass production of food and what we eat for breakfast.

In The Kelloggs, Howard Markel tells the sweeping saga of these two extraordinary men, whose lifelong competition and enmity toward one another changed America's notion of health and wellness from the mid-19th to the mid-20th centuries, and who helped change the course of American medicine, nutrition, wellness, and diet.

As Markel chronicles the Kelloggs' fascinating, The Magnificent Ambersons-like ascent into the pantheon of American industrialists, we see the vast changes in American social mores that took shape in diet, health, medicine, philanthropy, and food manufacturing during seven decades - changing the lives of millions and helping to shape our industrial age.

©2017 Howard Markel (P)2018 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

One man could get so many people to visit Battle Creek.

I like the entire book and I’m sure you will too. Pick up a copy today.

A uniquely American tale compellingly told.

An excellent reflection upon, and passage through American history. From the physical hardships of the frontier to the shocking ineptitude of medicine during the 19th century, and ultimately to the early days of American empire; this story educates and entertains the reader throughout.

The Fascinating Story of the Kellogg’s

I actually live in Battle Creek, where every other building is named after the Kellogg’s. This story was fascinating, not just in that it talked about places and scenes that I’m familiar with, but it really helped to shape the influence that the two Kellogg brothers had on society, medicine, and manufacturing. The author is deeply appreciative of their work while also being critical of their choices, doing an amazing job of showcasing how we as society can tackle controversial historical characters and places that have both good and bad in their pasts. A great read; the narrator is wonderful at giving life to the men and women in the story. Highly recommend to anyone.

outstanding story of an American legend

Great book! I especially enjoyed learning about the early years of how they came to influence the modern world.

Good History, Best for Battle Creek Folks

I was born and raised in Battle Creek and my mother and one brother had lifelong white collar careers there. So the story was one that I grew up knowing something about.

Book was well done but I don’t know that someone without my childhood would find it very interesting.

Fascinating!

I was not expecting to enjoy this selection as much as I did or to feel the emotions the performance brought out. So much information and it is presented well and not the least bit boring. I highly recommend The Kellogg’s. I will never look at a bowl of cereal the same!

​Soggy Bowl of Cereal

I now understand why I'm the only second reviewer on Audible for "The Kelloggs" by Howard Markel. Two brothers hating each other. The youngest brother started the food company and the eldest was a famous doctor. Both brothers and their families were far extreme in whatever they did. The author surely did his research for this book. but after a while the information got soggy, like a bowl of cereal. The most weirdest parts were for sure about Seventh Day Adventist and how John Preston Kellogg was so controlling.

Very interesting history of things contemporary.

I love the story of some of the foods we still consume today. I will think on these things each time I enjoy a bowl of corn flakes.

Focused on the wrong things

Anti-religious tone throughout and a strange fixation on sexual topics. Not relevant to the story.