Crosley: Two Brothers and a Business Empire That Transformed the Nation

My wife and I were born and have spent our entire lives in Cincinnati and its surrounding suburbs. This book truly opened our eyes to the significance that Cincinnati and the Crosley brothers played in the development of our city, county, state, national, and even in international, events. I’ve watched MANY movies and documentaries about the development of the automobile industry and the bigger-than-life personalities that it produced, yet we had no idea that some of the most colorful and important ones were born and lived right in our own area. The most fascinating and enjoyable parts of the book were those that described the Crosley’s direct influence on or involvement in an unbelievable number of inventions, ideas, modernizations, and such. These all bring back GREAT memories from our own childhood years. Additionally, it was neat to read about the hundreds of personalities that they interacted with through their years, many of whom were given a much-appreciated hand up in their careers and led to them likewise becoming famous and successful. This book also provided invaluable insight into the birth and growth of baseball, in general, and into both Major League Baseball and our own Cincinnati Reds. Other enjoyable parts of this narrative gave new understanding regarding many of the founding families of the Greater Cincinnati & N. Kentucky area, and the way in which many major local corporations—most of which are now globally known and respected—were influenced by or interacted with the Crosley brothers. Speaking as one who has been fascinated by the formation and growth of the radio and shortwave industry since I first built my own crystal radio set (and later participated in the Ham Radio Club in our high school), I thoroughly enjoyed learning the history of both its national scope as well as our own Cincinnati WLW and WSAI stations, and the formation and impact of the Voice Of America station and antenna field to the north of our city. This is the type of book that, having read it on my Kindle, I will gladly buy the hard copy of to add to my library.

Powel Crosley Jr. may not have invented radio, but---either directly or indirectly---he made it better and more accessible for virtually everyone. The story of his brainchildren, the Crosley Radio Corporation, and historic radio station WLW in Cincinnati, is legendary to anyone who knows anything about the history of radio broadcasting. The stars that Crosley launched from WLW reads like a "who's who" of musicians, singers announcers, and actors of the 20's 30's and 40's. Singer/actress Doris Day was one of his major finds, but the Crosley talent line-up also includes singing group, the Mills Brothers, comedian Red Skelton, actor Eddie Albert, and baseball announcer Red Barber---just to name a few. Biographer and Crosley grandnephew, Rusty McClure and co-author Michael Banks, have penned the definitive biography of Powel and his hard-working brother Lewis. Crosley wasn't just about radio, though. He had innovative ideas in many areas of manufacturing (auto parts and even national defense), and had the business acumen to get them to market. One of Crosley's main strengths was making his products affordable and of high quality (with one possible exception). It didn't matter whether it was radios or refrigerators, Crosley improved upon them and then made them accessible. And this biography is also an enjoyable romp through early 20th Century America. Loaded with information that brings the Crosley brothers and their time to life, it is a must-read for anyone interested in 20th Century American history, or the history of 20th Century innovation. Maybe I can sum up the importance of this book in just one sentence: The latter 20th and early 21st Century had a business genius named Steve Jobs, but before Steve Jobs, we had Powel (and Lewis) Crosley. There are similarities between modern computer innovator Steve Jobs and radio innovator Powel Crosley Jr. Don't take my word for it. Read this book and decide for yourself.

I'm sitting in a home full of computers, MP3 players, dvd recorders and players, a satellite TV box, and scores of electric appliances that are smarter than I am. Reading of a time when consumer electronics were unknown, and the primary electric appliance was a lightbulb, is like looking into the dark ages. Well, not quite. But you know what I mean. The Crosley name is one that I've heard around my home throughout my life, but with the exception of a Crosley radio on a shelf, my knowledge of the company or the men that founded the firm was fuzzy at best. The authors have done an outstanding job at fleshing out Powel and Lewis Crosley and the world they lived in and revolutionized. Many a novel I've read non-stop, but this is the first biography that I've done an "all-nighter" with. The authors had no axe to grind, the times were well fleshed out, and one's faith in the ability of someone to think it up and do it, is reaffirmed. It was chock full of interesting information and facts, and I found myself checking Google satellite maps for locations mentioned in the book (Yes, the Arlington St. location still exisits and the satellite pic catches the executive tower, one-time home of WLW). There is some bumpy writing, as noted in a few other reviews. I blame not the authors, but the editor. The boys really like their cliches. Lawyers are always "Sharpening their pencils," people come and go "Exit Stage right/left, Enter stage right/left;" and so many variations of "Masses not the classes" permeated the text, I wondered if they had some sort of Bolshevik thing going on. That aside, this guy will be giving several copies of this book for Christmas this year - and I can't think of a better testimonial to the book.

It is about the fascinating life the Crosley's. It is far more than just the story of their car. It is about their lives; the beginning, the good times as well as the bad time. It is about success, failure and success. It is about lives that were and is inspiring. I recommend it for everyone and not just those interested in the car or radio.

Thank you Rusty McClure for your generosity! I enjoy "Crosley" and look forward to reading "Cincinnatus" and "Coral Castle. I enjoy reading them while I am listening to 89.3FM in Cincinnati with my Crosley radio. Phil

This is easily one of the best books I’ve ever read. As I was reading it, I would often find myself abruptly speaking out loud that I want to work with people like the Crosley brothers. The writing makes the characters in the book and their stories come to life. The reader is transported through time in brilliant color as Powel and Lewis Crosley establish a way to work together that compliments their strengths, but also amplifies personality dynamics that dramatically sway the results of their business pursuits. It’s a fascinating window into human behavior. During a time in history that saw the dawn of several new technologies, we see the brilliant moments of human creativity that seem to reach out across the universe to harness what can only be described as magic from some other world and bringing it through the human mind into reality on this planet. The two brothers use their complementary strengths to learn to latch on to these supernatural inventions and create industrial mechanisms to bring them to the masses. And it shows the one thing we all battle: the vulnerabilities of the flawed human mind, and the limitations of success if a healthy balance in life is not maintained. This is a book I think about often as I move through life and my career. Those moments when I think I have figured something out, I remember to keep those emotions in check, recalling the lessons of the Crosley’s: the need to maintain balance. This is an essential book for any entrepreneur, business leader, or government leader. It supports my personal belief that I am here to do my very best, to be honest in my motivations, to be humble and gracious to all of those who help me get to where I want – and need – to be in this life, and to always find quality time for my family and friends. The new lesson I learned from this book – and it’s a very challenging one for me: to focus on one thing at a time and to do it well. I continue to struggle with this, but know I must overcome my relentless tendency to pursue a wide variety of interests. I often find myself thinking back to the book when I find myself drifting. That part of my personal story remains unwritten. My hope is that by learning from the lessons of the book, my story will be a long, successful, happy one to tell. I highly recommend this brilliant book. You will be inspired, and it will forever change your view of what it means to be truly successful in business, and in life.

The Crosley brothers got up to a lot of honest moneymaking by manufacturing a wide range of reasonably-priced products of (mostly) good quality. This book chronicles their start, their successes, and their failures in business over several decades. While the exact style of writing is less than ideal, the book is a good and easy read that is both entertaining and informative from beginning to end. The level of detail given is more than sufficient, but still (fortunately) not excessive. Recommended reading for anyone, but especially for those interested in the history of 20th-century business and/or manufacturing.

This is an interesting history of the Crosley brothers. I was not aware they were into so many products. I was aware of radio, and appliances, and only slightly the Crosley cars, but the rest was all new to me. It was interesting enough to keep me coming back to the book each night.

If you're in to Crosley products, the Cincinnati area history or early 20th century industry then this is a good read. It is a personal tale of the Crosley brothers, but also discusses early radio, the home appliance business, baseball and the auto industries. The editing job is not great, so there is some poor punctuation, and an extra word that I sure was supposed to be dropped, but that doesn't detract for the book overall. I also like that it does not read like a collage text book.

This book is excellent. I am a native of Cincinnati. This is the history behind the Crosley family and how the family first got involved with many facets of Cincinnati. The old baseball stadium for the Cincinnati Reds was known as Crosley Field. This town was the first to have a baseball team. Their father, Powel Crosley,Sr, started working with the Red Stockings in the late 1800. He then had two sons who followed in his footsteps trying to be involved in many projects related to Cincinnati. Some of the projects were: a law practice, a electronics business dating back to the Crosley Radio days, the baseball team, and the Crosley automobile. This is well written.

My wife and I were born and have spent our entire lives in Cincinnati and its surrounding suburbs. This book truly opened our eyes to the significance that Cincinnati and the Crosley brothers played in the development of our city, county, state, national, and even in international, events. I’ve watched MANY movies and documentaries about the development of the automobile industry and the bigger-than-life personalities that it produced, yet we had no idea that some of the most colorful and important ones were born and lived right in our own area. The most fascinating and enjoyable parts of the book were those that described the Crosley’s direct influence on or involvement in an unbelievable number of inventions, ideas, modernizations, and such. These all bring back GREAT memories from our own childhood years. Additionally, it was neat to read about the hundreds of personalities that they interacted with through their years, many of whom were given a much-appreciated hand up in their careers and led to them likewise becoming famous and successful. This book also provided invaluable insight into the birth and growth of baseball, in general, and into both Major League Baseball and our own Cincinnati Reds. Other enjoyable parts of this narrative gave new understanding regarding many of the founding families of the Greater Cincinnati & N. Kentucky area, and the way in which many major local corporations—most of which are now globally known and respected—were influenced by or interacted with the Crosley brothers. Speaking as one who has been fascinated by the formation and growth of the radio and shortwave industry since I first built my own crystal radio set (and later participated in the Ham Radio Club in our high school), I thoroughly enjoyed learning the history of both its national scope as well as our own Cincinnati WLW and WSAI stations, and the formation and impact of the Voice Of America station and antenna field to the north of our city. This is the type of book that, having read it on my Kindle, I will gladly buy the hard copy of to add to my library.

Powel Crosley Jr. may not have invented radio, but---either directly or indirectly---he made it better and more accessible for virtually everyone. The story of his brainchildren, the Crosley Radio Corporation, and historic radio station WLW in Cincinnati, is legendary to anyone who knows anything about the history of radio broadcasting. The stars that Crosley launched from WLW reads like a "who's who" of musicians, singers announcers, and actors of the 20's 30's and 40's. Singer/actress Doris Day was one of his major finds, but the Crosley talent line-up also includes singing group, the Mills Brothers, comedian Red Skelton, actor Eddie Albert, and baseball announcer Red Barber---just to name a few. Biographer and Crosley grandnephew, Rusty McClure and co-author Michael Banks, have penned the definitive biography of Powel and his hard-working brother Lewis. Crosley wasn't just about radio, though. He had innovative ideas in many areas of manufacturing (auto parts and even national defense), and had the business acumen to get them to market. One of Crosley's main strengths was making his products affordable and of high quality (with one possible exception). It didn't matter whether it was radios or refrigerators, Crosley improved upon them and then made them accessible. And this biography is also an enjoyable romp through early 20th Century America. Loaded with information that brings the Crosley brothers and their time to life, it is a must-read for anyone interested in 20th Century American history, or the history of 20th Century innovation. Maybe I can sum up the importance of this book in just one sentence: The latter 20th and early 21st Century had a business genius named Steve Jobs, but before Steve Jobs, we had Powel (and Lewis) Crosley. There are similarities between modern computer innovator Steve Jobs and radio innovator Powel Crosley Jr. Don't take my word for it. Read this book and decide for yourself.

I'm sitting in a home full of computers, MP3 players, dvd recorders and players, a satellite TV box, and scores of electric appliances that are smarter than I am. Reading of a time when consumer electronics were unknown, and the primary electric appliance was a lightbulb, is like looking into the dark ages. Well, not quite. But you know what I mean. The Crosley name is one that I've heard around my home throughout my life, but with the exception of a Crosley radio on a shelf, my knowledge of the company or the men that founded the firm was fuzzy at best. The authors have done an outstanding job at fleshing out Powel and Lewis Crosley and the world they lived in and revolutionized. Many a novel I've read non-stop, but this is the first biography that I've done an "all-nighter" with. The authors had no axe to grind, the times were well fleshed out, and one's faith in the ability of someone to think it up and do it, is reaffirmed. It was chock full of interesting information and facts, and I found myself checking Google satellite maps for locations mentioned in the book (Yes, the Arlington St. location still exisits and the satellite pic catches the executive tower, one-time home of WLW). There is some bumpy writing, as noted in a few other reviews. I blame not the authors, but the editor. The boys really like their cliches. Lawyers are always "Sharpening their pencils," people come and go "Exit Stage right/left, Enter stage right/left;" and so many variations of "Masses not the classes" permeated the text, I wondered if they had some sort of Bolshevik thing going on. That aside, this guy will be giving several copies of this book for Christmas this year - and I can't think of a better testimonial to the book.

It is about the fascinating life the Crosley's. It is far more than just the story of their car. It is about their lives; the beginning, the good times as well as the bad time. It is about success, failure and success. It is about lives that were and is inspiring. I recommend it for everyone and not just those interested in the car or radio.

Thank you Rusty McClure for your generosity! I enjoy "Crosley" and look forward to reading "Cincinnatus" and "Coral Castle. I enjoy reading them while I am listening to 89.3FM in Cincinnati with my Crosley radio. Phil

This is easily one of the best books I’ve ever read. As I was reading it, I would often find myself abruptly speaking out loud that I want to work with people like the Crosley brothers. The writing makes the characters in the book and their stories come to life. The reader is transported through time in brilliant color as Powel and Lewis Crosley establish a way to work together that compliments their strengths, but also amplifies personality dynamics that dramatically sway the results of their business pursuits. It’s a fascinating window into human behavior. During a time in history that saw the dawn of several new technologies, we see the brilliant moments of human creativity that seem to reach out across the universe to harness what can only be described as magic from some other world and bringing it through the human mind into reality on this planet. The two brothers use their complementary strengths to learn to latch on to these supernatural inventions and create industrial mechanisms to bring them to the masses. And it shows the one thing we all battle: the vulnerabilities of the flawed human mind, and the limitations of success if a healthy balance in life is not maintained. This is a book I think about often as I move through life and my career. Those moments when I think I have figured something out, I remember to keep those emotions in check, recalling the lessons of the Crosley’s: the need to maintain balance. This is an essential book for any entrepreneur, business leader, or government leader. It supports my personal belief that I am here to do my very best, to be honest in my motivations, to be humble and gracious to all of those who help me get to where I want – and need – to be in this life, and to always find quality time for my family and friends. The new lesson I learned from this book – and it’s a very challenging one for me: to focus on one thing at a time and to do it well. I continue to struggle with this, but know I must overcome my relentless tendency to pursue a wide variety of interests. I often find myself thinking back to the book when I find myself drifting. That part of my personal story remains unwritten. My hope is that by learning from the lessons of the book, my story will be a long, successful, happy one to tell. I highly recommend this brilliant book. You will be inspired, and it will forever change your view of what it means to be truly successful in business, and in life.

The Crosley brothers got up to a lot of honest moneymaking by manufacturing a wide range of reasonably-priced products of (mostly) good quality. This book chronicles their start, their successes, and their failures in business over several decades. While the exact style of writing is less than ideal, the book is a good and easy read that is both entertaining and informative from beginning to end. The level of detail given is more than sufficient, but still (fortunately) not excessive. Recommended reading for anyone, but especially for those interested in the history of 20th-century business and/or manufacturing.

This is an interesting history of the Crosley brothers. I was not aware they were into so many products. I was aware of radio, and appliances, and only slightly the Crosley cars, but the rest was all new to me. It was interesting enough to keep me coming back to the book each night.

If you're in to Crosley products, the Cincinnati area history or early 20th century industry then this is a good read. It is a personal tale of the Crosley brothers, but also discusses early radio, the home appliance business, baseball and the auto industries. The editing job is not great, so there is some poor punctuation, and an extra word that I sure was supposed to be dropped, but that doesn't detract for the book overall. I also like that it does not read like a collage text book.

This book is excellent. I am a native of Cincinnati. This is the history behind the Crosley family and how the family first got involved with many facets of Cincinnati. The old baseball stadium for the Cincinnati Reds was known as Crosley Field. This town was the first to have a baseball team. Their father, Powel Crosley,Sr, started working with the Red Stockings in the late 1800. He then had two sons who followed in his footsteps trying to be involved in many projects related to Cincinnati. Some of the projects were: a law practice, a electronics business dating back to the Crosley Radio days, the baseball team, and the Crosley automobile. This is well written.

Very good book on the development of Cincinnati thru the Crowley family from wlw radio to the car.All they did in development work with the government on smart bombs that helped end World War II. Instrumental in the work with television, radio, refrigeration, AAA, first use of hydraulic brakes to disk brakes on cars. Very informative book, enjoyed it very much.

The obvious deep research alone assures a good read. This biography satisfies; people, history, technology, even baseball. I loved it!!!

Well-written, recommend it for anyone with the admittedly narrow interest in Crosley-related history.

Very interesting book about the Crosley's. I remember their small cars & refrigerators. The book covered all of the ups & downs of their business dealings. Great story that many don't realize what they accomplished.

Interesting book about the Crosley brothers. It was not just about making radios. It was about a large business that included radio broadcasting, New inventions for broadcasting, appliances, & Automobiles.

This is a very interesting book especially if you're from Cincinnati and are familiar with the places where the Crosleys lived and worked or have an interest in radio history.

Great story of two big difference makers in the Cincy area. And the two bonus books are appreciated too.

Bought for a friend who's father had a Crowley back in the day. She loved it!! Started reading it as soon as she received it.

fine

There is much in this book concerning early radio, automobile, aircraft, professional baseball, and home appliance history. These brothers complemented one another well. The authors write in an entertaining and engaging manner. Their use of foreshadowing and leaving the reader to read between the lines I found very engaging.

Bought as a gift for my husband but we both enjoyed the story of the Crosley company, especially as it spanned our own lifetime. Good book that doesn't bog down in too much detail; the reader can enjoy it to the end.

Learn about these important businessmen of the 20th century, that you never heard of.

So interesting and a must read if you live in Cincinnati.

GREAT book that explains how two brother worked together a lot of the time to accomplish the great amount of business they did.

A well written book about two men that are virtually unknown. Easy reading.

This book "Two Brothers & a Business Empire That Transformed the Nation" describes the Crosley automobile in the day of the making. Interesting & well satisfied with my purchase.

Toured their mansion in Sarasota...caught my interest.

A good and informative read

Nice Book- lots of history

An outstanding example of what can be accomplished by visionaries who do not give up - and also what it can cost them.

Very enlightening. Good history of Ohio and the industrial age

This is a great mix of Crosley history. It covers radio manufacturing, automobile design, early days of baseball and a super power broadcast station. This is a great read.

The person for whom I purchased the book absolutely loves it!! It's the story, the pictures and presentation that just makes reading it so enjoyable. I'm very glad that I made this purchase.

Great read for a radio fan or anyone interested in early 20th century business moguls.

Back when I was working 50+ hrs. per week, I tried to read this fascinating book on the Crosley’s, but it took me a very long time to complete it. Now that I am retired and have been able to read for complete enjoyment, I re-read this book on the Crosley’s. I was so engrossed in the book that many times I actually felt like I was right there with Powell and Lewis going along for this amazing ride! As someone who enjoys history, and a resident in both Cincinnati and Indianapolis areas, I could actually see the manufacturing buildings, WLW radio tower, a station I listen to today, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Mansions, and especially Crosley Field, where I actually attended some Cincinnati Reds baseball games as a young boy from Indianapolis, by winning a trip to Crosley to see the Reds for selling a certain number of newspapers/magazines for the Indianapolis Star/News. The stories that were told by Rusty McClure, grandson of Lewis Crosley, during this incredible time in history where the Crosley’s entrepreneurial spirit created an amazing amount of jobs as a result of Powell’s vision to manufacture items that he knew would be used in nearly every household…such as refrigerators, radios, and of course the Nation’s Station WLW Radio to feed programming into those radios! As I was reading these stories, I found myself thinking that the Crosley’s were like the Bill Gates, Steve Jobs of today. If you enjoy history, business, and family, I highly recommend this book.

This positive book is a sweeping account of highly successful business practices from the 1920s through the 1940s. The Crosleys were flexible, adaptable and aggressive. They used gut feel instead of fancy focus groups. They built useful, tangible products instead of making money through dubious “financial engineering” schemes like today’s “entrepreneurs” do. They focused on creativeness and problem solving instead of “it can’t be done.” Sell to the “masses, not the classes.” There is also plenty of detail for radio and communications buffs, to see how this vital sector developed in its early years with no clear blueprints. This book will appeal to historians, to those who yearn for a simpler time (though at the time it probably wasn’t), and to arm-chair entrepreneurs!

The authors of this book tried to do too much. It’s as if each of the author had a different book in mind so they just mushed everything together into one volume. Every detail of the life of Powel and Lewis Crosley is stuffed into the book. Every relative born or marrying into the family is cataloged. Every house, factory building, airplane, or boat purchased and sold is discussed in detail. Every manager or star player in the history of the Cincinnati Reds is recognized. The story bogs down in a mass of trivial detail. The strict chronological order makes it difficult to follow all of the threads of the story. This is the story of a fascinating pair or brothers who were part several powerful transformations that played out in the twentieth century in America. They were involved in rise of radio broadcasting, automobiles, electrical appliances for working class families, and the evolution of professional sports into big business. The theme of the book was the contrast between the two brothers. Mr. Inside vs. Mr. Outside. I would have preferred the theme of the trends they rode successfully – radios, radio broadcasting, and low cost appliances vs the ones they missed or came to late – e.g. television and automobiles.

I don't read very many biographies but I made an exception with Crosley and I'm glad I did. I just finished it last night and it was one of the most enjoyable reads I've had in quite awhile. The book covers the lives of two brothers, Powel and Lewis Crosley, and their remarkable careers; Powel was the creative genius and Lewis was the hard-working, reliable partner who made everything happen. So what exactly did these two do? Not a whole lot, other than create radios "for the masses, not the classes", build one of the leading AM radio stations in the country, pioneer and build home refrigeration systems, manufacture explosive devices that helped win World War II, design and manufacture automobiles and own the Cincinnati Reds. (I left a few of the smaller items out, btw.) If you're from the Cincinnati area you're probably familiar with the Crosley name. The Reds used to play at Crosley Field before Riverfront Stadium opened in 1970 -- that was the extent of my Crosley knowledge prior to reading this great book. Now I feel like a bit of a Crosley expert, primarily because the authors did a fantastic job of assembling the facts and telling the story. There's also a companion website for the book where you can find more information about the authors and loads of Crosley family pictures, including several that aren't in the book. Even if you're like I was and aren't that familiar with the Crosley family, you owe it to yourself to grab a copy of this and read it cover to cover -- you won't be disappointed.

Fantastic! This book is one of the most captivating that I've read. I received "Crosley" for Christmas from my son. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. The 500 pages just flew by leaving me looking for more stories about the Crosley brothers. Being a native of Cincinnati, I was always aware of the Crosley name and WLW, the Reds, the cars, the radios, and the appliances that bore it. What I found so intriguing is the life story behind all of the great inventions and products. The egotistic, flamboyant style of Powel, the "average guy" style of Lewis and how their personalities complemented each other to create the driving force that was Crosley. The book gave a rich history of life in Cincinnati during the first half of the 20th century. It was excellent in bringing to life the family members, their friends, and their relationships. Finally, it described the latter years of tragedy and disappointments that characterized Powel's life. In contrast were the peaceful and fulfilling days of Lewis's golden years. After reading this book, I couldn't wait to drive around Cincinnati and locate Crosley Square, the production plants, the Pinecroft mansion and the location where the Crosley airport stood. It heightened my awareness of the great technology, products and aviation history that came from Crosley. The name Crosley certainly ranks along side that of Ford and Edison as industrial giants of the 20th century. This is a must read for anyone interested in Cincinnati or any of the great products that came from Crosley.

While growing up in the sixties I went to Crosley field many times. Interesting that Powel, the elder brother, had many issues with parking, and bribed Cinci officials to do something about the parking by threatening to move the team out of the city. This book is a fascinating snapshot of the elder, driven brother, who was a classic "Idea man" who left the implementation to his brother Lewis, the soft spoken engineer type who made ideas happen, but longed to be a farmer. Many of their ideas did not pan out, interesting that when Powel threw out an idea they talked about how much money it was ok to lose on an idea before going ahead with it. When their station WLW was at its peak my dad told me that you could light up a flourescent bulb by standing near the antenna- at their peak they transmitted with 700,000 watts of broadcast power, and could be heard a large distance around the globe. I literally wasted, no invested, a Sunday with this well written book, and could not put it down until I finished it. The Gearhead in me would have loved some more technical pictures and engineering analysis about their projects. These can be accessed via the web however, and is not a significant fault. To capture the essence of two dynamic, historical figures and the times they lived in is remarkable, to do so in only 400 some pages is outstanding. WELL DONE!

I have a great interest in old radios, but I did not think this book was going to be interesting. I was wrong. The Crosley brothers led a fascinating life with a lot of twists and turns. Just like their cars, they were unique. Their contribution to our culture was huge as well. I found the creation of new inventions and the creation of the radio industry very interesting. The authors really explained well how the Crosley and other companies that are huge today got their start. GE and Westinghouse, and AT&T. What I enjoyed most was the way the authors showed life in the early 1900s. What influenced people and what they lived through as well as how their lives were impacted by technology.

Extremely well written story about a family that created a lot of what we all take for granted today. I found it compelling and fascinating and learned a lot about Crosley family and development of Cincinnati. John Kercher

This book is interesting in its historical information concerning the brothers Crosley. The stories about Powel and Lewis and Cincinnati in the early 20th century are fascinating and kept my interest throughout the book. I assume that the facts presented are true, therefore making the book an valuable volume, especially for those interested in Crosley empire or Cincinnati. As a Cincinnati reader, I enjoyed learning about people and places and names that I had heard about, but about which I knew little. However, the writing is a mess. 4th Grade level transitions that connect unrelated topics; multiple subjects with adjacent paragraphs, and such poor style that in incredible seeing that three people had a hand in this biography. Didn't they offer one another any suggestions? It is about worthy of Channel 5's (Crosley's WLW legacy station)current editorial standards. I rate it 3 stars on the above comments. The information is indeed interesting. The presentation is pretty disappointing. Paul W.

I was looking forward to immersing myself in this hefty tome about some of my hometown heroes. But frankly, the writing style and lack of good editing made this a chore rather than a pleasure. The authors throw in every imaginable detail about the lives of the Crosley brothers, including the misadventures of Lewis' dog - though what that poor creature had to do with the business successes of the Crosleys, I have no idea. The excessive repetition of cliches got to be annoying, such as "exit stage left" to indicate some minor character leaving the narrative. And then there's the thing I really hated. Single-sentence paragraphs. They're everywhere. And there are better ways to add dramatic emphasis to a narrative. Misused punctuation, spelling errors, and factual errors also made this a disappointing read. Powel's house in Sarasota cost $350,000 to build, which was "nearly five times that of Pinecroft"... which cost $750,000 according to an earlier paragraph. Math isn't my strong point, but there's an error in there somewhere. I don't blame the authors for this... they needed a good editor, and the small, local publisher (which seems to specialize in travel books) apparently didn't offer one. The book would have benefited from greater focus and less wandering off into side stories that didn't move the narrative forward. The Crosley brothers accomplished a lot, and their story taught me a lot about their inventiveness, their risks, and their contributions to the global business landscape. I just wish the story had been told in a tighter, cleaner manner.

The Crosley brothers began their adult lives with the beginning of the 20th century. At that time the world was about to burst open with new devices, new companies, new inventors. The Crosley brothers Powel and Lewis fit right in with the Wright brothers or Ford or Edison. Although they had an early interest in the automobile business, they went on to other areas, specifically radio and then appliances. Crosley radios, their broadcasting station, and particularily their refrigerators (Among their inventions was the idea of putting shelves on the doors of their refrigerators - the Shelvador - the feature was patented and for years theirs was the only one with shelves in the door.) The automobile business remained in their minds and eventually they sold the other businesses to concentrate on automobiles. This is the story of their lives, one that with a bit of different luck, a bit of change in direction might have ended quite differently.

I have lived in Cincinnati for almost 30 years. as a local resident and history reader, this was a great read. what the Crosley Brothers accomplished does not get the national attention they deserve. from their accomplishments in radio and automotive to their contributions to the WW2 effort. if you are interested in American history or Cincinnati history you will enjoy this book

Greetings from Fairmount, Indiana. It's my privilege to echo the positive sentiments others have posted about the book, Crosley: Two Brothers and a Business Empire. I have read the book on 2 different occasions, and I will be reading it for the 3rd time soon. I have been an antique radio collector for many years; Crosleys have always been a high watermark of my interest. After reading the well-written book, I now know why I like the various Crosley products as I do, and I certainly have a much better understanding for the quality built into the Crosley radios, appliances and cars. What a privilege it must have been to know the Crosley brothers.

I did not know anything about the Crosleys until I read this book and was amazed at all the products Powel Crosley dreamt up and created. It is a very thorough book about their lives and successes, and failures, but I give it 4 stars only because the writing sometimes detracted me from the story. (How many Exit, Stage lefts/rights can you put in a book and who even writes that way?) plus too much info about minor or unimportant things (Lewis' dog?) but still a good read, and entertaining and informative.

Could not put it down once I got into it. I enjoyed every single page; what a learning experience. Although I only live near Cincinnati, I love to delve into anything that has to do with Cincy, and this book sped me to the head of the class. Did you know that "sport utility vehicle" was coined by Powel Crosley himself? Betcha didn't! Thanks for a great read.

Great history

A fascinating account of two brothers who did much to advance the radio industry. They not only created one of the best radio stations of the time but manufactured affordable radio sets so that the masses could enjoy the new technology. The authors did a great job of telling the story of the Crosleys, whose accomplishments had a big impact on mid-century American consumers.

This was one of the most intersting biog. I have read in a long time. It is hard to believe the brothers could jam that much into just one lifetime and then it was all gone. I heartly recommend this book if you have an interest in one of our most exciting periods.

This is a very interesting book that tells the story of a true genius and the unsung brother that could make things happen. The Crosley brothers were a team that accomplished major radio first. Anyone interested in the hay day of radio will love this book. It is an easy read that will be hard to put down!

If you are one of those insecure individuals who feel intimidated by the accomplishments of others, don't read this book. For everyone else, you are truly in for a treat. This book not only tells the remarkable life stories of Ohio brothers, Powell and Lewis Crosley, but also takes the reader for a fascinating trip through history. From Crosley's dominance in radio, ownership of the Cincinnati Reds and winning a World Series, appliances, aviation, automobiles and even helping to win World War ll- the list goes on and on. The monumental accomplishments of these two brothers literally "transformed a nation" and greatly impacted the lives of millions of Americans. Kudos to the authors for their meticulous research and a beautifully written biography. I certainly will have a higher degree of pride driving my '49 Crosley Hot Shot having learned the fascinating history behind the Crosley name.

The Crosley family seemed to excel in nearly everything they touched. Called "The Nation's Station," WLW in Cincinnati was the brainchild of the Crosleys. The book is well-researched and an easy read.

very well researched. Easy to read. Enjoyable tale of American technical inventiveness. The story relates well to One Summer. By Bill Bryson which I read a week pryor to Crosley.

Good service. Bought this book for a gift after I had read it as a Library book. Good read and a picture of a special time of innovation in business in America.

Crosley was a true pleasure reading. It was very intriguing, a real page turner. After I was done reading the book it was hard to think of anything else.

Its a good read! Sometimes more than I needed to know.

Excellent reading. The author paints pictures in words that let you be part of leader and his family. The story told is true of other family business's that built this country in the 1800's and early 20th century. Recommended reading.

I bought this book for my brother who owned a Crosley years ago, but I read it before I gave it to him. Great book! One of the best I have read in a long time. It was a great history lesson and you do not have to be a Crosley buff to enjoy it. Would highly recommend. Richard Flory

I rarely find a book that I cannot put down, but Crosley was one of those books. The co-author, Rusty McCLure had the inside track on this one since he is a living relative. The history and dynamic of this book still facinates me and I look forward to reading it again. Currently my grandson who is a sophmore at the University of Cincinnati has my copy. I was fortunate to find this book at a car show where Rusty was showing one of his Crosley cars. It was a very rare sports version of the Crosley automobile that really was ahead of its time. This intriged me since I can still remember the ride home from Church in a Crosley Woody Station Wagon that a friend of my Grandfather owned. Our family did not own a car at the time. Cars did not build the Crosley company however. Radio's built the Company and things progressed from there. Rusty captures the progression of the Company from the first crystol radio set to the unbelievable 500,000 watt Crosley radio station. The Cincinnati Redlegs hit the big time when Powell Crosly bought the team. Crosley is a must read for anyone interested in the history of how this country was built.

A gift to me, this book is now a favorite. The history and adventure comes alive! I felt the intensity of sharing the lives of the Crosley brothers and the unique time of America in the early part of the 20th century. I grew up in Cincinnati, and my father worked as a corporate attorney for the Crosley Corporation. I can still remember my parents going, on occasion, to the Cincinnati Reds games with Lewis Crosley. This link to the Crosley family made the book very intriguing. The impact of the Crosley products and achievements, and the influence that helped to win World War II are discussed in detail, and simply amazing. This is a history of corporate America and what can be accomplished when two men fulfill their own dreams by improving the quality of lives of others. These two gave their all, and from the height of success, to the final years, this story is encouraging and belongs in its rightful place in the annals of American history. A truly superb read!

I read dozens of business history books each year and this is the only one I have thought so much of to recommended it to my friends. Extremely well written with a "can't put it down" quality.

I was mesmerized by "Crosley". Living 50 miles from Cincinnati, we had gone by Crosley Field many times and listened to "Moon River" on WLW radio on our dates, 46 years ago. It brought back many fond memories. On our recent anniversary, we visited the Crosley Mansion and saw a Crosley auto at the Cincinnati History Museum. I'm glad the family shared this important part of history with us.