Driven: A Photobiography of Henry Ford

by Don Mitchell, Jonathan Irons (Foreword by)

Overview

Driven: A Photobiography of Henry Ford is a riveting profile of the man whose invention revolutionized American life: the industrial visionary who changed the automobile from rich man’s toy into affordable necessity. Don Mitchell weaves archival images from the Benson Ford Research Center with quotes from Ford’s writings, speeches, and interviews to create a lively, comprehensive profile of this intriguing individual. Fiercely independent, and a man of complex contradictions, Henry Ford is revealed above all as a man driven to achieve his dream of building "a motor car for the great multitude," accessible to all. Driven includes a time line, resource list, and index.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781426301568
Publisher:	National Geographic
Publication date:	05/11/2010
Series:	Photobiographies Series
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Don Mitchell’s father spent his career in the automotive industry. Mitchell has worked as a public servant in the U.S. Senate and in the White House on the staff of the National Security Council. He has written one previous National Geographic title Liftoff: A Photobiography of John Glenn. He lives in Arlington, VA.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 5–8—Starting with a foreword by Lee Iacocca, Mitchell introduces readers to the founder of the auto company. As evidenced by the abundant period photographs, Ford cut a dapper figure. This biography covers his entire life, career, vision, ideals, character flaws, and lasting achievements. Thoughts, feelings, and quotes abound, and they are well sourced. Obviously the pictures are a huge draw here. Ford is portrayed as a complex individual—a mostly decent man, a pacifist, someone with an interest in education who wanted to help the less fortunate. Yet his hatred of Jews is evident, and he turned a blind eye to violence against those who attempted to form unions. Finally, he destroyed his relationship with his only son, Edsel. The writing is clear, and the organization is chronological. Pat McCarthy's Henry Ford: Building Cars for Everyone (Enslow, 2002) covers similar ground, but has far fewer illustrations. Driven combines fine photography and an inviting text to depict Ford's life and his impact on the world.—Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI

School Library Journal