Irrepressible Reformer: A Biography of Melvil Dewey

Rating:
Summary: Well researched book on Melvil Dewey
Review: The author, Wayne Wiegand, has written the definitive book on Melvil Dewey. He tells us how Dewey accomplished so much in his lifetime. We also learn of some of the less than admirable qualities of Dewey. I found the following parts fascinating: the rise and fall of the Lake Placid Club; his difficult time at Columbia College; riding his bicycle to work on a regular basis; his ownership of Library Bureau; and the development of the Dewey Decimal System. I really felt that I knew Melvil Dewey after reading this book. The author relates the successes and the frustrations of Dewey. No one has had a greater impact on librarianship in the English speaking world than Melvil Dewey. I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn about Dewey. The author is to be commended for a truly outstanding biography!