Memoirs

Rating:
Summary: A superbly written book
Review: "David Rockefeller Memoirs," is a comprehensive and superbly written book that examines the life of a successful banker and a famous American family. David Rockefeller was born in 1915 and this book is a examination of the role he played in domestic and global economic affairs during the past 50 years. Moreover, it also provides a strong window into his wealth and how he and his family funded many worthy causes.

The author examines the good, the bad and the ugly. He describes the evolution of Rockefeller Center in New York City with pride, he admits his support for the Vietnam War was at odds with that of many in the nation, and he pragmatically describes the many frictions within his own family. However, an important insight of this book is how David Rockefeller played an enormous role in U.S. foreign affairs.

To this end, David Rockefeller is clearly one of the most important executives in the history of Wall Street. Rockefeller joined the Chase Bank in 1946 as an assistant manager in the Foreign Department and his memoirs describe his rise through the ranks to become chairman of the board. The author admits the road at Chase was bumpy and writes that at one point he feared he may be fired by the board of directors.

The historical value of this book cannot be underestimated. Rockefeller examines the life of his grandfather, his writes about his many travels...particularly to the Soviet Union, China and the Middle East. I found his chapter on the Shah of Iran fascinating. Overall, this book is easy to read and offers front row insights of how international banking impacts global affairs.

Bert Ruiz

Rating:
Summary: Fills a void, though not as well as hoped
Review: A library's worth of books are available that paint David Rockefeller as the "secret ruler of the world," a multi-billionaire megalomaniac responsible for all of the world's ills. Whether it's an economic collapse or a war, David and his co-horts on the Council on Foreign Relations and the Trilateral Commission are allegedly behind it. Since little else has been written about the man, "Memoirs" fills a void. Unfortunately, it doesn't fill that void as well as I would have hoped.

For bankers or those intrigued by banking, Rockefeller's lengthy desciption of his career at Chase may make for fascinating reading. The rest of us may be tempted to stop reading at this point and start skimming. On the other hand, the description of David's life within the Rockefeller family is interesting. As the youngest member of the famous (or infamous) dynasty, David was shunned by his older siblings and lived a rather solitary, though, it seems, generally happy life. Rockefeller writes about this, as well as his later experiences in college (where he once again had a hard time fitting in), with a modesty that really won me over. He also offers nice portraits of the rest of the clan, including his father who, despite his wealth, fought a battle against paralyzing shyness and depression. Rockefeller succeeds in defining his family by something other than its wealth.

But David Rockefeller's wiliness to hobnob with dictators as easily as he does presidents and popes does make this reader wonder if this man who admits to a lifelong fascination with entemology (the study of insects), makes a distinction between bugs and the majority of the human race. Since Rockefeller doesn't appear to feel he needs to explain his motivations, it leaves one wondering about his values.

But when he keeps the focus on his famous family, Rockefeller writes with an openness that would have been beneficial to other parts of the book. The sections detailing the clashes within the family, and his disillusionment with Nelson, the big brother he had once idolized, make for interesting reading indeed.

Rating:
Summary: Lucid, Highly Readable Account of a Public Life
Review: David Rockefeller's 500-page 'Memoirs' presents a lucid, highly readable account of a prominent career at the intersection of high finance, philanthropy and public affairs. Critics may rightly charge that Rockefeller manages to eschew personal second-guessing, but this does not come at the expense of profundity. The author provides a thoughtful, stimulating look back at his childhood, education and career, as well as interesting anecdotes of his interactions with heads of state, titans of industry, and many other prominent denizens of 20th Century public life.

Rockefeller's life's work argues strongly that capitalism is a central civilizing force in society, and he takes this view in the book. His 'Memoirs' hold appeal not primarily because of his name, but because of his remarkable accomplishments and contacts, as well as his extensive description of a rather prescient internationalist approach, which he embodied as CEO of Chase Manhattan Bank, and which prefigured the rise of globalization. This latter point gives the book a surprising present-day relevance, both as a personal account of 20th Century corporate history as well as an argument in favor of global economic cooperation. Readers are also able to ponder Rockefeller's response to critics who denounced his involvement in international affairs, especially those involving the Middle East, as inherently biased.

As the youngest son of John D. Rockefeller Jr., the author provides especially illuminating recollections of his family life: the jovial private side of his grandfather, the founder of Standard Oil and the world's richest man; the distant benevolence of his religious father to himself and his five siblings; his close, sometimes stormy relationship with his four brothers, themselves men of considerable public stature; his six-decade marriage to wife Peggy; and his contentious relationship with his children, who came of age in the Vietnam era, questioned the family politics and philosophies, and exhibited deep ambivalence to carrying the Rockefeller mantle.

Rockefeller's smooth account of life in a family blessed with immense wealth and saddled with equal scrutiny also provides a roadmap of his family's role in the development of iconic New York City properties as well as the revitalization of the American philanthropic sector. It is required reading for those interested in the Rockefeller family, the role of elite businessmen in public life, and the unique perspective of a true citizen of the world.

Rating:
Summary: A Rockefeller Who Could Be One's Next Door Neighbor
Review: David Rockefeller's autobiography spellbindingly captures a life and a family so steeped in lore that "the common man" would normally not be able to relate to his experiences. What Dr. Rockefeller has done is to present his life's story and family as people, not icons or statues, with both beauty and warts, facing most of the same life experiences we all face. While most of us would not be dealing with issues such as a 100-room summer home, we all have issues such as struggles with growing up, sibling rivalry, death of a beloved spouse and other family members, getting old, and the like. He also does not "water down" the story for "the rest of us," simply telling his story as it happened and continues to happen. I wish I had the opportunity to invite him over for dinner and just listen to him talk - the wisdom, enthusiasm, and joie de vivre emanating from his book are both inspiring and contagious.

Rating:
Summary: Very interesting life...
Review: David Rockefeller, grandson of John D. Rockefeller, Sr., has many interesting accounts to tell from his life. He has met many world leaders and public figures, and shares these accounts in these memoirs.

He's had many interesting experiences, and clearly worked hard to acheive a lot of things he did.

Well worth a read.

Rating:
Summary: Painful
Review: Don't waste your time or money on this painfully slow & boring book.

Rating:
Summary: David Rockefeller, A Life Well Lived...
Review: For the past 30 years my family and I have vacationed in a small village near the Rockefeller's in Seal Harbor, ME and we have enjoyed the generous gift his father made to all of us, Acadia National Park, while walking the carriage trails in Acadia. In reading David Rockefeller's autobiography I appreciate the importance of hard work, service and thoughtful rearing in creating a good person. Wealth does not excuse one from applying and using all one's talents to achieve a well-lived life of distinction and purpose. Rockefeller has done that and I thank him for writing about that life.
It seems as though David Rockefeller was involved in many of the important events of the past 70 years and often played an important part in them.One of the strongest impressions I have after reading the "Memoirs"is the personal disgust I have for the chaotic and nihilistic behavior and reprehensible values of many Americans in the 60's and 70's and the great damage this caused everyone, including the very wealthy. Fortunately, Rockefeller and his wife were able to keep their values and high-standards in their lives. Hurray for a life well-lived and well- told. Truly, a remarkable journey.

Rating:
Summary: Masterful Memoir
Review: Having read several books on the Rockefeller family, some of the family history here was familiar to me. However, there's no substitute for first-person recollections. Mr. Rockefeller is meticulous in his organization and presentation in this autobiography. I looked forward to reading this book, and wasn't disappointed. I thought it was strongest in the sections pertaining to the family and his dealings with his brothers. I didn't necessarily agree with Mr. Rockefeller's assessments regarding world affairs or his economic views. In fact, I disagree in many areas. However, his views are well documented and should be no surprise to those who are well-informed. The book is particularly interesting re Mr. Rockefeller's being saddled with one of the world's most famous names, and how his children have dealt with it.

An excellent read no matter which side of the political fence one sits on.

Rating:
Summary: Surrounded by a lifetime of money
Review: I came away from reading David Rockefeller's "Memoirs" with a reflection and a question. The reflection is this: I can't think of another individual who has had the extraordinary good fortune to interact with so many leaders around the globe, both in the political world as well as the business world for an entire lifetime, as David Rockefeller has done. His life, in that regard, would be hard to reproduce today. My question is, simply, why did Rockefeller write this book? After all, as he states, he is the first and only Rockefeller to tell the "Rockefeller story".

As the author says, he was largely ignored by his older siblings growing up and more or less went it alone. He did carve out a highly successful career as one of the leading bankers in the world, whose advice was sought after by prominent people from all walks of life. To this end, one must give David Rockefeller his due, not ignoring his place of noble birth. It must be hard to start at the top and work across. Regarding philanthropy, he correctly points out that those who wish to take issue with his enormous wealth disregard the good that his giving has done over the years. And yes, we hear about it all. David Rockefeller may be the quiet one, but his ego matches his siblings'.

Much of his memoirs is told from a banking perspective and there are endless pages of statistical molasses. As a book, it often grinds to a halt. Is there a board on which Rockefeller hasn't served? It doesn't appear so. When the author speaks of his interests outside of the business world, i.e. art, New York, his family, etc. he does so in a way that is almost too carefully crafted and therefore, dispassionate. One gets the feeling of a man somewhat detached, perhaps reflecting that isolated childhood to which he refers.

The best chapter in this book deals with his (often contentious) relationships with his brothers, especially Nelson. Being in a locked room as an observer at one of their summit meetings would have been a treat! I suspect that part of the motive of Rockefeller's writing this book was to cast himself in the best possible light vis-a-vis John, Laurence, Winthrop and Nelson. In the end, he presents his own portrait as the diplomat of the five, certainly the most reasoned and the one with coolest head.

David Rockefeller, nonetheless, is an unusual man from many angles and his book is a rare and valuable insight into his famous family. Without sibling rebuttal, I'm just not sure how much of it to believe. His reflections, however, have made me hope that in the future a book can be written about all of the Rockefeller brothers from an outsider's point of view. This would give a more balanced view of the Rockefeller family.

Rating:
Summary: A Well-Written but Disappointing Memoir
Review: I was disappointed with David Rockefeller's Memoirs. While his observations on his early life were insightful, he failed to deal realistically with his career at Chase Manhattan.

Throughout the book, he touts his personal connections with world leaders as the reason Chase Manhattan became a leading international bank. Yet he all but ignores that this debt was a major cause of the bank's downfall. If he takes credit for the connections, he should assume responsibility when the debt defaults.

On the other hand, I found his observations about his brother, Nelson, unique and insightful. He sees the greatness tempered by the flaws.

In my mind the highlights of David Rockefeller's career start when he retired from Chase Manhattan and dedicated himself to the family office. The story of the sale and subsequent repurchase of Rockefeller Center represents the pinnacle of a financial career.

This is a well-written book. For someone, like me with an interest in finance and public service, it is a great read. David Rockefeller would rate five stars if only he had dealt more candidly with his failures at Chase Manhattan.