The Maverick and His Machine: Thomas Watson, Sr. and the Making of IBM

From the beginning, Kevin Manney is able to tie Watson to IBM, and he keeps this link throughout the book. It is a well researched book that gives the different sides of Watson's life.One thing that makes the book very enjoyable is that it is placed in the right context. Maney is able to connect Watson and IBM to the various world historical events, including both world wars, the flood in Endicot, various American presidents and even Hitler. This style allows us to assess how Watson's life and his personality. For example, it was interesting to view how Watson was involved in the New Deal, as well as in rebuilding after WW2.A fantastic and exciting book in all.

Kevin Maney has brought Watson and his key innovations to life in this book. It reads like a novel, yet never condescends or becomes hyperbolic.

I never really thought about how IBM got here as its just been here like the sky for as long as I've been alive. Its quite interesting to learn the drive, luck, skill and ruthlessness needed to make a company that has lasted for nearly a century.

The first of the new generation of Information Age biographers, Kevin Maney in his book on Thomas Watson Sr. sets a template for how Gates, Dell, and other industrialists will be written about when their time comes.The key contribution of each is the degree to which they cut the cost of information, allowing more and more of us increasing control of the means of information production with social and economic consequences that rip through our world daily. Watson was one of the most important, bridging the world between Edison and the integrated circuit.Maney reveals a man of insufferable ego who took enormous risks, risks that not even John D. Rockefeller would have contemplated, to reshape the world for a century yet to come. How Watson did this and succeeded are the life skills of today's executives in every industry. A must read.

More than a biography, this was the story of America during a time of invention. Maney’s portrayal of Watson is of a complicated man, full of nuance and contradiction. It’s impressive journalism and a great read.

The story of a man born very poor and how he became a world wide leading figure in technologyis very interesting. The man was not a technical person, but had a vision to make a failing group of companies intoa international powerhouse.The book presents a balanced picture of Thomas Watson Senior, his strenghts andhis weakness.

Biographies always have a slant; the subject was a "good" person or a "bad" person. While there are some writers who've painted Mr. Watson, Sr. as a "bad" person, this book is about a "good" person. The writing and editing is well done. It's a good read. If you like Thomas Watson, Sr., this book will probably help you to like him more. If you don't like Thomas Watson, Sr., this book will not change your mind and actually may reinforce your dislike.I am giving the book three stars because it is a well-written and well-edited work but it's very much a pro-Watson work and it's attempts to refute Mr. Watson's "bad" side are lame.In case you care, I am not a fan of both Thomas Watsons or IBM.

Mr. Watson was quite the man. Before reading his story, I hadn't know very much about him. I lived near a big IBMbusiness in Endicott, N.Y. for over 30 years. Many people from surrounding towns were employed by IBM.