Synopsis
Introduces some of the men whose ideas and innovations shaped the development of modern automobiles, including Karl Benz, Ferdinand Porsche, William Lyons, and Henry Ford.
School Library Journal
Gr 4-6-The founders and guiding lights of nine automobile manufacturing companies are profiled in a straightforward and clear manner. Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler (Mercedes), Henry Ford, John and Horace Dodge, Ferdinand Porsche, William Lyons (Jaguar), Alfred Sloan of General Motors, Enzo Ferrari, Soichiro Honda, and Ferruccio Lamborghini are revealed as men of vision whose persistence and ambition led to their companies' triumph over competition and setbacks. Although additional designers and industry giants might have been included, these are arguably among the small number who have had the greatest impact on the development of the automobile to this point. With the exception of Ford, Porsche, and Ferrari, very little information is available for this age level that details the rise of these companies. The five-page index is substantially more detailed than many popular treatments accessible to juvenile readers, greatly increasing this volume's reference value. Unlike flashier automobile company histories such as Jay Schleifer's Porsche and Ferrari (both Crestwood, 1992), this title does not sport full-color photographs; all are in black and white. All in all, it's a unique book, looking honestly at its subjects.- Ann G. Brouse, Steele Memorial Library, Elmira, NY