The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived: Tom Watson, Jr., and the Epic Story of How IBM Created the Digital Age

As the rebellious eldest son of the founder of IBM, Tom Watson Jr. (1914–1993) spent his childhood chafing under the influence of his domineering father. McElvenny, Watson’s eldest grandson, and historian Wortman (Admiral Hyland Rickover) offer a nuanced portrait of Watson, who went on to unexpectedly make business history. Subject to bouts of depression and considerable self-doubt stemming from his meritless promotions within the company, Watson found purpose during WWII. Trained as a pilot, he was commanded by Maj. Gen. Follett Bradley, a father figure under whose guidance Watson studied international diplomacy, managed enlisted servicemen, and learned to succeed on his own merit. He returned to IBM in 1946 and served as president from 1952 to 1971, where he is credited with bringing America (and the world) into the computer age. The authors outline the agonizing period when Watson bet the company on the IBM 360, the first scalable business computer (it allowed companies to expand their computer operations from small to larger computers while maintaining the same software), which led to the widespread adoption of business computing. Watson retired in 1971, and later was appointed U.S. ambassador to Russia. The authors skillfully weave this profile of a recalcitrant heir together with a chronicle of computing in the 20th century. It’s an informative and entertaining study. (Oct.)