“A richly revealing biography of a major, but little-known, American businessman and philanthropist, Julius Rosenwald, the son of German-Jewish immigrants who went on the fashion the greatest mail order firm in the world and found the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. Peter Ascoli’s account of Rosenwald is an inspiring story of hard work and success, and of giving back to the nation in which he prospered.”

“In this richly revealing biography of a major, but little-known, American businessman and philanthropist, Ascoli brings to life a portrait of Julius Rosenwald, providing a fascinating account of Rosenwald’s meteoric rise.”

“This is the first serious biography of the exuberant man who transformed the Sears, Roebuck company into the country’s most important retailer. He was also one of the early 20th century’s notable philanthropists. . . . The richness of primary evidence continually delights.”
 — Judith Sealander, author of Private Wealth and Public Life

“Peter Ascoli has written a sensitive biography of his grandfather, Julius Rosenwald. What we see is a very modest, successful business leader/philanthropist whose skill and generosity merit his recognition as one of our preeminent citizens at the advent of the twentieth century.”
 — Bill Gates, Sr.

“In this richly revealing biography of a major, but little-known, American busienssman and philanthropist, Peter Ascoli brings to life a portrait of Julius Rosenwald, the man and his work.”
 — McCormick Messenger

“This book is a great start in giving Rosenwald the attention he deserves.”
 — Library Journal

“Ascoli's work will stand as the definitive biography of Juiius Rosenwald for a long time to come.”
 — David Blanke, An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies

“As Ascoli shows in this . . . thorough biography, Rosenwald was a compelling figure, a mensch who followed his principles, mixing good business with good social justice.”
 — The Forward

“In Julius Rosenwald . . . his grandson Peter Max Ascoli has done well in searching out the scattered sources that previous biographers have neglected. In particular, we now have a much clearer understanding of Rosenwald's relations with contemporary social reformers like Jane Addams.”
 — Chronicle Review

“It is no wonder . . . that when Rosenwald died in 1932, W. E. B. DuBois declared, 'He was a great man. But he was no mere philanthropist. He was, rather, the subtle stinging critic of our racial democracy.'. . . Set against the virtual absence of black education in the rural South beforehand, his [Rosenwald's] schools qualified as revolutionary. . . . Rosenwald established a standard of enlightenment, impact and common sense. ”
 — Moment