"Engrossing... [Hiltzik is] an able narrator, with an eye for telling detail."--New York Times Book Review "An accomplished journalist with a knack for storytelling, Mr Hiltzik delves into dense financial details to present an engaging read about the beginnings of America Inc." --The Economist "Hiltzik examines the rise and fall of the American railroad industry in this colorful, wide-ranging account... Hiltzik writes with verve, providing meaningful insights into the shocking inequalities of the Gilded Age. Business history buffs will be enthralled by this character-driven account."--Publishers Weekly "Lively storytelling and accessible writing makes Hiltzik's work suitable for all types of readers interested in railroad history."--Library Journal "Iron Empires is a grand story well told."--Washington Independent Review of Books "Unbridled ambition, greed, corruption, 'creative destruction, ' and a bit of conscience--Michael Hiltzik's vivid account of the railroad barons in the Gilded Age shows us the workings of unbridled capitalism at its zenith (or nadir, as the case may be). The names Morgan, Harriman, Pullman, Hill, Villard, Rockefeller will forever be associated with creating America's first great infrastructure and making America 'modern.'"--Gordon H. Chang, author of Ghosts of Gold Mountain: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad "Were the railroad barons of the 19th century great entrepreneurs in the American spirit who built a remarkable network of railroads? Or were they robbers who fleeced local people and passengers alike? In this superb and comprehensive book, Hiltzik lets you decide, with the help of a few hints."--Christian Wolmar, author of the The Great Railroad Revolution: The History of Trains in America "This prodigiously researched book tells the fascinating stories of the railroad barons who did so much to build America, not only through their vision and genius, but also through their cunning and ruthlessness. Hiltzik's brilliant narrative - of power and plutocrats - often bears uncanny parallels to what's happening in America today."--Steven Greenhouse, author of Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present, and Future of American Labor --