Sterlingcindysu's Reviews > My Life and Work

I got this when it was free for Kindle from Amazon. I didn't know much about Ford and really, I still don't. This is purely a business book. There's not much of his "life" in it. I checked to see when he died, how many kids he had, etc and then I found out about his other issues. There's only a brief mention about his discriminations and politics, as the Peace Ship, here.

For a book edition that says 206 pages, it took me forever to read it so be forewarned with this Kindle edition.



What I did find out about was the manufacturing of cars and I have to admit, this book put me to sleep quite a few nights on those details. But it was amazing what he accomplished in the way of hiring the handicapped, women (assuming that their husbands didn't have jobs) and even a factory where farmers could do work during the off-season. Prices on Model Ts (and yes, there were other Models, such as K was a racing car and A, C and S) were lowered every year and workers had that famous $6 a day, 6 days a week job (later 5) yet sales increased.

He was able to make those savings by streamlining all aspects of his business--for example there were no titles (except those mandated by law), no phone extensions and bosses didn't have offices. Every suggestion by the line workers to ease work, or speed it up, was taken seriously. As he said, when you make 4,000 cars a day, a half penny savings adds up.


He bought a railroad because he really wanted the land it was on, and ended up running that better than others despite the government and lawyers. When a founding hosptial asked him yet again for donations, he bought it, returned all the donations, built it and ran it successfully. A school for boys not only gave them skills and a basic education, but a paycheck.