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Hershey: Milton S. Hershey's Extraordinary Life of Wealth, Empire, and Utopian Dreams Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Michael D'Antonio (Author), Jonathan Yen (Narrator), Tantor Audio (Publisher)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 335 ratings
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The name Hershey evokes many things: chocolate bars, the company town in Pennsylvania, one of America's most recognizable brands. But who was the man behind the name? In this compelling biography, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michael D'Antonio gives us the real-life rags-to-riches story of Milton S. Hershey, a largely uneducated businessman whose idealistic sense of purpose created an immense financial empire, a town, and a legacy that lasts to this day.

Hershey, the son of a minister's daughter and an irresponsible father who deserted the family, began his career inauspiciously when the two candy shops he opened both went bankrupt. Undeterred, he started the Lancaster Caramel Company, which brought him success at last. Eventually, he sold his caramel operation and went on to perfect the production process of chocolate to create a stable, consistent bar with a long shelf life...and an American icon was born.

Hershey was more than a successful businessman - he was a progressive thinker who believed in capitalism as a means to higher goals. He built the world's largest chocolate factory and a utopian village for his workers on a large tract of land in rural Pennsylvania and used his own fortune to keep his workers employed during the Great Depression. In addition, he secretly willed his fortune to a boys' school and orphanage, both of which now control a vast endowment.

Extensively researched and vividly written, Hershey is the fascinating story of this uniquely American visionary.

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  1. Listening Length
    13 hours and 34 minutes
  2. Author
    Michael D'Antonio
  3. Narrator
    Jonathan Yen
  4. Audible release date
    January 17, 2019
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Tantor Audio
  7. ASIN
    B07MDH7L93
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 13 hours and 34 minutes
Author Michael D'Antonio
Narrator Jonathan Yen
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date January 17, 2019
Publisher Tantor Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B07MDH7L93
Best Sellers Rank #176,048 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#576 in Biographies of Business Leaders
#964 in Historical Biographies (Audible Books & Originals)
#1,113 in Entrepreneurship (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
335 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. It provides depth into the life and thinking of Milton Hershey, detailing his early struggles and philanthropy. They appreciate the lessons about life and business that readers can apply. Readers describe the book as fair and balanced, providing an informative and inspiring read for all ages.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
ReadabilityDepthPhilanthropyStrengthAge rangeBalanceValue for moneyHumaneness
34 customers mention "Readability"34 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and engaging. They describe it as a quick read that draws them into the times and culture of M. S. The writing is simple and understandable, holding their attention throughout.

"A very well written page-turner about Milton S. Hershey and the history of the Hershey company...." Read more

"...Definitely worth reading if interested at all in the company, entrepreneurship, or the history of this time period...." Read more

"...From the first page, it grabbed, and held my attention as well as any work of fiction might." Read more

"I loved every word. Well written with so much history. Made me want to grow up in Hershey. Thank you Michael d'antonio" Read more

32 customers mention "Depth"32 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides an excellent account of Milton Hershey's life and thinking. They appreciate the well-researched and balanced account of his early struggles. The book offers valuable lessons about life and business that readers can apply. Readers find the book fascinating and well-written, with a fair and balanced understanding of the man.

"...So, it was a delight, many years later, to discover this fascinating account of Mr. Hershey's early struggles, his indefatigable determination to..." Read more

"...Despite that, the majority of this book is fairly detailed, but not in a boring, pedantic way...." Read more

"I loved every word. Well written with so much history. Made me want to grow up in Hershey. Thank you Michael d'antonio" Read more

"...I found this book to be well researched down to the address in Philadelphia, PA, 936 Spring Garden st.,..." Read more

10 customers mention "Philanthropy"10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the philanthropy of the author. They say he did a great service to the poor, provided fantastic opportunities for low-income and orphaned children, and contributed greatly to US industry. Readers also mention that he was gentle and generous.

"...determination to succeed and his eventual stratospheric success and philanthropy, which lives on to this day...." Read more

"...Overall a well written book on a man who contributed greatly to US industry and in a caring manner when compared to Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Rockefeller..." Read more

"...and funded has grown into America's largest boarding school with a huge endowment, and it offers fantastic opportunities for low-income and orphan..." Read more

"...obstacles and failures to succeed spectacularly while engaging in prolific philanthropy." Read more

7 customers mention "Strength"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate Milton Hershey's perseverance and charitable work. They describe him as an extraordinary man who overcame obstacles and failures to succeed spectacularly. The book explores his complex life and the lessons of how a person can make something of themselves if they don't give up trying.

"...account of Mr. Hershey's early struggles, his indefatigable determination to succeed and his eventual stratospheric success and philanthropy, which..." Read more

"...this book serves to share his success with his failure and his strength with his weakness...." Read more

"...Great review of history and how a man can make something of himself if he does not give up trying." Read more

"...Overcame multiple obstacles and failures to succeed spectacularly while engaging in prolific philanthropy." Read more

4 customers mention "Age range"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and inspiring for readers of all ages. They say it's fun to know and share with children.

"...the struggles of a true American entrepreneur who formed a great School for orphans, a town ( Hershey, PA) and of course a great Andy company...." Read more

"...This could have been a great book about a great company in a great age. Sadly, it was not...." Read more

"Excellent book for any age reader. Very informative and inspiring. Should be read by all business people" Read more

"Fun to know and share with children." Read more

4 customers mention "Balance"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's balance. They find it fair, balanced, and sympathetic. The research is good.

"A fair, balanced, sympathetic look at a remarkable man. I found this book, overall, to be very lively and interesting...." Read more

"...Seems fair and balanced. Good research and interestingly written" Read more

"Thoroughly Researched and Subjectively Balanced..." Read more

"Great book. It was very informative and a fair ......" Read more

4 customers mention "Value for money"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's value for money. They find it easy to read and mention it contains interesting historical economic facts.

"It was easy to read lots of interesting historical economical facts. its had spiritual ramifications historically...." Read more

"Decent read, well worth the price I paid used...." Read more

"Sweet Money..." Read more

"WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS IS A GREAT 5 CENT CHOCOLATE BAR! AND THAT'S WHAT HERSHEY GAVE THEM..." Read more

3 customers mention "Humaneness"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's humane and unselfish approach. They praise his philanthropy, peace-focused goals, and self-commitments.

"...wealth and seems to have a good understanding on how to use it in a very humane and unselfish way...." Read more

"Five Stars: The story of M.S. Hershey is that of a truly good and kind man...." Read more

"...very interesting about how he started, his philanthropy, his goal for a peaceful living and his commitments to himself. Highly recommend" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Holland
    5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging read about M.S. Hershey
    Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    A very well written page-turner about Milton S. Hershey and the history of the Hershey company. I have fond memories of visiting Hershey, PA as a child, where I was mesmerized by an enormous vat of chocolate being stirred by a giant mechanical arm. So, it was a delight, many years later, to discover this fascinating account of Mr. Hershey's early struggles, his indefatigable determination to succeed and his eventual stratospheric success and philanthropy, which lives on to this day. If you have an interest in reading about the American industrial titans of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, I highly recommend this book!
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Rover
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fair and interesting, but not quite specific enough at times
    Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    A fair, balanced, sympathetic look at a remarkable man. I found this book, overall, to be very lively and interesting.

    The only shortcoming in this book, I think, is the lack of detail in some portions of Hershey's life. At times, years are glossed over with a statement or two about Hershey's general attitude or behavior during that period. At other times, the book feels like it is a little more about the Hershey company's history than Hershey himself.

    Yet those times are few. And since Hershey was a very private man, overall, and his public face was highly sanitized in some ways, I can understand that parts of his life or history must be very hard to figure out. Nevertheless, there were several times that I really yearned for more detail, or evidence to back up the author's broad statements. At times it felt like it jumped from anecdote to anecdote, with not enough in between.

    Despite that, the majority of this book is fairly detailed, but not in a boring, pedantic way. Definitely worth reading if interested at all in the company, entrepreneurship, or the history of this time period.

    Sidenote: Kindle formatting is great, no problems.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • DAVID ROSS SUTHERLAND
    5.0 out of 5 stars Decent read, well worth the price I paid used.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I saw "Hershey" and Milton Hershey on a TV documentary and he struck me as an unusual person and made me want to know more. From the first page, it grabbed, and held my attention as well as any work of fiction might.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Russell Strunk
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great history about an American success
    Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Who has not ever had a Hershey Candy bar? Well this is the history of all the struggles of a true American entrepreneur who formed a great School for orphans, a town ( Hershey, PA) and of course a great Andy company. I enjoyed this history lesson,
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Bella
    5.0 out of 5 stars So good
    Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I loved every word. Well written with so much history. Made me want to grow up in Hershey. Thank you Michael d'antonio
    Helpful
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  • Safety Conscious Parent
    4.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly Researched and Subjectively Balanced
    Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Having recently visited Hershey, PA with my family and being a Pennsylvania native as well as an entrepreneur I wanted to dig deeper into the history of Milton Hershey. I found this book to be well researched down to the address in Philadelphia, PA, 936 Spring Garden st., where a young Milton Hershey opened his first confection shop.

    Overall a well written book on a man who contributed greatly to US industry and in a caring manner when compared to Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Rockefeller, Pullman, and other notoriously cold and calculating captains of industry. In essence there was very little sugar coating (pun intended) in this biography but Milton Hershey didn't need it anyway.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • MPatterson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    After visiting Hershey, PA, I was fascinated by the story of Milton S Hershey. This book gives great insight into how it all came together.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Caraculiambro
    3.0 out of 5 stars unremarkable
    Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Very well written but not very good.

    Lemme explain: the writing reads smoothly and entertainingly. I'm not surprised the author's won a Pulitzer Prize.

    However, after about page 60, he doesn't have much material. Not only is the story thereafter pretty boring since by then Mr. Milton Hershey is well established and past all the reversals of his early years. I mean, who cares when and where 1,000 more workers were added to a plant?

    But the second problem is that there doesn't seem to be a lot of research here. The cover promises that the book is "neither authorized nor sponsored" by the Hershey Company, but that firm has little to worry about. There's no dirt whatsoever in the book and the reader leaves knowing very little about Hershey the man. It's not like the author uncovered a bunch of shocking facts.

    So how does he fill the rest of the book? By talking about the context of the 1860s and 1870s! For example, the World's Fair.

    Not a legitimate approach, I've been suspecting. If it is, I have news for the author: you can do a minimum amount of research on anybody who lived in the time and take the other 70% from this book! A new biography of Carnegie, Melville, Ulysses Grant, etc.

    I say this because only about 30% of the book is really about Hershey the man.
    9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Ruben López
    5.0 out of 5 stars Libro en excelentes condiciones
    Reviewed in Mexico on January 20, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Me llegó el libro en tiempo y forma. Sin ningún detalle estetico. Una lectura muy agradable.
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  • Copper Top
    5.0 out of 5 stars to hear the truth about this amazing man.
    Reviewed in Canada on December 24, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    We went to Hershey PA and learned about this fabulous man and his life. The book gets into more detail and it is very interesting. Now I have the tour of the town and estate and the book to corroborate what I learned. A must read, to hear the truth about this amazing man.
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