Knowledge for Generations: Wiley and the Global Publishing Industry, 1807 - 2007

A lively history of one of America's oldest publishing houses, published in conjunction with Wiley's bicentennial Founded in New York City when Thomas Jefferson was president, Wiley has been a significant player in the publishing industry for two centuries. Now, on the occasion of Wiley's bicentennial, a distinguished team of authors brings Wiley's rich history to life, showing how the company has reacted to trends within the publishing industry as well as to larger economic, social, and cultural forces. Knowledge for Generations sheds light on the long-term strengths and weaknesses of Wiley's business, illuminates the continuities and changes over time, and shows how family ownership has influenced the company's strategies, values, and corporate culture. Drawing on unrestricted access to company archives and interviews with key executives, the authors capture a story of sustained business success, intriguing personalities, and dramatic changes in the industry. Illustrated throughout with illuminating photographs and graphics, Knowledge for Generations is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of publishing.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1. Family Craft and Business: Evolution 1807–2007. Chapter 2. Charles Wiley: Bookman of the “Literary Republic” 1807–1826. Chapter 3. John Wiley: Foundations 1826–1865. Chapter 4. And Sons: Transition to Modern Publishing 1865–1925. Chapter 5. The Cousins: Conservative Change During the Fourth Generation 1925–1956. Chapter 6. William Bradford Wiley: The Transition to Professional Management 1957–1979. Chapter 7. A Turbulent Decade: Experimentation and Survival 1979–1989. Chapter 8. Renaissance: Rebirth as a Global Company 1989–2002. Chapter 9. Directions.

About the Author :
Robert E. Wright (Abington, PA) is a Clinical Associate Professor of Economics at New York University's Stern School of Business. He is the coauthor, with George David Smith, of Mutually Beneficial (0-8147-9397-5), among other books. Timothy C. Jacobson (Staunton, VA) is an author and editor who founded Chicago Times magazine. Robert E. Wright, Clinical Associate Professor of Economics an der New York University (Stern School of Business), schrieb zahlreiche Bücher, darunter: Financial Founding Fathers: The Men Who Made America Rich (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2006), gemeinsam mit David Cowen; The Wealth of Nations Rediscovered: Integration and Expansion in American Financial Markets, 1780-1850 (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2002); Mutually Beneficial: The Guardian and Life Insurance in America (New York: New York University Press, 2004), gemeinsam mit George David Smith sowie The First Wall Street: Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, and the Birth of American Finance (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2005). Timothy C. Jacobson, Autor und Herausgeber, veröffentlichte unter anderem: Making Medical Doctors, A Historical Guide to the United State; From Practice to Profession: A History of the Financial Analysts Profession (AIMR, 1997) und Cotton's Renaissance: A Study in Market Innovation (Cambridge University Press, 2001). Er gründete das Magazin Chicago Times und gab Chicago History sowie die 51-bändige Reihe The States and the Nation heraus. George David Smith, Clinical Professor of Economics and International Business an der Stern School of Business der NYU, verfasste unter anderem Anatomy of a Business Strategy, From Monopoly to Competition, The Transformation of Financial Capitalism (mit Richard Sylla) und New Financial Capitalists (mit George Baker).

Review :
"...Anyone interested in history and publishing needs this book. The reader is provided an intimate view of historical context juxtaposed with Wiley Publishing's growth as a company. It's also a delight to be privy to the Wiley family tree, a tree that spawned two centuries worth of books." (HuffingtonPost.com, February 18, 2007)