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This isn`t a book review about a business book. It`s a historic novel about a serial killer who went about his business during the 1893 World`s Fair in Chicago. The title is, "The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America," by Erik Larson.

What struck me about this book is the unbelievable number of things that changed and came into the marketplace as a result of this fair. It was actually the World`s Columbian Exposition, marking the 400th anniversary of Columbus discovering America (per the legend). When it was built, due to the commonality of white paint, it became known as the White City.

I had no idea about much of the information I learned in the book, and I live around Chicago! Yeesh!! But it isn`t a history book, or a dry rehashing of old news. Instead, Larson takes a guy named Holmes and builds his story as a serial killer and psychopath. Larson then juxtaposes the killer with a fella named Daniel Burnham, the lead architect.

We follow both men as Chicago makes a bid for the fair, and each one begins an incredible segment of their lives. Another thing that really hit home was the astonishing lack of interest in helping a group effort. Everyone was out for themselves, barely capable of working toward a "bigger picture" at all. None of them saw this fair with the perspective we have, 100 years later, so it was "just another big project."

There`s a lot of vivid description of how awful it was to live in a big city at that time, only 100 years ago, and in particular, Chicago. The pork slaughterhouse produced a stench beyond comprehension today. Then there were the coal fires, cinders, smoke, filth, and raw sewage. Add to that dead animals, decaying carcasses, and the cacaphony of horse`s hooves and wagon wheels, and it`s stunning!

As an entrepreneur, writer, and someone interested in business, I became immersed in the story of the fair. We think WE have logistics problems! Oy...! Imagine building some of the largest buildings in history, using only manual labor, horses and trains. Thousands of horses were used to bring in tons and tons of steel, and of course that led to tons of manure! What to do with that!?

It was a time when Edison and Tesla were trying to prove which was a better way to deliver this newfangled Electricity stuff. Edison invented DC (direct current), and Tesla was pushing his AC (alternating current) system. Tesla won out, and all of modern history was determined as to how we use power.

Meanwhile, throughout the story Larson moves back and forth to H.H. Holmes (one of many aliases), a charming, personable "doctor," who replicated what was happening in England with Jack the Ripper. Holmes killed far more people than Jack, and gained similar notoriety, yet I`d never heard of him!

Did you know that around 1893 America was falling into a massive financial collapse? Banks were failing, businesses were going under left and right, and countless "hobos" (new word at that point) were traveling the rails. All I`d heard about was the 1929 stock market crash, and had no idea there was as severe a crash forty years earlier!

Anyway, I really had a good time reading this book. The names of people involved are all memorable icons of history. Yet, to themselves, it was just another thing to do. It really puts a perspective on things, and how caught up we all get in our lives, our times, and our society. Then, only 100 years later, it`s seen completely differently.

The fair never would have been built---not a chance in hell---given today`s regulations, lawsuits, controls, and utter incapacity for society to agree on anything. It makes you wonder: What else are we totally missing the boat with, due to the near-absolute schism we face today between liberal and conservative ideology.

Thank you Craig. Your summary of the book & thoughts it inspired have motivated me.


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Joel Welsh
chief community officer
StartupNation

I read the book a couple years back.  I really enjoyed it as well.  The construction of the fair is an amazing story and I liked how the book starts with the architects` vision before things even began.  It is amazing all the innovations that came out of that fair, from building techniques to technology and amusement.  And the interwoven serial killer stuff is great too.  I`m a big fan of historical fiction.


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Steve Lowtwa

Devil in the White City was a vacation read for me a couple years ago as well.  Enjoyed it very much.  Currently reading Larson`s follow-up book Thunderstruck.  Not nearly as engaging as White City - but still very interesting and a great history lesson with Guglielmo Marconi as one of the featured character story lines.

- J.



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Jeff Fisher | Jeff Fisher LogoMotives | Tweet! Tweet!

Nikla Tesla`s estate only recently, I think in the past 10 years, finally won a patent suit against Marconi regarding the invention of radio. Now I`ll have to read this "Thunderstruck" to see how it connects. :-) Thanks Jeff...

Steve brings up a good point, too, about the difference between having a vision before starting a major project versus "just jumping in" without any preliminary plan. I wonder if it`s the same thing as starting a business without a business plan?