"The story of the empire builders, the robber barons and the great tycoons, who, in their search for wealth and power, changed the course of history"--Jacket subtitle. Includes material on Cornelius Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie, John Davison Rockefeller, Henry Ford, Daniel Drew, Jim Fisk, Edward Henry Harriman, Du Pont family, John Pierpont Morgan, Andrew W. Mellon, Insull family, Jay Gould, Henry Clay Frick, Charles M. Schwab, Gustavus Franklin Swift, Guggenheim family, and William Randolph Hearst.

pt. 1 The era of brass knuckles :Noon -- Primitives -- Bold new talents -- The wars of the Troglodytes -- He was always kind to the poor -- Wreckage. -- pt. 2 Rise of the colossi : Rockefeller I -- Carnegie -- The first harassments -- Rulers of Chicago -- Monarchs of the far west. -- pt. 3 The era of frenzied finance : Standard Oil in full power -- The steel trust -- The copper-plated kings -- Tom Lawson and the system. -- pt. 4 New giants appear : The rise of Charlie Schwab -- The last railroad war -- Henry Ford's new era -- Mr. Mellon -- Insull the false Midas. -- pt. 5 Dynastic succession : The Du Ponts -- The Guggenheims -- The last mogul. -- pt. 6 What they did with it : Elegances and bequests.