The Many Lives of Michael Bloomberg, Eleanor Randolph
The Many Lives of Michael Bloomberg, Eleanor Randolph
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The Many Lives of Michael Bloomberg
Innovation, Money, and Politics

Author: Eleanor Randolph

Narrator: Steven Jay Cohen

Unabridged: 15 hr 13 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/10/2019


Synopsis

This authoritative and anecdote-filled biography of Michael Bloomberg—2020 presidential candidate and one of the richest and famously private/public figures in the country—is a “masterful work…[and] an absolutely first-rate study of leadership in business, politics, and philanthropy” (Doris Kearns Goodwin, Pulitzer Prize­–winning author) from a veteran New York Times reporter.

Michael Bloomberg’s life sounds like an exaggerated version of The American Story, except his adventures are real.

From modest Jewish middle class (and Eagle Scout) to Harvard MBA to Salomon Brothers hot shot (where he gets “sent upstairs” and later fired) to creator of the Bloomberg terminal, a machine that would change Wall Street and the financial universe and make him a billionaire, to presidential candidate in 2020, Randolph’s account of Bloomberg’s life reads almost like a novel.

“A vivid, timely study of Bloomberg’s brand of plutocracy” (Publishers Weekly), this engaging and insightful biography recounts Mayor Bloomberg’s vigorous approach to New York City’s care—including his attempts at education reform, anti-smoking and anti-obesity campaigns, climate control, and new developments across the city.

After he engineered a surprising third term as Mayor, Bloomberg returned to his business and philanthropies that focused increasingly on cities. The chapter that describes this is one of the most revealing of his temperament and energy and vision as well as how he spends his “private” time that was virtually off-limits even when he was mayor.

Bloomberg promised to give away his money before he died, and his giving has focused on education, gun control, and a fighting climate change. He joined the 2020 presidential campaign as a moderate liberal and spent his millions focused on ousting President Donald Trump.

About Eleanor Randolph

Eleanor Randolph is a veteran journalist who has covered national politics and the media for The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and other newspapers. Her articles have appeared in VogueEsquire, the New Republic, and other magazines. A member of the New York Times editorial staff from 1998 to 2018, she focused on city and state politics, media, and Russia. The author of The Many Lives of Michael Bloomberg, she lives in Manhattan with her husband.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Frank on December 16, 2019

The book covers a lot of the many successes and ambitions of Michael Bloomberg. The author is a sympathetic voice, if not an outright fan girl of the former mayor. The result is a book that is not quite a fluff piece but certainly one that gives Bloomberg the benefit of the doubt when discussing his......more

Goodreads review by Holly Weston on January 13, 2023

For anyone even moderately interested in the life of Michael Bloomberg, this is a fascinating read. In-depth,, well-researched, balanced, well-constructed. Bloomberg comes off as larger than life, but my sense is that’s because he is that way. While she writes a generally positive profile of Bloombe......more

Goodreads review by Gregory Vince on November 28, 2019

Great and comprehensive overview of Bloomberg's life in business, politics and philanthropy. As far as ball and strike are concerned, Randolph calls a fair game addressing both flaws and great achievement. How Bloomberg fares in the Presidential contest is anyone's guess but if you want to know abou......more

Goodreads review by simchee on September 06, 2021

Bloomberg has achieved much and in my view did his best to contribute to society. However this book is a confused and repetetive attempt to shine some light on Bloomberg at best or a cheap undercover PR-book at worst. Whole book is structured topically and written in a readable prose (the author is......more