The Invention of Enterprise: Entrepreneurship from Ancient Mesopotamia to Modern Times (The Kauffman Foundation Series on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 10)

I gave this book 4 stars because it really is a great book that is well-written and concise. It provides a rich history of entrepreneurship in various civilizations throughout history.That being said, I had this book as a textbook for a class I took for my business minor. It's not the best textbook to study from because finding specific information in it is rather difficult because of how wordy the book is, and the index only puts names of people or civilizations, not important concepts or topics. I didn't want to give a low rating for the book itself for this because it really is interesting. I think that this would be a great casual read for academics and anybody who is interested in learning more about the history of entrepreneurship. I just didn't like it as a primary textbook.

A collection of masterful essays on the enterprise, one of the most significant creations of the modern world. This book should be mandatory reading for students of economic history, irrespective of whether they are pursuing professional training or are amateurs.

This book is the first in its kind of historical perspective of creation of economic enterprises from ancient to modern. Rather academic but easy to read. A must-have list for visionary managers as well as advanced scholars.

Have just begun to read and it takes a bit of an effort for a lay person. But what I have gotten through has been interesting and brings a new perspective to entrepreneurship and its role in history.

average content

An impressive and deep long-term view of the history of entrepreneurship. Fascinating for scholars and entrepreneurs. Well worth it.

The book is so broad in scope that it seems to have a lack of focus and it reads very disjointed due to multiple authors penning chapters that don’t really flow together to combine for a cohesive narrative.

Money might make the world go around, but the spinning wouldn't happen without entrepreneurs and their innovations. This thorough examination of world entrepreneurship delves into many of the globe's important economies, from the ancient Middle East to modern-day China. Edited by three scholars, David S. Landes, Joel Mokyr and William J. Baumol, this work is a collection of essays by more than 20 academics. While not exactly a page-turner, this study serves up historical context that will help readers understand the cultural currents and political forces that shape entrepreneurship throughout the world. It's intriguing to note, for instance, that most major economies (with the exception of the US) have harbored a deep-seated bias against entrepreneurs. getAbstract recommends this book to business people who love history or to historians who want to know about the development of commercial enterprise.

One of the finest book ever done in economic history on the subject of enterprise with well and renowned authors. Deserves well his high marks.