Fins

Harley Earl, The Rise Of General Motors, And The Glory Days Of Detroit

By: William Knoedelseder

Write A Review

Paperback | 25 April 2024

At a Glance

Paperback
336 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
20.4 x 13.2 x 1.8

Paperback

RRP $26.39

$25.75

or 4 interest-free payments of $6.44 with

Ships in 5 to 7 business days

The New York Times bestselling author of Bitter Brew turns to the American auto industry, chronicling its birth and rise to greatness through the remarkable life of Harley Earl, the eccentric visionary who revolutionized the way cars were made, marketed, and even imagined.

Harley Earl's story qualifies as a bona fide American saga. Beginning in the Michigan pine forest in the years after the Civil War, the story traveled across the Great Plains on the wooden wheels of a covered wagon, and eventually settled in a dirt road village in California called Hollywood, where young Harley took the skills he learned working in his father's carriage shop and applied them to designing sleek, racy-looking automobile bodies for the fast crowd in the burgeoning silent movie business.

As the 1920s roared with the sound of mass manufacturing, Harley went to Detroit at General Motors' invitation and introduced art into the rigid mechanics of automaking. Over the next thirty years, Harley operated as a kind of combination Steve Jobs and Tom Ford of his time, redefining the form and function of the country's premier product. His impact was profound. When he retired as GM's vice president of styling in 1958, Detroit reigned as the manufacturing capital of the world, and General Motors ranked as the most successful company in the history of business.

William Knoedelseder tells the story in ways both large and small, weaving the history of the automaker with the histories of Detroit and of the Earl family, and examining the effects of the automobile on America's economy, culture, and national psyche. As he did in Bitter Brew, Knoedelseder uncovers personal tragedies, corporate battles, and moments of sheer genius, providing rich portraits of this difficult and surprisingly canny genius and of the company-and country-he helped to shape.

About the Author

William Knoedelseder was a longtime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, and he has been a television news executive for Knight Ridder, Fox, and the USA Network. His books include Stiffed: A True Story of MCA, the Music Business, and the Mafia, and I'm Dying Up Here: Heartbreak and High Times in Stand-Up Comedy's Golden Era. He lives in Woodland Hills, California.

Industry Reviews

"Fins pulls readers into the futuristic fantasies, intramural fights and forward thinking of the legendary GM executive who revolutionized America's love affair with the automobile." -- David Cay Johnston
Fins is a fascinating story, well told. Can't beat that. -- Inc.
"Fins is a lively study, as big and broad as one of GM's Buick Roadmasters but as sleek and speedy as one of its Chevrolet Corvettes. It's essential reading for anyone interested in America's auto obsession." -- Los Angeles Times
"A rollicking tale about the years when Detroit design dazzled the globe and defined an entire era." -- Detroit News
"A terrific biography...Fins' should prove a valuable history to have on hand as we enter the age of the autonomous vehicle." -- Wall Street Journal
Fins is far more than a biography of Harley Earl - it's a fascinating, colorful romp through the glory years of the American automotive industry -- The Newswheel

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.