A most engaging and informative read. Hard to put down. A magnificent tribute to American Enterprise!

Anyone who doesn't believe in American Exceptionalism or the power of capitalism or still thinks gov't is the answer should take the time to read this book.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. I think I'm reasonably well read regarding the war and it's lead in, and I would rank this book among the best. A few of the (many) take-aways for me: a.)First, it is a very smooth read that not only presents well researched data, but tells a story that is so compelling that I repeatedly found myself reading late into the nite. b.) I found myself pausing throughout the read so as to ponder the sheer magnitude of the production numbers involved in the war effort. I knew they were big, but up to now never fully appreciated how big (eight aircraft carriers ---- A MONTH?! )………… For me, numbers like this just leave me asking "wait - how on earth …." ??? The author does an excellent job breaking down the answers in a really fascinating way. c.) For anyone with an interest in the historical development of manufacturing and logistics, this book is a must read. It ties together so many "a-ha!" moments in manufacturing history at it's greatest turning point, from factory floor layout through supply chain management and labor practices - all in a very readable way. d.) I also learned the histories of quite a few companies that are around today and how they fit into the war's production effort, ranging from the mega-engineering operations to the mom and pop operation out on a farm that was running a machine shop in their living room. e.) Perhaps more than anything, for me this book is the story of the sheer audacity of every-day Americans in a race against a clock. They were in a very real race where slip-ups in production meant the loss of the lives of family members at the front ---- and they knew it. In short - I am humbled by an amazing account of what they had accomplished. To the author, my thanks for an outstanding read.