ANDREW CARNEGIE BY DAVID NASAW

I just finished walking around the Tomb Stone of Andrew Carnegie. I am very pleased to say that I know him very much as I know some people here. 

This is the longest book from 2018. It's 961 pages. All about one man. 

I think Carnegie is another rare specimen. He's another man that exemplifies the complexity of greatness. He is the Architect of Homestead 1892, while Henry Clay Frick was the Contractor. A very sad episode in the annals of industrial America.

There is something about reading biographies, it helps you understand the world better from how a single person lived in it. I'm lazy about traveling, that's because I am always traveling in my mind. Right now, I'm at Skibo, sitting with Louise Carnegie and Margaret Carnegie (Baba) is swimming in the pool. I will join her soon, for the time being, I've got some questions for Louise. I hope to meet Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, after here. 

Oh no, sorry, I attended Margaret's wedding just some few moments ago and I was at Carnegie's funeral.

Image Credit: Apic

Carnegie spent most of his life making all the money that he could, and he spent the remaining years distributing ALL of it. He was not a Christian, neither was a Muslim nor an avowed atheist, he was simply human but he was conscious of his obligations to the world he was born into. Carnegie believed he should not leave any inheritance for his direct family, their labor will be enough to provide for them. David Nasaw writes that "Carnegie had struggled mightily to give away his fortune during his life and come very close". He gave so much so that at one time, he was broke and had to borrow from C.S and Co to measure up his giving. Although a very cunning man, Carnegie certainly did his best to contribute to this world, his ambitions were always beyond him living for himself. He wanted a life of "living beyond me". He once exclaimed that "My business is to do as much good in the world as I can". In fact, David Nasaw showed that the only reason Carnegie stayed in business at some point was so that he could have more to give. He also squeezed profits so that he could have more to build libraries, fund scholarships, build institutes and reward individuals. Indeed, Carnegie gave. 

During the last 18 years of his life, Carnegie gave away about $350 Million (in ten of billions today) to charity, leaving his family with only enough to make them comfortable and not as rich as he was. He once said, "The man who dies rich dies disgraced". Carnegie knew what money meant to be, simply a tool. Not a mission. 

He built over 2,000 libraries during his lifetime, some of which are still in use and many of his scholarship schemes are very much ongoing. 

Carnegie had a knack for courting people and making them friends. He made friends with the most powerful people, he had this knack since the age of 23. It was a big gift which aided him in becoming the rich man that he became. Many of friends were on salary, yes he paid them for being friends with the Richest Man in the world. He constantly spoiled them with foreign wines, dinners, and vacations. He was a rich man, as well as a good rich friend. 

It is important to note that Carnegie retired from the business just so he could have the time to share his wealth. Nasaw shows that he was busier during his retirement than during his working days.

Since retirement and just after he began living life fully as a Philanthropist, Carnegie realized the danger the modern as it was was plunging into. He became an Apostle of Peace, sadly, the world did not listen and his prophecy of war came to past in the World War of 1914. He could not recover from the experience, it was too painful for a man at 80 who spent the past few years agitating for peace treaty from the World most powerful leaders. 

He loved to travel and explore, he was just the kind of guy that would have enjoyed the benefits of the 21st Century but good enough he was born just for his time. Carnegie thought that if there was no future life, at least we made the best of this one. History attests that he made the best of this one. 

There was one particular fund that Carnegie initiated which is worthy of mention, the Carnegie Hero Fund. It is a special award given to those who served others selflessly. It was initiated because Carnegie had read that some men had been locked down in mine due to a natural disaster, two more had because they attempted to save them. From thence on, every year a certain amount was given to these kind heroes or their heirs with placards that have the words

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." 

I've been thinking about that verse and what it means for me and the rest of my life. 

Jesus laid down his life for us, not because He will be given a Carnegie award or a Nobel Award. 

Let us not digress quickly, what about me? What about you? 

Do I love you that much? Can I die for you? Will I die for you? 

And finally, I'm I living for you? (If I can die for a person, it makes sense to say that I am living for them)

Hasn't my life all being about what will make me happy? Or what will make me safer, healthier or more successful?... Can you honestly say that's not what your life has been about? 

This is the year of OTHERS. THINK LESS OF YOU, THINK OF OTHERS.