
"What's more American than Corn Flakes?" —Bing Crosby
From the much admired medical historian (“Markel shows just how compelling the medical history can be”—Andrea Barrett) and author of An Anatomy of Addiction (“Absorbing, vivid”—Sherwin Nuland, The New York Times Book Review, front page)—the story of America’s empire builders: John and Will Kellogg.
John Harvey Kellogg was one of America’s most beloved physicians; a best-selling author, lecturer, and health-magazine publisher; founder of the Battle Creek Sanitarium; and patron saint of the pursuit of wellness. His youngest brother, Will, was the founder of the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company, which revolutionized the mass production of food and
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just because he considered himself superior to most others but especially to Will Keith,
Early on, the book’s primary focus is Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, who had a deeply entrenched drive to succeed (and often did), accompanied by a stellar ego and need for awe that made his patients adore him but oftentimes created a chasm between him and his family members.
“The Kelloggs” gradually shifts from Dr. Kellogg to his younger brother Will Keith Kellogg, who also longed for success and wealth but his aspirations were continuously demeaned by John Harvey, whom Will Keith worked for (and was awfully underpaid while being denied employment perks such as vacation time) for many years.
The book then presents John Harvey vs. Will Keith — literally, in court. Both Kellogg brothers had food companies and claimed Kellogg’s and, interestingly enough, Will Keith’s signature on packaging as their own trademarks. The case lasted for 10 years, during which time John Harvey, self-claimed as the world’s most famous physician, was extremely envious of the millions of dollars his younger brother’s company was earning annually while his own food company sputtered along. Knowing this, John Harvey repeatedly made himself a pain in Will Keith’s neck, just because he considered himself superior to most others but especially to Will Keith.
I’ve known of these two Kellogg brothers stormy, icy relationship for a long time, but “The Kelloggs” made me fully aware of the brothers’ dynamic and sibling rivalry (more so on John Harvey’s part — Will Keith mostly wanted John Harvey to leave him and his company alone).
This was one of the best books I’ve read in 2017, and I highly recommend it to others.
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Who knew?,
I found it interesting to compare the medicine and marketing of the past to our current digital age. The seeds of what we take for granted today seem almost prehistoric, but still fascinating nonetheless.
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Brothers ahead of their time,
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