Chosen by BusinessWeek as One of the Top Ten Business Books of the Year

With apologies to Hegel, Marx, and Lenin, the basic unit of modern society is neither the state, nor the commune, nor the party; it is the company. From this bold premise, John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge chart the rise of one of history's great catalysts for good and evil.

In a "fast-paced and well-written" work (Forbes), the authors reveal how innovations such as limitations on liability have permitted companies to rival religions and even states in importance, governing the flow of wealth and controlling human affairs-all while being largely exempt from the rules that govern our lives.

The Company is that rare, remarkable book that fills a major gap we scarcely knew existed. With it, we are better able to make sense of the past four centuries, as well as the events of today.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Modern Library
Published: 01/11/2005
ISBN: 9780812972870
Pages: 272
Weight: 0.47lbs
Size: 8.06h x 5.22w x 0.61d

Review Citations: Business Connections 06/01/2005 pg. 26