The Great Engineer (Chapter 1) To have been a child who was fatherless by age of 6, and then motherless by age of 8, specially is such important growth time when having those parents figure is so crucial. He was left in an unfortunate situation; having to struggle at such early age, and his strict mother who was barely there for him as the author references to it, it was remorseless. To read things like; there was not enough to even pay for postage which roughly around that time was $.05 to $.08 cents, puts in perspective what a vast difference we experience in our society. Now we have high commodities and the actual ability to scratch up $.05 to $.08 cents from any car floor board. When I think of having to be an orphan at such an early age, I can only imagine the loneliness, scariness, and emptiness he could have felt within his own soul. He was shy, sensitive, introverted, and somewhat suspicious, characteristics that developed, at least in part, in reaction to the loss of his parents at such a young age. Setting all that aside he worked for everything he possessed, even if he was not that straight A student that we all strive to be. After attending the academy in Oregon, and barely passing his grades, he was determined to attend the newly established Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. Hoover studied hard and barely passed the university's entrance exam but he indeed made it happen for himself. He managed to get published even while having major literary shortcomings. He accomplished a lot during his early years setting him up to become what he did. What do you think about his success in discovering a field to pursue as a college student at Stanford? What do you think about his career as a geologist?
The Great Humanitarian (Chapter 2) World War I brought Hoover to prominence in American politics and thrust him into the international spotlight. In addition to running the U.S. Food Administration, which allocated America's food resources during the conflict, Hoover organized and administered several private relief efforts before, during, and after the war. This was a for sure key move to get close to advising Wilson and in turn, made Hoover part of the American delegation to the Versailles peace conference that concluded the war. Hoover was a humanitarian and leader with the ability to solve problems. As far as Hoover being someone I would like to work for, I believe that every human being has the ability to teach something to everyone, and although his style perhaps would not have been of my preference, I believe he would have been a great boss to learn important strategies and lessons from. He concluded that individualism was the superior principle around which to organize society. He rejected the laissez-faire capitalism of the Right and the socialism and communism of the Left because he believed that these ideologies hindered rather than helped the individual. Instead, Hoover sought a "balance of perspective" between Right and Left that theoretically would create and maintain opportunities for Americans to succeed. Through enterprises like those he championed as commerce secretary, Hoover believed the federal government could facilitate the creation of political, social, and economic conditions in which individual Americans could flourish. What do you think about his call for private charity and volunteerism as the solution to problems while at the same time depending on money from the Federal Government?
Food Czar (Chapter 3) After the United States entered the war, President Wilson appointed Hoover head of the Food Administration. He succeeded in