Colt family values -- The education of Samuel Colt -- Samuel Colt : from industry to American empire -- The Slaters of England and New England -- John Fox and Horatio Nelson Slater : paternalism, philanthropy, and the disciplinary society -- Amos and Abbott Lawrence : philanthropy and politics...

Introduction : analyzing work as an experience -- Work in premodern societies -- Work and the American tradition -- The impact of industrialization -- Modern work the American way -- Rearranging modern work : the young, the old, and the female -- Global trends in the past half-century : the...

Preindustrial businesses: the time of the merchant -- The many paths to industrialization -- British and German businesses during industrialization -- Big and small businesses in industrializing America -- Japanese and Chinese businesses during industrialization -- American, British, and German...