Nearly fifty years into IBM's existence, Thomas Watson Jr. undertook the biggest gamble in business history when he "bet the farm" on the creation of the IBM System/360, the world's first fully integrated and compatible mainframe computer. As CEO, Watson drove a revolution no other company—then or now—would dare, laying the foundation for the digital age that has transformed every society, corporation, and government. The story of Watson being "present at the creation" of the digital age is intertwined with near-Shakespearean personal drama. While he put IBM and its employees at risk, Watson also carried out a family-shattering battle over the future of the company with his brother Dick. This titanic struggle between brothers led to Dick's death and almost killed Watson Jr. himself.
Compelling ... About the challenges of corporate and family succession, an essential topic given that IBM itself was the father figure to most of the computing and tech industry.
Although the lead author is Watson’s grandson, the authors do not shy away from unflattering details about their subject’s personality and private life. But neither do they offer much insight into his character, or go beyond psychology and business-management clichés in describing the lessons he learned from his personal struggles ... Perhaps Watson fails to emerge as a full-fledged character because he did not have much of a character.
Briskly told ... As Watson Jr.’s grandson, McElvenny offers an insider’s assessment of familial dynamics, drawn from interviews and private papers. Most notable, the authors go further than most scholars have in portraying the son’s embrace of computers as a repudiation of his father.
