Brandt's narrative is based primarily on oral history interviews, an early round of which were done in the early 1950s, some internal Dow documents, and material from published sources. To his credit he does not shy away from embarrassments and controversies. Brandt also gives extensive coverage of the Dow napalm and agent orange fiascoes during the Vietnam war. The shortcomings of the book are in its overall organization and focus. Everybody and everything is treated equally.
Some sections read as press releases strung together.
The overall evolution of the company deserves more treatment. Considerable attention is devoted to the lives of Dow's employees but not much said on the company's culture. This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of Dow. Brandt's account is the most useful starting point for a more structured history of the company. All rights reserved.