A History of Business: from the Monopolists to the Organization Man examines the rise of industrialists in late eighteenth-century Europe and their struggle against established sea-merchants and financiers. The book highlights the revolutionary impact of steam power and the need for ideological support advocating individual liberty and economic freedom. It explores various European contributions to laissez faire and individualism, with France and Germany providing both practical and theoretical foundations. The narrative covers influential figures like Quesnay, Dupont de Nemours, and Rousseau. In Germany, the lack of commercial vigor fostered a unique cultural environment focused on philosophy and the arts, with figures like Goethe emphasizing individual development. English merchants, depicted as pragmatic and vocal, aligned their business goals with national interests. The text details how leaders like Sir Josiah Child defended monopolies using nationalistic arguments. Overall, the book offers an in-depth look at the interplay between business practices, ideological evolution, and cultural development from the early modern period to the rise of industrial capitalism.