The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars

by Joël Glenn Brenner

Book Overview

Forrest Mars and Milton Hershey built business empires out of chocolate. In this long-awaited history of the candy business, over eight years in the making, former Washington Post reporter Jo?l Glenn... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0767904575
• ISBN13: 9780767904575
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Broadway Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.77 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.1" x 0.8" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

A sweet but sad story

Anyone who likes candy will love this book. It is a fascinating look at the development of chocolate in the U.S. and the wars between the two giants in the business. Mr. Hershey comes across as a grandfatherly person who shows great concern for orphans. I had no idea until I read this book that he built a wonderful orphanage near his factory and provided the orphans with all that they needed and helped them achieve success in the world. Mr. Mars, on the other hand, comes across as a mean and uncaring person. Both men achieved great success in the chocolate business, but their lives ended in loneliness, showing that material success does not necessarily bring happiness. Included in the book are short discussions of other candy companies and their products. The author was able to penetrate a lot of the secrecy that surrounded Mr. Hershey, Mr. Mars, and their factories and business practices. Brenner is an ace reporter.

A mouth-watering book!

I seldom comment on books here, because one never knows who the reviewer is and what their relationship may be to the author. But trust me, I have no agenda and no association with the author or publisher, so I can say objectively that this is a utterly fascinating, engaging, and terrific book - an even more special treat because I'd never heard of it, and just picked it up because I thought it might be interesting to learn something about an industry I knew nothing about (exc. for their products), and now I can't put it down! Highly recommended, and you'll enjoy "researching" its conclusions about chocolocate products as you read.

A Duel of the Chocolate Kings

A grand view of the creation of two enterprises that are as different to each other as night and day, yet similar because of the product they have. A story of two tycoons that create a dynasty where the events change the character of each company drastically, but continue the brutal competition up to this day. A compassionate rendering of a fine story by a talented author. You also find out a bit about the makeup of chocolate.

I couldn't put this book down!

Overall, a well-written and insightful portrayl of how two very different approaches can build business empires. However, the author's account of Hershey leans toward the historical, and pales somewhat next to her dramatic ancedotal account of the Mars family. In the same token, the book provides a deeper understanding of how the Mars family thinks; the Hershey mindset is a little lacking (but which may be the point). Nevertheless, this book is great reference material for a case study as well as an exciting read.

Tasty, informative, entertaining book

Reading this book is addictive and sweet as chocolate itself. A truly amazing story of Mr. Hershey and Mr. Mars, as well as their companies' histories, and the inside story of the candy industry. Chocolate lovers and business people alike will be fascinated with this book. It's contagious too. As I was reading it I made comments out like "Really!, I didn't know that!" "Listen to this." My husband heard me and took a taste of the book and had to read it too. We both give it 5 stars. Don't know why it's not on the Best Seller list.