By the early 20^th century, the United States had blossomed as an emergent industrial powerhouse. The burgeoning population, advent of new technology, and bustling cities fuelled an economy bristling with dynamism and prosperity. Immigration soared as the country transformed from a mostly rural economy to one fuelled by manufacture and urban development. Some of the finest minds found a home in the USA, yet the period also saw intense concentration of monopolistic power - a circumstance which earned the era its moniker: 'The Gilded Age'.

At the outset, Myers states that he wants to deliver a sound and balanced appraisal of the various success stories. He neither wishes to laud them as examples of the pinnacle of human ingenuity, or condemn them as products of ruthless and violent exploitation. Instead he seeks to present the facts of each case, noting that none of the great successes represent a black or white story; each example demonstrates adroit use of resources leading to common prosperity, and immoral misdeeds leading to, in Myers' words, "the despoilment of the many for the benefit of a few."