Book Log 2012 #35: Fordlandia by Greg Grandin

Henry Ford, entering his later years and looking for new ways to keep Ford at the pinnacle of automotive success, hit upon a way to keep Ford from being beholden to tire companies and the rubber trade. He authorized the building of a rubber plantation in a remote section of Brazil, and the construction of a town to support the plantation and help bring civilization to the Amazon. It didn't work, as documented in this book.

The history of the Fordlandia settlement is given in great detail, from the idea that sparked it to the often shady way Ford got into Brazil to the myriad ways that the plantation and town were created that guaranteed failure (it's a bad sign when, to start, you don't hire anyone to work the plantation who knows anything about rubber trees). We also get good background into Ford's mindset and how he believed he could apply his systems to bend the natural world to his will. We also get some interesting insight as to the operation of Ford and the long-running personal battle between Ford and his son Edsel.

Enjoyed it quite a bit, and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in Ford (the man or the company) or the Americas in the early 20th century.