The Kelloggs: The Battling Brothers of Battle Creek

Wonderfull narration of the Kellogs. I am still reading the book. Lovely.

"The Kelloggs" is not a quick read, but it's a very enjoyable, entertaining one, especially for those interested in the history of medicine, religion, food, turn-of-the-last-century United States, and/or business.Early on, the book's primary focus is Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, who had a deeply entrenched drive to succeed (and often did), accompanied by a stellar ego and need for awe that made his patients adore him but oftentimes created a chasm between him and his family members."The Kelloggs" gradually shifts from Dr. Kellogg to his younger brother Will Keith Kellogg, who also longed for success and wealth but his aspirations were continuously demeaned by John Harvey, whom Will Keith worked for (and was awfully underpaid while being denied employment perks such as vacation time) for many years.The book then presents John Harvey vs. Will Keith -- literally, in court. Both Kellogg brothers had food companies and claimed Kellogg's and, interestingly enough, Will Keith's signature on packaging as their own trademarks. The case lasted for 10 years, during which time John Harvey, self-claimed as the world's most famous physician, was extremely envious of the millions of dollars his younger brother's company was earning annually while his own food company sputtered along. Knowing this, John Harvey repeatedly made himself a pain in Will Keith's neck, just because he considered himself superior to most others but especially to Will Keith.I've known of these two Kellogg brothers stormy, icy relationship for a long time, but "The Kelloggs" made me fully aware of the brothers' dynamic and sibling rivalry (more so on John Harvey's part -- Will Keith mostly wanted John Harvey to leave him and his company alone).This was one of the best books I've read in 2017, and I highly recommend it to others.

I can’t say that I ever had more than a passing interest in the Kellogg’s. But now I do. This is a truly enjoyable book, being a history of the tragic Kellog brothers, their businesses, and the time in which they lived. This book is a keeper.

A very intriguing story. The sibling rivalry fueled the younger Kellogg' s success. The older brother was in some ways ahead of his time in terms of nutrition. He certainly seemed destined to be the legend.I found it interesting to compare the medicine and marketing of the past to our current digital age. The seeds of what we take for granted today seem almost prehistoric, but still fascinating nonetheless.

John Harvey Kellogg (1852-1943) and his younger brother Will Keith Kellogg (1860-1951), were an amazing pair, with larger-than-life-size virtues and flaws. They had a great deal in common, including an indefatigable work ethic and a tremendous eye for detail—at least for the details that interested them, which were different for each—yet they hated each other’s guts: biographer Markel calls them “the Battling Brothers of Battle Creek” [Michigan, where they lived] for good reason. They rightly excited tremendous admiration, but they drove their families crazy… even to actual suicide in one case.They were more than just interesting characters, however; they also played important parts in shaping twentieth-century America. Most notably, they reinvented the American breakfast through their creation of the ever-popular Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, but that was by no means all; they helped to launch many ideas that have now become standard in their respective fields, medicine and business. John, the medical doctor, had some ideas about healthy living that would be regarded as silly today (he was obsessed with bowel movements) or worse than that (he was a big booster of eugenics), but others, such as the importance of a moderate or even abstemious diet and regular exercise, are now widely accepted. Will, the businessman, joined Henry Ford as a pioneer of mass production and also stood out in his development of advertising techniques.Markel brings both men vividly to life, providing plenty of detail to show their complexity and their importance yet seldom bogging the reader down in minutiae. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who would like to make the acquaintance of two remarkable and important, even if not necessarily likeable, men and learn about their substantial effects on their time, which continue to this day.