Appetite for America: Fred Harvey and the Business of Civilizing the Wild West - One Meal at a Time

Stephen Fried

Jan 2020 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Jonathan Todd Ross

About this audiobook

Appetite for America is the incredible real-life story of Fred Harvey-told in depth for the first time ever. As a young immigrant, Fred Harvey worked his way up from dishwasher to household name: He was Ray Kroc before McDonald's, J. Willard Marriott before Marriott Hotels, Howard Schultz before Starbucks. His eating houses and hotels along the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railroad (including historic lodges still in use at the Grand Canyon) were patronized by princes, presidents, and countless ordinary travelers looking for the best cup of coffee in the country. Harvey's staff of carefully screened single young women-the celebrated Harvey Girls-were the country's first female workforce and became genuine Americana, even inspiring an MGM musical starring Judy Garland. With the verve and passion of Fred Harvey himself, Stephen Fried tells the story of how this visionary built his business from a single lunch counter into a family empire whose marketing and innovations we still encounter in myriad ways. Inspiring, instructive, and hugely entertaining, Appetite for America is historical biography that is as richly rewarding as a slice of fresh apple pie-and every bit as satisfying.

About the author

Stephen Fried is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author, and an adjunct professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. His many works include Thing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia and Appetite for America: Fred Harvey and the Business of Civilizing the Wild West-One Meal at a Time.

Jonathan Todd Ross has narrated over 120 audiobooks across a wide variety of genres. An Audie Award winner, he is also the recipient of numerous YALSA and AudioFile Earphones Awards. Jonathan loves narrating all genres, bringing the author's words to audio-life.