“Nothing has characterized America more than the ‘American dream’—the belief that anyone can rise above his origins, however humble, and through hard work, honesty, and thrift achieve positions of power and influence, even the presidency of the United States.”

 Livesay begins his biography with a discussion of the myth of the American Dream, in order to situate Carnegie’s life inside of its social and historical context. As a poor Scottish immigrant who steadily rose to become one of America’s most successful businessman, Carnegie is depicted as being the epitome of the American Dream. Additionally, Livesay notes that Carnegie’s life also helped to cement the myth of the Dream, both within America and around the globe.

“Because Andrew’s lifetime spanned two worlds, before and after mechanization, his actions continuously manifested an ambivalence rooted in his double exposure to the old world among the cottages, glens, and firths of Scotland, and the new world of smokey factories in America.”

In Livesay’s biography, Carnegie is depicted as spanning not only two nations, but also as spanning two distinct time periods: the old agricultural world of his native Scotland and the new booming industrial world of the American city. Livesay will insist that Carnegie’s talents lie both in his ability to adapt to new circumstances, and in his ability to recognize the positive qualities of the old ways of life.

“It was not so much that Will was not a man of the world, but that his world had passed.” 

In the early chapters, Livesay presents Will as a foil to his son, Andrew Carnegie. Where Andrew Carnegie makes the best of changed circumstances and grabs opportunity whenever able, Will refuses to learn how to survive in his new home of industrial America, and instead resigns himself to living in failure while his wife and son support the family.