# The Sack of Detroit: General Motors and the End of American Enterprise - Hardcover

by **Kenneth Whyte** (Author)

**"Vigorous, provocative... _The Sack of Detroit_ is compelling, bold and stylishly written."  
\--**Barbara Spindel, _The Wall Street Journal_****

  
**A provocative, revelatory history of the epic rise--and unnecessary fall--of the U.S. automotive industry, uncovering the vivid story of innovation, politics, and business that led to a sudden, seismic shift in American priorities that is still felt today, from the acclaimed author of _Hoover_**  

In the 1950s, America enjoyed massive growth and affluence, and no companies contributed more to its success than automakers. They were the biggest and best businesses in the world, their leadership revered, their methods imitated, and their brands synonymous with the nation's aspirations. But by the end of the 1960s, Detroit's profits had evaporated and its famed executives had become symbols of greed, arrogance, and incompetence. And no company suffered this reversal more than General Motors, which found itself the main target of a Senate hearing on auto safety that publicly humiliated its leadership and shattered its reputation.

In _The Sack of Detroit,_ Kenneth Whyte recounts the epic rise and unnecessary fall of America's most important industry. At the center of his absorbing narrative are the titans of the automotive world but also the crusaders of safety, including Ralph Nader and a group of senators including Bobby Kennedy. Their collision left Detroit in a ditch, launched a new era of consumer advocacy and government regulation, and contributed significantly to the decline of American enterprise. This is a vivid story of politics, business, and a sudden, seismic shift in American priorities that is still felt today.

### Author Biography

KENNETH WHYTE is the author of _Hoover: An Extraordinary Life in Extraordinary Times_, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, and _The Uncrowned King: The Sensational Rise of William Randolph Hearst,_ a _Washington Post_ and Toronto _Globe and Mail_ Book of the Year, and a nominee for four major Canadian book awards. He is a publishing and telecommunications executive and chairman of the Donner Canadian Foundation. He was formerly editor in chief of _Maclean's_ magazine, editor of the monthly _Saturday Night_ magazine, and founding editor of the _National Post_. He lives in Toronto.

**Number of Pages:** 432

**Dimensions:** 1.57 x 9.06 x 6.46 IN

**Publication Date:** June 01, 2021

## Details

- **Price:** 30.0 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 30.00 USD | In stock |

## Images

- The Sack of Detroit: General Motors and the End of American Enterprise - Hardcover

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