Cox—The Man

Babson, Roger Ward, 1875-1967Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.3

Word count: 150K words
Chapters: 15

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Cox—The Man by Roger Ward BabsonAuthor: Babson, Roger Ward, 1875-1967,Language: English, Class: F476: United States local history: Old Northwest. Northwest Territory, Release Date: Jun 24, 2013

Editor's review

This is an English biography of James M. Cox by Roger Ward Babson, falling within the local history of the American Old Northwest. In American political history, Cox is often associated with the 1920 presidential election and the Ohio political machine; Babson himself was both a statistician and an entrepreneur, and his narrative often reflects an observer's eye for political realities. The value of reading this book lies in understanding, from a contemporary's perspective, the rise and controversies of an early twentieth-century Midwestern American political figure, and it can also serve as supplementary material for studying local political history and electoral history. Note that the book was written long ago, and its views and wording bear the marks of its era; readers should consult it alongside other historical sources. It suits readers interested in American political history and local biography for slow reading in a quiet setting, and can also serve as material for historical writing or English reading practice.

Who it's for

A good fit for

University faculty and students studying the local political and electoral history of the American Midwest
General history readers interested in biographies of early twentieth-century American political figures
Readers seeking to train historical reading skills with original English-language materials
Enthusiasts collecting local historical sources and public-domain books of the Old Northwest

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting systematic analysis of contemporary political science theory
Readers with weak English reading skills who are unwilling to use a dictionary
Readers seeking light entertainment or fiction

Reading tips

Before reading, learn about the 1920 U.S. election and Ohio politics to better situate the figure.
Take notes by chapter on the biographical timeline and events, distinguishing the author's evaluations from factual narrative.
Flag period-biased statements and cross-check them against other historical sources.
Read the introduction and final chapters first to grasp the book's stance, then return to the details in the middle.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Who is this book mainly about?

It is about the American political figure James M. Cox; the author, Roger Ward Babson, recounts his political career and public activities from the perspective of a contemporary. The book covers Ohio politics and the context of early twentieth-century American elections, helping readers understand the era in which the figure lived.

Can I read it without a background in American history?

Yes, but some background preparation is needed. It is advisable to first learn the basics of the American Progressive Era, the 1920 presidential election, and Ohio politics, then read the main text for smoother comprehension. The book involves many personal relationships; taking notes helps keep track of the threads.

Is the book's viewpoint neutral?

As an early biographical work, the book inevitably carries the author's personal stance and the limitations of its time, and its evaluations of the figure may not meet contemporary historiographical standards. It is best read as a historical document rather than as the sole authoritative account, and should be compared with other research materials.

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About the author

Babson, Roger Ward, 1875-1967 Author · American · 1875–1967

Roger Ward Babson (1875–1967) was an American entrepreneur and statistician who founded Babson College and became known for his work in economic forecasting. Two of his works are available here, and they lean toward economic ideas and character portraits: Fundamentals of Prosperity: What They Are and Whence They Come discusses the causes of prosperity and bears a clear mark of statistical and business analysis, while Cox—The Man is a biographical work, showing that his writing was not confined to data and forecasting but also attended to the experience and character of particular individuals. Publicly available information on the details of his life is limited, making it difficult to describe his education or career in any detail. Taken as a whole, his books are plainly written and practical in emphasis, often explaining economic questions from the standpoint of business experience, and they offer some value for understanding twentieth-century American business thought and popular economic writing.