Good book about America's economic development

[Jamie (K)]

Right now I'm in the middle of a good book on how the US became the economic power it is today. It's An Empire of Wealth by John Steele Gordon.

I don't know if the author knew this was what he was doing, but the majority of the book is about people identifying technological or economic problems and solving them, with the result being that people became more prosperous -- big people and little people. Torsten, this is one reason why I think this book would interest you in particular.