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The Maverick and His Machine: Thomas Watson, Sr. and the Making of IBMThe first complete look at one of America's legendary business leaders This groundbreaking biography by Kevin Maney, acclaimed technology columnist for USA Today, offers fresh insight and new information on one of the twentieth century's greatest business figures. Over the course of forty two years, Thomas J. Watson took a failing business called The Computer Tabulating Recording Company and transformed it into IBM, the world's first and most famous
The first complete look at one of America's legendary business leaders This groundbreaking biography by Kevin Maney, acclaimed technology columnist for USA Today, offers fresh insight and new information on one of the twentieth century's greatest business figures. Over the course of forty-two years, Thomas J. Watson took a failing business called The Computer-Tabulating-Recording Company and transformed it into IBM, the world's first and most famous high-tech company. The Maverick and His Machine is the first modern biography of this business titan. Maney secured exclusive access to hundreds of boxes of Watson's long-forgotten papers, and he has produced the only complete picture of Watson the man and Watson the legendary business leader. These uncovered documents reveal new information about how Watson bet the company in the 1920s on tabulating machines-the forerunners to computers-and how he daringly beat the Great Depression of the 1930s. The documents also lead to new insights concerning the controversy that has followed Watson: his suppos ed coll usion with Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime. Maney paints a vivid portrait of Watson, uncovers his motivations, and offers needed context on his mammoth role in the course of modern business history. Jim Collins, author of the bestsellers Good to Great and Built to Last, writes in the Foreword to Maney's book: "Leaders like Watson are like forces of nature-almost terrifying in their release of energy and unpredictable volatility, but underneath they still adhere to certain patterns and principles. The patterns and principles might be hard to see amidst the melee, but they are there nonetheless. It takes a gifted person of insight to highlight those patterns, and that is exactly what Kevin Maney does in this book." The Maverick and His Machine also includes never-before-published photos of Watson from IBM's archives, showing Watson in greater detail than any book ever has before. Essential reading for every businessperson, tech junkie, and IBM follower, the book is also full of the kind of personal detail and reconstructed events that make it a page-turning story for general readers. The Maverick and the Machine is poised to be one of the most important business biographies in years. Kevin Maney is a nationally syndicated, award-winning technology columnist at USA Today, where he has been since 1985. He is a cover story writer whose story about IBM's bet-the-company move gained him national recognition. He was voted best technology columnist by the business journalism publication TJFR. Marketing Computers magazine has four times named him one of the most influential technology columnists. He is the author of Wiley's MEGAMEDIA SHAKEOUT: The Inside Story of the Leaders and the Losers in the Exploding Communications Industry, which was a Business Week Bestseller.Residence: Clifton, VA .
"Watson was clearly a genius with a thousand helpers, yet he managed to build an institution that could transcend the genius."-from the Foreword by Jim Collins
"Like all great biographers, Kevin Maney gives us an engaging story . . .his fascinating and definitive book about IBM's founder is replete with amazing revelations and character lessons that resonate today."-Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Harvard Business School, bestselling author of Evolve and When Giants Learn to Dance
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 04/17/2003
ISBN: 9780471414636
Pages: 512
Weight: 1.94lbs
Size: 9.06h x 6.36w x 1.58d
Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 03/17/2003 pg. 61
Harvard Business Review 05/01/2003 pg. 24
Business Week 05/12/2003 pg. 18
Library Journal 06/15/2003 pg. 81
Business Week 12/08/2003 pg. 20
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4.9 ★★★★★
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
All-around thumbs up!
Size: 934W-Z, Color: Black
So far, so awesome. Easy to assemble, comfortable, arrived quickly and is exactly what I was looking for. I have a tall work bench in my new studio so I needed a chair that we could allow me to sit higher than a regular office chair and allow me to get off my feet after standing on the concrete floor. Plus its a nice looking chair that I am sure will last a long time. I love the flip-up arms and the lumbar support. This is just right!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Perfect Balance of Comfort, Support, and Style!
Size: 934-Z, Color: Black, Size: 934-Z, Color: Black
I’ve been using this chair for a few weeks now, and I’m genuinely impressed with how much of a difference it’s made in my workspace. The mesh back is one of my favorite features—it offers excellent breathability and prevents that sticky, overheated feeling you sometimes get with solid-back chairs, even after sitting for hours. The seat cushion is firm enough to give proper support but still has enough give to keep me comfortable through long workdays. It feels like the perfect middle ground between soft and supportive.
The adjustable foot ring has been a complete game changer for me. I use a taller desk setup, and having somewhere to rest my feet makes a huge difference in posture and overall comfort. Whether I’m sitting upright for focused work or leaning back to read, it’s always at the right height.
The flip-up armrests are another smart design choice. When I’m typing, I like to have them down for support, but when I’m done, I can flip them up and push the chair neatly under my desk—saving space and keeping things tidy. The casters roll smoothly on both hardwood and rugs, so I can move around easily without scraping the floor or getting stuck. The overall build quality feels solid and sturdy, with no wobbles or creaks.
Assembly was surprisingly quick—everything was clearly labeled, the parts felt durable, and it only took me about 20 minutes from opening the box to sitting in the chair. The sleek, modern look is another big plus—it blends in perfectly with my home office décor without feeling bulky or taking up too much visual space.
If you’re looking for a chair that combines comfort, ergonomic support, durability, and style, I can’t recommend this one enough. It’s equally great for work, studying, or just relaxing at your desk, and it’s definitely been worth every penny.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2025
★★★★★ 3
OK for the price, but overall comfort is avergae
Size: 934-Z, Color: Mustard
Easy to put together, color (mustard) accurate to images, and while I understand this is not a high-end chair, I feel like it still needs to be rated for its quality.
Pros: the seat cushions are fairly comfortable and it rolls well. Adjustable footrest is easy enough and mostly sturdy.
Cons: For a tall office chair, it doesn't go up high enough. I actually had to lower my standing desk to sit at it, which then isn't where I want it when I'm standing now. It's also a bit wobbly. The seat area's attachment to the post isn't as solid as it should be for a tall chair, so while sitting, it does tend to lean/slope forward and wobble side to side. The lumbar support is not adjustable, so I'm not even really sure what it does. And the armrests are not very comfortable to use. Since they are hard plastic, they are just a bit too rigid to rely on for any comfort. They are basically there to hold on to when you're getting out of the chair.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2026
★★★★★ 4
Good Value for a Tall Chair
Size: 934W-Z, Color: White
I have received this chair just today and would like to give my first impressions of it.
Height is super adjustable as well as the foot rest. My desk is very tall (~34 inches vs standard ~29 inches) and does not suit a standard height chair. This chair's height is enough to sit comfortably at mybut also still having adjustment to be even higher.
Lumbar support is a manual adjustment that can be adjusted by sliding the lumbar piece up or down and it seems it can be tiled as well.
No reclining feature or slight backrest tilt adjustment. I'm used to my chairs reclining so it feels a little awkward siting in a flat base and straight backrest. I feel like I'm sitting too forward or leaning forward slightly but is probably something I can get use to.
Easy to put together and feels very sturdy. Plastic parts of chair are made from a really sturdy plastic, like playhouse plastic materials. Wheels roll around carpet easily. Mesh seems to be a strong material, though the mesh feels kind itchy on bare skin.
Overall, I think this is a good chair to get if you're needing a tall chair for a good value and can sacrifice no backrest tilt.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Excellent value for money!
Size: 934W-Z, Color: Black, Size: 934W-Z, Color: Black
I absolutely love this office chair! I needed a chair that could support my standing desk without sacrificing comfort, and this one completely exceeded my expectations. It's incredibly sturdy and durable, well-made, and the height adjustment is super convenient, making it easy to find the perfect fit. Even during long hours of work, the seat is comfortable, and the ergonomic design effectively reduces pressure on my back and legs. I love its clean, modern look—it fits my home office perfectly. Assembly was quick and easy, and for this price, the quality is absolutely fantastic!
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Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2026