The life and times of Armand Hammer, one of America's great industrialists. Editorial Reviews From Publishers Weekly This absorbing autobiography by one of our century's legendary capitalists more than incidentally carries messages for world peace. It has long been known that Hammer made millions in a deal with Lenin back in 1921. Nearly 90, Hammer, head of Occidental Petroleum, has behind him a business career of impressive variety from art to North Sea oil. Coauthored with Lyndon, a British journalist, here is the Hammer story in full sweep, a saga to boggle business executives and enthrall general readers. Early on, the authors describe Hammer's first journey to famine-stricken Russia where, as a millionaire medical student who'd made it big in pharmaceuticals, he fed starving Ural peasants and won Lenin's friendshipand an asbestos concession. That youthful success led to a continuing role as U.S. capitalism's closest personal link to every successive Soviet leader (except Stalin). An extraordinary tale indeed, right up to Hammer's ongoing efforts to bring Gorbachev and Reagan together in a new MAD (Mutual Assured Defense) treaty. Photos not seen by PW. BOMC featured alternate. First serial to Newsweek. Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.