The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America’s Banana King by Rich Cohen is a captivating and fascinating read. It chronicles the story of Samuel Zemurray, a Russian-Jewish immigrant who...

This is a rollicking but brilliantly researched book about one of the most fascinating characters of the twentieth century. I grew up in New Orleans enthralled by tales of Sam Zemurray, the banana peddler who built United Fruit. This book recounts, with delightful verve, his military and diplomatic maneuvers in Central America and his colorful life and business practices.

The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America’s Banana King by Rich Cohen is a captivating and fascinating read. It chronicles the story of Samuel Zemurray, a Russian-Jewish immigrant who...

What a story, and what a storyteller! You'll never see a banana--and, for that matter, America--the same way again.

The Fish That Ate the Whale by Rich Cohen is the fascinating story of a man who used audacity and grit to come out on top in early 20th century New York City. Being born to a poor family in Eastern Eu...