Going Down Tobacco Road: R. J. Reynolds' Tobacco Empire: The Gold Leaf and North Carolina

This book is a rich and informative look at the history of the RJ Reynolds tobacco empire. I am neither a consumer of tobacco, nor affiliated with the tobacco industry, so this was insight into a world with which I was quite unfamiliar. The story is fascinating to see the rise and fall of an empire, and also contemplate the "what ifs" and "could have beens" if different choices had been made. Gene Hoots gives a solid insider view, but with an appropriate distance and perspective to objectively see the good, the bad, and the ugly of the journey. A great read!

This book gives the factual basis for the best seller BARBARIANS AT THE GATE with many more facts and a history of the tobacco industry. The only disconcerting aspect were the references to websites which made it almost into a handbook for the internet sites. Also the chapter speculating on the alternative reality of what different decisions would have resulted in was not necessary in such a factual book. In spite of these factors I found the book extremely interesting.

This is a really great read about the Tobacco Empire. Like it or not Tobacco is a powerful part of culture.

Very interesting book for a newcomer to the area the book is written about. I wanted to understand how WS was influenced by Reynolds and what became of its parts.

This book is amazing, as a recent tobacco stock investor this book came out at the perfect time. I have not found any source of information about the history of the US tobacco that is as thorough aa this. It is also rare to find anything as unbiased as this, regarding the tobacco industry. Thank you for writing this book Gene it is amazing for a tobacco finance nerd like me

Gene Hoots managed to integrate a huge volume of information and business statistics, reaching a century back, and tied it all together into a captivating story book presentation, versus a straight forward research/documentary account of a once upon a time great company, industry and era, now preserved only in the likes of Hollywood films and history books, such as this. And it all happened, once upon a time in America.

Important and engaging history involving RJ Reynolds in Winston-Salem, NC

A little jumpy with the time line but overall very accurate.

Some day soon the tobacco industry as we know it will likely cease to exist. Gene Hoots has crafted a historical time capsule that captures everything from the history of the tobacco trade to an in-depth, insider view of the corporate machinations of the RJ Reynolds empire. There's something in here for everyone with an interest in the topic, with a personal touch that humanizes many of the key characters who played a key role in the story making it a very entertaining read.