Frank and Lillian Gilbreth: Partners for Life

by Edna Yost, Andrey Abraham Potter (Foreward)

Genres: Biography

372 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1949

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A biography of the GIlbreth partners, who led a romantic/companionate marriage well ahead of their times. This biography was written by a friend of theirs while LIllian Gilbreth (who had a doctorate in psychology) was still alive so it concentrates largely on their professional lives. What was so remarkable about them was that Frank recognized Lillian’s genius and nurtured it and she became a full partner in his work (unlike her daughters, all but one of whom gave up their careers once they married and had children).

I admit that I skimmed the parts that dealt in detail about industrial engineering.

[Herb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful, well-researched dual biography of the original "Cheaper by the Dozen" parents, a 1949 biography that tells, in great and interesting detail, their partnership as engineers in early twentieth century America. Interestingly, this book barely touches on their large family that was so well presented in the "Cheaper by the Dozen" book written by two of their children, but instead focuses on their achievements in the fields of motion study and time management. Earlier sections of this book detail Frank Gilbreth's work in building construction and the revolutionary methods involved in furthering labor and time management. A good read.