Colonel Sanders and the American Dream

Discovering America

by Josh Ozersky

From Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben to the Jolly Green Giant and Ronald McDonald, corporate icons sell billions of dollars’ worth of products. But only one of them was ever a real person—Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken/KFC. From a 1930s roadside café in Corbin, Kentucky, Harland Sanders launched a fried chicken business that now circles the globe, serving “finger lickin’ good” chicken to more than twelve million people every day. But to get there, he had to give up control of his company and even his own image, becoming a mere symbol to people today who don’t know that Colonel Sanders was a very real human being. This book tells his story—the story of a dirt-poor striver with unlimited ambition who personified the American Dream. Acclaimed cultural historian Josh Ozersky defines the American Dream as being able to transcend your roots and create yourself as you see fit. Harland Sanders did exactly that. Forced at age ten to go to work to help support his widowed mother and sisters, he failed at job after job until he went into business for himself as a gas station/café/motel owner and finally achieved a comfortable, middle-class life. But then the interstate bypassed his business and, at sixty-five, Sanders went broke again. Packing his car with a pressure cooker and his secret blend of eleven herbs and spices, he began peddling the recipe for “Colonel Sanders’ Kentucky Fried Chicken” to small-town diners in exchange for a nickel for each chicken they sold. Ozersky traces the rise of Kentucky Fried Chicken from this unlikely beginning, telling the dramatic story of Sanders’ self-transformation into “The Colonel,” his truculent relationship with KFC management as their often-disregarded goodwill ambassador, and his equally turbulent afterlife as the world’s most recognizable commercial icon.

Genres: History, Biography, Food, Nonfiction

130 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Josh Ozersky was an American cultural historian and recognized authority on food, and is food editor/online for New York Magazine. He has written for The New York Times, the New York Post, Saveur, and many other publications. His books include Meat Me in Manhattan: A Carnivore’s Guide to New York and Archie Bunker’s America: TV in an Era of Changing Times.

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I'll admit it. Novelty was my overall reason. I thought to myself, "Meh, it's short. I can finish this somewhere between that first and fifth scotch I'll be having later." I expected the usual; coming of age story, rise and fall of an American icon. But there's not enough scotch in the world that could have prepared me for the gun play and foul mouth wickedness that was the life of Colonel Sanders. There's not a chance in Hell you believe that last sentence, but it's true. The American Dream as fought and won (and eventually lost) by the good Colonel is more akin to something Charles Portis would think up on a whiskey bender rather than actual fact. I know, it's a hard metaphorical comparison to swallow, but you're just going to have to trust me on this one, okay?

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not knowing anything about KFC our "the colonel," the first part of the book was awesome. A little scattered sometimes, (what appeared to be an attempt to get the reader interested in his opinions of what the American dream is/was) and a little too quick on some of the details, the book came through. Yes, i was not really interested or floored on his thoughts of the colonel or his thoughts on what the American dream is/was but, the book is a quick read, and its worth it for all the info you can stump your friends with....cool....

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining and informative read about the history and cultural impact of Harland Sanders and his famous fried chicken on modern American culture. I learned so much about the history of the man and the struggles within the corporation.

[Reza Amiri Praramadhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colonel Harlan Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, was the embodiment of rags-to-riches, American Dream type of story. Fueled by some kind of Protestant Work Ethics hammered down by his devout christian mother, Sanders moved from various odd jobs, finding himself an extraordinary salesman with rather fiery temper. Indeed, despite his later, genteel, persona of being Kentucky Colonel, he was also known for his legendary cussing. After quitting or being fired from a series of salaried jobs in which he excel at, finally he settled on a job as a gas station owner. In this he innovated, turning a gas station in the middle of nowhere into a motel with restaurant, a somewhat famous tourist destination.

However, one Interstate Highway project is all it needed to destroy his whole venture. With his career seemingly gone and with his wife asking for a divorce, everything was going badly for Sanders, until he decided to focus on his now legendary fried chicken. Beginning with simple handshake agreements, Kentucky Fried Chicken turned into a gigantic network of franchise. With it, came wealth and fame previously unimaginable to Sander's mind, the ones that unfortunately robbed him of his identity.

After series of maneuvering by corporate, Colonel Sanders was effectively sidelined into the powerless "goodwill ambassador", watching helplessly as the business he envisioned transformed by the faceless corporate who cared nothing but to make more profit. Things only got worse when he passed away, with his likeness turned into some cartoonish hip-hop characters, peddling products such as toys or menu which would not be accepted in Sanders' lifetime. While the corporate and its PR Division were busy wrecking Kentucky Fried Chicken Brand, its want for greater control brought it into clash with the franchisees, the backbone of Kentucky Fried Chicken's success, the troops on the field, the operational men and women, against the managerial class of the corporate. Overall, this short book is very informative in helping me uncovering my eyes from the numerous layers of Colonel Sanders as an icon, rather than a genuine human being.

[Laura Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite entertaining. It was not only a biography on the life of Colonel Harlan Sanders, it was a look at Harlan Sanders, the man, the icon, and the business of KFC. Colonel Sanders led an impressive life. He was a natural salesman and tried idea after idea until he his success with his gas station/café during the Depression. He then created Kentucky Fried Chicken by selling franchises and cultivating his franchise owners. Cantankerous and spirited, HE created that icon. After his death, several different corporations tried to either emulate or erase what he created, but it still remains.

[Ben Lund · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice short book, that goes over the roots of the mega company it is today. Some interesting insights to a man that not many people realize was a real person at one time. I liked the parts in the beginning that dealt with the actual man, the later parts about what became of his company were less interesting but help to paint a full picture of the KFC as it is now.

[Dave McGinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started this out of curiosity as I’ll be moving to Kentucky this summer. Got more than I bargained for. Not just the history of Kentucky Fried Chicken but interesting insights into Harland (Colonel) Sanders, rough and tumble rural Kentucky, and taking a niche food business global. Fun to learn the facts about Salt Lake City having the first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise as a result of Pete Harman’s chance meeting with the Colonel. Glad I read it.

[Justyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had my attention pretty much all the way through. I like the description of the safe where the secret recipe is stored and info about different requirements for franchise ownership. Interesting stuff. Good read. Check it out!

[ASC Library]

647.95 Oze

[Ian Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew nothing about Sanders apart from seeing his face on KFC but had quite a few assumptions that I'm sure others shared. This book is at pains to demolish those assumptions and keen to restore the Colonel's reputation while having a say on the state of the company he founded (and their competitors). It's revealing and comprehensive, with some astonishing details of Sanders early life. It does perhaps give him the benefit of the doubt too much and I'd have liked to read a bit more about international operations but as a whole it's a fascinating read.

[Melva]

Quick read and nothing that you don't already know about KFC. The book was well written and I would consider it to be a perfect summer read.

[James Worswick · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wonder if the Colonel would've hated this....