A Noble Function: How U-Haul Moved America

by Luke Krueger

A Noble Function: How U-Haul Moved America is a heart-felt and nostalgic look into one of America's most celebrated and nation-changing companies-U-Haul. The book details the meager beginnings of Sam and Anna Mary Shoen, U-Haul's founders. It recounts the company's unending professional development and improvement, and the growth of America itself. Following the company from its mom and pop store start, A Noble Function showcases how U-Haul became a household name.

"A Noble Function" is a history, a documentary, a manual for business, but most important, it is a compelling story. It is about the people who helped turn an idea into an industry, and the success that came from their desire to do one thing: help people pursue life's journey, wherever it took them.

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 7, 2013

Reviews

[Mark Reeder · Rating 3 out of 5]

The history of U-Haul is an interesting one. The problem with the book is that the author stops with the history around the mid-1970's. After this period is when U-Haul really started having problems, among them the emergence of Ryder as a competitor, their failed entry into offering more than just moving equipment (at one point they even rented videocassettes long before Blockbuster became a household name), and the family problems between the stepmother and stepchildren. Not to mention the family split when two sons took the company over from dad and another brother, which only worsened when that brother's wife was murdered (by an ex-con but under the belief that the takeover brothers were behind the murder).

It all seems like the author only wanted to mention the good times and ignore the bad ones.

[Michael A. Simmons, Sr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting history of an interesting company

An enjoyable read. The author is a UHaul retiree not a writer and it shows. Somewhat hard to follow at times but worth the effort.