From humble beginnings in the 1920s to later global pre-eminence, The Firm paints a nuanced picture of one of corporate America’s most influential private organizations. McDonald tells the story of the people who built the firm, the great personalities who led it, and who, in the process, invented a radically new profession. Covering both highs and lows, McDonald chronicles the quest of an organization to stay true to its values while continually reinventing itself to meet the need of the hour. In doing so, he depicts the rise of a characteristically American industry: the buying and selling of advice.