This series does an excellent job of depicting each individual as a nuanced human rather than an icon.

Sensational life experiences are handled in a refreshingly matter-of-fact way.

There is a lot to entice readers in the story of a privileged boy growing up in an intellectual, eccentric family who becomes one of the most iconic revolutionaries of the 20th century. Full chapters are devoted to Guevara’s childhood and his summer trips around South America as a college student, providing context for his eventual transformation into a Communist rebel. . .

Readers will also get a short history of American oil development in this story of one of the 19th century’s best-known “robber barons.” Plenty of sidebars and well-chosen photographs break up the text.

The author focuses on controversies, such as Murdoch’s interview with David Frost, the kidnapping of a business partner’s wife, and his use of sensationalism to sell newspapers. Readers will certainly gain a sense of what it takes to dominate a global business. . .