About Random Reminiscences of Men and Events
What it's about
The richest man of his age looks back. Rockefeller remembers the little account book he kept as a boy, the fifty dollars he earned in his first three months, the thrill of his first bank loan, the words he said to himself every night to stay humble, and why he believed the best giving creates work rather than handing out money.
Who it's for
Young people starting their first job or business, and anyone curious how the world's most famous fortune began, with explainers that don't forget Standard Oil's darker side.
- Level
- CEFR B2
- Length
- 3 parts · about 663 words
- Reading time
- about 6 minutes (~2 min per part)
- Author
- John D. Rockefeller
If you liked this, read
- The Gospel of Wealth · B2
- The Way to Wealth · B2
- My Life and Work · B2
Looking for something easier or harder? See Easy English books by level (A1–B2).
Reading Random Reminiscences of Men and Events in English: quick answers
- What English level is Random Reminiscences of Men and Events on SeoJae Story?
- Random Reminiscences of Men and Events by John D. Rockefeller is retold in simplified English at CEFR B2 (upper-intermediate). It is split into 3 short parts, and every sentence has a Korean translation you can show or hide, so a learner at that level can follow the story without a dictionary.
- Is Random Reminiscences of Men and Events hard to read in English?
- The original is written for native readers, with long sentences and older vocabulary, so most learners find it hard. This retelling keeps the story but uses simpler English at CEFR B2 (upper-intermediate), so if you read English at that level you can follow it, and the Korean translation is there for any line that stops you. If it feels too hard, start with an easier book one level down.
- How long does it take to read Random Reminiscences of Men and Events in simple English?
- About 6 minutes of reading in total — roughly 2 minutes per part across 3 parts. Listening to the audio narration, reviewing the vocabulary and taking each part's comprehension check adds a little more.
- Is this the full, unabridged text of Random Reminiscences of Men and Events?
- No. It is an abridged graded retelling written for English learners that follows the story of the original in 3 parts. Every part also lets you read the matching unabridged chapters from the original, split into short readings.
- Is Random Reminiscences of Men and Events free to read here?
- Yes. All 3 parts are free to read online, with the Korean translation, audio narration, vocabulary flashcards and comprehension questions included.
- Is Random Reminiscences of Men and Events in the public domain?
- Yes. John D. Rockefeller's Random Reminiscences of Men and Events is in the public domain, and the original text is freely available from Project Gutenberg (eBook #17090). SeoJae Story's simplified retelling and Korean translation are original text written for learners.