Although its brown vans are on every block and its delivery service reaches more than 200 countries, UPS is among the world's most underestimated and misunderstood companies.<p>For the first time, a UPS “lifer” tells the behind-the-scenes story of how a small messenger service became a business giant. <i>Big Brown</i> reveals the remarkable 100-year history of UPS and the life of its founder Jim Casey—one of the greatest <i>unknown</i> capitalists of the twentieth century. Casey pursued a Spartan business philosophy that emphasized military discipline, drab uniforms, and reliability over flash—a model that is still reflected in UPS culture today.<p><i>Big Brown</i> examines all the seeming paradoxes about UPS: from its traditional management style and strict policies coupled with high employee loyalty and strong labor relations; from its historical “anti-marketing” bias (why brown?) to its sterling brand loyalty and reputation for quality.