'As a distinguished founder-member of the ''Reading School'', Bob Pearce provides a comprehensive account of the evolution of international business theory from the 1950s to the present day. He shows how, unlike abstract economic theories, international business theory has always been rooted in evidence on the behaviour of individual multinational firms. He provides a fascinating narrative of the early days of international business research, which he embeds within a broad thematic view. This book is indispensable reading for all serious scholars of international business studies.' --Mark Casson, University of Reading, UK'This tour de force gives us the very first, timely narrative history of the birth and growth of IB as a new discipline over the past half century. Robert Pearce lucidly interprets the major theoretical traces left by innovative economists whose frameworks built the foundation of the discipline. He weaves out a thought-provocative tapestry that demonstrates how national enterprises transform themselves into multinationals as they adapt to, and reshape, their altering global ecosystem - in a co-evolutionary fashion. The book is highly recommended as an ideal read to learn the conceptual warp and woof of IB.' --Terutomo Ozawa, Colorado State University, US