michael steven maas

Publishing giant, Olympic contender, civic leader, philanthropist and sailor – Norman Cahners was all these  and more. Cahners built his publishing empire on a pallet – one he designed for the Navy and that was credited for helping to revolutionize shipping of supplies during World War II. After the war, he transformed an instructional newsletter that he had sent out to Navy suppliers into the magazine Modern Materials Handling. By the time of his death in 1986, Cahners Publishing produced 52 publications – covering everything from restaurants to Hollywood – and was the biggest trade show operator in the world. This biography follows his personal and professional life from his Bangor, Maine, childhood, through his reign in Boston as a powerful businessman, philanthropist and civic leader. Partial proceeds from sale of this book will go to Boston's Museum of Science, where Cahners was a long-time board member.