The Box was arguably the book that introduced container shipping to the general public – or as much of the general public interested in reading books by economists. In this interview with US freight forwarder Flexport, author Marc Levinson reflects on what’s happened in box trades in the decade since its publication, and it makes for a fascinating read. Along the way, Mr Levinson debunks Malcom McClean’s legendary tale of how he invented the container – sitting in his truck outside a port, waiting for days for the old conventional ships to unload – as almost entirely imaginary: “It’s a fantastic origin story, and it’s a tale that people love. The thing is, McLean started to tell it when he was quite advanced in age, and there’s no evidence that it’s true.”
