LOOKING FOR THAT NEXT GREAT BOOK, PODCAST, ARTICLE, OR SHOW?
Then look no further!
The following are some of my personal favorite works. You can find options in all manner of industries, from history, to science, to business, to cooking! I have included category tags so a simple CTRL F search can help narrow down the list. If you decide to give something a go, let me know and we can talk about your impressions!
Books
The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt
By T.J. Stiles
This is one of my favorite books of all time. This book, along with Black Titan, inspired my entire (upcoming) series "History You Probably Didn't Learn, But Really Should Have." The riveting story of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the uneducated child of poor Dutch immigrants who took on the aristocracy and beat them at their own game, forever changing the landscape of American business, was absolutely captivating. Armed with nothing but sound judgment, relentless work ethic, an unmitigated belief in himself, Cornelius Vanderbilt went from a poor deck hand, to boat captain, to vessel owner, to fleet owner, and finally to a railroad industry tycoon. A truly inspiring story and, in my opinion, the first person to achieve the American Dream.
Category: History, Politics, Business, Leadership, Civics, American History, Industrial Revolution, Vanderbilt, Economics
Omar: Man of Words
By Karl Omar Lawrence
"Man of Words" is the third installment from the mind of my good friend, and the greatest poet of all time, Karl Omar Lawrence. Karl's poetry is one of a kind and evokes a more powerful emotional response than anything I ever read in school. It is honest, gritty, raw, deep, hopeful, and ultimately optimistic. I highly recommend any of his books, and expressly recommend his debut album with the same title.
Category: Poetry, Spoken Word, Civics, Contemporary, Art & Culture
Black Titan: A. G. Gaston and the Making of a Black American Millionaire
By Carol Jenkins and Elizabeth Gardner Hines
I love stories of perseverance, overcoming odds, and especially, success in business. Arthur George Gaston was a man who had no right to succeed. He was the son of a single mother, the grand son of freed slaves, and was barely educated. He, a young black man, grew up in the most racist circumstances in history and had no advantages to speak of, save for his intellect and perseverance. He made no excuses. Penny by penny, he saved his money and built assets. He became a man of note in his home town, an advisor to John F. Kennedy, Jr., and a respected business man through out the international world. He was a crucial player in the civil rights movement, despite mainstream history excising records of his involvement due to disagreement with Martin Luther King. He died in the 90's after having amassed a fortune of over $120 million and reshaping the United States forever. The fact that a man with so few advantages achieving so much by shrewd analysis and force of will is wonderfully inspiring.
Category: History, Business, Civil Rights, American History, Black Business
The Prince
By Nicolo Machiavelli
This book is beautiful for its simplicity, brevity, honesty, and continued relevance over the years. Critics often dismiss Machiavelli as pessimistic, callous, and brutal in his assessments of leadership based on observations of human nature. I find him refreshingly truthful. Anyone who has read American Nemesis may remember that I began my book with a favorite quote from The Prince. Few people today will admit the utility of violence and fear in controlling a population, and even fewer are willing to acknowledge its practice right before their eyes. This book remains illustrative of the many techniques governments use to keep their subjects from threatening their position. A must read for any leader or any person who values individual liberty and autonomy.
Category: History, Leadership, Classic, Government, Politics, Warfare, Military History
The River of Doubt
By Candice Millard
This was an excellent read detailing Theodore Roosevelt's last great adventure. Roosevelt was an intrepid thrill seeker, and strove to live an exciting and meaningful life. Aside from swimming naked in the Potomac River, engaging in boxing matches with his cabinet members, and delivering speeches after being shot in the chest Roosevelt's presidency was marked by sweeping environmental reforms and military expansion. After he left office took an opportunity to achieve one of his life long dreams, to explore an uncharted territory. He formed a group of scientists, local guides, and family members, and set off down the treacherous Rio De Duvida in Brazil, one of the Amazon's last remaining unexplored tributaries.
Category: History, Politics, Non Fiction, Adventure, Roosevelt, Leadership, Development
Periodicals
The Financial Times
Even though this is a financial and economics oriented publication, this is my go to for all news. The reason is simple: that readers of this periodical make important business decisions based on its reports. If the reporting is inaccurate, corrupted with political spin, or emotionally evocative but irrelevant, then the subscribers' business will suffer and they will go elsewhere. Thus, I find this to be a fair, objective, and relevant source for news on current events, not to mention interesting articles on politics and international trade.
Category: News, Financial News, Periodicals, Economics, Commerce, Finance, Business