Joe's Commentaryand other reading suggestions - see bottom of this page! |
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New Deal or Raw Deal – Burton Folsom, Jr. 2008
Each of the key programs is reviewed with an analysis of impact on people and the economy. It is hard to find a single initiative that had any sway bringing the economy back on track and in many cases the opposite occurred. It is almost comical the way those programs were conceived as if in a chemistry lab trying to experiment by combining chemicals. The parallels between the actions of our government under Roosevelt and under the current administration are stark. The New Deal was an overwhelming economic failure and today we are pursuing many of the same policies. |
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The Checklist Manifesto – Atul Gawande 2009
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Coming Apart – The State of White America, 1960-2010 – Charles Murray 2012
“Coming Apart” will make you stand up and take notice of the increasing divide in our society between the upper class and the growing lower class. You should get upset about the growing damage done to our traditional societal values by government actions and handouts. You will see clearly and statistically why the standard husband and wife family unit is by far the best way to raise children. The book paints a pretty dismal picture of the direction of our society – one that we all see but seldom talk about. There is hope and it all centers on those of us in roles of influence talking about our values and beliefs loudly and regularly regardless of pressures from anywhere. In other words – preach what you believe in.
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Declaration of Independents - Nick Gillespie & Matt Welch (2011)
Two outspoken libertarians walk us through a raft of political messes of recent decades and through the many technological changes that now give us each a stronger voice in our future. The writing is fast moving and often very funny – hard to put down if you love our country and share my libertarian viewpoints.
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The Great A&P – Marc Levinson (2011) This is a great story about the history of modern retailing. It chronicles the founding of A&P in the 1850s through its ascent to become and maintain its position as the world’s largest retailer for more than four decades. The parallels to the modern day Wal*Mart are simply fascinating. Both focus on low prices/high volume, efficiencies in every aspect of operations, loyalty between company and employees, eliminating the middle man, and avoiding political engagement in the early years. There are also lessons to be learned about ferocious governmental attacks on business and the sad story of a lack of management succession planning.
Retailers: You’ll have had time putting this one down.
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Car Guys vs. Bean Counters - Bob Lutz (2011)
This is another great expose about the automobile industry from a career insider. Lutz covers the history, the successes and the fumbles with lots of criticism of both executives and processes and even defense of some recent events. There is a lot to learn about how corporate bureaucrats can practically paralyze the one time largest corporation in the world. The stories are insightful and Lutz's sense of humor will have you laughing out loud. |
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Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand (2010) The author tracks the life of a forgotten hero through the horror of World War II in the Pacific theatre and beyond. The true story reads like a novel - it is exciting, dramatic, mesmerizing and, in some scenes, horrifying. Hillenbrand has done a fabulous job telling an incredible story. |
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Who - Geoff Smart and Randy Street (2008) I met Geoff recently and that motivated me to read his book that has been languishing on my bookshelf for three years. 'Who' is a great how-to book on selecting the right people for the job. The most important decisions leaders make are people decisions and the process in this book is simple and very effective. Read it and your selection skills will improve. |
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The New Road to Serfdom - Daniel Hannan (2010) This is an easy to read book written by a prominent Conservative British MP warning us not to follow the Obama path to European Union style social democracy. He outlines why the United States has been so successful and makes a very compelling case that if you don't stop the current trend we will wind up as another Europe. Democrats: You won't like this book. |
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The Snowball: Warren Buffett and The Business of Life - Alice Schroeder (2008) Learn how a single astute investor amassed one of the largest fortunes in the world and he did it all by practicing the highest degree of ethics. Read this book and you can't help ratcheting up your overall knowledge of business, but plan on spending serious time on this one - it's over 800 pages. I rate this an accurate portrayal of the man's life. |
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When I Stop Talking You'll Know I am Dead - Jerry Weintraub (2010) A great autobiography of one of the most prolific promoters of our time - concert producer, movie maker, deal maker and world class entrepreneur. Jerry knows and works with all the big names - Presley, Sinatra, Gleason, Connery, and hundreds more. This is a fast moving rollicking story of a man with seemingly unlimited energy. |
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Endurance - Shackelton's Incredible Voyage - Alfred Lansing (1959/2007) This is the story of Ernest Shackelton's 1914 attempt to reach the South Pole. Follow the adventure of twenty seven men who survived eighteen months with limited supplies, watching their boat being crushed and simply learning how to live off the land. This is an exciting true story with a happy ending -- everyone survived. |
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Gauntlet - Barbara Masin (2006)
Follow the true 1953 story of five young Czechs as they go on a month long journey to escape communism. Twenty thousand police and soldiers chase them through East Germany on their quest to reach Berlin and join the American forces who they hope will liberate their homeland. This is an exciting and suspenseful book that is almost impossible to put down. |
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American Colossus - H.W. Brands (2010)
If you like to read history you will love this walk through American history that is usually glossed over in school. Read about Carnegie, Rockefeller, the railroad barrons, both honest and crooked politicians, union strikes, cattle drives, and rural to city migration. There are also heartbreaking stories about racism and the Indians. This is a history book that composed of stories that read like a novel. |
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Fortunes, Fiddles & Fried Chicken - Bill Carey (2000)
I just finished reading this wonderful history of Nashville business for the second time. If you are in business in Nashville this is “must read.” Learn about the great insurance companies, the birth of The Opry, Genesco, HCA, Ingram and a whole lot more. |
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The Year that Changed the World - Michael Meyer (2009) Recent history, the year 1989, comes alive in this story of the emergence of Eastern European freedom and democracy that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Follow the developments in Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland and other countries that culminated in the November fall of the wall. It reads like a novel – I couldn’t put it down. |
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With Wings Like Eagles – Michael Korda (2009)
This is a wonderful account of The Battle of Britain. Learn how the Brits prepared for battle on the ground and in the air, how they first used radar to track German planes and how perseverance paid off. This is story of daring Spitfire pilots beating the supposedly superior Luftwaffe. |
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The Rational Optimist - Matt Ridley (2010) If you want to read an inspirational book about our collective future this is it. The long term view of just about everything on our planet is and has been pointed in a positive direction for centuries. Improvement is everywhere – longer lives, healthier people, less violence, record low poverty and galloping breakthroughs in every aspect of our lives. The future is brighter than ever before in human history no matter what the current news reports! |
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Crash Course – Paul Ingrassia (2010)
Take a century long walk through the American automobile manufacturing business from world leadership to self destruction. This is a fifty year roadmap of increasing and repetitive failure by some of the largest companies in the world. Study carefully and pledge to yourself to do the opposite in your career. |
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Lies the Government Told You - Judge Andrew Napolitano (2010)
If you are a student and a believer of our constitution as it was originally conceived this book will get you fired up. The Judge delivers detailed specific evidence of seventeen big lies our government has told us over the years. As a patriotic libertarian this book has inspired me to speak out more than ever on the issues of constitutionality. |
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Gridlock – Randall O’Toole (2010)
This is a fact filled book about our transportation systems and how they can be made more efficient and responsive. It is about how free market improvements that pay for themselves can increase everyone’s mobility. It is also a big warning about the financial lunacy of building more passenger rail transportation – a good read for every politician. |
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A Heart to Serve – William Frist MD (2009)
There is whole lot more to Senator Bill Frist than most of us realize. He is a world class heart surgeon, citizen senator who returned as promised after two terms and a contributor to society in more ways than you can count. By the time you reach the end of the book you will be inspired to drive yourself to achieve more in life. |
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Blood River: A Journey to Africa’s Broken Heart – Tim Butcher (2008)
Travel the Congo with London Telegraph reporter Tim Butcher as he follows the 1874 -1877 trail of legendary explorer and Telegraph reporter Henry Morgan Stanley of “Doctor Livingstone I presume?” fame. This 44 day adventure is exciting, thrilling, chilling, sad and historical. I could not put it down. |
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Decision in Philadelphia – Christopher Collier & James Lincoln Collier (1986 / 2007)
This is the fabulous story of our Constitutional Convention in the hot summer of 1787 and how a group of very smart men compromised their way to a government that has not only survived more than two centuries but has also become the envy of the world. Every American should read this or a similar book before the next election. |
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China Safari – Serge Michel & Michel Beuret (2008 / 2009)
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Dead Aid – Dambisa Moyo (2009)
This is an account of the staggering waste of economic aid to Africa. Moyo demonstrates how most of the aid does way more harm than good by encouraging and supporting corrupt governments. This will fire you up. Moyo is a native of Zambia, has degrees from Oxford and Harvard, and worked for Goldman Sachs for eight years. |
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Saving Freedom – Jim DeMint (2009)
South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint makes a compelling case that America is on a clear and rapid slide into socialism. “America must end its addiction to programs, subsidies, rescues, and bailouts that lead to debt and dependency.” The Senator outlines a path to reverse the process. This will inspire you to get involved! |
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How Rome Fell – Adrian Goldsworthy (2009)
The centuries long decline of one the greatest empires in history is chronicled over its last several centuries. Constant regional conflicts within the empire coupled with scores of incompetent emperors were the major contributors to the eventual fall of Rome. The barbarians simply took advantage of the Roman weakness. |
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The Devil in the White City – Erik Larson (2003)
This is the behind the scenes story of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair which by itself is a fascinating story. The parallel story taking place in Chicago at the same time is about an evil doctor luring scores of young women to their deaths in bizarre ways. This reads like a novel – you won’t be able to put it down. |
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How the Mighty Fall – by Jim Collins (2009)
This is another insightful book by one the leading business authors of our time. Jim outlines his five stages of business decline which we have either seen or heard about in our business careers. You can easily use the data in this book as part of a toolkit to analyze any business. Very interesting. |
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Dred Scott’s Revenge – Judge Andrew Napolitano (2009)
This is a historical account of race relations in The United States from slavery to the present day. The book is filled with facts, is well written, compelling and unsettling for this white guy to read. |
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River of Doubt – Candice Millard (2005)
Theodore Roosevelt’s 1914 journey in the depths of Brazil is a riveting true adventure story that is well written and hard to put down. In addition you will learn about geography and the environment in the Amazon jungle. |
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Flyboys - James Bradley (2003) – author of Flags of our Fathers
This is the story of American pilots and American air power in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War. The author shows how and why the strategic decision to rely so heavily on air power was such a deciding factor in the war. The individual stories are fascinating but some of the detail descriptions of war and torture are pretty gruesome. |
More Reading Suggestions
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