#588
Mentioned in 41 episodes

The fish that ate the whale

The Life and Times of America's Banana King
Book • 2012
This book tells the fascinating story of Samuel Zemurray, who started as a roadside banana peddler and eventually built a sprawling empire involving banana cowboys, mercenary soldiers, Honduran peasants, CIA agents, and American statesmen.

Rich Cohen's narrative explores Zemurray's rise to power, his involvement in overthrowing Central American governments, and his complex role in American history.

The book delves into Zemurray's personal life, his business exploits, and the moral implications of his actions, painting a nuanced portrait of a man driven by an indomitable will to succeed.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 41 episodes

Mentioned by
undefined
David Senra
as an example of an entrepreneur who knew his business from A to Z.
2,859 snips
#878 - David Senra - 15 Harsh Truths From History’s Greatest Founders
Mentioned by
undefined
David Senra
as an example of mentorship and paying it forward in business.
2,708 snips
#373 Breakfast with Brad Jacobs + How To Make A Few Billion Dollars
Mentioned by
undefined
David Senra
for a quote emphasizing the importance of deep business knowledge.
2,282 snips
#337 Napoleon's Maxims and Strategy
Mentioned by
undefined
David Senra
in the context of the United Fruit Company and Juan Trippe's business strategy.
2,151 snips
#350 How To Sell Like Steve Jobs
Mentioned by
undefined
David Senra
, quoting a line about knowing your business from A to Z to solve any problem.
1,477 snips
#366 Mr. Beast Leaked Memo
Mentioned by
undefined
David Senra
as a biography about Sam Zemurray with a story that perfectly captures his personality.
1,214 snips
#397 Jiro Ono: Simplicity Is The Ultimate Advantage
Mentioned by
undefined
David Senra
as a captivating story of Sam Zemurray's obsessive drive in building a banana empire.
1,056 snips
The best interview I've ever done about Founders
Mentioned by
undefined
David Senra
to draw parallels between Sam Zemurray's business approach and James J. Hill's.
1,005 snips
#371 James J. Hill: The Empire Builder
Mentioned by
undefined
David Senra
to draw parallels between Sam Zemurray's and Leon Hess's business strategies.
976 snips
#378 The Last Oil Baron: Leon Hess
Mentioned by
undefined
David Senra
while discussing similar business decisions made by Sam Zemurray.
883 snips
#352 J. Paul Getty: The Richest Private Citizen in America
Mentioned by
undefined
David Senra
to illustrate the concept of 'calculation based on arrogance'.
746 snips
#265 Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader
Mentioned by
undefined
David Senra
as a book about Sam Zemur, discovered through the podcast.
666 snips
#358 I had dinner with John Mackey, Founder of Whole Foods
Mentioned by
undefined
David Senra
to illustrate the importance of recognizing and collaborating with individuals who share a similar drive for excellence.
470 snips
#273 Kobe Bryant (Mamba Mentality)
Mentioned by
undefined
Ryan Holiday
as an example of a biographer whose style he might emulate.
450 snips
How to Write a Book Like Ryan Holiday
Mentioned by
undefined
David Senra
in comparison to Edison's work ethic.
418 snips
#267 Thomas Edison
Mentioned by
undefined
David Senra
as an example of a high-agency founder.
367 snips
David Senra - In Service of Founders - [Invest Like the Best, EP.343]
Mentioned by
undefined
David Senra
as a well-written book about Sam Zemurray's life story.
349 snips
Sam Zemurray (The Fish That Ate the Whale)
Mentioned by the podcast host in relation to business strategies and field work.
278 snips
The Founder of Kinkos — Paul Orfalea
Mentioned by
undefined
Ryan Holiday
as one of his favorite biographies.
275 snips
AI Isn't Stealing Creativity, It's Supercharging It | Rick Rubin (PT. 2)
Mentioned by
undefined
David Senra
to illustrate a point about seizing opportune moments in business.
255 snips
#246 Mark Leonard's Shareholder Letters

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app