

The Smead Book List - Spring 2025
Mar 31, 2025
Dive into memorable book takeaways ranging from financial euphoria to the complexities of land speculation. Explore the historical significance of Palm Beach alongside modern investment strategies. Get insights on inflation pressures and the dynamics of the oil industry. Enjoy anecdotes connecting nature's resilience to economic principles, and join a playful discussion about the parallels between politics and football. This engaging conversation highlights current reading lists and anticipates the financial landscape of the coming decade.
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Intro
00:00 • 4min
Echoes of History: Palm Beach to Investment Insights
03:55 • 16min
Exploring Historical Insights and Economic Legacies
20:22 • 2min
Books, Economics, and Nature's Resilience
22:10 • 18min
Navigating Market Risks and Political Uncertainties
40:12 • 2min
Inflation Pressures and Industry Dynamics
41:50 • 3min
Navigating the Energy Landscape
44:30 • 14min
Navigating Market Risks and Financial Euphoria
58:05 • 3min

Bonhoeffer
Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
Eric Metaxas
This biography by Eric Metaxas explores the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor and theologian who actively resisted the Nazi regime. The book delves into Bonhoeffer's decision to leave the safety of America to return to Germany, his involvement in the Valkyrie plot to assassinate Hitler, and his efforts in 'Operation 7' to smuggle Jews into neutral Switzerland. Metaxas uses previously unavailable documents, including personal letters and journal entries, to provide a comprehensive and vivid account of Bonhoeffer's life, emphasizing his commitment to his faith and his radical stance against evil[2][3][4].

A short history of financial euphoria
John Kenneth Galbraith
In this book, John Kenneth Galbraith traces the history of significant speculative episodes in the economy, from the tulip craze of the seventeenth century to the recent plague of junk bonds. He exposes how normally sane people display reckless behavior in pursuit of profit, attributing these behaviors to a 'notoriously short' financial memory that leads to market collapses. Galbraith emphasizes that recognizing these patterns can help guard against future recessions and improve financial stability. The book underscores the cyclical nature of financial euphoria, driven by mass psychology and leverage, and warns against the illusion that wealth is a measure of intelligence.

Bubble in the Sun
The Florida Boom of the 1920s and How It Brought on the Great Depression
Christopher Knowlton
This book explores the Florida land boom of the 1920s, detailing how speculation and overdevelopment led to a financial bubble that ultimately contributed to the Great Depression. Knowlton provides a comprehensive look at the economic and social factors that fueled this boom and its subsequent collapse.

Grace and Grit
Ken Wilber
This book is a poignant blend of love story, medical drama, and spiritual quest. It chronicles the five-year journey of Ken and Treya Wilber as they navigate Treya's cancer diagnosis and treatment, incorporating both traditional and alternative healing methods. The narrative intertwines Ken's philosophical reflections with Treya's personal journal entries, offering insights into spirituality, healing, and the human experience of facing mortality.

James J. Hill
Empire Builder of the Northwest
Michael P. Malone
This biography by Michael P. Malone explores the complex life and personality of James J. Hill, his activities and interests, and the development of the Great Northern Railway. Hill, born in 1838 near Rockwood, Ontario, rose from humble beginnings to become a key figure in the construction of a transcontinental railroad. The book delves into Hill's contributions to transportation, agriculture, mining, lumbering, and maritime trade in the region, as well as his personal and business interactions that shaped the regional economy[1][2][4].

Love does
Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World
Bob Goff
In 'Love Does', Bob Goff shares a series of short stories and anecdotes from his life, highlighting how love can transform ordinary moments into meaningful experiences. The book is grounded in Goff's Christian faith and emphasizes that love is a verb that requires action. Each chapter includes a whimsical story followed by spiritual reflections, illustrating how faith should be lived actively rather than passively. Goff's stories inspire readers to step out of their comfort zones and create meaningful connections with others, showcasing how love can bring people together and transform lives.

Meltdown
A Free-Market Look at Why the Stock Market Collapsed, the Economy Tanked, and Government Bailouts Will Make Things Worse
Thomas E. Woods Jr.
In this book, Thomas E. Woods, Jr. challenges the common narrative that deregulation and free markets led to the 2008 financial crisis. Instead, he argues that government interventions, such as those through Fannie Mae and the Community Redevelopment Act, were the primary causes of the housing bubble and subsequent market collapse. Woods also critiques government bailouts, suggesting they exacerbate the problems rather than solve them. The book provides a detailed explanation of Austrian business cycle theory and its application to the crisis, as well as a historical context comparing the government's response to the Great Depression.

Game changers
What Leaders, Innovators, and Mavericks Do to Win at Life
Dave Asprey
Game Changers by Dave Asprey is a comprehensive guide that distills the wisdom from over 450 interviews with highly successful leaders, innovators, and mavericks. The book focuses on three main objectives: becoming smarter, faster, and happier. It offers 46 science-backed 'laws' that provide practical strategies for optimizing diet, exercise, sleep habits, and mental performance. Asprey combines insights from human biology and psychology with real-world examples to help readers upgrade their 'operating system' to better align with modern goals. The book covers a wide range of topics, including taming fear and anxiety, making better decisions, establishing high-performance habits, and practicing gratitude and mindfulness[1][4][5].
Uncertainty and Enterprise
Uncertainty and Enterprise
Venturing Beyond the Known
Amar Bhidé
The Life of St. Patrick
The Life of St. Patrick
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J.B. Burry
Rot
Rot
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Podrick Scanlon
Chain Reactions
Chain Reactions
Lucy Jane Santos
It The Caesar's Palace Coup
It The Caesar's Palace Coup
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Sajit and Max
How to Be a Stock Market Genius
How to Be a Stock Market Genius
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Joel Greenblatt
Joel Greenblatt's "You Can Be a Stock Market Genius" focuses on identifying undervalued companies through special situations, such as bankruptcies, spin-offs, and restructurings. Greenblatt provides a framework for analyzing these situations and finding opportunities that the market may have overlooked. The book emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying business and its potential for recovery or growth. It's a valuable resource for investors seeking to uncover hidden value in the market. Greenblatt's insights and practical examples make this book accessible to both novice and experienced investors.
A Fortune's Bizarre
A Fortune's Bizarre
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Body in England
In this special quarterly ‘book list’ episode of A Book with Legs, Cole and Bill Smead revisit the most memorable takeaways from the books recently featured on the podcast, share what’s on their current reading list, and preview what’s next. They also offer fresh insights into inflation, tariffs, investment opportunities in oil, and more!