In *Breaking History*, Jared Kushner provides a candid and fast-paced account of his time in the Trump administration. The book takes readers through debates in the Oval Office, tense meetings in Arab palaces, and high-stakes negotiations. Kushner, an outsider among Washington's power brokers, details his role in breaking through historical stalemates and achieving significant results in areas such as trade, criminal justice reform, COVID-19 vaccine production, and Middle East peace. His negotiation of the Abraham Accords, a major diplomatic breakthrough, earned him a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. The memoir offers a nuanced and definitive understanding of the Trump presidency and its impact on U.S. policy and international relations.
This book is a detailed exposé of Bill Gates' life and the early days of Microsoft. The authors follow Gates from his childhood as an unkempt thirteen-year-old computer hacker to his present-day status as the most powerful and feared player in the computer industry. The book provides a balanced analysis of Gates' business triumphs and his driven personality, including his singular accomplishments, brattiness, arrogance, and hostility. It also delves into the intense atmosphere at Microsoft, the company's strategic positioning, and key events such as the partnership with IBM and the development of MS-DOS and Windows[1][3][5].
In *How to Make a Few Billion Dollars*, Brad Jacobs shares his mindset and strategies that have driven his remarkable success in corporate America. With over four decades of experience as a CEO and serial entrepreneur, Jacobs distills his business brilliance into a tactical road map. The book covers topics such as rearranging your mindset to achieve enormous goals, turning a healthy fear of failure to your advantage, achieving high-quality M&A without imploding, building an outrageously talented team, catalyzing electric meetings, and transforming a company into a superorganism that outcompetes others. Jacobs emphasizes the importance of humility, compassion, and accountability while pursuing the American Dream.
This book is an authorized biography that delves into the life of Elon Musk, from his tumultuous childhood in South Africa to his rise as a visionary entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. Ashlee Vance captures Musk's journey through his various ventures, including PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity. The book examines Musk's unique personality, his insatiable drive, and his ability to thrive through hardship. It also explores the broader context of American innovation and the challenges of global competition, positioning Musk as a contemporary amalgam of legendary inventors and industrialists like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Steve Jobs.
In 'Beat the Dealer', Edward O. Thorp shares the revolutionary point system that has been successfully used by professional and amateur card players for generations. The book includes an overview of the basic rules of blackjack, proven winning strategies ranging from simple to advanced, methods to overcome casino countermeasures, ways to spot cheating, and charts and tables to illustrate key concepts. It is considered the bible for players of this game of chance and has been instrumental in changing the rules in Las Vegas casinos. The book also includes perforated cards to help players implement the strategies in the casino.
In 'Am I Being Too Subtle?', Sam Zell shares his story from his roots as the child of Jewish immigrants to his current status as a leading real estate mogul. The book blends autobiography with business insights, highlighting Zell's ability to see opportunities others miss. He discusses his approach to investing, his strategy of targeting troubled assets, and the importance of independent thinking and risk assessment. The book also includes personal anecdotes and lessons learned throughout his career, making it a guide for the next generation of entrepreneurs and investors.
In 'Hetty', Charles Slack provides a nuanced portrait of Hetty Green, known as the 'Witch of Wall Street' and the 'World’s Greatest Miser' according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Green parlayed a comfortable inheritance into a vast fortune, buying and selling real estate and railroads, and amassing cash reserves that rivaled great banks. Despite her frugal and sometimes harsh lifestyle, she lived by her own rules and defied social mores of her time. The book offers a detailed and engaging account of her life and legacy, highlighting her brilliance as a financier and her complex personality.
This book by Edward J. Larson explores the three-decade-long bond between Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, two vastly different men who were instrumental in American independence and the crafting of the United States Constitution. Larson details their contributions during the American Revolution, with Franklin leading diplomatic efforts in Europe and Washington commanding the Continental Army. The book also covers their work in the 1780s to strengthen the union, leading to the framing and ratification of the Constitution. It emphasizes their intimate working friendship and how it amplified their collective efforts for the American project.
In this memoir, Lee Kuan Yew recounts the significant moments in Singapore's history, including his own experiences during the Japanese occupation, his education in England, and his political career. The book covers his early life, the formation of the People's Action Party, the alliance and subsequent break with the communists, and the eventual independence of Singapore on 9 August 1965. It provides a vivid picture of Lee's political skill and tenacity in shaping Singapore's future through his dealings with various political leaders and his governance strategies[1][4][5].
This book details Dyson's journey from his early life to the development of his revolutionary bagless vacuum cleaner. It includes his struggles, legal battles, and eventual success after finding support in Japan. The book also critiques various aspects of the British education system and industry.
The Little People, BIG DREAMS series introduces children to the lives of key figures from throughout history, including creatives, activists, scientists, and politicians. Each story begins with the person as a small child and includes a facts and photos section at the back. The series aims to develop children’s empathy and understanding of the world by highlighting diverse experiences, backgrounds, and journeys. The books are known for their simple and engaging text, accompanied by distinctive illustrations that promote discussion and learning.
This book tells the story of Frank Perdue, who, along with his father, built Perdue Farms into a leading international company. Written by his wife, Mitzi Perdue, it includes interviews with friends and colleagues, revealing both the business and personal life of Frank Perdue. The book offers insights into his marketing strategies, his demanding yet loyal personality, and the ethical will he left for his family. It is a valuable resource for entrepreneurs, MBA students, and anyone interested in business and leadership.
Meet David Senra, the guy who turned his obsession with reading about successful people into a million-dollar podcast. He's read over 300 books about the world's biggest entrepreneurs and shares all the best bits on his show, Founders. In this episode, David breaks down exactly how he finds golden nuggets of wisdom in these books, building deep relationships with founders, and insights from meetings with figures like Charlie Munger.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro and Founders Origin Story
07:10 - The importance of Naming and Branding
14:56 - Energy Transfer in Relationships and Cities
19:51 - How to become World-Class
25:03 - Startup Idea 1: Founders for Kids
26:52 - The Value of Biographies
31:28 - The Power of Long Attention Spans
37:42 - You’re never too late
39:32 - Innovative ways entrepreneurs monetized their business
44:05 - Work - Life Balance Problems with High Achievers
48:38 - Meeting with Charlie Munger
55:22 - Monetization strategy and business model of Founders
1:01:28 - Biography recommendations and reading strategies
1:08:55 - Career Advice from Charlie Munger
1) On Building a World-Class Podcast:
"Find what you're meant to do and let time carry the weight"
David's moat: 375+ books read, connecting historical figures across episodes. To compete, you'd need to read all those books first.
And he keeps going.
2) On Business Models:
Fascinating approach to podcast monetization:
• Only 2 long-term partners (2-year contracts)
• Focus on brand partnerships vs CPM
• Deep relationships with founders first
• Think Nike/Tiger Woods, not traditional podcast ads
3) On Learning from History:
"Biographies are the closest thing to finding a cheat code in real life"
Every great entrepreneur studied other great entrepreneurs:
• Elon read Franklin, Ford, Tesla
• Edison read every bio in Detroit library
• Jobs studied Edwin Land
4) On Work Ethic & Balance:
Key insight: Almost every legendary figure sacrificed balance for greatness
One exception: Ed Thorpe (Episode 222)
• Built first quant hedge fund
• Amazing father/husband
• Stayed in shape
• Lived a thrilling life
5) On Memory & Knowledge:
It's not natural talent - it's "maddening repetition"
David's method:
• Rereads highlights daily
• Re-listens to old episodes
• Updates/re-edits past content
• Constantly connects historical figures
6) STARTUP IDEA
"Founders for Kids" - Comic book-style biographies teaching entrepreneurship to children
Why it works:
• Proven model (worked for @SamParr)
• Huge educational value
• Underserved market
• Scalable content
7) Key Quote Worth Remembering:
"Money comes naturally as a result of service" - Henry Ford
The best entrepreneurs don't chase billions - they chase excellence in service.
8) Final Wisdom:
Want to be world-class? The competition isn't as fierce as you think.
Most people:
• Never try
• Quit quickly
• Lack patience
Notable Quotes:
"I think podcasting is building relationships at scale." - David Senra
"Money comes naturally as a result of service." - Henry Ford (quoted by David Senra)
LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/
BoringAds — ads agency that will build you profitable ad campaigns http://boringads.com/
BoringMarketing — SEO agency and tools to get your organic customers http://boringmarketing.com/
Startup Empire - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.startupempire.co
FIND ME ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg
Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/
FIND DAVID ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://x.com/FoundersPodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@founderspodcast4055
Founders Podcast: https://www.founderspodcast.com/
The Startup Ideas Podcast 
