In 'Pieces of the Action', Vannevar Bush offers a collection of memoir-essays that reflect on his 60-year career in public affairs. He discusses his role as the architect and administrator of an R&D pipeline that coordinated the work of civilian scientists and the military during World War II, leading to significant innovations such as radar, the proximity fuze, and the mass production of penicillin. The book provides hard-won lessons on operating and managing complex organizations, building bridges between disciplines, and driving ambitious programs to fruition. It also includes personal anecdotes and observations, offering a glimpse into Bush's personality and leadership style. Originally published in 1970, this updated edition includes archival images and a foreword by Ben Reinhardt that contextualizes the lessons for contemporary readers.
This book is a personal and institutional story that delves into the transformation of organizations and society. Dee Hock chronicles his journey from a humble upbringing to becoming the first President of VISA International, highlighting the challenges and innovations that led to the creation of VISA. The book explores the concept of 'chaordic' organizations, which combine chaos and order, and discusses their potential to address complex societal and environmental problems. It also reflects on Hock's lifelong search for answers to questions about institutional failure, individual alienation, and societal disarray, offering insights into leadership, organizational health, and the future of human systems in harmony with nature.
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is a classic and influential work that covers various periods of Franklin's life. It is divided into four parts, written at different times, and includes his childhood, apprenticeship to his brother James, his early methodical plans for 'arriving at moral perfection,' his experiments with electricity, and his political career. The autobiography provides an intimate and honest account of Franklin's life, reflecting his determination, work ethic, and practical wisdom. Despite its tortuous publication history, it remains one of the most famous autobiographies ever written.
This biography by Walter Isaacson chronicles the life of Benjamin Franklin from his early days as a runaway apprentice to his later years as one of America's most influential Founding Fathers. The book explores Franklin's contributions to science, politics, and literature, including his work on the Declaration of Independence, his diplomatic efforts in France, and his inventions such as bifocal glasses and the lightning rod. Isaacson also delves into Franklin's personal life, including his relationships and his philosophical underpinnings that shaped American society. The narrative highlights how Franklin helped forge the American national identity and his enduring relevance in the twenty-first century.
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.
Matthew Josephson's 'Edison: A Biography' provides a detailed and nuanced portrayal of Thomas Alva Edison, highlighting his inventions, business ventures, and personal life. The book delves into Edison's role as a transitional figure between the craftsman-tinkerer and the modern scientist, and it explores his contributions to the development of the telegraph, electric lighting, phonograph, and motion picture industries. Josephson's work is based on extensive research, including materials from the Edison archives, offering a rich and authoritative account of Edison's life and legacy.
This book tells the remarkable story of Polaroid, from its origins during World War II to its rise as a technological and cultural icon. Written by Christopher Bonanos, it chronicles the life and work of Edwin Land, the inventor of instant photography, and the company's evolution through its innovative products, including the SX-70 camera. The book also explores Polaroid's interactions with famous artists like Ansel Adams and Andy Warhol, and its eventual decline in the face of digital photography. Bonanos' narrative is engaging and well-illustrated, capturing the essence of Polaroid's influence on photography and popular culture[2][4][5].
Reluctant Genius is a biography that explores the life of Alexander Graham Bell, highlighting his inventions and personal relationships, particularly with his wife Mabel. The book delves into Bell's obsessive nature and his contributions to technology and society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
This book tells the dramatic story of Wilbur and Orville Wright, two bicycle mechanics from Dayton, Ohio, who changed history by inventing the first powered, heavier-than-air aircraft. David McCullough paints a rich picture of the brothers’ intelligence, determination, and strong familial bonds. Despite lacking formal engineering education, they persevered through relentless experimentation and sharp business instincts. The narrative highlights their exceptional courage, intellectual curiosity, and mechanical ingenuity, as well as the broader historical and societal context in which they worked. McCullough also reflects on the darker implications of their invention and its impact on the world.
This book is a captivating biography of Hetty Green, who at the time of her death in 1916 was worth at least $100 million, equivalent to over $2 billion today. Abandoned by her neurotic mother and scorned by her misogynist father, Hetty set out to prove her value through her financial prowess. She ignored the herd mentality, taking advantage of financial panics and crises by buying railroads, real estate, and government bonds when others were selling, and putting her money into cash when others were buying and borrowing. Her independence, outspokenness, and disdain for the upper crust earned her a reputation for harshness, yet those who knew her admired her warmth, wisdom, and wit. The book sets her life against a backdrop of financial crises similar to those of the present day, highlighting her as a rarely-mentioned queen of American finance.
Autobiography of a Restless Mind is a diverse collection of observations and reflections written over twenty-five years. It offers witty, wise, and profound insights reminiscent of Aurelius, Montaigne, Lao-Tse, and Bacon. The book is a classic that explores the human condition with depth and clarity.
Autobiography of a Restless Mind is a diverse collection of observations and reflections written over twenty-five years. It offers witty, wise, and profound insights reminiscent of Aurelius, Montaigne, Lao-Tse, and Bacon. The book is a classic that explores the human condition with depth and clarity.
This riveting biography visits the spectacular life of Edwin Land, perhaps the most important yet least known inventor and technology entrepreneur in American history. Land’s most famous achievement was the creation of a revolutionary film and camera system that could produce a photographic print moments after the picture was taken. The book takes you behind the scenes of his discoveries, triumphs, and defeats, including his involvement over four decades with top-secret U.S. military intelligence efforts during World War II and the Cold War. It also details the epic legal battle between Polaroid and Kodak, one of the most significant patent litigations of the 20th century. The book is a biographical legal thriller that offers many lessons for 21st-century entrepreneurs.
This biography explores the life of Edwin Land, a pioneering scientist and entrepreneur who revolutionized photography with instant film. It delves into his inventions, entrepreneurial spirit, and contributions to science and technology. Land's relentless curiosity and innovative spirit are highlighted throughout the book.
This book is a comprehensive collection of Warren Buffett's annual letters to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, edited by Lawrence A. Cunningham. It provides valuable insights into Buffett's investment philosophy, corporate management, and business strategies. The letters are organized into thematic chapters, making it easier for readers to understand Buffett's views on various topics such as value investing, executive compensation, and market fluctuations. The book is praised for its clarity, wisdom, and practical advice, making it a definitive source for understanding Buffett's approach to business and investing.
More Money Than God provides the first authoritative history of hedge funds. The book tells the inside story of hedge funds, from their rebel beginnings to their current status as powerful financial entities. It covers key figures and institutions, such as A.W. Jones, George Soros, Julian Robertson, and Long-Term Capital Management, and explains how hedge funds have shaped the financial landscape. Mallaby's work is based on extensive interviews and provides a balanced view of the industry's impact on finance and the global economy.
This book provides comprehensive insights into the world of advertising, covering topics such as how to get a job in advertising, how to choose an agency for your product, the secrets behind effective advertising, how to write successful copy, and the role of research in advertising. Written with brutal candor and generosity, Ogilvy shares his extensive knowledge and experience in the industry, making it a valuable resource for both professionals and those interested in advertising.
This biography provides a detailed account of Enzo Ferrari's life, from his early days as a racer to his founding of the Ferrari company. It explores his complex relationships, political dealings, and the impact he had on the automotive world. Drawing on extensive research, the book offers insights into Ferrari's personal life and his role in shaping the Ferrari brand.
In 'Endless Frontier: Vannevar Bush, Engineer of the American Century', G. Pascal Zachary provides a comprehensive biography of Vannevar Bush, a pivotal figure in American science and technology. Bush's work spanned from the development of early computing devices like the memex to his leadership in the creation of the atomic bomb during World War II. The book explores Bush's vision for the intersection of science and government, shaping the modern era of technological innovation.
In this book, Ken Auletta explores the life and career of David Ogilvy, often referred to as the 'King of Madison Avenue.' Ogilvy was a pioneering figure in advertising who founded Ogilvy & Mather and is credited with revolutionizing the industry through his innovative approaches and emphasis on research-based advertising. The book delves into Ogilvy's early life, his rise to prominence, and his significant contributions to the field of advertising, providing a detailed and insightful look at the man and his impact on modern advertising.
This book is a compilation of David Ogilvy's writings and communications over a 50-year period, from 1935 to 1986. It was first collected by his family and colleagues as a gift for his seventy-fifth birthday. The book includes notes, memos, letters, speeches, and interviews that provide a behind-the-scenes look at Ogilvy's management style, thoughts on advertising, and his approach to creativity and salesmanship. It emphasizes the importance of clear communication, hard work, and imaginative thinking in advertising and business. The book also reflects Ogilvy's evolution in his views on advertising, from focusing on immediate profits to building long-term brand images.
First published in 1963, this book revolutionized the world of advertising and became a bible for the 1960s ad generation. It covers topics such as how to manage an advertising agency, acquire and retain clients, build great campaigns, write potent copy, and navigate office politics. The book is filled with Ogilvy's pioneering ideas, inspirational philosophy, and practical advice, making it an essential blueprint for good practice in business.
In 'The Power Law', Sebastian Mallaby provides a riveting and meticulously researched account of the venture capital industry. The book delves into the history of tech incubation in Silicon Valley and worldwide, featuring key figures from firms like Sequoia, Kleiner Perkins, Accel, Benchmark, and Andreessen Horowitz. It covers iconic successes and failures, such as the birth of Apple and the rise and fall of WeWork and Uber. Mallaby also examines the 'power law' that drives the VC business, where a few massive successes compensate for numerous failures. The book highlights the industry's influence on innovation, its biases, and the rising competition from China's venture capital sector[1][3][5].
The Instant Image provides a detailed account of Edwin Land's life and his contributions to photography, including the development of the SX-70 camera and his theories on color vision. The book also examines the growth of Polaroid as a company and its influence on the art and business of photography.
This book offers a detailed account of Edwin Land's life and his role in founding Polaroid, highlighting his innovative approach to science and technology. It provides insights into the development of instant photography and the company's history from its inception to the 1980s.
This book provides a rich and revealing account of Steve Jobs' life, drawing on exclusive access to his family, former inner circle executives, and top people at Apple, Pixar, and Disney. It humanizes Jobs by explaining his behavior and highlighting his growth from a brash founder to a mature and effective leader. The narrative includes stories never told before and offers a fresh perspective on Jobs' career, particularly his time at NeXT and Pixar, and his return to Apple. The authors, who had close relationships with Jobs, detail how he learned to trust his inner circle, became more patient, and developed a more mature management style, ultimately transforming the daily life of billions of people.
This book explores the extraordinary collaboration between General Leslie Groves and J. Robert Oppenheimer, who led a team of scientists and engineers in the Manhattan Project. Despite their vastly different backgrounds and personalities, they successfully developed the atomic bomb, changing the course of history. The narrative delves into the scientific, political, and personal challenges they faced during this pivotal period.
What I learned from reading Endless Frontier: Vannevar Bush, Engineer of the American Century by G. Pascal Zachary.
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Founders Notes gives you the superpower to learn from history's greatest entrepreneurs on demand. You can search all my notes and highlights from every book I've ever read for the podcast. Get access to Founders Notes here.
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[7:31] Acts of importance were the measure of his life and they are the reason that his life deserves study today.
[8:10] Suspicious of big institutions Bush objected to the pernicious effects of an increasingly bureaucratic society and the potential for mass mediocrity.
[8:20] He believed the individual was still of paramount importance.
"The individual to me is everything," he wrote "I would restrict him just as little as possible."
He never lost his faith in the power of one.
[8:57] Pieces of the Action by Vannevar Bush (Founders #270)
[9:32] Dee Hock — founder of VISA episodes:
One from Many: VISA and the Rise of Chaordic Organization by Dee Hock (Founders #260)
Autobiography of a Restless Mind: Reflections on the Human Condition Volume 1and Autobiography of a Restless Mind: Reflections on the Human Condition Volume 2 by Dee Hock. (Founders #261)
[9:55] Edwin Land episodes:
Instant: The Story of Polaroid by Christopher Bonanos. (Founders #264)
Land's Polaroid: A Company and the Man Who Invented It by Peter C. Wensberg (Founders #263)
A Triumph of Genius: Edwin Land, Polaroid, and the Kodak Patent War by Ronald Fierstein (Founders #134)
Land's Polaroid: A Company and the Man Who Invented It by Peter C. Wensberg (Founders #133)
The Instant Image: Edwin Land and the Polaroid Experienceby Mark Olshaker (Founders #132)
Insisting On The Impossible: The Life of Edwin Land and Instant: The Story of Polaroid(Founders #40)
[10:00] Vannevar Bush and Edwin Land both had a profound belief in the individual capacity for greatness.
[12:15] Bush came from an American line of can do engineers and tinkerers, a line beginning with Franklin, and including Eli Whitney, Alexander, Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, and the Wright Brothers
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin. (Founders #62)
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson. (Founders #115)
Franklin & Washington: The Founding Partnership by Edward Larson. (Founders #251)
Reluctant Genius: The Passionate Life and Inventive Mind of Alexander Graham Bellby Charlotte Gray. (Founders #138)
Edison: A Biography by Matthew Josephson. (Founders #268)
The Wright Brothers by David McCullough. (Founders #239)
[13:35] The Essential Writings of Vannevar Bush by Vannevar Bush and G. Pascal Zachary
[16:30] My whole philosophy is very simple. If I have any doubt as to whether I am supposed to do a job or not, I do it, and if someone socks me, I lay off.
[18:00] The Richest Woman in America: Hetty Green in the Gilded Age by Janet Wallach (Founders #103)
[19:00] What Bush learned from reading old whaling logs I’m learning 120 years later reading biographies of founders.
[19:45] Books by Sebastian Mallaby:
The Power Law: Venture Capital and the Making of the New Future and More Money Than God: Hedge Funds and the Making of a New Elite
[21:20] He admired men of action, despised rules, and felt that merit meant everything.
[22:32] If something is going to take two years he wants to figure out how to do it in six months or a year. This kind of the mentality he applied to everything.
[24:45] Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader by Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli (Founders #265)
[25:45] I lose my shit when thinking about how all these ideas connnect.
[30:45] He remained susceptible to bouts of nervous tension throughout his prime years.
[31:50] Advice he gave his sons: Justify the space you occupy.
[32:30] Do not emulate the ostrich: For better or worse we are destined to live in a world devoted to modern science and engineering. If the road we are on is slippery, we cannot avoid a catastrophe by putting on the brakes, closing our eyes or taking our hands off the wheel. What is the sane attitude of a scientist or layman? Absence of wishful thinking. No emulation of the ostrich.
[35:00] He insisted that discipline must be self applied or will be externally imposed.
[33:36] He found romance in adversity and solace in hard work.
[36:00] Vannevar Bush on Leonardo da Vinci and Ben Franklin
[42:33] It is being realized with a thud that the world is going to be ruled by those who know how, in the fullest sense, to apply science.
[44:45] We want an inventive company rather than an orderly company.
[45:38] Tolerate genius. There are very few men of genius. But we need all we can find. Almost without exception they are disagreeable. Don't destroy them. They lay golden eggs. —Confessions of an Advertising Man by David Ogilvy. (Founders #89)
[48:34] David Ogilvy episodes:
The Unpublished David Ogilvy by David Ogilvy. (Founders #189)
The King of Madison Avenue: David Ogilvy and the Making of Modern Advertisingby Kenneth Roman. (Founders #169)
Confessions of an Advertising Man by David Ogilvy. (Founders #89)
Ogilvy on Advertising by David Ogilvy. (Founders #82)
[49:00] Bush’s personal motto: Don’t let the bastards get you down.
[51:50] The General and the Genius: Groves and Oppenheimer—The Unlikely Partnership that Built the Atom Bomb by James Kunetka. (Founders #215)
[55:15] The more resourceful entrepreneurs are the ones that are going to win.
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Founders Notes gives you the superpower to learn from history's greatest entrepreneurs on demand. You can search all my notes and highlights from every book I've ever read for the podcast. Get access to Founders Notes here.
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“I have listened to every episode released and look forward to every episode that comes out. The only criticism I would have is that after each podcast I usually want to buy the book because I am interested so my poor wallet suffers. ” — Gareth
Be like Gareth. Buy a book: All the books featured on Founders Podcast
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Founders Notes gives you the ability to tap into the collective knowledge of history's greatest entrepreneurs on demand. Use it to supplement the decisions you make in your work. Get access to Founders Notes here.
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“I have listened to every episode released and look forward to every episode that comes out. The only criticism I would have is that after each podcast I usually want to buy the book because I am interested so my poor wallet suffers. ” — Gareth
Be like Gareth. Buy a book: All the books featured on Founders Podcast
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