What I learned from reading Lighting Out for the Territory: How Samuel Clemens Headed West and Became Mark Twain by Roy Morris Jr.---One of the best podcasts I've heard this year: Listen to Invest Like The Best #336 Jeremy Giffon Special Situations in Private Markets ---Join my free email newsletter to get my top 10 highlights from every book---(7:20) A great way to think about power law people: Their absence leaves of void that no one else can fill.(8:00) His death would not have lengthened the life of the Confederacy or the Union, by a single day. It would, however, have reduced the literary inheritance of the United States by an incalculable amount.(11:20) Opportunity is a strange beast. It frequently appears after a loss.(13:00) In another life Mark Twain would be a cocaine dealer.(17:30) I knew more about retreating than the man that invented retreating.(21:15) The ad itself became legendary: “Wanted: Young, skinny, wiry fellows not over eighteen. Must be expert riders, willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred.” Hundreds of adventure-seeking young men quickly responded.(24:30) Blood and Thunder: The Epic Story of Kit Carson and the Conquest of the American West by Hampton Sides(27:45) The purest veins were usually the deepest.(28:00) The trouble with this business is that everybody expects to find oil on the surface. If it was up near the top, it wouldn't be any trick to it. You've got to drill deep for oil. — The Big Rich (Founders #149)(32:30) Get the facts first, then you can distort them as much as you like.(33:30) People are attracted to confidence and repelled from nuance.(37:00) The whole point of the performance was not so much what was being said, as how it was being said.(47:30) Ambassador Burlingame gave the author a well-meaning piece of advice. “You have great ability; I believe you have genius,” Burlingame said. “What you need now is refinement of association. Seek companionship among men of superior intellect and character. Refine yourself and your work. Never affiliate with inferiors; always climb.”It was an admonishment Twain would take to heart and follow, virtually to the letter, for the next forty-four years.(53:00) When you have something that you know is true, even over the long term, you can afford to put a lot of energy into it. — Jeff Bezos(57:30) Mark Twain produced a remarkable stream of novels, short stories, essays, and travel pieces that today stands as one of the great bodies of work in English literature.----“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.” — GarethBe like Gareth. Buy a book: All the books featured on Founders Podcast

Join Albert Einstein, Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, and Steve Jobs as they explore the intriguing relationship between workspace clutter and productivity. Einstein challenges the notion that a tidy desk equates to a tidy mind, while Twain injects humor about organization. Edison shares insights on how creativity can thrive in chaos, and Jobs advocates for embracing personal styles. They discuss various studies and the psychological factors that influence our workspace habits, ultimately suggesting that a little mess might actually enhance creativity.

Mark Twain, famous author, discusses his early life on the Mississippi River and rise as a renowned writer. Topics include his social issue exposés, financial struggles, and contradictory views on wealth. Also mentioned are his contrarian stance on imperialism and U.S. interventions abroad, as well as his impact on American literature.

Explore chilling encounters with spectral Highlanders, mysterious murders, eerie abandoned ships, and haunted ruins in this collection of short ghost and horror stories. Dive into the realms of paranormal activities, ghostly figures, philosophical debates, and dark secrets unraveling in surreal settings. From isolated forests to haunted lakes, each chapter brings a mix of supernatural intrigue and eerie atmospheres, promising spine-chilling tales that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Explore chilling ghost stories from classic authors like Edgar Allan Poe and H. P. Lovecraft. Follow tales of buried daughters, mysterious funnels, and haunting encounters, delving into eerie experiments, supernatural twists, and malevolent spirits. Journey through mystical lands and haunting isolation, encountering seances, revenge plots, and enchanted voyages that will keep you on the edge of your seat.