A Book with Legs

In this episode, Cole is joined by Sir Howard Davies, author of the book, The Chancellors: Steering the British Economy in Crisis Times. Howard’s book reexamines the last 25 years of British economic history and the role the Treasury has played. Cole and Howard discuss the issues that struck the Treasury, some of the notable names involved, and solutions moving forward.

“There was an overwhelming feeling of melancholy, of loss, that they could never adjust to.”Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author Helen Rappaport joins Cole to discuss her book, After the Romanovs: Russian Exiles in Paris from the Belle Époque Through Revolution and War. Helen’s work details the Russian aristocrats, artists, writers, philosophers, and intellectuals who searched for refuge in Paris after the revolution of 1917 and during the civil war that followed. Cole and Helen discuss how the Russian immigrants assimilated to life in France and the struggles they endured.

“At the end of the day, money is what was most important to John D. Rockefeller.”Peter Doran joins the podcast to discuss his book, Breaking Rockefeller: The Incredible Story of the Ambitious Rivals Who Toppled an Oil Empire. Peter’s work takes a deep dive into the growth of the oil industry, how John D. Rockefeller grabbed control and built a worldwide monopoly, the underdogs who joined forces to defeat him, and how greed played a crucial role. The group also examines the issues prompted by the consolidation of capital and the importance of competition in America.

Interested in what’s on the Smead Capital Management book list? In this episode, Cole, Bill, and Senior Analyst Seamus Sullivan list the books they have recently read, what they’re currently reading, and the books they have on deck. Have a book you would like to recommend for the podcast? Email suggestions to podcast@smeadcap.com.

Matthew Bernstein joins Cole to discuss his book, George Hearst: Silver King of the Gilded Age. Matthew’s book examines Hearst’s unique path to building a mining empire, his career in politics, a quest for wealth, and the many life lessons that can be learned from it all. Cole says, “This is a book that helps investors understand how money can be made when it’s not being printed in Washington D.C. or New York.”

Scott McNealy, the former CEO and co-founder of Sun Microsystems, shares his insights from the early tech landscape and the growth of the internet. Discussing Karen Southwick’s book, he highlights Sun's pioneering work with Unix and workstations, revealing the intense competition with Microsoft. McNealy also reflects on the challenges of leadership during critical moments, evolving tech at Wall Street, and the inception of Java amid legal battles. His post-Sun journey into open-source education showcases his commitment to transforming traditional learning.

To understand the bond market, you have to understand the Bond King. In this episode, Mary Childs joins Cole and Bill to discuss her book, The Bond King: How One Man Made a Market, Built an Empire, and Lost It All. Mary’s book explores the rise of Bill Gross, how he shaped the inner workings of the investment business and bond industry, and the culture at one of the world’s largest money management firms. The book also serves as a vessel to understanding the bond bull market that began in the early 1980s.

In this episode, Cole is joined by Ed Larson author of the book, To the Edges of the Earth: 1909, the Race for the Three Poles, and the Climax of the Age of Exploration. Ed’s book takes a deep dive into the famous explorers who raced to reach some of the world’s most extreme destinations in 1909. It’s a story about the human spirit, an adventure into the unknown, and the journey to get there.

"Fire can be destructive. It can also be useful. The same, we think, is true with bubbles.” In this episode, Cole is joined by William Quinn and John D. Turner, authors of the book Boom and Bust: A Global History of Financial Bubbles. The trio discuss the history of financial bubbles, how they’re created, why bubbles aren’t always destructive, and how to spot a bubble when you’re in the middle of one.

Will Google and its technologies always have the importance they do in our lives? In this episode, Cole Smead tries to answer that question with George Gilder, author of Life After Google: The Fall of Big Data and the Rise of the Blockchain Economy. Cole and George discuss artificial intelligence, the evolution of technology, the future of computer sciences, and the important role knowledge and order play in our lives.