A Book with Legs
Smead Capital Management
Welcome to A Book with Legs podcast, hosted by Smead Capital Management. In each episode, the folks at Smead Capital Management explore value investing through an entirely unique lens, bringing in authors to discuss books that have directly or indirectly influenced the decisions the Smead team has made on their investments in stocks and equities. The podcast is for the curious-minded looking for worldly wisdom. Investing is the last great liberal art, and the team at Smead wants to learn as much as they can. Any level of investor, business person, or thinker, whether personally or professionally, will be intrigued and engaged by these discussions.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 12, 2022 • 1h 12min
Peter Doran - Breaking Rockefeller
“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.
Sep 6, 2022 • 24min
The Smead Book List - Fall 2022
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.
Aug 22, 2022 • 1h 16min
Matthew Bernstein - George Hearst: Silver King of the Gilded Age
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.”
Aug 8, 2022 • 1h 15min
Scott McNealy on 'High Noon' authored by Karen Southwick
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.
Jul 25, 2022 • 1h 10min
Mary Childs - The Bond King
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.
Jul 11, 2022 • 1h 13min
Ed Larson - To the Edges of the Earth
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.
Jun 27, 2022 • 1h 5min
William Quinn and John D. Turner – Boom and Bust
"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.
Jun 13, 2022 • 1h 3min
George Gilder – Life After Google
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.
Jun 6, 2022 • 9min
The Smead Book List - Summer 2022
Interested in what is on the Smead Capital Management book list? In this episode, Cole and Bill 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.
May 23, 2022 • 57min
Lauren Templeton – Investing the Templeton Way
In this episode, Cole and Bill are joined by Lauren Templeton co-author of the book, Investing the Templeton Way: The Market-Beating Strategies of Value Investing's Legendary Bargain Hunter. Lauren discusses the life of her great uncle and famed investor Sir John Templeton, how he capitalized on buying at the point of maximum pessimism, and his route to becoming known as one of the greatest stock pickers in history.
