
Business Books & Co.
Join us each month as we discuss a popular business book. Each episode features a summary of the book's contents, key takeaway points, a discussion of its merits, and applications in the real world. Hosted by David Kopec, David Short, and Kevin Hudak.
Latest episodes

Mar 2, 2025 • 1h 20min
[S5E2] Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Daniel Kahneman is an award winning psychologist who made Nobel Prize winning contributions to the field of behavioral economics. In Thinking, Fast and Slow he recounts his research journey and makes digestible to the reader some of the key insights that may help them improve their decision making. Kahneman’s book introduced many now common terms into popular culture and helped illuminate the cognitive biases that we all face both at work and in our personal lives. Instead of tediously covering every facet of this long and sophisticated work, in this episode we will delve into the ideas that we found most interesting and that we think you can apply to your work and financial lives.
Thank you to our friends at Audible for sponsoring this episode. Check out AudibleTrial.com/biz for a 30-day free trial of Audible and credits towards a free audiobook.
Show Notes
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman via Amazon
Daniel Kahneman on Wikipedia
Magnus Carlsen on Joe Rogan
Follow us on X @BusinessBooksCo and join our Amazon book club.
Edited by Giacomo Guatteri
Find out more at http://businessbooksandco.comRead transcript

Jan 29, 2025 • 55min
[S5E1] The Juggling Act with Pat Gelsinger
Silicon legend Pat Gelsinger joins us to discuss his book The Juggling Act: Bringing Balance to Your Faith, Family, and Work. How do you live a balanced life, including prioritizing your faith and family, while achieving ambitious goals in the workplace? Pat, the former CEO of Intel, provides key strategies and insights that can help any working professional master the juggling act. We also discuss with Pat the appropriate place for faith and politics in the workplace.
Show Notes
The Juggling Act by Pat Gelsinger via Amazon
Pat Gelsinger on X
Pat Gelsinger on LinkedIn
Follow us on X @BusinessBooksCo and join our Amazon book club.
Edited by Giacomo Guatteri
Find out more at http://businessbooksandco.comRead transcript

Sep 16, 2024 • 43min
[S4E10] Season 4 Finale
Season 4 of Business Books & Co. was comprised of nine highly regarded books, three author interviews, and one special guest. Join us as we look back at the highs and lows of the past season of the show. And we won't hold back—we'll tell you the books we loved, but also the ones we didn't. Plus we'll tell you what we're planning for season 5!
We want to hear from you! Please fill out the feedback form linked below.
Show Notes
Season 4 Feedback Form via Google Forms
Thinking Fast & Slow by Daniel Kahneman via Amazon (our first book of Season 5)
Wrestling with Life by George Reinitz via Amazon (David K's pick)
The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman via Amazon (David S's pick)
Devolution by Max Brooks via Amazon (Kevin's pick)
Business Books & Co. on YouTube
Follow us on X @BusinessBooksCo and join our Amazon book club.
Edited by Giacomo Guatteri
Find out more at http://businessbooksandco.comRead transcript

Jul 31, 2024 • 51min
[S4E9] Atomic Habits by James Clear
First released in 2018, Atomic Habits by James Clear has quickly become one of the best-selling self-help books of all-time. Clear meticulously studied the psychology and practical side of forming good habits and eliminating bad habits. He then created an easy-to-read how-to manual that can be applied to just about any habit. We discuss the book's key takeaways and how they apply to our careers and personal lives.
Show Notes
Atomic Habits by James Clear via Amazon
Atomic Habits Website
Follow us on X @BusinessBooksCo and join our Amazon book club.
Edited by Giacomo Guatteri
Find out more at http://businessbooksandco.comRead transcript

Jun 4, 2024 • 1h 24min
[S4E8] Reminiscences of a Stock Operator with Brad Mills
There are timeless principles that underlie stock trading. In this episode we discuss Reminiscences of a Stock Operator, considered by many to be a classic work in the space. First published in 1923, Reminiscences of a Stock Operator by Edwin Lefevre is a fictionalized biography based on the career of legendary stock trader Jesse Livermore. Through the first-person recounting of protagonist Lawrence Livingston’s career, Lefevre imparts hard won stock trading lessons. Through many booms and busts Livingston grows and forms a deeper understanding of the principles that underlie the market as well as the forces that propel it. The fictionalized biography has minimal personal anecdotes, concentrating almost wholly on Livingston’s career and the events that shape the US economy during his exploits from the 1890s through to the 1920s.
We were pleased to be joined by investor and entrepreneur Brad Mills on this episode, a huge fan of the book.
Show Notes
Reminiscences of a Stock Operator by Edwin Lefevre via Amazon
Brad Mills's Website
Brad Mills on Instagram
Follow us on X @BusinessBooksCo and join our Amazon book club.
Edited by Giacomo Guatteri
Find out more at http://businessbooksandco.comRead transcript

Apr 24, 2024 • 1h 12min
[S4E7] Becoming Trader Joe with Patty Civalleri
Patty Civalleri, co-author of 'Becoming Trader Joe' with Joe Coulombe, discusses the journey of Trader Joe's success, Joe's strategic differentiation through innovative pricing, packaging, and private labeling. They explore Joe's creative approaches to overcoming regulations, offering unique products, and his lasting impact on the company's culture and values.

Feb 15, 2024 • 48min
[S4E6] Am I Being Too Subtle? by Sam Zell
We discuss the 2017 memoir Am I Being Too Subtle?: Straight Talk From a Business Rebel by Sam Zell. Zell was the billionaire founder of Equity Residential, Equity International, and EQ Office. In addition he had controlling interests in several other large enterprises, perhaps most controversially Tribune Media. Am I Being Too Subtle? describes Zell’s upbringing, career, business philosophy, and success transforming troubled assets into productive capital.
Show Notes
Am I Being Too Subtle? by Sam Zell via Amazon
Follow us on Twitter @BusinessBooksCo and join our Amazon book club.
Edited by Giacomo Guatteri
Find out more at http://businessbooksandco.comRead transcript

Nov 24, 2023 • 1h 24min
[S4E5] Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
Elon Musk, an accomplished and influential leader, is the subject of Walter Isaacson's biography. The podcast dissects the strengths and weaknesses of the book, exploring controversies surrounding Musk. It delves into his life, career, and unconventional server removal adventure. The debate over his role as a founder of Tesla and his political leanings, as well as captivating moments from the book, are also discussed.

Sep 7, 2023 • 59min
[S4E4] The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs with Carmine Gallo
The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience by Carmine Gallo is a self-help book for anyone who regularly makes presentations. Whether you're an executive, analyst, marketer, or teacher this book will help you improve the impression you make on an audience. By utilizing the legendary keynotes of Steve Jobs as a model, the book presents tips, tricks, and technical techniques to make better slides, tell a better story, and captivate any crowd. We are pleased to be joined by the author of The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs, Carmine Gallo.
Show Notes
The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs by Carmine Gallo via Amazon
Carmine Gallo's Website
Carmine Gallo on X
Carmine Gallo on LinkedIn
Follow us on Twitter @BusinessBooksCo and join our Amazon book club.
Edited by Giacomo Guatteri
Find out more at http://businessbooksandco.comRead transcript

Jul 24, 2023 • 1h 12min
[S4E3] How the Internet Happened with Brian McCullough
How the Internet Happened: From Netscape to the iPhone by Brian McCullough is a history of the companies, entrepreneurs, technologists, and financiers who launched the modern online world. Covering the years 1993 to 2008, this sweeping volume helps the reader understand not only who the important players were in fostering online communities, e-commerce, social networks, and connected mobile computing, but also the context from which they emerged. We are pleased to be joined by the author of How the Internet Happened, Brian McCullough.
Show Notes
How the Internet Happened: From Netscape to the iPhone by Brian McCullough via Amazon
Brian McCullough on Twitter
Techmeme Ride Home Podcast
Internet History Podcast
Ride Home Fund
Follow us on Twitter @BusinessBooksCo and join our Amazon book club.
Edited by Giacomo Guatteri
Find out more at http://businessbooksandco.comRead transcript
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