"Before the invention of steam power, boat captains had an ingenious way of defeating the wickedly strong current of the Mississippi River. A boat going upriver would pull alongside a boat about to head downriver, and after wrapping a rope around a tree or a rock, the boats would tie themselves to each other. The … Continue reading Breaking the Habit
The Hidden-Hand Presidency
The Hidden-Hand Presidency: Eisenhower as Leader by Fred I. Greenstein John Hopkins University Press (1 May 1994) Amazon link What's it about?: The life and times of U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, with a focus on analysing his style of leadership, and the significance of his legacy in modern America. Author Fred Greenstein draws on … Continue reading The Hidden-Hand Presidency
Strategy
Strategy: The Indirect Approach by B. H. Liddell Hart Pentagon Press (1 March 2012) Amazon link What's it about?: British soldier and military historian B. H. Liddell Hart's advocation of military strategy and tactics of disorienting an opponent psychologically and physically. For Hart, victory came from "the line of least resistance and the line of … Continue reading Strategy
The Histories
The Histories by Herodotus Penguin (6 March 2003) Amazon page What's it about?: Greek historian Herodotus' account of how the Greek states struggled to fight the Persian Empire in the fifth century BC. It is a first-hand source, recounting the Greco-Persian Wars, through its various stages. My opinion: I loved History of the Peloponnesian War … Continue reading The Histories
My Life Outside the Ring
My Life Outside the Ring: A Memoir by Hulk Hogan (with Mark Dagostino) St. Martin's Press (26 October 2010) Amazon page What's it about?: The life and times of former professional wrestler and reality television star Terry Bollea, known to the world as Hulk Hogan. It goes beyond his career as a wrestler and looks … Continue reading My Life Outside the Ring
The PayPal Wars
The PayPal Wars: Battles with eBay, the Media, the Mafia, and the Rest of Planet Earth by Eric M. Jackson WND Books (31 May 2012) Amazon page What's it about?: An insider's perspective on the rise of PayPal. The text details Peter Thiel, Max Levchin, and the other founders' struggles and perseverance in launching their … Continue reading The PayPal Wars
The Letters of William James
The Letters of William James: Two Volumes Combined by William James and Henry James Cosimo Classics (31 October 2008) Amazon page What's it about?: The correspondence of American psychologist and philosopher William James, who offered the first psychology course in the United States. He published many works, most notably The Principles of Psychology and The … Continue reading The Letters of William James
Don’t Hurt People and Don’t Take Their Stuff
Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff: A Libertarian Manifesto by Matt Kibbe Harper Collins (24 March 2014) Publisher's page What's it about?: The unofficial official manifesto of the new libertarian movement, by American community organiser Matt Kibbe. It makes the case for small government, freer individuals, voluntary cooperation, and solving problems from the … Continue reading Don’t Hurt People and Don’t Take Their Stuff
The Present Age and the Difference Between a Genius and an Apostle
The Present Age and the Difference Between a Genius and an Apostle by Søren Kierkegaard (translated by Alexander Dru) Harper & Row (1 January 1962) Stanford library page What's it about?: Two essays by the existentialist philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard. "The Present Age" is a scathing piece on the rise of the mass media in the … Continue reading The Present Age and the Difference Between a Genius and an Apostle
Everything I’ve Known
"Not everything that happens happens for a reason, but everything that survives survives for a reason." Nassim Taleb "Everything I've Known" was the fourth and final single from Korn's sixth album, Take a Look in the Mirror. Released in April of 2004, it was the album's least popular single. An animated music video, directed by Gregory Ecklund, received minor airplay on MTV2. "It's … Continue reading Everything I’ve Known