Apple has been one of the few companies in Big Tech untouched by mass layoffs. One of the reasons is Apple CEO Tim Cook, who has relentlessly focused on building the business. But there has been a creative cost. What happens when a company loses a driving force like Steve Jobs? Our Instaread on After Steve lays […]
The King of Bad Bosses
In the US, big bosses such as CEOs, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists are hailed as the most brilliant minds. Increased shareholder value is celebrated as if it were a major medical breakthrough. But the tactics and strategies they use—downsizing, outsourcing, deal making, and shareholder primacy—are destabilizing the middle class and making the world a more […]
The Guy Who Ruined the World and Wrote a Book About It.
Good morning from Instaread, your book summary concierge. Today’s title is a wild ride through some of the darkest secrets of the US government. As a former economic hit man, John Perkins has been in involved in some of modern history’s most shocking events. He used to cheat countries out of enormous sums of money […]
The Weird, Intriguing World of High Finance
We think of the world of finance as dark suits and stuffy attitudes, but it has a few wild characters. One of them is Bill Gross, the so-called Bond King and eccentric founder of an investment management firm called Pimco. Mary Childs, the host of NPR’s Planet Money podcast, went deep into the self-obsessed, male-dominated bond market […]
Behind The Scenes With Mike Pence
Mike Pence’s nature is cool, calm, and collected, which is why he made such a good foil to Donald Trump as vice president. His even-keeled nature came to the fore on January 6, 2021, when Trump pressured him to help overturn the election results. Pence says his unshakeable faith in God and the Constitution gave […]
The Ultimate Insider’s View
Jared Kushner served for a whirlwind four years in the White House. He had never intended to become involved in politics. But as the son-in-law of Donald Trump, Kushner found himself pulled into the vortex. In his role as senior advisor to the president, Kushner had front row seats to the presidency. He drafted speeches […]
The Two Faces of Genghis Khan
Violence. Rape. Pillaging. The Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan is often thought of as one of history’s worst villains. But Genghis Khan also had an outsized influence on polite society, building a great empire that thrived on culture, trade, technology, and tolerance. In fact, many of our modern traditions and laws were influenced by his rule. Genghis […]
How to Handle Intense Pressure
Pressure is everywhere, and we often have little control over the circumstances that cause it. What we can control is how we react. Have you ever shut down, panicked, or started behaving aggressively under pressure? That’s textbook behavior, but there is a better way. When we’re under stress, it’s easy for our minds to switch from a state […]
Why You Can’t Just Coast on Talent
Education, skills, and talent often aren’t enough to make you successful. Above all, you need to commit. Your interests should border on obsessions, where you apply hard work and discipline to achieve your dreams. Cameron Hanes, an accomplished bowhunter and ultramarathoner, had never truly had a goal until he found bowhunting. But once he found […]
Would You Live Out of a Van?
Have you ever considered giving everything up and leaving your normal life behind? That’s what Brianna Madia did after she decided to roam the American desert in an old orange van. She and her husband Neil got rid of almost all their belongings and began to live out of the vehicle and travel around the […]
