Business Audiobooks | Biography & Memoir

Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter

Brought to you by Penguin. Rising star New York Times technology reporters, Kate Conger and Ryan Mac, tell for the first time the full and shocking inside story of Elon Musk’s unprecedented hostile takeover of Twitter and the forty-four-billion-dollar deal’s seismic political, social, and financial fallout. The billionaire entrepreneur and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has become inextricable from the social media platform that until 2023 was known as Twitter. Started in the mid-2000s as a playful microblogging platform, Twitter quickly became a vital nexus of global politics, culture, and media—where the retweet button could instantly catapult any idea to hundreds of millions of screens around the world, unleashing raw collective emotion like nothing else before. While its founder had idealistically dreamed of building a 'digital town square,' he detested Wall Street and never focused on building a profitable business. Musk joined the platform in 2010 and, by 2022, had become one of the site’s most influential users, hooking over 80 million followers with his mix of provocative posts, promotion of his companies, and attacks on his enemies. To Musk, Twitter — once known for its almost absolute commitment to free speech — had badly lost its way. He blamed it for the proliferation of what he called the “woke mind virus” and claimed that the survival of democracy and the human race itself depended on the future of the site. In January of 2022, Musk began secretly accumulating Twitter stock. By April, he was its largest shareholder, and soon after, he made an unsolicited offer to purchase the company for the unimaginable sum of $44 billion dollars. Backed into a corner, Twitter’s board accepted his offer—but Musk quickly changed his mind, forcing Twitter to sue him to close the deal in October. The richest man on earth controlled one of the most powerful media platforms in the world—but at what price? Before long Twitter would be gone for good, replaced by something radically new and different, as Musk remade the company in his own image from the ground up. The story of the showdown between Musk and Twitter and his eventual takeover of the company is unlike anything in business or media that has come before. In vivid, cinematic detail, Conger and Mac follow the inner workings of the company as Musk lays siege to it, first from the outside as one of its most vocal users, and then finally from within as a contentious and mercurial leader. Musk has shared some of his version of events, but Conger and Mac have uncovered the full story through exclusive interviews, unreported documents, and internal recordings at Twitter following the billionaire’s takeover. With unparalleled sources from within and around the company, they provide a revelatory, three-dimensional, and definitive account of what really happened when Musk showed up, spoiling for a brawl and intent on revolution, with his merciless, sycophantic cadre of lawyers, investors, and bankers. This is the defining story of our time told with uncommon style and peerless rigor. In a world of viral ideas and emotion, who gets to control the narrative, who gets to be heard, and what does power really cost? © Kate Conger, Ryan Mac 2024 (P) Penguin Audio 2024

Kate Conger, Ryan Mac (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Billionaire, Nerd, Saviour, King: Bill Gates and His Quest to Shape Our World

Anupreeta Das (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Madoff: The Final Word

Fifteen years after Bernie Madoff's arrest, renowned investigative journalist Richard Behar delivers the definitive account of history's largest—and longest-running—financial fraud. Some $65 billion evaporated during Bernie Madoff's epic confidence game. Two people were driven to suicide in the wake of the Ponzi Scheme's exposure. Others went to prison. But there has never been a satisfying accounting for how Bernie got away with so much, for so long. Until now. Richard Behar's relationship with Madoff began in 2011 with a simple email request from the inmate. By the time he died in 2021, he had sent Behar more than 300 emails and dozens of hand-written letters, participated in some fifty (recorded) phone conversations, and sat for three in-person jailhouse interviews—a level of access provided to no other reporter. Behar also established unique relationships with dozens of regulators, prosecutors, investors, Wall Street experts, ex-employees of Madoff's, and FBI agents. The result is the final word on the criminal behind history's most enduring fraud—and on those who believed him, covered for him, or locked him up. Behar reveals not only that the fraud traces back decades earlier than Madoff claimed in his confession, but also the complicity of investors (who unfairly blame the SEC), Wall Street insiders, family members, and some of the largest banks in the US and Europe. Shocking, infuriating, riveting (and at times absurdly funny), Madoff shows us how Bernie ensnared thousands of investors. As Behar's dogged reporting over the last fifteen years makes clear, however, there aren't many innocents left standing by the end of this tale. Just about everyone involved is guilty, at a minimum, of humanity's most consistent weakness: greed.

Richard Behar (Author), Michael David Axtell, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

New Methods for Women, A Manifesto: A Fresh Perspective on Life, Work and Relationships

Brought to you by Penguin. What does real empowerment look like, and how do you achieve it? Whether it's teaching you how to have stronger relationships and find purpose, meaning and success at work, or giving you the tools and tips needed to build community, be creative and achieve personal growth, New Methods for Women is the ultimate guide to living a more purposeful and empowered life. Drawing on her vast experiences as an entrepreneur, business-owner, tech and beauty visionary, Sharmadean Reid MBE reveals the secret formula for lifting up yourself and the women around you, based on her own successes. New Methods for Women will help any beauty junkie, female entrepreneur, working mum or hustler to achieve their goals. Sharmadean distills ancient teachings, the wisdom of her favourite authors, and her own experiences with business, leadership and as a co-parenting mother into 10 of the most valuable life lessons any of us can hope to learn. ©2024 Sharmadean Reid (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Sharmadean Reid (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Hero/Villain: Satoshi: The Man Who Built Bitcoin

The inside story of the man who invented Bitcoin and his battle to protect it. In 2008, when the Bitcoin Whitepaper was published online, the technology world changed forever. Hero / Villain: Satoshi: The Man Who Built Bitcoin tells the story of how an awkward, Australian security specialist first created something revolutionary under the moniker “Satoshi Nakamoto” and how he spent every moment thereafter either in self-imposed hiding or in court trying to protect his invention. Initially intended to be a force for good that would allow people to transact directly and inexpensively online, it wasn’t long before Bitcoin became something else: a store of value with a cast of powerful investors hell-bent on manipulating it for their own gain. For the first time, the real inside story of Bitcoin is laid bare—a story with greed, power, and betrayal at its heart. With firsthand interviews with the man most likely to be Bitcoin’s inventor and those who have fought with him to ensure Bitcoin fulfills its positive and potentially world-changing purpose, Hero / Villain: Satoshi: The Man Who Built Bitcoin serves as an important book in the context of a world where cryptocurrency is in turmoil.

Mark Eglinton (Author), Julian Elfer (Narrator)

Audiobook

red helicopter—a parable for our times: lead change with kindness (plus a little math)

A true story of triumph by award-winning business leader, impact investor, and educator James Rhee that will inspire and empower us to transform our lives and our businesses with the simple and yet powerful combination of kindness and math. In kindergarten, James Rhee received a toy red helicopter in gratitude for a simple act of kindness—the innocent generosity of sharing his lunch. Nearly four decades later, the true meaning and lesson from this memory helped him overcome indescribable hurdles as both a first time CEO and son to a dying father. Combining the radical common sense of a child with the knowledge of an experienced private equity investor and law school graduate, James led one of the most dramatic reinventions in business history. Partnering with Black women across America, James led Ashley Stewart, a twice-bankrupt retailer with no WiFi, from the jaws of liquidation to a transcendent success that inspired a world seeking a different way. And, in the process, he was able to reconcile his own complicated past and see his mom for who she truly was. Combining the clarity and imagination we had as children with some basic business metrics, Rhee composed a system he calls “Kindness and Math.” It’s a simple solution to the dissatisfaction and worry so many of us feel, an intuitive response to the gnawing uncertainty we face daily as we meander through our lives and struggle to understand why we might feel so out of control in our professional and personal lives. red helicopter—a parable for our times exposes the root cause for these feelings and encourages us to embrace a few key principles to reorient our lives, organizations, and the world to reflect the best in us. In this remarkable book, Rhee provides the tools we can use to: Embrace agency by identifying the obstacles quietly holding us back Construct a balance sheet of our true assets and liabilities Create and measure “goodwill,” the ultimate collective good Lead systems transformation with a framework comprised of small, scalable acts Drive financial profitability with little to no investment of money Unlock the value of difference and the unpredictable and more Rhee’s fresh thinking emerged from an emotional journey in which both the professional and personal intersected and became one. The financial uncertainty, family tragedy, and soul-searching he endured, after the whole world left him and Ashley Stewart for dead, led him to create a simple and scalable solution to the struggles that ail us all. This quiet and powerful ode to humanity is sorely needed in today’s troubled world. red helicopter—a parable for our times features 10-20 black and white drawings by Heyon Cho.

James Rhee (Author), James Rhee, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Which Way Is North: A Creative Compass for Makers, Marketers, and Mystics

Where does creativity come from? The answer is unique for each of us-our True North-and this book will help you find yours. As artificial intelligence gains an increasing foothold in our work and our lives, the need to find and maintain our uniquely human creativity is growing more urgent. This guide will ensure that you stay on course as you navigate through the complexity of modern times. It will help you open new pathways to creativity and equip you with tools for your personal and professional journey to becoming a conscious participant in creation. Through a combination of essays, meditations, and memoir, Which Way Is North offers an illuminating journey into the interior of the human heart and mind, revealing how your inner experience informs who you can be and what you express out in the world. In the course of learning more about your creative potential, you'll learn how to: - Reliably calm your nerves in order to come up with ideas - Decode the stories the media tells and their effects on viewers - Pursue experiences that feed your creative process with purpose

Will Cady (Author), Will Cady (Narrator)

Audiobook

Losing and Finding My Virginity: The Full Story

Brought to you by Penguin. This is the story of my entire life so far... It’s been a rollercoaster ride and I have no intention of getting off any time soon. Available exclusively in audio, Losing and Finding My Virginity is both of Sir Richard Branson’s multi-million-copy bestselling autobiographies in one combined edition, fully revised and updated, and read for you by the author in full for the first time. From living on a houseboat to a paradise island home, growing a small business into the global Virgin brand, turning a childhood dream of flying to space into a reality, and building a better world through business, this is an account of almost six decades of entrepreneurship, overcoming the odds and reaching for the stars. With lessons in life and in business, Losing and Finding My Virginity is a must-listen memoir and an inspiring guide from the ultimate entrepreneur. Branson has a list of achievements unmatched by any other UK businessman. For anyone burning with entrepreneurial zeal, his reminiscences are akin to a sacred text. - Mail on Sunday A remarkable story of business success against the financial odds – having created one of the world’s most admired brand names, Branson is entitled to tell it all. - Evening Standard ©2024 Sir Richard Branson (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Richard Branson (Author), Richard Branson (Narrator)

Audiobook

UnStuck: Rebirth of an American Icon

Discover the inspiring firsthand account of Stephanie Stuckey's rise to CEO upon suddenly acquiring her family's beloved yet struggling brand, which had become a 'whatever happened to . . . ?' fading memory for most Americans. Stuckey's, a roadside oasis for generations of travelers along America's highways, fell into disrepair after decades of outside ownership. When Stephanie Stuckey, granddaughter of Stuckey's founder, is offered the chance to buy the business, she takes it, seeing something that isn't apparent in the bleak financial statements: an emotional connection that she and generations of road trippers had with the brand. UnStuck weaves Stephanie's compelling narrative with her grandfather's rich history. Finding insight into both business and life in her grandfather's archives, Stephanie leans on her past to craft a strategy for the future, determined to rebuild the company and leave a legacy for generations to come. For female entrepreneurs, unconventional CEOs, family businesses, and road trip enthusiasts, UnStuck offers hope, practical tips on managing tough situations with grit, and an irresistible comeback story promising that second chances are indeed possible.

Stephanie Stuckey (Author), Tiffany Morgan (Narrator)

Audiobook

Why Should Guys Have All the Fun?: An Asian American Story of Love, Marriage, Motherhood, and Runnin

If Crazy Rich Asians and a Greek tragedy had a literary offspring, it would be the spitting image of Why Should Guys Have All the Fun? The true story of resolute immigration lawyer and activist Loida Lewis, Why Should Guys Have All the Fun? begins with Loida's adventure-packed Philippine upbringing. A torrid love affair with brilliant, irascible financier Reginald Lewis follows, as does regal living in Manhattan and Paris, and gut-wrenching loss, all before Loida shockingly commandeers a multibillion-dollar, multinational conglomerate and leads it with aplomb. You'll learn how she dealt with her husband's untimely death at the age of fifty and how she managed to raise two independent daughters even as she shepherded a multinational corporation to record earnings. Listeners will also find: explorations of how the author overcame her severe depression after the loss of her beloved husband; discussions of how faith and perseverance helped Loida overcome the myriad challenges and obstacles in her path; and how the author, a Filipina-American woman, navigated a business world dominated by hard-charging white males. A fascinating and engaging memoir from one of America's leading female executives, Why Should Guys Have All the Fun? is an inspiring and uplifting true story of how an ordinary person can rise to achieve extraordinary things.

Blair S. Walker, Loida Lewis (Author), Loida Lewis (Narrator)

Audiobook

Life In The Pits: My Time as a Trader on the Rough-and-Tumble Exchange Floors

In 1989, Brad Schaeffer was working as an artist when his trader brother invited him to visit the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Schaeffer promptly quit his job and became a clerk in that most iconic arena of raw capitalism. During the next six years, Schaeffer rose from clerk to trader, making markets on Eurodollar options in Chicago and heating oil options in New York. In that time, jammed literally shoulder-to-shoulder, he screamed, flailed his arms, hurled expletives, and pushed and shoved his way through his day. In Life in the Pits, Schaeffer recalls the uneasy camaraderie of working right next to fierce competitors, the sheer intensity of dealing in stacks of money changing hands with a simple scream or hand signal, and the hijinks, excesses, and collection of characters as colorful as the jackets they wore, giving the listener an intimate look into what life was like down in the financial mosh pits. A worthy successor to Liar's Poker and Reminiscences of a Stock Operator, Life in the Pits offers nuggets of wisdom on what makes a successful trader and the rules all must follow to survive in such an unforgiving environment. Schaeffer's often hilarious, yet sometimes profound, reflections take us on his personal journey from penniless artist to moving millions of dollars' worth of commodities in the blink of an eye.

Brad Schaeffer (Author), Stephen Bowlby (Narrator)

Audiobook

What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School: Notes from a Street-smart Executive

This business classic features straight-talking advice you'll never hear in school. Featuring a new foreword by Ariel Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell Mark H. McCormack, one of the most successful entrepreneurs in American business, is widely credited as the founder of the modern-day sports marketing industry. On a handshake with Arnold Palmer and less than a thousand dollars, he started International Management Group and, over a four-decade period, built the company into a multimillion-dollar enterprise with offices in more than forty countries. To this day, McCormack's business classic remains a must-read for executives and managers at every level. Relating his proven method of "applied people sense" in key chapters on sales, negotiation, reading others and yourself, and executive time management, McCormack presents powerful real-world guidance on • the secret life of a deal • management philosophies that don't work (and one that does) • the key to running a meeting-and how to attend one • the positive use of negative reinforcement • proven ways to observe aggressively and take the edge • and much more Praise for What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School "Incisive, intelligent, and witty, What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School is a sure winner-like the author himself. Reading it has taught me a lot."-Rupert Murdoch, executive chairman, News Corp, chairman and CEO, 21st Century Fox "Clear, concise, and informative . . . Like a good mentor, this book will be a valuable aid throughout your business career."-Herbert J. Siegel, chairman, Chris-Craft Industries, Inc. "Mark McCormack describes the approach I have personally seen him adopt, which has not only contributed to the growth of his business, but mine as well."-Arnold Palmer "There have been what we love to call dynasties in every sport. IMG has been different. What this one brilliant man, Mark McCormack, created is the only dynasty ever over all sport."-Frank Deford, senior contributing writer, Sports Illustrated

Mark H. Mccormack (Author), John Chancer (Narrator)

Audiobook

Business Audiobooks in Biography & Memoir