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Informationen zum Autor PETER KRASS is an accomplished and prolific author, editor, and researcher. He has written and edited ten books, including Portrait of War, Blood & Whiskey: The Life and Times of Jack Daniel and Carnegie , all published by Wiley. Krass lives in Hanover, New Hampshire. Klappentext In addition to being one of America's most renowned and beloved writers, Mark Twain considered himself a hard-nosed, visionary businessman. After achieving worldwide literary success in mid-life, Twain actively pursued his business interests: he developed his own inventions, was a venture capitalist who supported other inventors, a Wall Street investor who made a fortune more than once, and a media mogul who founded his own publishing firm. Not surprisingly, he was also a pioneer in salesmanship. Ignorance, Confidence, and Filthy Rich Friends illuminates this little-known side of an American icon in an engaging and informative narrative that details a business career full of adventure, ambition, and insightful instruction. Author Peter Krass examines all the critical events and circumstances that shaped Twain's "Robber Baron" perspective on money and business. He reveals how, while often torn between being an enlightened man of letters and a materialistic capitalist, Twain was motivated by a relentless desire to accumulate great wealth. Krass traces the source of this sometimes unhealthy compulsion to the writer's boyhood--when he developed an irrational fear of poverty after his father's business ventures failed. At times as entertaining and dramatic as one of Twain's own works, this fascinating book tells how the legendary writer and humorist made millions in today's dollars publishing the memoirs of General Ulysses S. Grant. It details his escapades as a venture capitalist--one who made significant investments in some twenty start-up firms--and as a Wall Street investor with a sizable stock portfolio. It also tells how, often at the expense of his book projects, he promoted his own inventions, including a children's game he patented in 1885 and numerous other gadgets for everyday use. Along with these enlightening tales, Krass includes brief mini-chapters entitled "Quirky Habits & Brazen Philosophy" between chapters throughout the book. These interludes further explore the personal habits that aided Twain's stunning success and feature many memorable witticisms from the master himself. For those who know and love Mark Twain only as a writer and humorist, this book will provide a fascinating and revealing look at his life as a successful man of business. Zusammenfassung Mark Twain was not only a legendary author and humorist; he was also a successful businessman in a variety of ventures. He founded his own publishing house where he made a killing of $2. 5 million in today's dollars by publishing General Ulysses S. Grant's memoirs. Inhaltsverzeichnis Chapter one. Early Hard Knocks on the Road to Riches and Fame. Quirky Habits and Brazen Philosophy: How to Outwit Your Superiors. Chapter two. How to Quit a Good Job and Then Lose a Million Dollars. Quirky Habits and Brazen Philosophy: Even a Crank Knows to Dress for Success. Chapter three. Sometimes Necessity Is the Mother of a Career. Quirky Habits and Brazen Philosophy: Overcoming Stage Fright and Winning the Audience as a Public Speaker. Chapter four. Welcome to Corporate America: Hard-Nosed Negotiating and Profit-Driven Management. Quirky Habits and Brazen Philosophy: The Authors Stormy Work Habits. Chapter five. Sucked into the Gilded Age: Money Lust and the Making of an Inventor. Quirky Habits and Brazen Philosophy: Managing a Glut of Loathsome Correspondence. Chapter six. Seeing and Seizing Opportunities:Venture Capitalist and Wall Street Speculator. Quirky Habits and Brazen Philosophy: The Half-Soled Stockbro...
