When Pundit Review Radio started in the summer of 2004, the idea was to bring the best of the blogs to the radio. That meant that one of my very first calls was to Don Luskin, the man behind the awesome blog The Conspiracy to Keep You Poor and Stupid. Don exemplified what was so exciting about the early days of blogging, subject matter experts sharing their passion with the rest of us. Don is founder and Chief Investment Officer of Trend Macro and he is a CNBC contributor.
At the time, Don was the founding member of perhaps the original crowdsourcing effort, The Krugman Truth Squad. The KTS was a collective effort by numerous financial bloggers like Don to fact check and correct the sloppy, partisan first “analysis” of Paul Krugman. In addition to being deliciously enjoyable to read, these columns had an enormous effect on the paper of record. All of this is laid out in Don’s fascinating new book I Am John Galt.
Inspired by Ayn Rand’s characters in Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead, penetrating profiles of both the innovators who move our world forward and those who seek to destroy the achievement of others. John Galt, the fictional character from Ayn Rand’s bestselling novel, Atlas Shrugged, has come to embody the individualist capitalist who acts in his own enlightened self interest, and in doing so lifts the world around him. Some of today’s most successful CEOs, journalists, sports figures, actors, and thinkers have led their lives according to Galt’s (i.e., Rand’s) philosophy.
Now, in I Am John Galt, these inspiring stories are gathered with the keen insight and analysis of well-known market commentator Donald Luskin and business writer Andrew Greta. Filled with exclusive interviews, profiles, and analyses of leading financial, business, and artistic stars who have based their lives, and careers, on the philosophy of the perennially popular Ayn Rand, this book both inspires and enlightens. On the other side are Rand’s arch villains?the power-seekers, parasites, and lunatics who would destroy that which the creators and builders make. Who are today’s anti-heroes, fighting the creativity of the innovators?
This is a 3-for-1 book. Part bio on Ayn Rand and her philosophy, part casting call for the real-world version of Atlas Shrugged, complete with heroes and villains (guess which one Barney Frank is? See 26:00), and part business management book that examines what makes leaders business leaders like Cypress Semiconductor CEO TJ Rogers the modern day disciples of Ayn Rand. It was a great treat to have the opportunity to talk to Don again, especially about something he is so passionate about.
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What is Pundit Review Radio?
On Boston’s Talk Station WRKO since 2005, Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week we give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Called “groundbreaking” by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to the radio every Sunday evening from 6-9pm on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.