Before writing a series of books on the exploits of British spy James Bond (aka 007), Ian Fleming served in Britain’s navy during World War II. As part of his job as lieutenant-commander in naval Intelligence, Fleming developed various plans to foil the Nazis in their aspirations to take over…

Most children, notes Jeff Jarvis at the start of Gutenberg the Geek, learn of Johannes Gutenberg as “the hero who brought them the miracle of the book.” But is this an accurate depiction of the man and his work? In this short, twenty-page Kindle Single, Jarvis provides readers with all…

“The natural law,” says Hugh Jackman, “is that we should all have equal access, equal opportunity with the planet, but it seems the way we’ve divided it up politically or economically, that is not the case.” It certainly is not the case that everyone has equal access or equal opportunity…

Variety reports that William Baldwin’s company, Beyond Comprehension, has purchased the screen rights to A Time to Betray, the autobiographical story of Reza Kahlili, who worked as a CIA agent in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Baldwin and producing partner Warren Kohler reportedly “will develop the project as a limited series or…

You can listen to people talk about “a man with six fingers” or “a businessman who met with overnight success” all day long. But chances are that you will never meet either—and for good reason. As regards the latter, it’s because no matter how some people describe it, a businessman’s…

Daniel Wahl reviews Farnsworth's Classical English Rhetoric, by Ward Farnsworth.

[caption id="attachment_2850" align="alignright" width="300"] Matt Yohe, Wikimedia Commons[/caption] When reading about the life of Steve Jobs, my favorite moments are those when I get to see him enjoying his work. A fascinating new book by Ken Segall, who worked with Jobs for seventeen years at NeXT and Apple, shares one…

In his latest email to subscribers, Jason Calacanis pondered: Anyone who . . . used Groupon, Farmville, Facebook, Angry Birds or LinkedIn in the first year knew they were good investments and should have been allowed to invest. Only the rich were allowed to invest. How is that fair? It’s…

Daniel Wahl reviews If I Die in the Service of Science: The Dramatic Stories of Medical Scientists Who Experimented on Themselves, by Jon Franklin and John Sutherland, MD.

Daniel Wahl reviews The Killer of Little Shepherds: A True Crime Story and the Birth of Forensic Science, by Douglas Starr.

Daniel Wahl reviews Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long, by David Rock.

Daniel Wahl reviews Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength, by Roy F. Baumeister and John Tierney.

Daniel Wahl reviews Mao’s Great Famine: The History of China’s Most Devastating Catastrophe, 1958–1962, by Frank Dikötter.

In his latest video, Peter Schiff observes that the government has no right to force any employer—no matter his religion—to provide “free” birth control for his employees. He discusses some of the absurdities that may result if the government assumes this right. And, as usual, Schiff points out that economically-illiterate…

Peter Bregman loves buffets. He loves the variety they offer. He loves the opportunity he gets to taste many different dishes. And he loves the low cost of being able to eat so much. But invariably Bregman leaves feeling uncomfortable and exhausted—full not just of food but also of regret.…