Issue #5 - Grab Bag for Curious Minds
Rather than an essay this issue, we thought we would share a grab bag of content that we've come across recently that other curious minds might enjoy...
☕ ...But 1st, Coffee Chat Registration Reminder
If you’re interested in potentially connecting with another amazing member of the search fund/EtA community, sign up below to be matched for a 30-minute 1:1 virtual coffee chat on Friday, June 24th at 8:30am local time.
We already have over 75 participants registered and would love to continue matching people and facilitating great conversations!
Registration closes on Thursday, June 16, so don't delay.
Sign-up here: majoritysearch.typeform.com/coffeechats
Books
Where the Wind Leads - by Chung, Dr. Vinh, Downs, Tim.
Where the Wind Leads is a powerful biography written by Dr. Vinh Chung, a Harvard-trained physician who, along with his family, fled Vietnam after the Communists assumed control of the country. Often referred to as "Boat People", Dr. Chung and his family's story is both common and remarkable and, for me, served as a reminder of the tremendous privilege we have simply by being raised in a prosperous and stable country.
The quote below comes from a passage where Dr. Chung is talking about his wife's family, who immigrated from Korea:
"They hoped for a better life; we just hoped someone would take us in. Those seemingly minor details account for an enormous difference in mind-set of an immigrant and a refugee: an immigrant is motivated by the desire for success while a refugee is often driven by the fear of failure."
We're all familiar with Horatio Alger success stories of immigrants who come to our country and find success (or their children who do). This book will make you root for all of those people and everyone who faces enormous obstacles in their journeys to our shores. You'll come away with a great sense of appreciation for the effort and resilience required to start fresh in a new environment.
Dead in the Water is a non-fiction legal thriller that also provides an elementary education on the basics of the global maritime shipment industry. You'll learn about the complex financial games played by the various groups involved in the transport of goods across oceans, from shell companies to tax havens to the emergence of friendly domiciles where the rule and enforcement of law are secondary to fees. You'll cross paths with pirates and murderers, but also stand-up heroes who risk their lives while earning an honest living. You'll learn about how insurance is bought and sold through Lloyd's of London and how even egregious fraud and crime is discretely tolerated by the wealthy insurance providers. Overall, this is an entertaining romp through law, logistics, and geography.
Podcast
Tyler is an economics professor and creator of one of the most popular economics blogs on the internet. Daniel is the founder of start-up accelerator Pioneer, having previously been a director at Apple and a partner at Y Combinator. Both Daniel and Tyler are prolific talent spotters and that is the focus of this discussion and their new book, which is called Talent.
Wonky (in a good way) Gift Idea
Trade Journal Cooperative: Random trade journals delivered to your door every quarter.
Justin gifted a subscription of The Trade Journal Cooperative to Tim a few months ago and the first issue arrived recently. Tim is now the proud owner of an issue of Bowlers Journal International, the definitive resource for all things bowling (but his bowling game still rarely breaks 100). Each issue delivers a different trade journal from industries far and wide, common and obscure. If you or a special person in your life likes surprises and eclectic insights into various niche sectors, this $15 per issue subscription is worth considering.
