Timeless wisdom for investors and entrepreneurs.
We study the topics you didn't cover in business school—everything from deception to power, disasters to public works projects, and more—to build our mental maps, improve our judgment, and increase our effectiveness as business builders and capital allocators.
Each season is an in-depth study of a specific topic, and each episode covers a different book within that topic. Our goal each season is to answer big questions, uncover common trends, and build a database of actionable insights we can apply immediately in our businesses.
S1E7: Billion Dollar Whale - The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World
What I learned from reading Billion Dollar Whale (https://amzn.to/3JV104M) by Tom Wright and Bradley Hope.
---
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Saul Teaches Jesse Money Laundering (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhsUHDJ0BFM)
14 Mar 2024
S1E6: The Smartest Guys in the Room - The Enron Story Part II
What I learned from reading The Smartest Guys in the Room (https://amzn.to/3wKLVj1) by Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind.
This is Part II of a two part series on Enron.
---
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Too Much, Too Soon, Too Fast (https://collabfund.com/blog/too-much-too-soon-too-fast/) by Morgan Housel
7 Mar 2024
S1E5: The Smartest Guys in the Room - The Enron Story Part I
What I learned from reading The Smartest Guys in the Room (https://amzn.to/3wKLVj1) by Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind.
This is Part I of a two part series on Enron.
---
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Degrees of Confidence by Morgan Housel (https://collabfund.com/blog/degrees-of-confidence/)
4 Jan 2024
S1E4: In Vino Duplicitas - The Rise and Fall of a Wine Forger Extraordinaire
What I learned from reading In Vino Duplicitas: The Rise and Fall of a Wine Forger Extraordinaire (https://amzn.to/48hzzNm) by Peter Hellman.
---
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Degrees of Confidence by Morgan Housel (https://collabfund.com/blog/degrees-of-confidence/)
15 Dec 2023
S1E3: Going Infinite - The Rise and Fall of Sam Bankman-Fried & FTX
What I learned from reading Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon (https://amzn.to/482TzCY) by Michael Lewis.
---
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Natural Maniacs by Morgan Housel (https://collabfund.com/blog/natural-maniacs/)
Sam Bankman-Fried didn’t ask where the $8 billion went by Elizabeth Lopatto (https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/31/23940814/sam-bankman-fried-ftx-alameda-customer-funds-fraud-trial)
Let’s enjoy this FTX bankruptcy filing together by Elizabeth Lopatto (https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/17/23464445/ftx-bankruptcy-sam-bankman-fried-enron-help)
8 Dec 2023
S1E2: Bad Blood - Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup
What I learned from reading Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup (https://amzn.to/3RxDCPy) by John Carreyrou.
---
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Degrees of Confidence by Morgan Housel (https://collabfund.com/blog/degrees-of-confidence/)
The Dropout (https://www.hulu.com/series/the-dropout-13988f84-f1c8-40dd-a73c-4e71ab4bbe63)- I didn't mention this in the show, but it's a great miniseries about Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos.
1 Dec 2023
S1E1: The Wizard of Lies - Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust
What I learned from reading The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust (https://amzn.to/3Rdvpjt) by Diana Henriques.
---
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Ed Thorp Spotting Bernie Madoff - Tim Ferriss clip (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auSfjVPcuJ4)
23 Nov 2023
Season 1 Trailer - Fraud & Financial Crime
In Season 1, we're studying fraud and financial crime. We'll be covering some of the most famous frauds in history, like Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme, Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, Sam Bankman Fried and FTX, Enron, and more.
Throughout the season, I'll be trying to answer a few major questions, including:
How do fraudsters win trust?
How do otherwise intelligent people get deceived?
How can you best guard yourself against fraud as an investor and entrepreneur?
What are some common red flags that warrant further scrutiny?
These are the books we'll be studying in Season 1:
The Wizard of Lies by Diana Henriquez (https://amzn.to/3Rdvpjt)
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou (https://amzn.to/3MWINpI)
Going Infinite by Michael Lewis (https://amzn.to/3MVYzB9)
In Vino Duplicitas by Peter Hellman (https://amzn.to/3SUygyL)
The Smartest Guys in the Room by Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind (https://amzn.to/46taj4P)
Billion Dollar Whale by Bradley Hope and Tom Wright (https://amzn.to/3RbP9DR)
Money Men by Dan McCrum (https://amzn.to/47JA3Lt)
Dead in the Water by Matthew Campbell and Kit Chellel (https://amzn.to/47JfzlW)
The Cult of We by Eliot Brown and Maureen Farrell (https://amzn.to/49MADdd)
A Disposition to Be Rich by Geoffrey Ward (https://amzn.to/47syxNX)
Empire of Deception by Dean Jobb (https://amzn.to/3uuaLCK)
20 Nov 2023
Better Than B-School Trailer
Better Than B-School is the podcast where we discuss the books that will make you a better investor and entrepreneur. Every season covers a specific topic—everything from fraud to political power, disasters to public works projects— and each episode covers a different book within that topic. Our goal each season is to answer big questions, uncover common trends, and build a database of actionable insights we can apply immediately in our businesses.
By studying these books, we'll chart our mental maps, improve our judgment, and increase our effectiveness as business builders and capital allocators.
Be sure to subscribe the podcast so you don't miss an episode, and I'd love if you leave a 5-star review while you're here!
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Contact Better Than B-School
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Better Than B-School?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
