The Stoic Capitalist: Advice for the Exceptionally Ambitious

(Hardback)

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An exploration of the issues around the Stoic ideal of a well-lived life, and how anyone can learn to define and realize a modern version of it for themselves.

The Stoic Capitalist explains how stoic philosophy combined with focused ambition can lead to great accomplishment, written by someone who has, by any measure, been successful in multiple realms of business, culture, and politics.

Bestsellers about Stoicism have proliferated in recent years, led by titles such as Ryan Holidays The Obstacle is the Way and Donald Robertsons How to Think Like a Roman Emperor. The Stoic Capitalist takes a different approach, with a structure inspired by Randy Pauschs The Last Lecture a series of short chapters intended to help readers achieve their childhood dreams and live a more fulfilling life. Rosenkranz presents a unique fusion of practical advice, street smarts, and frank reflection, spanning topics as diverse as high finance, political and moral debate, parenting, hiring and firing, hobbies, anger management, longevity and more.

Rosenkranz was present at the creation of such revolutionary developments in finance as junk bonds, private equity, and hedge funds, but his interests are far broader. His story encompasses a lively global cast of RAND Corporation geniuses, artists pioneering new media, and scientist-entrepreneurs racing to reshape human longevity. In his personal life, he recounts his struggles and stumbles leading to acceptance and grace in marriage and parenthood; as well as secrets and challenges of reconciling the unruly psyche with rationalist psychology. He populates his narrative with iconic figures in the Wall Street boom years, such as his early mentor Leon Levy; iconoclasts and mavericks like his friends Michael Bloomberg and Mike Milken; unsung heroes and quiet leaders who build and run great companies and foundations; and corporate frauds including Bernie Madoff.

Robert Rosenkranzs voice come across clearly and insightfully on the page: unafraid to learn, tirelessly curious and inquiring, he personifies an openness to all viewpoints that is increasingly rare. Importantly, The Stoic Capitalist is not about coping with corporate life or using professional hacks to winning a promotion it is an in-depth exploration of the ancient ideal of the well lived life and shows how anyone can define and realize a modern version of it for themselves.

Reviews

The Stoic Capitalist is as much about life as career, as much about personal growth as professional development, and as much about giving back as getting ahead. Its an inspiring story of a life well lived. -- Michael R. Bloomberg * Founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies; Mayor of New York, 20022013 *
A truly fascinating story of one of the most powerful titans on Wall Street that you probably havent heard of. In this engaging memoir Robert Rosenkranz tells the story of how he spotted opportunities that no one else saw and acted on them to rise from a modest middle-class family in New York to one of the most successful private equity investors of our time. In the process he also candidly shares his philosophy on how to navigate the world in ways many of us havent thought about. A very worthwhile read and thoroughly enjoyable. -- Bill Browder * human rights activist and author of Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice *
An extraordinary mixture of philosophical, psychological and business insights, The Stoic Capitalist is the culmination of a lifetimes thought and experience by one of Americas most successful men. Part memoir, part how-to book for anyone who wants to make it really big, part warning of lifes potential pitfalls, it cogently and wittily explains how to live a good, fulfilling life that is both enjoyable for oneself and valuable to society at large. Robert Rosenkranz has many remarkable legacies to bequeath, and this book is definitely one of them. -- Lord Andrew Roberts * author of Churchill: Walking With Destiny *
The remarkable story of Robert Rosenkranzs life, and the principles that helped shape its course, are explained in this unique book. The Stoic Capitalist, a blend of biography and self-improvement philosophy, draws on the ancient wisdom of Stoic philosophers, such as Seneca and Marcus Aurelius. The book makes a new contribution by showing how Stoic philosophy can be applied to living a life both virtuous and highly ambitious. -- Donald Robertson * author of How to Think Like a Roman Emperor *
This book is a fascinating account of a startling life, which not only epitomizes the American dream, but also highlights the little-known power of Stoic ideas and the way that they can guide a career. Anyone interested in finance, philosophy or the ability to forge a career in a mindful manner should read this not just to understand how to achieve your goals, but how to do so with focus and consistency. The wisdom from the ancient Greek stoic thinkers does not often get taught in business schools but it clearly should, and deserves far wider attention and recognition, since it is so relevant in our hyper-emotional world of non-stop distractions. -- Gillian Tett * Columnist and Editorial Board at Financial Times; Provost at King's College, Cambridge *

Author Bio

Robert Rosenkranz is a self-made billionaire, a patron of the arts, and a quietly influential champion of civil society and free speech. His qualities resonate in his voice on the page: unafraid to learn, while being tirelessly curious and inquiring, he personifies an openness to all viewpoints that is increasingly rare. A moral philosopher and a generous donor, Rosenkranz adheres to the ancient ideal of the well-lived life and strives to realize a modern version of it. In 2006 he founded Open to Debate (previously Intelligence Squared), a series of live debates, a popular podcast, and a prime-time weekly program on National Public Radio, whose mission is create a contempt-free zone in the public square, where reason, analysis, and actual facts can prevail.