Review: A Banker's Journey by Daniel Gross

 This incredibly meticulous and well-researched book takes a look at the life of a man called Edmond Safra, a man who rose from family banking origins in Beirut to become one of the world's most respected and trusted bankers. 

At only 15 years of age, Edmond's father entrusted him to go to Milan, one of the most relatively stable parts of the world at that point, in order to set up new banking and business ventures. Though so young, Edmond showed wisdom, courage, determination, and grit far beyond his years. 

After the horrors of World War 2 and collapse of imperialism in the Middle East - though not without decisions whose ramifications are still being felt to this day - Edmond did what he could to help Jewish communities moving around or leaving the Middle East - particularly Syria and Lebanon - completely. Everywhere he went, he sought out community and helped people as much as he could while setting up lucrative, profitable, yet measured, business and banking institutions wherever he went. From Milan, to Switzerland, to Brazil, and New York, Edmond built up trust, respectability, and wisdom, as well as acquiring huge amounts of knowledge needed that came along with the quick evolution of global financial systems. 

Despite Edmond reaching dizzying heights of success and wealth, he never forgot nor begrudged the responsibility to community instilled in him by his deep sense of faith. From personal gifts (such as paying friends' hospital bills) to institutional giving (demonstrated by the Safra Foundation to oversee the distribution of his wealth after his death) Safra showed both in life and death that wealth and success give one more opportunities to be generous and change countless lives. 

Review: Discipline is Destiny by Ryan Holiday

 Ryan Holiday has just released the second in his series about the four principle Stoic Virtues. The first was "Courage is Calling" and he follows up now with the second virtue - Temperance, referred to in this book as "Discipline".

Using a mix of ancient thought and examples of public figures throughout history, from Roman Emperors to sports players, Ryan Holiday explains why the power of discipline and self-control is so important, in our lives, no matter our station or ambitions. 

The part that impacted me the most was how using this principle of temperance, or self control, in a society so given to distraction and alleviation from boredom, can actually enrich our lives and make it better. I am one of many people who are all too ready to reach for the phone at our fingertips to provide some sort of distraction. Using this practice of self-restraint can release a flow of creativity or thinking about how we want to make our lives better. 

There were some parts of it that I found could have been explored in terms of their nuances more thoroughly, such as the section on Queen Elizabeth II. Her personal characteristics and virtues were extolled wonderfully, but ignored/whitewashed the historical context of empire that is necessary to look at while examining such political figures; (the same for Winston Churchill). 

There were some incredible examples of people going against the grain of current political/intellectual/moral thought, such as when President Jimmy Carter, in 1977, exhorted the U.S. government to act on climate change - how much better would our current climate forecasts look if the world had listened to him??

Another section which I found incredibly meaningful/impactful was not just the importance of determination/persevering, but also knowing when to stop, such as the baseball player, Lou Gehrig. 

Overall, part motivational and part historical, Discipline is Destiny is a wonderful way for us to challenge ourselves and get out of our own way by acting on very straightforward precepts, even if the journey is not always easy.