Moses Kagan

A New York Times bestseller An astonishing—and astonishingly entertaining—history of Hollywood’s transformation over the past five decades as seen through the agency at the heart of it all, from the #1 bestselling co-author of Live from New York and Those Guys Have All the Fun. The movies you watch, the TV shows you adore, the concerts and sporting events you attend—behind the curtain of nearly all of these is an immensely powerful and secretive corporation known as Creative Artists Agency. Started in 1975, when five bright and brash employees of a creaky William Morris office left to open their own, strikingly innovative talent agency, CAA would come to revolutionize the entertainment industry, and over the next several decades its tentacles would spread aggressively throughout the worlds of movies, television, music, advertising, and investment banking. Powerhouse is the fascinating, no-holds-barred saga of that ascent. Drawing on unprecedented and exclusive access to the men and women who built and battled with CAA, as well as financial information never before made public, author James Andrew Miller spins a tale of boundless ambition, ruthless egomania, ceaseless empire building, greed, and personal betrayal. It is also a story of prophetic brilliance, magnificent artistry, singular genius, entrepreneurial courage, strategic daring, foxhole brotherhood, and how one firm utterly transformed the entertainment business. Here are the real Star Wars—complete with a Death Star—told through the voices of those who were there. Packed with scores of stars from movies, television, music, and sports, as well as a tremendously compelling cast of agents, studio executives, network chiefs, league commissioners, private equity partners, tech CEOs, and media tycoons, Powerhouse is itself a Hollywood blockbuster of the most spectacular sort.

“When the history of Hollywood is written, few people will have played a larger role than Michael Ovitz.... It is impossible to read such a chronicle and not see Mr. Ovitz as the Steve Jobs of agenting, possessing a version of Jobs’s fanatical drive and a similar desire to remake an industry.” —The Wall Street Journal Who is Michael Ovitz? He’s a striver who talked his way into the famous mailroom of the William Morris Agency without any connections, then worked his way out of the mailroom in record time. He’s an entrepreneur who left a safe job to launch Creative Artists Agency, growing it from five guys in a rundown office to the most powerful agency in the world. He’s a friend and confidant to megastars such as Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise, Robert De Niro, David Letterman, Sean Connery, Bill Murray, Paul Newman, and Martin Scorsese. He’s a pioneer who reinvented the role of the agent in packaging actors, directors, writers, and producers, which made CAA the essential hub of countless movies and television shows. He’s a master negotiator who drove historic deals for many of his clients, as well as the acquisitions of two major studios by Sony and Matsushita. He’s a self-taught connoisseur of art and architecture, a generous philanthropist, a devoted father... And to his detractors he’s a world-class jerk and a ruthless manipulator who double-crossed his friends, crushed his enemies, and let nothing stand in his way, ever. After decades of near silence in the face of relentless controversy, Ovitz finally tells his whole story in this memoir, with remarkable candor and insight. If you’re going to read just one book about how show business really works, this is the one.

Young Martin Dressler begins his career as an industrious helper in his father's cigar store.  In the course of his restless young manhood, he makes a swift and eventful rise to the top, accompanied  by two sisters--one a dreamlike shadow, the other a worldly business partner. As the eponymous Martin's vision becomes bolder and bolder he walks a haunted line between fantasy and reality, madness and ambition, art and industry, a  sense of doom builds piece-by-hypnotic piece until this mesmerizing journey into the heart of an American dreamer reaches its bitter-sweet conclusion.

Unlock the keys to business success and investment returns with "The Rebel Allocator" by Jake Taylor. In this best-selling surprise cult hit, you'll explore effective capital allocation in a way that's engaging and relatable. Depart on a learning journey as a college grad meets a wealthy Midwesterner. Our protagonist, Nick, is a journalism major with limited business knowledge. His adoptive mentor, Mr. X, is a seasoned and successful businessman devoted to his craft. Nick’s youthful cynicism toward capitalism is dutifully and patiently remolded into an appreciation for well-run business through Socratic conversations with Mr. X. With a touch of humor and a compelling narrative, this coming-of-age story is perfect for business decision-makers, start-up builders, investors, and those curious about the wonders of capitalism. Gain insights that apply to businesses of all sizes, from small startups to Fortune 100 companies. The lessons start from individual customer transactions and build up to mergers and acquisitions, share buybacks, and beyond. This book will aid you in identifying those doing capital allocation right – a huge advantage that Jake wished to impart through this book. Discover the power of intelligent capital allocation and how it can lead to outsized returns. If you want to improve your understanding of business without feeling overwhelmed, "The Rebel Allocator" is an excellent choice. To the exclusively non-fiction readers out there, you too will enjoy the lessons conveyed through this story. It intertwines humanity and worldly wisdom into the often impersonal and hyper-competitive world of business. Join the adventure and make smarter financial decisions today!