An idea from The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli — Here’s one of Machiavelli’s most controversial ideas, explained through the rise to power of two men — Agathocles and Oliverotto da Fermo. Machiavelli states that Princes can come into power by various different methods: by skill, by luck, or through being elected by their fellow citizens. …

Animated — William Shakespeare and Marcus Aurelius (the great stoic philosopher and emperor) have more in common than you might think. They share a recorded birth-date, with Shakespeare baptized on 26 April 1564, and Marcus Aurelius born on 26 April 161 (Shakespeare’s actual birth date remains unknown, although he was baptised…

How They Succeeded by Orison Swett Marden — This is part of a series breaking down the book, chapter by chapter. Born in New York in 1825, Darius Ogden Mills was asked a series of questions on success after 50 years as a leading banker, investor and philanthropist. What is your idea of a successful life? “If a boot-black does all the good he possibly…

How They Succeeded by Orison Swett Marden — This is part of a series breaking down the book, chapter by chapter. Frederick Wellington Ruckstuhl was one of America’s leading sculptors, but it was not until he was 32 years old that he started that particular profession. Born in France, he and his family moved to St. Louis…

How They Succeeded by Orison Swett Marden — This is part of a series breaking down the book, chapter by chapter. Born into a poor family, John Wanamaker started work at the age of seven, helping his father in a brickyard. After his father passed away when he was 14, John went to work at a bookstore…

How They Succeeded by Orison Swett Marden — This is part of a series breaking down the book, chapter by chapter. Jacob Gould Schurman was a self-made-man whose career began at ten years of age working for his father on the family farm on Prince Edward Island in what is now Canada. Unlike many self-made-men, Schurman decided…

Animated Book Summary — Part 1: LEARNING The world is a complex place we call home. The more you understand yourself and your environment — what you excel in, what you enjoy and what the world needs — the closer you get to living a life with purpose. Learning is the essential first step that can…

How They Succeeded by Orison Swett Marden — This is part of a series breaking down the book, chapter by chapter. In 1893, Mary Proctor gave her first talk on astronomy. She had her doubts as to whether she would interest the audience but she overcame those doubts by testing herself and doing it anyway. She went…

How They Succeeded by Orison Swett Marden — This is part of a series breaking down the book, chapter by chapter. Philip Danforth Armour began life growing up on a farm in New York. His parents were of Scottish and English ancestry and he was brought up in a strict sense. His father had plenty of work…