Success Memoirs

After a diagnosis of a degenerative eye disease, John Samuel’s life—and his chance at success—started to vanish. In a world systemically unequipped for accessibility, disability inclusion is often left out of conversations about diversity. For people with disabilities, it can feel impossible to adapt and thrive when you’re already set up for failure.

Aardman Animations was founded in 1972 by Peter Lord and David Sproxton. Joined by animator Nick Park in 1985, Aardman pioneered a quirky style of stop-motion animation and brought to life a string of unforgettable movies and television shows, including the highest-grossing stop-animated film of all time, Chicken Run. From their first short films, made on a lark on their kitchen table, to advertisements and music videos, A Grand Success! recounts the adventures and challenges of developing their own unique style, growing their business, working with famous actors, and conquering Hollywood.

Who are the greatest innovators in the world? You're probably thinking Steve Jobs, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford - the usual suspects.

This book isn't about them. It's about people who are just as innovative, entrepreneurial, and visionary as the Jobses, Edisons, and Fords of the world, except they're not in Silicon Valley. They're in the street markets of Sao Paulo and Guangzhou, and the rubbish dumps of Lagos. They are pirates, slum dwellers, computer hackers, dissidents, and inner city gang members.

Here are 21 inspirational stories about role models and counting your blessings. The stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive will encourage listeners to stay upbeat, because there's always a brighter way to look at life. This book continues Chicken Soup for the Soul's focus on inspiration and hope, reminding us that each day holds something to be thankful for.

Dr. David Levy is a media consultant who has appeared on over 70 television and radio broadcasts, from CNN to National Geographic, to provide psychological perspectives on current events. His previous works have been published internationally, many of them becoming best sellers. In this book, Levy approaches listeners on a more personal level but carries the same expertise that he’s shared with viewers and listeners worldwide.

"Lessons from the Prairie delivers one belly laugh after another as Melissa tees up an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide to tackling life's toughest challenges, and making your life happier." -- Megyn Kelly For fans of the beloved TV show Little House on the Prairie, a self-help book by Melissa...

SEALs are notorious for telling riveting stories without a shred of emotion. There's a good reason for that. They've been trained to keep their emotions at bay-to be hard-so they can accomplish seemingly impossible missions. Rarely do you find a Navy SEAL who is willing to be vulnerable and share from the heart. Mark Greene is one of those SEALs. For years, he didn't understand how emotions played a part in decision-making. He had trained and worked under such extreme conditions that there was no room for subjectivity. Logic dominated his thoughts.

Anyone who says there is no life after death has obviously never died. “I was high as a kite by the time I got there. I dropped five hits of acid that night. I made it through the first two bands before I started peaking. Then it happened...." I was a runaway, a dropout, a drug addict, a thief, a trouble maker, and a drug dealer. I was given a second chance at life. It has been a hard road. My life has been a battlefield. It has been a constant struggle, but I couldn’t be more grateful. This is my story.

Born on a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Glenn Medeiros grew up surrounded by modest means and strong values. Music wove its way into every path in his life, and soon, it stood as not only a hobby, but a passion and lifestyle, something to be pursued.

In this insightful and accessible biography, Warren Buffett: 10 Facts About the Oracle of Omaha, bestselling author Jasmine Dyggan unpacks the life and legacy of one of the most admired business minds of all time. This book doesn’t just explore the billionaire investor’s achievements—it reveals the principles behind them, and the quiet strength of character that set Buffett apart from Wall Street’s chaos.

Historian Sarah Hopkins Bradford details the life of heroic abolitionist Harriet Tubman, who was born into slavery but escaped to lead other enslaved people to freedom.

"The numerous voices presenting these oral histories are flowing, velvety, glib, humorous, and always passionate...This is an informative and heartwarming retrospective of life in the Bronx, in addition to an enlightening look at the changes in our society and culture." — Publishers Weekly...

On June 13, 2013, as she drives to work, Tyila Cooks comes to the scene of an accident and quickly learns that the driver of the mangled vehicle is one of her six children - her oldest son. Years later, her oldest daughter’s long-term health condition worsens, and she finds herself in a fight for her own life. As this family journeys through two of the biggest storms of their lives, this mother’s faith is stretched, and her hope is shaken. With God’s grace, Tyila learns how to face grief, fear, doubt and a host of other emotions head on.

Obroni and the Chocolate Factory is Steven's chaotic, fascinating, and bemusing journey to create a successful international business that aspired do a bit of good in the world. This book is at once a penetrating business memoir and a story about imagining globalism done right. Wallace's picaresque journey takes him to Ghana's residence for the head of state, to the Amsterdam offices of a secretive international cocoa conglomerate, and face-to-face with key figures in the sharp-elbowed world of global trade and geopolitics.

Sidney Poitier was one of the most revered actors in the history of Hollywood. He overcame enormous obstacles in extraordinary times and is a role model for many Americans because of his convictions, bravery, and grace. Poitier reflects on his amazing life in Life Beyond Measure, offering...

The Law of Success in 16 Lessons was initially published in 1928 as a multi-volume correspondence course. According to Hill, the work was commissioned at the request of Andrew Carnegie, at the conclusion of a multi-day interview with Hill. It was allegedly based upon interviews with over 100 American millionaires, including self-made industrial giants such as: Henry Ford, J. P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison, over 500 of the most successful people of the planet across nearly 20 years.

A remarkable teenager who went from public assistance to a million dollar net worth shares his story and offers nine key principles to success. Farrah Gray is no ordinary teenager. He wears a suit and tie; he has an office on Wall Street and another one in Los Angeles...and he sold his first business at the age of 14 for more than a million dollars.

Updated and expanded for its 20th anniversary, Camp is former Disney CEO Michael Eisner's coming-of-age story about his time in camp and how the indispensable lessons he learned there continue to influence him in business and in life. Over the years, as a camper and a counselor, Michael Eisner absorbed the life lessons that come from sitting in the stern of a canoe or gathering around a campfire at night. In this deeply personal memoir, he recounts his experiences at one remarkable summer camp and examines how they helped turn him into the man he is today.

Frank Lorenzo is the epitome of the American dream. A first-generation American and entrepreneur, Lorenzo started an airline advisory business in his mid-twenties and ultimately rose to control the largest fleet of airplanes in the free world. Flying for Peanuts explains how the son of Spanish immigrants put himself through Columbia College by driving a Coca-Cola truck and then grew the fledgling advisory into ownership of Texas International Airlines. From there, Lorenzo became CEO of Continental Airlines, a large loss-making west coast airline at the time.

Before being named President Trump's Secretary of Commerce in 2017, Wilbur Ross had already earned a reputation as the "King of Bankruptcy" over his fifty-five-year career on Wall Street. Often working on high-profile bankruptcies such as Pan Am and Texaco, Ross helped restructure more than $400 billion in assets, and was named among Bloomberg's fifty most influential people in global finance. After coming to Washington, Ross faced equally tough challenges, yet survived in his post for all four years.