Dynasties of the Sea is the first book to examine one of the most powerful forces in global trade and economic development: world shipping and the magnates who drive the industry. Operating from Monaco to Hong Kong, London to Athens, Singapore to Oslo, shipowners and their financiers have changed the world in every way. From transporting agricultural products from Brazil to Africa and the Middle East, to delivering Australian iron ore to China, to carrying Middle East crude oil to Asia and the Americas, to carrying almost every article of clothing you are wearing and every electronic device in the world, shipowners have enabled global economic development and helped raise the global standard of living. While ocean shipping remains one of the most important businesses in the world, it is also one of the most volatile. Affected by such imponderables as weather and political upheaval, shipowning cultures have maintained their commitment to an industry that has endured for centuries - and will continue to endure for centuries to come. The candid and detailed first-person profiles that comprise Dynasties of the Sea provide critical insight into the psychology of today's generation of shipping magnates, from how they view risk - politically, economically and environmentally - to what they see transpiring in the world tomorrow.

The first person histories of those who led the explosion of world trade which propelled half a world out of poverty. The industry and ships, which power and feed nations in the words of those who met the global challenges, built and financed the ships and literally helped shape the future. Shipowners from around the world discuss, what drove them and their businesses, what grand passions and ambitions fueled their innovation. What skills defined their leadership and their dogged determination to be the engine which carries the goods that opened once closed and backward markets. The pioneers behind the great behemoths which ply the seas carrying the raw materials from Australia, Brazil, oil from the Middle East and Africa to China, Europe, the United States and the finished goods in every electronics store, grocery and clothing mall around the world. 94% of all the world's goods travel by sea, read the stories of those who have built and control this fantastic 21st century industry.

Survive and thrive in today's economyThese are make-or-break times for business leaders. In today's defining moment, the "New Economy," CEOs and other leaders in a wide variety of industries must face unprecedented conditions."Thriving in the New Economy "gives you a unique look into some of today's best economic and business minds. A series of close profiles, the book offers inspirational personal stories, useful advice, and actionable strategies you can use immediately to skirt financial peril, seize opportunities, and flourish in the New Economy. - Profiles include financial publisher Steve Forbes, The Vanguard Group founder Jack Bogle, Former National Economic Council Director and Former Special Assistant to the President on Economic Policy Lawrence Lindsey, former FDIC chair Donald Powell, Saks CEO Steve Sadove, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. President Jim Lentz, legendary vulture investor Wilbur Ross and more - Looks at how leaders in economics, banking, automobiles, real estate, and retail are not just avoiding the unraveling economy, but actively evolving and growing their businesses - Foreword by H. Wayne Huizenga; Afterword by Rudy GiulianiIf you're looking for the way forward through today's business wilderness, "Thriving in the New Economy" lets you in on how some leaders use challenges not just to survive but thrive.