Book cover of Wedgwood: The First Tycoon

Book description

A definitive portrait of the pioneering entrepreneur describes how Josiah Wedgwood rose from the scion of a family of struggling potters to become one of the world's wealthiest and most powerful men during the eighteenth century and explains how he revolutionized the business model of his time with innovations that…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Wedgwood as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Josiah Wedgwood (1730-95) was a pioneer in the many non-steam-engine aspects of the Industrial Revolution.

Descended from a long line of low-end potters, Wedgwood specialized in design, then joined the high-quality pottery of Thomas Whieldon before in 1759 setting up his own business in pottery. Wedgwood was an excellent chemist, discovering several new glazes that revolutionized the pottery business.

He was also a superlative marketer, using a sale to Queen Charlotte to market “Queen’s Ware,” marketing “Etruscan” pottery with a specialized glaze to fulfil a mania for Etruscan art following new discoveries and opening a London showroom to attract wealthy…

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Book cover of December on 5C4

December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

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