Agate Publishing

Economic anxiety and loss of trust in civic institutions are driving more and more people to political extremes. How did we get here, and how do we get our economic policies back on track before the democracies of the world derail?

From former Belgian minister of finance and bestselling author Johan Van Overtveldt comes a new analysis of the economic forces that have driven us to the brink of a democratic breakdown. The Icarus Curse offers a stark assessment of the current state of Western democracies, once celebrated as the pinnacle of political and economic success. With the demise of the Soviet Union and China's emergence onto the world stage, the Western model faced no viable challengers. However, three decades later, Western democracies find themselves under siege both externally and internally. Russia, Iran, and especially China openly challenge the liberal Western order, while internally, citizens increasingly question the democratic and free market system, leading to polarization and social unrest. The political elite in most Western democracies flew too close to the sun, and now they’re crashing.

In The Icarus Curse, Van Overtveldt argues that decades of Keynesian-inspired policies have led to policy exhaustion, with politicians fueling unrealistic expectations and accumulating debt. Despite central bankers' efforts to mitigate crises, the current policy model is unsustainable, leaving little room for significant change. Yet, there is hope for redemption: Van Overtveldt reviews the ideas of Adam Smith, John Maynard Keynes, and Paul Volcker to put forward ideas to redesign policies for a brighter economic future. 

For millions of Americans, the COVID shock has brought retirement saving to an abrupt halt—now it’s time to get back on track. 

Even before the pandemic, a large share of households by Americans over age 50 faced the threat that their living standards would decline sharply in retirement. In the wake of COVID-19, these numbers will surely worsen. In Retirement Reboot: Commonsense Financial Strategies for Getting Back on Track, finance writer and regular New York Times retirement contributor Mark Miller offers practical strategies for Americans to improve their retirement prospects.

If you’re nearing retirement age and worry you haven’t saved enough, Retirement Reboot will walk you through the core decisions to make now to improve your retirement outcomes—even if retirement is just a few years away. You’ll learn how to make a plan, think through the timing of retirement, optimize Social Security, navigate Medicare, build savings, and tap home equity. You’ll also explore ongoing strategies, such as careful budgeting, generating income from work even after retirement, planning for long-term care, and leveraging special assistance aimed at low-income workers. If you have low savings, or none at all, Miller’s simple steps can help you make the most of your remaining working years and reboot the retirement you always imagined.

A visionary leader in clean and renewable energy tells his incredible personal story and outlines a smart and sane way forward for meeting the world’s growing energy needs.

Michael Polsky is one of the most important figures in American clean energy—here, he tells the remarkable story of his rise from a penniless young Soviet émigré to leadership in this essential industry. 

Only a decade ago, many thought that demand for electricity in America might never rise again. Today, AI, cryptocurrency, and electrification are fueling the largest surge in electricity demand in fifty years. Polsky has spent the past four decades building power plants, but even he never expected to see this kind of surge in demand. Most of the companies driving it want electricity produced by clean, sustainable renewable sources, mainly wind and solar power. 

His journey in clean energy is America’s journey too. Inexhaustible intertwines his personal story—an immigrant who arrived in America from the Soviet Union with $500 in his pocket and a few phrases of broken English who, twenty-five years later, founded a multibillion dollar independent energy company—with the story of America’s energy evolution from coal and oil to wind and solar power.

Polsky’s career evolved from working on oil- and coal-powered plants, to generating power from nuclear and natural gas, to renewable energy. It was a natural progression that helped him form a distinct vision of the future, which guided him to what would be the next best way to develop projects and produce electricity. The United States is heading in the same direction, for a simple reason: not because we have all become environmental activists, but because renewable-energy technology just makes sense. It has the potential to create unlimited amounts of energy, and a low-cost, highly efficient, and reliable power system.

Polsky’s company, Invenergy, is now the biggest privately owned clean-energy business in the US. He was forward-thinking enough to have built a business with a focus on renewable energy. But the challenge Polsky sees for America is that we don’t have enough installed renewable-power generation, hooked up to the grid and ready to supply. Because demand for electricity is so unprecedented, the source of the energy is becoming somewhat secondary to the need itself. We’re burning more fossil fuels than ever before, reopening mothballed nuclear power stations, and betting on experimental technology.

We are entering an era of an “all of the above” approach to generating electricity, driven by the surge in demand and the realization that neither fossil fuels nor renewables alone can meet all our needs. As Polsky sees it, the danger is that our immediate appetites could blind us to the consequences of using all forms of energy: making climate change worse, slowing the energy transition, and the potentially disastrous results of a nuclear accident.

Polsky is far from a green warrior or an ecological activist. As a student in his native Kyiv, Ukraine, he was trained in the 1970s to design power plants that burned heavy oil or coal. When he emigrated to the United States in 1976, he worked on nuclear power plants, then on gas-powered plants, and then on power plants that burned coal, oil, and natural gas. The first company he started worked on coal- and natural-gas-fired power plants; his second company developed facilities that burned natural gas, tires, and wood.

Today, Polsky and Invenergy are in the renewable-energy business because it is an unprecedented industrial and financial opportunity, offering the chance to create unlimited amounts of energy efficiently, reliably, and at a low cost. It is highly scalable. It is the future toward which technology is taking us. Our choice is not whether or not to switch to renewable energy, but if we will grasp this opportunity or have it forced upon us by crises. As Polsky sees it, there is a smart and forward-looking way to the future, and this book charts what the smart way looks like, and urges us to seize the opportunity it offers.

Get inside the head of Steve Jobs: inventor, visionary, business mogul, and one of the most influential entrepreneurs in the world.

Drawn from more than three decades of media coverage, this tribute serves up the best, most thought-provoking insights ever spoken by Steve Jobs: more than 200 quotations that are essential reading for everyone who seeks innovative solutions and inspirations applicable to their business, regardless of size.

Jobs, who passed away on October 5, 2011, at the age of 56, cofounded Apple in 1976. He stepped down from that role in August 2011, bringing an end to one of the greatest, most transformative business careers in history. Over the years, Jobs gave countless interviews to the media, explaining what he called “the vision thing”—his unmatched ability to envision, and successfully bring to the marketplace, consumer products that people find simply irresistible.

Jobs made an indelible mark in multiple industries, and played an enormous role in creating others. Consider how Jobs and Apple shaped the following fields: personal computers (laptop and desktop), apps (for multiple electronic devices), computer animation (Pixar), music (iTunes), telecommunications (iPhone), personal digital devices (iPod), books (iBook), and tablets (iPad). Jobs was the greatest business visionary of our era.

Steve Jobs: In His Own Words is the perfect gift or reference item for everyone interested in this great American original.

An updated and expanded collection of more than 350 quotes from Taylor Swift, pop culture icon and one of the bestselling musicians of all time. Part of the In Their Own Words series.

This collection of quotes, curated from Swift’s numerous public statements—interviews, op-eds, social media posts, and more—has been updated to include Swift’s thoughts on all her latest record-breaking achievements: new music, new ventures, and an iconic tour. It’s a comprehensive picture of her meteoric rise to the top, her ever-savvy business sense, and her increasingly vocalized perspective on the music world and beyond.

Swift’s catchy, chart-topping songs have propelled her to become one of the bestselling musicians of all time. In the nearly two decades she’s been making music, she has amassed enough power to buck the norms of an industry notorious for controlling the images of its often very young female artists. Through an unprecedented record deal she has championed the rights of artists to earn fair royalties, and through social media she has inspired tens of thousands of fans to register to vote. She has also earned the status of feminist icon due to her vocal stance against gender inequality in the music industry and her empowerment of young women through her music and public actions.

Since the release of the first edition of Taylor Swift: In Her Own Words in 2019, Swift’s achievements have continued to soar. She has released four more critically acclaimed albums that broke streaming records and won multiple Grammy Awards. In 2023, she embarked on the historic Eras Tour, which shattered records for the highest-grossing tour in history and culminated in a movie that became the highest-grossing concert film of all time.

Swift’s activism and business acumen have earned her spots on both Forbes’s Most Powerful Women and Time’s 100 Most Influential People lists. Now, for the first time, you can find her latest, most inspirational, thought-provoking quotes in one place.

Discover the power of relationship-building to enhance your leadership, boost your team’s well-being, and drive organizational success.

In today’s dynamic business environment, the success of any organization is deeply rooted in the quality of its internal relationships. In The Relationship-Driven Leader, psychologist and organizational behavior expert Dr. Karen Bridbord offers a revolutionary guide to career success and advancement, regardless of your industry, your company’s size, or your role. This groundbreaking book sheds light on how nurturing strong work relationships can lead to unmatched productivity and greater overall wellness throughout the organization and among its staff. Through compelling research and insightful case studies, Bridbord reveals the detrimental impact dysfunctional relationships can have on both personal and business achievements, and how to come back from “relationship system failure.” By rethinking workplace relationships, you can foster deeper connections within your team, resulting in enhanced cohesion and well-being for all members.

The Relationship-Driven Leader explores the profound influence of everyday interactions on team experience and team performance. Bridbord emphasizes the importance of “micro-moments” in leadership to spark significant improvements. This book empowers you to take the first step toward becoming the leader everyone aspires to work with by enhancing your leadership skills, boosting workplace productivity, and mastering innovative conflict-management techniques. By focusing on well-being through relationship-building, you can create a healthier, more engaged, and more productive team. 

A collection of more than 300 quotes from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: pro wrestling phenom, actor, businessman, and cultural icon, providing a unique look into the mind of one of the most recognizable and influential figures of our era. Part of the In Their Own Words series.

This collection of quotes has been curated from Dwayne Johnson’s numerous public statements—interviews, social media posts, television appearances, and more. It’s a comprehensive picture of his legacy as one of the world’s most recognizable and influential celebrities. The quotes in this collection touch on football, wrestling, Hollywood, building a business, heritage, activism, and more. 

Johnson, a third-generation wrestler, rose to prominence in the late 1990s as one of the most electrifying and charismatic performers in the history of professional wrestling. Debuting in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) as Rocky Maivia, he quickly gained attention for his athleticism, microphone skills, and larger-than-life persona. Embracing the moniker "The Rock," he became a cornerstone of the Attitude Era, and his unparalleled ability to connect with audiences propelled him to multiple WWE Championships. His catchphrases and signature moves became iconic in wrestling lore and garnered mainstream attention beyond the world of wrestling as well. 

After achieving superstardom in the ring, Johnson transitioned to Hollywood, eventually becoming one of the highest-paid actors in the world and starring in blockbuster films including The Mummy and Jumanji, as well as appearing in DC Comics franchise films and voicing Maui in the Disney hit Moana, a nod to his Samoan heritage that he proudly touts as central to his identity. Beyond acting, he has built a business empire that spans multiple enterprises, including a production company, a premium tequila brand, sportswear, and a digital content platform.

Johnson’s entrepreneurial spirit and versatility beyond his entertainment career earned him a nod as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in 2019. Now, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson: In His Own Words offers a unique look into the mind of one of the world’s most captivating and beloved personas.

Get inside the head of one of the most influential musicians of our time, a pop music phenomenon turned titan of industry and cultural icon: Taylor Swift.

This collection of quotes has been carefully curated from Swift’s numerous public statements—interviews, op-eds, social media posts, and more, specifically geared toward middle and high school readers. It’s a comprehensive picture of her meteoric rise to the top, her ever-savvy business sense, and her increasingly outspoken perspective on the music world and beyond. This edition includes educational materials and resources for lesson plans designed to provoke discussion and thought for readers in grades 7–12 about Taylor Swift’s ideas.

Swift’s catchy, chart-topping songs have propelled her to become one of the bestselling musicians of all time. But in the nearly 20 years she’s been making music, she has also amassed enough power to buck the norms of an industry notorious for controlling the images of its often very young female artists.

Her latest, unprecedented record deal gives her ownership of all her master records, the ability to dictate the terms of her albums’ streaming releases in order to maximize her profits, and a requirement that her label share proceeds from the sale of its stake in Spotify with its musicians. She has championed the rights of artists to earn fair royalties, and more recently, she has inspired tens of thousands of fans to register to vote.

Swift’s achievements have earned her spots on both Forbes’s Most Powerful Women and Time’s 100 Most Influential People lists. Now, for the first time, young readers find her most inspirational, thought-provoking quotes in one place.

Special educational materials for classrooms are available from Agate Publishing.

Get inside the head of LeBron James: basketball star, activist, philanthropist, and one of the most influential athletes in the world.

This collection of quotes has been curated from LeBron James’s numerous public statements—interviews, social media posts, television appearances, and more. It’s a comprehensive picture of his legacy as one of the world’s most recognizable and influential athletes, specifically geared toward middle and high school readers. The quotes in the collection touch on sports, community, life lessons, opportunity, equality, justice, and more. This edition includes educational materials and resources for lesson plans designed to provoke discussion and thought for readers in grades 7–12 about LeBron James's ideas.

LeBron James’s meteoric rise to basketball fame started when he was just a teenager, being billed by Sports Illustrated as “The Chosen One” while he was still playing for his high school team in Akron, Ohio. He became the top overall selection for the 2003 NBA draft and signed an unprecedented $90 million endorsement deal with Nike before he ever played a professional game. James spent the first seven years of his career playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, with whom he would establish himself as a premier player in the league before going on to play for the Miami Heat and the L.A. Lakers. His unmatched athleticism and drive have led to multiple NBA championships, MVP awards, Olympic gold medals, and more points scored than anyone else in the history of professional basketball. Off the court, he has spoken up for racial equality, founded a school for at-risk children in his hometown, launched multiple media companies, and even tried his hand at acting.

Since emerging on the global stage, James has become a source of inspiration for people all over the world. Now, LeBron James: In His Own Words Young Reader Edition offers a unique look into the mind of one of the world’s most influential athletes by collecting over 100 of his most insightful quotes to create a comprehensive picture of LeBron James and his legacy for young readers everywhere.

Special educational materials for classrooms are available from Agate Publishing.

Get inside the head of Michelle Obama: author, lawyer, humanitarian, and the trailblazing first Black woman to serve as First Lady of the United States.

This collection of quotes has been carefully curated from Michelle Obama’s numerous public statements—interviews, books, social media posts, television appearances, and more. It’s a comprehensive picture of her legacy as one of America’s most recognizable and influential women, specifically geared toward middle and high school readers. The quotes in the collection touch on education, friendship and community, life lessons, America, the role of First Lady, making change, inequality and injustice, and more. This edition includes educational materials and resources for lesson plans designed to provoke discussion and thought for readers in grades 7-12 about Michelle Obama's ideas.

Michelle Obama has been challenging others’ expectations since she was a young woman growing up on Chicago’s South Side. When a high school counselor told her, “I’m not sure you’re Princeton material,” Obama graduated as the salutatorian and went off to Princeton anyway. After graduating from Harvard Law School, Obama spent several years as an attorney at a prestigious Chicago law firm before committing her efforts to public service and community outreach. When her husband, Barack Obama, was elected president in 2008, she began a new chapter of her life as the first Black woman to serve as First Lady of the United States of America. While always conscious of the unique pressures and difficulties of her role, Obama made it her mission to present her authentic self to the American people. Her pride in and openness about the aspects of her identity that made her unusual among First Ladies—including her race, working-class upbringing, career path, and educational achievement—made her a figure beloved by the general public.

Since emerging on the global stage, Obama has become a source of inspiration for young people all over the world, largely due to her engaging authenticity and candor. Now, Michelle Obama: In Her Own Words offers a unique look into the mind of one of the world’s most influential women by collecting 200 of her most insightful quotes. Meticulously curated from interviews, speeches, statements, and other sources, Michelle Obama: In Her Own Words creates a comprehensive picture of Michelle Obama, her wisdom, and her legacy.

Special educational materials for classrooms are available from Agate Publishing.

Get inside the head of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, history’s second woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice.

This collection of quotes has been curated from Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s numerous public statements—interviews, court opinions, oral arguments from her time as a lawyer, speeches, and more. It’s a comprehensive picture of her legacy and her impact on American history, specifically geared toward middle and high school readers. The quotes in the collection touch on equality, the law, feminism, the United States justice system, education, and more. This edition includes educational materials and resources for lesson plans designed to provoke discussion and thought for readers in grades 7-12 about Ginsburg's ideas.

Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg earned respect and admiration over the course of her remarkable lifetime, during which she broke barriers and set her sights on the highest levels of achievement at every turn. Beginning with her graduation from Cornell as the highest-ranking woman in her class, and then her enrollment in Harvard Law School in 1956, where she was one of only nine women in a class of 500, she steadily moved up the ranks of the American legal system until she was appointed as the second woman in history to join the Supreme Court in 1993.

During her time on the Supreme Court, she became known for her fiery dissents, her fundamental work toward equality and fair treatment, and her eloquent thought-leadership. Even after her death in 2020, she serves as an inspiration to all and a role model for women everywhere.

Now, Ruth Bader Ginsburg: In Her Own Words offers a unique look into the mind of one of the world’s most influential women by collecting 200 of Ginsburg’s most insightful quotes. Meticulously curated from interviews, speeches, court opinions, dissents, and other sources, Ruth Bader Ginsburg: In Her Own Words creates a comprehensive picture of Ginsburg, her wisdom, and her legacy.

Special educational materials for classrooms are available from Agate Publishing.