Private Power

Steve Coll investigates the largest and most powerful private corporation in the United States, revealing the true extent of its power. ExxonMobil’s annual revenues are larger than the economic activity in the great majority of countries. In many of the countries where it conducts business, ExxonMobil’s sway over politics and security is greater than that of the United States embassy. In Washington, ExxonMobil spends more money lobbying Congress and the White House than almost any other corporation. Yet despite its outsized influence, it is a black box.

In '48 Laws of Power,' Robert Greene explores the timeless principles of power, influence, and human behavior. Drawing from historical examples and real-world strategies, Greene unveils a compelling and often provocative guide to understanding and mastering the dynamics of power. Whether you're an aspiring leader, a student of human psychology, or simply curious about the forces that shape our interactions, this book is a captivating journey into the intricacies of power dynamics.

In Grace and Power, New York Times best-selling author Sally Bedell Smith takes us inside the Kennedy White House with unparalleled access and insight. Having interviewed scores of Kennedy intimates, including many who have never spoken before, and drawing on letters and personal papers made available for the first time, Smith paints a richly detailed picture of the personal relationships behind the high purpose and poiltical drama of the 20th century's most storied presidency.

Lionel Barber was editor of the Financial Times for the tech boom, the global financial crisis, the rise of China, Brexit and mainstream media's fight for survival in the age of fake news. In this unparalleled, no-holds-barred diary of life behind the headlines, he reveals the private meetings and exchanges with political leaders on the eve of referendums, the conversations with billionaire bankers facing economic meltdown, exchanges with Silicon Valley tech gurus and pleas from foreign emissaries desperate for inside knowledge.

The confetti's barely settled from his son's wedding when private eye Jamaica Biltmore finds himself embroiled in his most explosive case yet. Just as Jamaica and his wife, FBI Agent Julie Waters, enjoy a rare moment of calm, the celebration takes a shocking turn. The FBI agents at the wedding are called into action, revealing a heart-stopping truth: the governor of New York has been kidnapped. Adding a layer of unwelcome drama, the governor's wife, Jamaica's ex-wife who vanished when their son was an infant, insists he be brought in on the investigation. Against his better judgment, ...

In this broad-scoped, inside-Ottawa memoir, Thomas d’Aquino, described by Peter C. Newman as “the most powerful influence on public policy formation in Canadian history,” offers personal insights on four decades of bold leadership at the apex of power.

Like the Rockefellers and the Kennedys, the Kochs are one of the most influential dynasties of the modern age, but they have never been the subject of a major biography... until now. Not long after the death of his father, Charles Koch, then in his early 30s, discovered a letter the family patriarch had written to his sons. "You will receive what now seems to be a large sum of money," Fred Koch cautioned. "It may either be a blessing or a curse."

Over the past two generations, U.S. leaders deregulated big business on the faith that it would yield a better economy and a freer society. But the opposite happened. Americans lost stable, well-paying jobs, Wall Street dominated industry to the detriment of the middle class and local communities, and corporations began to subject us to total surveillance, even dictating what we are, and aren’t, allowed to think. The corporate titans and mega-donors who aligned themselves with this vision knew exactly what they were getting: perfect conditions for what Sohrab Ahmari calls “private tyranny”.

Something sinister was stirring behind the closed doors and beneath the gleaming surfaces, a tension simmering just out of sight. A shadow flickered over the land of power and privilege, where appearances were crafted meticulously to conceal the truth, and nothing was as serene as it seemed. Alongside the gossamer whispers of corruption that hung in the air was something even more profound, an unspoken accord silently weaving through deals struck in dimly lit corners and half-smoked cigars exchanged among a select few. The acrid scent of smoke curled up toward the ceiling, mingling with the...

Voodoo mambo Mama Mulate suffers a fate worse than death A grieving couple hires paranormal investigator Wyatt Thomas to find the person who killed their son. But is it murder if the victim isn’t dead? Wyatt goes undercover to discover the answer and soon learns death isn’t always a person’s worst fate. Will Wyatt solve the sticky mystery or fall victim to the seemingly supernatural killer and suffer a fate worse than death? Half Past Midnight is Book 10 of Eric Wilder’s intoxicating French Quarter Mystery Series set in that ‘exotic, erotic Mecca known as New Orleans. Visit the ...

Enjoy the mystery as sisters Francis and Jo Hardy investigate the robbery of the Applegate Mansion and embark on their first official foray as detectives. --- Although a child of the 80s and 90s, I have loved both the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries through their various books, TV, and movie adaptations. I wanted to be a Hardy Boy, and I always had a crush on every version of Nancy Drew. Now here I am as a dad wishing my kids expressed the same fascination with old school mysteries as they do video games. I’m also the proud father of one princess. She’s growing up on our farm with ...

A rainy night in east Texas leads to murder When private detective Buck McDivit inherits his murdered aunt’s fishing camp on Caddo Lake, he quickly learns all isn’t right in this primordial paradise dripping with antebellum mystique. To retain his inheritance, he must take on a white supremacy group in the nearby racially-torn east Texas town of Deception. Will Buck prevail or become gator bait beneath the coffee-colored surface of the mysterious lake? Ghost of a Chance is Book 1 of Eric Wilder's gripping Paranormal Cowboy Series. See what Amazon readers are saying about Ghost: "...

Izzy believes she can read minds. In a near-future army-controlled state, that should be a handy superpower, but it is always getting Izzy into trouble. Tons of Trouble. Mick the Mountain, newly released from a twenty-year stint of hard labour returns to Ostere looking for the girl, Dolorez, and the money he left behind. Times have changed. The army is in control. Dolorez hasn’t waited and the man holding the key to his deposit box had to sell it to satisfy his drug habit. When the first obstacle in Mick’s path ends up dead, Izzy knows she must find Dolorez and warn her of Mick’s ...

The country club was unnervingly quiet at this hour, the usual clinking of glasses and murmur of conversations now replaced by the whispering breeze that slipped through the oak trees. A lone security guard, Tom Harrigan, paced the darkened halls, his heavy boots muffled by the thick carpet. He glanced at the clock. It was almost midnight. Everything about this night felt wrong. Tom’s hand rested on his belt, where his radio sat. He had been about to clock out when he’d heard something unusual in this place, where every movement was typically predictable. The country club’s board ...

The grand ballroom shimmered under the soft glow of chandeliers, their crystal prisms catching the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree, which stood proudly at the far end of the room. Music floated through the air, a delicate waltz that danced on the breeze, its melody mingling with the laughter and chatter of the elite. The Christmas Gala was the event of the season, where secrets were exchanged as freely as champagne and every guest wore a mask, both literal and metaphorical. But beneath the festive cheer, something darker simmered. Among the glittering crowd stood a rare heirloom an ...

In the lavish halls of the country club, where elegance meets exclusivity, secrets simmer beneath the surface. Jeff, a keen-eyed waiter with an inquisitive mind, finds himself entangled in a web of deceit, power struggles, and hidden agendas. What begins as a typical day serving drinks and hors d'oeuvres quickly spirals into a deadly mystery when Victor Langston, a wealthy businessman and recent board member, is found dead in his study. As whispers of scandal echo through the ornate rooms, Jeff must navigate a treacherous landscape filled with backstabbing rivals and corrupted alliances. ...

WE’VE BEEN HACKED… THE POWER GRIDS ARE DOWN Now the politicians need his help Or do they want him dead? Ripped from todays headlines… John Seal, ex-CIA and cybersecurity expert, is tasked with safeguarding the country’s vital electrical infrastructure from diabolical hackers. He is sent to Budapest on a routine intel gathering mission and inadvertently discovers a planned cyber attack is imminent. The target — US power grids! With the risk of a terrorist attack on red alert, the Secretary of Homeland Security presses John to finish developing the software his agency is designing ...

Vampire private eye Samantha Moon confronts an enemy from her past in this riveting supernatural mystery from USA Today bestselling author, J.R. Rain. With unusual sunspot activity making headlines and alarming scientists, Samantha Moon gets a surreal visit from Josephine—a silver-haired woman who believes she’s the incarnation of the Moon. She has an urgent case for Sam. Her counterpart, Jacob, who just might be the incarnation of the Sun, is missing. As Sam digs into the case, using every tool in her considerable repertoire, her twisty investigation soon leads her to suspect that an ...

In the summer of 1987, Payam Zamani fled Iran. As a member of the Baha'i Faith, he had already survived years of religious persecution at the hands of Islamic fundamentalists. Taking the only path available to him, he escaped to Pakistan through the Emptiness Desert: a harrowing five-day trek through one of the hottest, driest, and most hostile regions on the planet. Twelve years later, he and his brother set records when the company they founded hit a $1.2 billion valuation on Wall Street.

Bundle of FOUR #1 bestselling mystery and suspense novels by J.R. Rain, including: MOON DANCE (Vampire for Hire #1) The thrilling first novel in J.R. Rain's epic vampire mystery series! For fans of Charlaine Harris, Laurell K. Hamilton and Bella Forrest. Six years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire. Now working the night shift as a private investigator, Samantha is hired by Kingsley ...