Profiles in Audacity: Great Decisions and How They Were Made

by Alan Axelrod

In brief, compelling, and inspiring vignettes, bestselling historian Alan Axelrod pinpoints and investigates the make-or-break event in the lives and careers of some of history’s most significant figures. Axelrod reexamines history by revealing the answer to the fascinating question of why the people who made history made their choices—and conveys the resonance of those choices today. The 46 profiles range from ancient times to the present day and include Cleopatra’s decision to rescue Egypt; Washington’s decision to cross the Delaware and win; Gandhi’s decision to prevail against the British Empire without bloodshed; Truman’s decision to drop the A-bomb and end WW II; Rosa Parks decision to sit in for civil rights; Boris Yeltsin’s decision to embrace a new world order; and Flight 93’s decision to take a stand against terror.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Leadership, Biography, American History

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Alan Axelrod, Ph.D., is a prolific author of history, business and management books. As of October 2018, he had written more than 150 books, as noted in an online introduction by Lynn Ware Peek before an interview with Axelrod on the National Public Radio station KPCW. Axelrod resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

Reviews

[Anna Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice compilation of essays detailing audacious and triumphant decisions throughout history. Some of them I loved (such as Queen Elizabeth I and the Spanish Armada), and some of them weren't exactly in my field of interest (anything business-related). The essays were clearly-written and thought-provoking, and it was interesting to try to get inside the minds of these world leaders and everyday citizens who had the courage and gumption to take risks and do great things.

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the Civil War, the state of TX was going hungry. Nothing was left except the cattles. At that time, Charlie Goodnight opened a cattle business and he knew that everyone in TX was driving all the cattle to the east for the market there. But he chose to drive the cattles to go west, where no one had ever gone before. He hired some rangers to help feed and protect the animals, the rangers later became what is known as cowboys.

The idea of credit card can be traced back to the American hotels in the 1900s, when they offered their customers cards they could use to charge rooms and services. At that time, Frank X McNamara, the owner of Hamilton Credit Corporation, a small loan company, one day, he forgot to bring cash when he was dining out with his friends, it inspired an idea in him. He decided to create a universal credit card and persuaded a group of restaurants to accept this credit card for his clients, later all the big credit companies began to adopt this idea.

Back in 1979, Ted Turner's friend died and he felt that human beings were not going to live together and he decided to create a cable news called CNN. In 1970, Turner purchased Atlanta's Channel 17 and renamed his company TBS. He took notice of HBO a cable company and decided to follow their example, except that he decided to broadcast 24 hours of news. It was a concept that everyone laughed at at that time, but Ted believed that once its obviously to everybody that something is going to be successful, the opportunity is gone because then anybody else can do it too.

In 1895, Booker Washington signed the Atlanta Compromise to accept social inequality and segregation in exchange for white encouragement of black progress in economic opportunity and vocational education. At that time, nobody dared to question this compromise except Du Bois, who was the first African American to receive a Ph D from Harvard. He later became the founder of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909.

Branch Rickey started playing baseball while he was still a student in OH. In 1910, while he was on the road with the team, a hotel manager in IN refused to provide a room for Rickey's one black player. After he graduated from Law school, he later became the president of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1943. The first thing he did as president was to sign up a black ballplayer. He later created the United States League to encourage black ballplayers, this league had never played a single game in its life.

[Raeshell Sorensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's great for those of us with ADD who would like to learn more about history, but don't really have the patience.

[Claire Binkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a great deal in here that I would not have known, had I never opened this book.

It is roughly chronological by section. The chronological leaps are between JFK and the Cuban Missile Crisis to Colombus and the New World / Bill Gates and MS-DOS and Joan of Arc and the Dauphin / James Burke and the Tylenol Murders/William the Conqueror and the Norman Conquest then finally Boris Yeltsin and the Communist Coup/Chief Joseph and the End of Battle.

Then again, it seems like history doesn't tend to make a whole lot of sense, either. So I survived the time warp. You might, too.

[Barbara Williford · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful compilation of short narratives about people of history who had the audacity and courage to strive for better, not just for themselves but for their countries and the world. Their decisions, while some calculated and others split second decisions, changed the course of history for so many. I learned so much history and some misconceptions taught in schools. Great read! Audible is well narrated.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent summary stories of many very interesting events in history. Some of the stories were very well told. The theme of focusing on the decision making itself was sometimes done very well and other times a little lacking. Thorough historical background and a good blend of personal vignettes of the historical figures themselves.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book, chronicling accounts of particularly audacious decisions. I was riveted by some-- Eisenhower's decision to go ahead with D-Day, the heroic call to bring down Flight 93, things like that. Others felt a little scrambled. The organization of this book felt a little off, but when it was interesting, it was very interesting.

[Edy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. The author discussed decisions made by individuals that changed their lives and the lives of the rest of us. Examples: Eisenhower's decision to go ahead with the D-Day Invasion, the Wright Brothers decisions about their flight experiments, Elizabeth I's decision to take on the Spanish Armada.

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The essays were too short. It was like walking through a museum and reading the display cards. I soon tired of it. The real old stories were just a litany of "then he did this". The more contemporary were more interesting because there was source material and Axelrod could quote the individual. The personal made it more interesting for me.

[David Medders · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and cursory survey of significant decisions made by remarkable leaders and some of the major influences affecting these times.

[Dries Human · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief and clear. Could have included more less known stories . Enjoyable read

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A series of historical vignettes that essentially rehash the flashpoints in history. Perhaps a decent read for someone new to the field, but otherwise it offers nothing new or interesting.

[Poppy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis:
44 vignettes of the world's most influential decisions.

Review:
Very interesting! Covered several topics/individuals that I have not yet read about, including Jackie Robinson/Branch Rickey, Jimmy Doolittle, George Marshall.

Inspired me to read:
Ann Tusa-The Berlin Airlift
Ted Lawson-Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo

Rating:
5 stars for content and writing. Would not read it again.

*Donated

[Wayne VanLeuven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the entries are excellent, others so-so. Reads a little like entries in Wikipedia--nothing in depth here. The theme of the book is "Crossing the Rubicon" which is explained in the introduction. Actually I felt the introductory essay on this part of Roman history was one of the best. I also enjoyed the entry on Queen Elizabeth. Because of the format this is the kind of book you can read an entry and then put it down for a while--chapter a day type of thing.

[Lisa]

Am loving this book- short stories on the people who made decisions (and why) that changed history. I just love learning my history this way as I find it is more memorable and meaningful. The stories range anywhere from Cleopatra and her decision to be with Ceasar and then Antony, to Ted Truner's decision to create the first ever all news cable station (CNN)- fascinating. Keeping this on the bedside table, but moving on to other exciting reads.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good enough that I don't regret reading it, but it definitely wasn't as advertised. It claimed to be about HOW decisions were made by the people who made them, but it's more a recording THAT decisions were made. The insight into how the people made the decisions just isn't there. The book was enjoyable anyway, as the stories are interesting and readable, and if you generally like biographies, as I do, then there's enough meat in the stories to be satisfying.

[Abbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good/decent book. The writing is not very good, but I learned some interesting things about history. Some chapters were excruciatingly boring, but most were readable and overall I mostly enjoyed the quick, semi-educational read.

[Tomlikeslife · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was sort of a history book that provided snippets of data on various famous people who the author made great decisions. Worth reading but not worth buying the book. I got the book from my son who was getting rid of a bunch of books.

[Ismaias Recinos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read, great historical synopses of major historical decisions and the implications behind why they were (or often were not) made. Each chapter is a different 'decision', organized by topic rather than chronologically, it's split up into manageable sections.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look through history at different important decisions and some of the decision making process. It has a lot of short stories inside. Highlights from ancient times to more recent (late-1900's) decisions as well.

[Mandakini · Rating 4 out of 5]

inspiring insight into some of the big decisions made in history,,,,,enjoyed it!

[Yosef Shapiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shows turning points in history and explains the difficulties behind making many if these decisions.