Always Moving Forward

by David A. Jones, Jill Johnson-Keeney (Editor)

This is a story of friends, family, hometown values – and an entrepreneur who changed American healthcare forever. In 1961, David Jones and another young lawyer borrowed $1,000 each to build a nursing home. That modest investment turned into first the largest nursing home company in the U.S., then the largest hospital corporation, and today one of the nation's largest health insurance companies, with 65,000 employees and a value of $65 billion. “I've always believed there's nothing being done that can't be done better,” Jones writes in this engaging account of American entrepreneurship. He also advocates hiring ordinary people who learn fast and get things done, rather than relying on expert credentials. But DAVID A. JONES Always Moving Forward is about so much The controversy over for-profit Jones explains why he was “proudly not non-profit.” The artificial The world watched as a Humana team implanted the Jarvik-7 into a man who lived 620 days. A sixteen-year-long humanitarian After the collapse of the Berlin Wall and Eastern European economies, President George H. W. Bush asked Jones to help rebuild the Romanian healthcare system, which had been devastated by war and a corrupt dictator. 9/11: Jones and 23 Humana executives were at Ground Zero when the planes hit. They tell the harrowing story. Life lessons For example, “Family first” and “You don't have a clear idea unless it fits on the back of a business card.” Business failures as well as successes. Jones also was a great philanthropist, although mostly anonymously. His final legacy is one of the largest metropolitan parks completed this century – a project led by him and one of his sons in their hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.

579 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 16, 2024

Reviews

[S. Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the autobiography of lawyer, businessman, and philanthropist David Jones, best known as the founder of Humana. The text was completed and published posthumously by Bob Hill, but it is almost all in Jones' own words. He chronicles his life from childhood through and past his retirement. There is also a substantial appendix section at the end of the book, discussing health care reform, investing, accounting, and a timeline of events, which is helpful to the reader.

I should preface this review by saying that I do not have sufficient background information to do anything but take Jones at his word. His recounting is almost by definition a self-flattering (although not arrogant) one, and while I have no particular reason to doubt it, I still owe a caveat to the reader. For my own part, I found the material quite interesting. In addition to providing the details of his own life and that of his family, Jones discusses the background of almost every major player in his life, including his friend, business partner, and polar opposite Wendell Cherry. He writes about how their almost spontaneous decision to buy a nursing home branched into hospitals and the eventual creation of the insurance company, Humana. Along the way, there were many side ventures, including an ill-fated foray into mobile home parks and buying a Louisville basketball team in the late 1960s.

Although most are not dwelt upon, Jones has some thought-provoking insights into the healthcare industry, such as the arguable advantages of for-profit hospitals over not-for-profit ones. "What you call "for-profit" I call "tax-paying." Profit is never an end, it's an absolute requirement. No enterprise, however worthy, can continue unless all costs, including the cost of capital, are covered," Jones writes. While I would not necessarily base the entirety of my opinion about healthcare on this perspective, it is still an intriguing point.

David Jones invested considerable resources in philanthropic causes, particularly those centered in his home city of Louisville, Kentucky, and in his book he discusses his reasons for doing so. He repeatedly credits the fruits of his labors to his confidence, adaptability, and tendency towards risk-taking. It is an unique perspective from someone who stood near the helm of American healthcare for the latter half of the twentieth century, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the topic.

[Misty Knapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Always Moving Forward by David Jones. It's a great autobiography that begins with David's birth on August 7, 1931, in Louisville, Kentucky, at the beginning of the Depression. David details that, for most of his life, his family was poor (until he went to college) but so many of the families around were poor.
David amassed several degrees via attending several colleges and joined the Navy. Once he was in, he took his CPA exam (finances was his jam). However, he lied to get his CPA license. At the time, only 2 states allowed one to take the exam without having to complete hours of working under someone licensed. He went to Tennessee, (one of the states) having frat brothers living there, who let him use their mailing address. I enjoyed the book until I read that section. If he lied to get his CPA license, what else did he lie about or "get around" during his business practices?
The meat of the book details his starting nursing homes and Humana, with his friend Wendall Cherry. He saw a need for people to get good healthcare at a fraction of the cost. However, he received lash back from the people when they found out Humana hospital(s) was a for-profit since most of the hospitals were not-for-profits. David's answer was "You can't attain the moral high ground by assertion, only by performance." He was also a philanthropist, giving back to many people and especially, in Romania.
I would recommend this book!

[Hannah Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was quite a bit more interesting and fast-paced than I was expecting. Like another reviewer, I do feel the need to clarify that this is a memoir in David Jones' own words (though it was published posthumously), therefore this is not necessarily a historical document that can be corroborated for fact or fiction. I say that, only because capitalism has a funny way of skewing the narrative to the benefit of the storyteller.

With that said, I was not expecting such a relatable tale. I also, apparently, had not read the back of the book well enough because I was not expecting to learn how Humana came to be--fascinating! I am an active user of Humana, and so I found the evolution of the org to be pretty interesting.

It's curious to put a literal face to the universal structures we all use, like the medical-industrial complex. I would never have considered that his role in 9/11 was as important as it was-- you only ever think of first responders. Or his role in Romania--healthcare is a universal HUMAN need, and I think it's really beautiful the impact that David Jones had and continues to have on our well-being as a nation, and a global community.

Overall, it was an engaging and deeply captivating read.

[Hiren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that the chapters in the book are organized very logically, even though they do have some degree of chronological order. One can easily find out more about the relevant aspect of the author's life just by browsing through the table of contents as well as the huge index given at the end.

The level of detail with which certain events have been recounted is remarkable. Interpersonal relations with plenty of characters have been discussed very well. The book also presents plenty of examples of how certain tricky situations were handled, not necessarily by the author himself.

Some readers might find the tone of the book to be too authoritative. The book by itself is also rather long because of the larger-than-life story being described. Human emotions such as confidence, ignorance, fear, hope, anger, love, gratitude are all regularly woven into the story.

The editing could have been better in many places. I would have also liked it better if the appendices were removed, because they take away the essence of the book being a memoir and add to an already long piece of work.

[Writehandle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always Moving Forward chronicles the life of David Jones, founder and ex-CEO of Humana. It follows his life story, from his formative years in Louisville, Kentucky during the Great Depression, to his founding of health insurance company Humana, to his eventual rise to the top and retirement from corporate service.

Overall, the book does an adequate job of accurately retelling the story of an eventful life. There’s never the sense that anything was dramatized or overblown for effect. In my favorite part of the book, Jones discusses how he witnessed the 9/11 attacks. He also details how his colleagues from Humana narrowly avoided death when they were en-route to a company meeting in the Trade Center. This chapter adequately embodies the spirit of the book: although it’s remarkable, it never comes across as overblown.

All in all, I’d say the book is a solid read for those interested in the David’s entrepreneurial journey.

[Donna Costello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting and heartwarming memoir written by the ex-CEO of Humana David Jones. I found it enlightening in places as I didn’t have much knowledge of his history so this was a fresh story for me. The writing was engaging and maintained a steady pace, not once did I feel that the book lagged. This was a well written story, with a strong structure and intriguing insight into the healthcare system.

[Rylan M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always Moving Forward is a captivating memoir that traces the remarkable life of David Jones, the visionary founder of Humana. From humble beginnings to building a healthcare empire worth billions, Jones story is one of resilience, innovation, and compassion.

Through truthful storytelling, Jones shares insights into the challenges of for profit medicine and the importance of adaptability in business. His philanthropic actions and commitment to community underline the values that guided his journey.

While the book's length may be daunting to some, its detailed accounts offer valuable lessons in perseverance and integrity. From witnessing the 9/11 attacks to leading humanitarian missions, Jones experiences inspire readers to embrace challenges and strive for greatness.

[Steve Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have selected this book as Stevo's Business Book of the Week for the week of 1/5, as it stands heads above other recently published books on this topic.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Always Moving Forward" isn't merely a corporate biography of David A. Jones, the healthcare pioneer. It's a tapestry woven with threads of personal triumph, societal impact, and unwavering humanity. The book weaves in personal interviews with Jones, his family, and colleagues, painting a vibrant portrait that begins not in boardrooms, but in humble 1930s Kentucky.
We witness Jones blossom as a leader in the Navy, then witness his entrepreneurial spirit bloom alongside Wendell Cherry as they co-found Extendicare, later morphing into the healthcare giant Humana. But the book delves deeper, revealing the man behind the success story. Anecdotes from the euphoria of entrepreneurial wins and a moving visit to a Romanian AIDS hospital reveal Jones' compassion, often expressed through anonymous acts of generosity that extended far beyond the boardroom.
"Always Moving Forward" isn't just about business. It's a celebration of Jones' unwavering commitment to family and friends. We encounter an "endless optimist," a man who tackled challenges with resilience and a touch of competitive fire. The narrative transcends corporate success, navigating the complexities of for-profit medicine, pioneering heart implantations, and even venturing into rebuilding Romania's healthcare system. Young entrepreneurs will find valuable lessons distilled into leadership principles.
It's an insightful guide for healthcare and entrepreneurial aspirants, and an homage to a visionary leader who embodied the spirit of never staying still.

[Charles Magesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Inspiring and Motivating Memoir 



Always Moving Forward, a memoir of David A. Jones, the founder of Humana, is an inspiring and thought-provoking book. The story is an autobiography of Jones and covers his life from childhood through his education and entrepreneurial journey. 

I found the book inspiring with so many relatable life lessons we can learn from David's life. His success academically and as an entrepreneur despite his humble background is an inspiration that anyone can succeed in life. The most interesting part is how he tells the way they started a hospital with his friend by borrowing $1000 each and later founding one of the biggest medical insurance companies in the country. 

Also, his life story; how he gave back to society and kept his friends and family close all through teaches us not to forget where we came from. David also demonstrated his gratitude for people who contributed to his success by ensuring each one of them gave their views in his book. 

I enjoyed reading Always Moving Forward by David A. Jones, and found it motivating and encouraging us to "always keep moving forward." I would recommend this book to everyone, especially the youth.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

David A. Jones, founder of Humana, was a humanitarian with a dream. From borrowing $1,000 each with his partner, the business went from a nursing home to a health insurance company worth 65 billion and was called by George H.W. Bush to help rebuild the health system in Romania. Reading his story was really inspiring. I was in awe of not only his accomplishments but also how he dealt with his life challenges. I'm relieved to read books on entrepreneurs and humanitarians who struggle just like we do and recover from them and turn them into successes. I'm familiar with Humans and I know a few people that are customers and I know they'll appreciate the man behind it.

This book is a reflection of a true humanitarian. I could not stop reading this story without feeling touched in the heart. The book is also well-edited, written, and structured. For content reasons, I am giving this book a four star rating.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Always Moving Forward" is a touching memoir by Humana founder and CEO David A Jones. The book follows Jones from his humble upbringing in Depression-era Louisville, Kentucky, through his time at university and through his successful career in the Navy. Through milestones like the marriage to his sweetheart Betty and the birth of their first child, Jones is always surrounded by supportive friends and family. In 1961, Jones and his business partner each took out a $1000 loan to build a nursing home and years later lead to the successful health insurance company Humana. He balanced his CEO duties with a long inspirational legacy of humanitarian work. Prior to reading this, I didn't know much about this particular entrepreneur and was pleasantly surprised by the story of his life. CEOs are often out of touch with reality, so it was touching to see Jones's humble beginnings and how he had gone through his fair share of failures as well. This was overall an enjoyable read.