Biographies can produce sharp turns in the way we see ourselves and the agency that we have in the world. Reading about a great life lived, we often walk away saying “How could one person have done all that?”
Two biographies stand out for having produced such moments for me: The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt and Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. The first captured an historic life that merged a passion for the humanities, adventure, and leadership. The latter is the story of a lifetime spent in spiritual preparation for a season of courage.
When we read about others we discover that their lives were far from linear. In fact, their paths through life could be better describes as intersections. The lives of Theodore Roosevelt and Dietrich Bonhoeffer are extraordinary because their career paths were intersected by diverse interests and the spirit of their times. Roosevelt was a naturalist who became Police Commissioner of New York City and then President. Bonhoeffer was the Lutheran priest who became an influential agent against the rise of Nazism in Europe.
In Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs, the subject of the biography derives his genius from working at the intersection of the liberal arts and technology. His core belief was that Apple was making more than devices that worked, they were making products that had a “current of humanity.” He took all that he knew about art, design, language, and music and put them at the forefront of company culture. As Isaacson states, “He made products that were completely innovative, combining the power of poetry and processors.”
“I like that intersection. There’s something magical about that place. There are a lot of people innovating, and that’s not the main distinction of my career. The reason Apple resonates with people is that there’s a deep current of humanity in our innovation.”
STEVE JOBS on the intersection of the humanities and science
For many years I was almost apologetic when noting that I worked in finance but had a liberal arts degree. Were those four years of college spent in history, literature, philosophy, and theology lost when I could have been studying finance exclusively? With the perspective of the Jobs biography, I appreciate that a degree in the humanities set me on a path of lifetime learning, in search of the right intersection. Now, when I help frame financial decisions in the context of human experience, I know I am working at my own magical intersection.
Morton Brown Family Wealth LLC is a registered investment adviser. This information is not provided as legal or tax advice but for information purposes only. Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk and therefore can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by Morton Brown Family Wealth (“Morton Brown”), or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this newsletter will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this newsletter serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Morton Brown. Please remember to contact Morton Brown, in writing, if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing, evaluating, or revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you would like to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services. Morton Brown shall continue to rely on the accuracy of the information that you have provided. Morton Brown is neither a law firm, nor a certified public accounting firm, and no portion of the content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of Morton Brown’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees continues to remain available on our disclosures webpage. Please Note: Please advise us if you have not been receiving account statements (at least quarterly) from the account custodian.