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A Curious Discovery: An Entrepreneur's Story Kindle Edition
In A Curious Discovery, media titan John Hendricks tells the remarkable story of building one of the most successful media empires in the world, Discovery Communications.
John Hendricks, a well-respected corporate leader and brand builder, reveals that his professional achievements would not have been possible without one crucial quality that has informed his life since childhood: curiosity.
This entrepreneur’s story takes you behind the scenes of some of the network’s most popular shows and greatest successes, and imparts crucial lessons from the network’s setbacks.
With insights, anecdotes, photographs, and real-world wisdom, A Curious Discovery is more than a powerful autobiography and corporate history: It also a valuable primer for business innovators and entrepreneurs.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarper Business
- Publication dateJune 25, 2013
- File size6.3 MB
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From Booklist
Review
“A CURIOUS DISCOVERY is a fascinating look at our ever-evolving media landscape and a practical guide for purpose-driven, made-in-America prosperity.” (Bill Clinton)
From the Back Cover
A Curious Discovery is one of the most complete and honest accounts of entrepreneurship and the building of a giant corporation ever written. Media visionary John Hendricks takes the reader on his unforgettable journey from founding Discovery Communications over a breakfast table to establishing the organization as the world's largest provider of television content. Hendricks tells this remarkable story—from the triumphs to the failures—with unflinching candor. In the process, he shares what he's learned over the past three decades, from the obstacles and successes of the early years to the very real and very different challenges that exist today. The result is not only a powerful autobiography and corporate history, but also a valuable primer for all budding entrepreneurs.
A Curious Discovery goes behind the scenes, telling the fascinating stories of some of the network's most popular shows: Deadliest Catch, Mythbusters, The Crocodile Hunter, Planet Earth, Dirty Jobs, and Trading Spaces. It also draws lessons from the network's setbacks, including the unsuccessful collaboration with the New York Times, and explains the company's high-profile decisions, such as Discovery's partnership with Oprah Winfrey and OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network.
Hendricks reveals that his achievements would not have been possible without one crucial factor that has informed his life since childhood: curiosity. Ever eager to learn, to uncover—even to take enormous risks—his questioning mind has guided his development and success, and continues to shape his outlook today as he works to improve education around the world.
About the Author
John S. Hendricks is the founder of Discovery Communications, the world's number one nonfiction media company, and serves as chairman of the Board of Directors. Hendricks has been the driving force behind the company's dramatic growth, including the expansion of Discovery Communications from its core property, Discovery Channel, to current global operations in more than 215 countries with 150 networks, among them TLC, Animal Planet, and Science. He lives in Maryland.
Product details
- ASIN : B009NFMJOI
- Publisher : Harper Business (June 25, 2013)
- Publication date : June 25, 2013
- Language : English
- File size : 6.3 MB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 396 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #500,023 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #121 in Television Genres (Kindle Store)
- #369 in Biographies of Business Professionals
- #485 in Television Genres (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

John S. Hendricks John S. Hendricks founded the Discover Channel in 1985. Now, as the chairman of Discovery Communications, the world’s top nonfiction media company, he supervises 27 entertainment brands that appear on more than 100 channels to 1.5 billion people in 39 languages and more than 170 countries. He is the first corporate leader to receive the National Education Association’s Friend of Education Award and serves on the board of directors of a number of non-profit organizations, including the United States Olympic Committee and the National Forest Foundation. He lives in Maryland.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book an interesting and inspiring read about entrepreneurship. They describe it as an educational guide for anyone starting a new business. The story is described as an inspirational tale of sticking with your dreams even when times are tough.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book interesting and inspiring. They say it provides excellent insights into the building of a great television network empire. The biography is described as an eye-opener to our wonderful world.
"...This is an incredible case study that unveils the mythical creation stories that many successful businesses tell...." Read more
"...I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the revelations in it...." Read more
"This book was fun to read about an extraordinary entrepreneur who risked a lot to develop the Discovery Channel...." Read more
"Truly an Amazing story and a great read! I highly recommend to anyone! What an eye opener to our wonderful world" Read more
Customers find the book informative and helpful for entrepreneurs. They describe it as a post-graduate level manual of business that is a must-read for businessmen.
"...thinking of going in business will find this to be a post-graduate level manual of business. I highly recommend it for anyone...." Read more
"This is a good founders book, but not the greatest. It's only so interesting." Read more
"A must read for any entrepreneur or business man a like. A true story of sticking with your dream even when times are tough...." Read more
"A very interesting book, but an even better guide for someone starting a new business especially with a new product or service!" Read more
Customers enjoyed the story. They found it inspiring and a true tale of sticking with your dreams even when times were tough.
"Enjoyed the in depth story of the struggles to create Discovery, many of these lessons relate to any new venture." Read more
"...A true story of sticking with your dream even when times are tough...." Read more
"Truly an Amazing story and a great read! I highly recommend to anyone! What an eye opener to our wonderful world" Read more
"amazing book! what an inspiring story..." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2013This is unique and careful evaluation of the evolution of an idea into a business. The story starts at the beginning showing us the key events in John's life as a child that eventually led to the critical decision to start his business. It shows the extreme risks, close calls and brazen hard work it took to turn this nascent business into a viable entity. This is an incredible case study that unveils the mythical creation stories that many successful businesses tell. This book is an excellent addition to a bookshelf that includes Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers, since this story illustrates many of the ideas in that book, such as success relies on good timing and on hard work and preparation. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to start a new business or is leading change.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2013As one of the 25% original target demograpic (read the book and figure this statement out!) , I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the revelations in it. MBA students and anyone thinking of going in business will find this to be a post-graduate level manual of business. I highly recommend it for anyone.
Hopefully one day I can meet John Hendricks and thank him personally for many, many hours of education and entertainment.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2014This is a good founders book, but not the greatest. It's only so interesting.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2019Enjoyed the in depth story of the struggles to create Discovery, many of these lessons relate to any new venture.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2019Love the homey approach to how John Hendricks used his passion for documentaries to build a media empire that benefits so many people.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2013Full Disclosure: I've known John since he was pitching Group W for satellite time ... a man with a vision who followed it ... making many friends along the way. Class act ... sticks to his guns and created what is among the smartest TV network business plans: own the product.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2015This was an excellent insight into the building of a great television network empire. It has more than inspired me to build a television
network of my own as I will soon be launching my career as an independent filmmaker.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2013This book was fun to read about an extraordinary entrepreneur who risked a lot to develop the Discovery Channel.
He has a wonderful resort and awesome car collection in Gateway, Colorado which is close to the Utah border.
The scenery is beyond beautiful.