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A Curious Discovery: An Entrepreneur's Story Kindle Edition

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 53 ratings

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Hendricks is the founder and chairman of Discovery Communications, a global mass-media entertainment company consisting of 28 network brands including the flagship Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, TLC, and the Science Channel. Inspired by such classic television documentaries as Walter Cronkite’s The Twentieth Century and Carl Sagan’s Cosmos, Hendricks boldly set out to create an all-educational cable network to air documentary, nature, and science programming 24 hours a day. That was in 1982, when cable was still an unproven medium. How he went from a $100,000 second mortgage on his home and the brink of bankruptcy to a $23-billion media empire is one of the most engaging entrepreneurial stories you’re likely to read and also one of the most personal. From his anecdotes about growing up in 1960s segregated Alabama to his recounting of a courting by the enigmatic Ted Turner, Hendricks’ humility, sincerity, and prescience shine through. Along the way, you may even get a behind-the-scenes look at one of your favorite shows, such as Mythbusters, Shark Week, American Chopper, How It’s Made, and Planet Earth. --David Siegfried

Review

“John Hendricks’ story is quintessentially American, and yet he ended up bringing to millions the diversity and excitement of the world. In A CURIOUS DISCOVERY he tells a terrific story rooted in the 20th Century but exploding into the 21st.” (Robert Redford)

“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)

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
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 53 ratings

About the author

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John S. Hendricks
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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.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
53 global ratings

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Customers 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

12 customers mention "Readability"12 positive0 negative

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

5 customers mention "Education level"5 positive0 negative

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

4 customers mention "Story quality"4 positive0 negative

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

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2013
    This 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.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2013
    As 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.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2014
    This is a good founders book, but not the greatest. It's only so interesting.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2019
    Enjoyed the in depth story of the struggles to create Discovery, many of these lessons relate to any new venture.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2019
    Love the homey approach to how John Hendricks used his passion for documentaries to build a media empire that benefits so many people.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2013
    Full 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.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2015
    This 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.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2013
    This 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.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

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