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AcquiredFeb 18, 2021

The New York Times Company

Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for The New York Times Company on Acquired.

Notable books mentioned: The Trust, The Kingdom and the Power by Gay Talese, It's a Miracle by Gates Elise, Ember in the Ashes by Saba Tahir

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The Trust cover
Mentioned at 28:22
The Trust

The host mentions 'The Trust' to provide historical context about Chattanooga as a city that is neither northern nor southern during the post-Civil…

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The Kingdom and the Power cover
Mentioned at 1:01:02
The Kingdom and the Power
Gay Talese

The host mentions 'The Kingdom and the Power' to highlight Gay Talese's critical insights into the internal dynamics and succession issues within t…

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It's a Miracle cover
Mentioned at 2:36:37
It's a Miracle
Gates Elise

The host mentions 'It's a Miracle' to highlight the intricate processes behind daily journalism at major publications like the New York Times. Gate…

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Episode summary, books & quotes

The New York Times Company mentions The Trust, The Kingdom and the Power by Gay Talese, It's a Miracle by Gates Elise, and Ember in the Ashes by Saba Tahir with timestamps, quotes, and episode context.

The TrustThe Kingdom and the PowerIt's a MiracleEmber in the Ashes
Episode summary
For the entire 20th Century, you’d be hard pressed to find a better business than an American newspaper — Warren Buffett famously described them as “franchises” — and no American newspaper stood taller than the New York Times. Controlled by a single family bound by a legal oath “to maintain the editorial independence and integrity of The New York Times and to continue it as an independent newspaper, entirely fearless, free of ulterior influence and unselfishly devoted to the public welfare”, the Times served as the paper of record for generations of Americans and people around the world. But no good thing lasts forever, and the dawn of the 21st Century saw both the Times and this once-mighty industry devastated by the dual disruptive forces of the internet and the 2008 financial crisis. And yet by 2021, The Times, essentially alone of its former peers, has reemerged from the American newspaper wreckage and transformed itself into a thriving digital business with an order of magnitude more subscribers than its print heyday. Curious how it all happened? We dive into 170 years of history to find out!
Book mentions5
Media mentions1
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What is The New York Times Company about?

Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for The New York Times Company on Acquired.

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What are the main takeaways from The New York Times Company?

These are the strongest takeaways surfaced by the transcript, summary copy, and linked mentions for The New York Times Company.

  • The conversation centers on biography of John D. Rockefeller.
  • A second recurring theme is fantasy book recommendation.
  • Referenced books include The Trust and The Kingdom and the Power by Gay Talese.
  • The strongest audience signal points to Readers interested in American history and economic development and Readers interested in media history and family dynamics.
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Which books are mentioned in The New York Times Company?

The Trust, The Kingdom and the Power by Gay Talese, and It's a Miracle by Gates Elise are the clearest linked books in this episode, each tied back to transcript timestamps and quote cards.

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The New York Times Company keeps attracting summary-style searches because this page combines episode context, transcript quotes, book references, and direct jump links back into the audio.

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Topic and sentiment signals

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Top triggers
biography of John D. Rockefeller(1)fantasy book recommendation(1)history of Chattanooga(1)New York Times succession(1)process power in journalism(1)
Mention sentiment
Deep Dive(2)Highly Recommended(2)Critical Analysis(1)
Audience signals
Readers interested in American history and economic developmentReaders interested in media history and family dynamicsJournalism professionals and media industry analystsFans of fantasy literatureReaders interested in business history and philanthropy

Books Mentioned

The Trust cover
The Trust
Best for Readers interested in American history and economic developmentOften cited around history of Chattanooga

“The speaker mentions reading 'The Trust' to prepare, which chronicles the history of the times in Chattanooga.”

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Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Readers interested in American history and economic development
Key quote: “It's interesting, I was sort of trying to figure out why it's not sort of like the dominant city in Tennessee today, because in this postbellum era, we're here in the late 1870s.”
The host mentions 'The Trust' to provide historical context about Chattanooga as a city that is neither northern nor southern during the post-Civil War era. This book helped the host understand the economic and cultural dynamics that influenced the growth of the city and its newspaper industry.
ASIN: 0593420322
Buy on Amazon
The Kingdom and the Power cover
The Kingdom and the Power
Gay Talese
Best for Readers interested in media history and family dynamicsOften cited around New York Times succession

“Gay Talese, a great writer from the 50s, 60s, 70s, wrote sort of the definitive book about the New York Times, which came out in 1969 called The Kingdom and the Power.”

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Sentiment: Critical Analysis
For: Readers interested in media history and family dynamics
Key quote: “He wrote sort of the definitive, um, book about the New York times in, in, uh, I think he came out in 1969 called the kingdom and the power, which I don't think the family loved.”
The host mentions 'The Kingdom and the Power' to highlight Gay Talese's critical insights into the internal dynamics and succession issues within the New York Times family. This book serves as a lens through which the complexities of family relationships and their impact on the newspaper's legacy can be understood.
ASIN: 0812977688
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It's a Miracle cover
It's a Miracle
Gates Elise
Best for Journalism professionals and media industry analystsOften cited around process power in journalism

“Gates Elise writes about it in the book. It's a miracle that the paper happens every day and that the website updates every day.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Journalism professionals and media industry analysts
Key quote: “Gates Elise writes about it in the book, it's a miracle that the paper happens every day and that the website updates every day.”
The host mentions 'It's a Miracle' to highlight the intricate processes behind daily journalism at major publications like the New York Times. Gates Elise's book illustrates the seemingly miraculous nature of consistently producing high-quality news content amidst complex operational challenges.
ASIN: B071JXY4M7
Buy on Amazon
Ember in the Ashes cover
Ember in the Ashes
Saba Tahir
Best for Fans of fantasy literatureOften cited around fantasy book recommendation

“The speaker mentions reading the Ember in the Ashes series, starting with the first book, which they initially found slow but ultimately enjoyed for its world-building.”

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Sentiment: Highly Recommended
For: Fans of fantasy literature
Key quote: “I thought was a little slow and felt a little hunger games knockoffy but uh my wife jenny had read the series and she's like no no no like stick with it.”
The host mentions 'Ember in the Ashes' as a great fantasy series that starts slow but improves significantly. They highlight its unique world-building and blend of influences, making it a worthwhile read.
ASIN: B0D3G5YCDZ
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Titan cover
Titan
Ron Chernow
Best for Readers interested in business history and philanthropyOften cited around biography of John D. Rockefeller

“The speaker discusses the book Titan, which is a biography of John D. Rockefeller and explores his life and business practices.”

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Sentiment: Highly Recommended
For: Readers interested in business history and philanthropy
Key quote: “I can't recommend it strongly enough.”
The host mentions 'Titan' as a fascinating biography that explores the complexities of John D. Rockefeller's life, highlighting his dual nature as a ruthless businessman and a significant philanthropist. The book provides deep insights into Rockefeller's impact on modern medicine and education, making it a compelling read for those interested in history and business.
ASIN: 0679438084
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Movies & Documentaries Mentioned

Movie

Gangs of New York

Confidence: 90%

“The mention of Gangs of New York relates to a scene where the publisher of the New York Times defends the building with a Gatling gun, similar to the bold actions described.”

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