Author Biography

John F. Wasik is the author of nineteen books, including Lightning Strikes: Timeless Lessons in Creativity from the Life and Work of Nikola Tesla. His columns, blogs, and articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Reuters, Forbes, and Bloomberg News. In 2018, Wasik was named an Illinois Road Scholar for the Illinois Humanities Council. His speaking engagements on technology, history, investing, and innovation reach global audiences. He lives in Grayslake, IL.

Review

"This unique blend of biography and policy prescription . . . traces the roots of Lincoln's support for the transcontinental railroad and other 'internal improvements' . . . Wasik convincingly argues that his economic policies deserve more credit. Liberals will cheer this eye-opening account."
—Publishers Weekly

"A unique contribution . . . Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, Lincolnomics: How President Lincoln Constructed the Great American Economy is an impressively unique, extraordinarily informative, and a seminal work of simply outstanding scholarship."
—Midwest Book Review

"In the engrossing new work, the only biography of its kind, Lincolnomics, John F. Wasik . . . explores Lincoln's foundational governing policies. . . . Lincolnomics is especially relevant at this moment as President Biden is proposing one of the biggest infrastructure packages in American history, and there is also debate on what that term really means."
—Brooklyn Digest

"If we are to 'think anew and act anew' to overcome the 'American carnage' of the present, John F. Wasik's Lincolnomics provides an important and stimulating view of how Lincoln's vision may apply to the future. He shows us Lincoln the Great Builder and Lincoln the Great Innovator, whose works in his time and enduring idea of America served as the foundation for progressive change through the 20th century and may once again inspire us in the 21st. What would Lincoln do? Lincolnomics helps answer that question."
—Sidney Blumenthal, former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton, former national staff reporter for The Washington Post, and author, The Political Life of Abraham Lincoln

"John Wasik invented a new word for this book because his theme bears new force: Abraham Lincoln sought a better-built nation and a freer legal space to help every individual, regardless of background, to aspire and rise. Most historians know this too vaguely about Lincoln; Wasik finally gives the great democratic idea the prominence it deserves."
—James M. Cornelius, Ph.D., Editor, Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association

"Lincolnomics offers a unique insight into the remarkable career and accomplishments of America's most celebrated president—an icon in this country and around the world. Hundreds of books have been written about Lincoln's personal and political life, yet little has been researched regarding his leadership in promoting major infrastructure projects that positioned America to emerge ultimately as the world's leader in industry and technology. His belief in the importance of projects including canals, railroads, and communications has great relevance today as we explore the need for a major infrastructure initiative led by the federal government. If you are interested in history and public policy, Wasik's engaging publication is a must read."
—Gerald Adelmann, President and CEO, Openlands

"Though I have read several bookshelf-feet on Lincoln books, Wasik clearly seems to have made the case for—and opened up—a whole new area of study regarding his heritage as an environmentalist, public educator, and infrastructure innovator."
—Don Rose, Chicago journalist and independent political consultant

"Wasik presents Abraham Lincoln as 'nothing less than our foremost architect of economic opportunity.' In an engaging, informal style, he explores the policies Lincoln promoted across his career including transportation improvements, public education, and free labor. Wasik sees in Lincoln's policies a broad roadmap for promoting equal economic opportunity in the twenty-first century."
—Ann Durkin Keating, Professor of History, North Central College and author, The World of Juliette Kinzie, Chicago Before the Fire
"At a brisk paceand in engaging prose, Wasik presents a persuasive case that Lincoln'sobsession with public goods and services led to a series of policies that builtmodern America….Wasik is also careful to avoid the traps of sentimentality andhero-worship. He writes bracingly about how Lincoln's infrastructural agendaroutinely robbed Native Americans of land, excluded Black workers, andexploited the labor of the poor."—The ProgressiveMagazine

Praise for The Merchant of Power: Sam Insull, Thomas Edison, and the Creation of the Modern Metropolis

"[A] focused look at one of the most interesting historical figures you've never heard of . . . a fascinating cautionary tale."
—Fortune

"Brilliant . . . [B]rings Insull back to complicated life, and should revive interest in a forgotten giant."
—Chicago Sun-Times

"Does a fine job of telling the early story of utilities, moguls and scandal."
—Chicago Tribune

"Wasik writes well, and Insull is a complex man whose life and times makes worthwhile reading."
—Publishers Weekly

Praise for The Cul-de-Sac Syndrome: Turning Around the Unsustainable American Dream

"[Wasik] shows how the American dream of moving further from a city to buy a bigger house and find better schools was a costly proposition, which was an underlying cause of the crisis. . . . [A] totally new look at the American dream and its costs."
—moneywatch.com

Praise for Keynes's Way to Wealth: Timeless Investment Lessons from the Great Economist

"Wasik's distillation of how Keynes made—and then remade—his fortune is instructive. And the principles that Keynes followed have stood the test of time. As Mr. Wasik adds, 'The object of investing is to ensure prosperity, not to become obsessed with making money.'"
—The New York Times

"I'd always heard Keynes was a talented investor but never knew any of the details. John Wasik's excellent book uncovers that story and reveals Keynes's considerable investing skills."
—Joe Manseuto, founder and CEO, Morningstar

Promotional

• Targeted outreach to history and economics organizations, websites, podcasts, and publications.
• Social media marketing on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads giveaways.
• PR campaign with print, radio, and digital interview targets, including NPR and all major national television stations.

Long Description

* Celebrates Our Greatest President's Forgotten Successes: Rescues the enduring historical significance of Lincoln's economic plan, which laid the groundwork for national banking and transportation systems, a fair personal income tax, and low-cost public higher education (land-grant colleges). * More Than a Wartime President: Lincoln's wartime achievements are well-known, but this book shows how Northern States prospered after 1862 because of the president's many lesser-known economic and governmental wins. * Our Sixteenth President, Early Economic Equalist: Examines speeches (like a lost speech before his 1860 nomination); writings (like a letter with a surprising connection to modern infection control); eye for infrastructure (a sketch of a town he surveyed and planned, but never built); and early legislative work that reveal Lincoln's devotion to equality in all forms everywhere. * Lincoln the Luminary: Background on how Abe impacted both Roosevelt presidents, activist Jane Addams, architect Frank Lloyd Wright, President Barack Obama, and other luminaries further proves Lincoln's lasting impact. His "Spiritual Economics" still compels us to provide inclusive economic opportunities. * Sole President to Hold a Patent for One of His Inventions: "Innovator in Chief" Lincoln greenlighted national research and development, plus improvements in invention and modern infrastructure--which Congress had been considering for years before he took office . . . and is still eyeing in today's recession, another timely tie to current events. * Experienced, Mediagenic Author: Wasik has guested on CNN, MSNBC, NBC, NPR, PBS, and radio stations worldwide. His columns, blogs, and articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Reuters, Forbes, and Bloomberg News . * How Lincoln's Economic Thinking Informs COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter Movement: Exciting new research and insights on Lincoln's economic strategy, drawing stunning relevance to these pressing times. The Afterword specifically addresses the failure of infrastructure during the pandemic.

Review Quote

Praise for The Merchant of Power: Sam Insull, Thomas Edison, and the Creation of the Modern Metropolis "[A] focused look at one of the most interesting historical figures you've never heard of . . . a fascinating cautionary tale." -- Fortune "Brilliant . . . [B]rings Insull back to complicated life, and should revive interest in a forgotten giant." -- Chicago Sun-Times "Does a fine job of telling the early story of utilities, moguls and scandal." -- Chicago Tribune "Wasik writes well, and Insull is a complex man whose life and times makes worthwhile reading." -- Publishers Weekly Praise for The Cul-de-Sac Syndrome: Turning Around the Unsustainable American Dream "[Wasik] shows how the American dream of moving further from a city to buy a bigger house and find better schools was a costly proposition, which was an underlying cause of the crisis. . . . [A] totally new look at the American dream and its costs." --moneywatch.com Praise for Keynes's Way to Wealth: Timeless Investment Lessons from the Great Economist "Wasik's distillation of how Keynes made--and then remade--his fortune is instructive. And the principles that Keynes followed have stood the test of time. As Mr. Wasik adds, 'The object of investing is to ensure prosperity, not to become obsessed with making money.'" -- The New York Times "I'd always heard Keynes was a talented investor but never knew any of the details. John Wasik's excellent book uncovers that story and reveals Keynes's considerable investing skills." --Joe Manseuto, founder and CEO, Morningstar

Description for Sales People

* Celebrates Our Greatest President's Forgotten Successes: Rescues the enduring historical significance of Lincoln's economic plan, which laid the groundwork for national banking and transportation systems, a fair personal income tax, and low-cost public higher education (land-grant colleges). * More Than a Wartime President: Lincoln's wartime achievements are well-known, but this book shows how Northern States prospered after 1862 because of the president's many lesser-known economic and governmental wins. * Our Sixteenth President, Early Economic Equalist: Examines speeches (like a lost speech before his 1860 nomination); writings (like a letter with a surprising connection to modern infection control); eye for infrastructure (a sketch of a town he surveyed and planned, but never built); and early legislative work that reveal Lincoln's devotion to equality in all forms everywhere. * Lincoln the Luminary: Background on how Abe impacted both Roosevelt presidents, activist Jane Addams, architect Frank Lloyd Wright, President Barack Obama, and other luminaries further proves Lincoln's lasting impact. His "Spiritual Economics" still compels us to provide inclusive economic opportunities. * Sole President to Hold a Patent for One of His Inventions: "Innovator in Chief" Lincoln greenlighted national research and development, plus improvements in invention and modern infrastructure--which Congress had been considering for years before he took office . . . and is still eyeing in today's recession, another timely tie to current events. * Experienced, Mediagenic Author: Wasik has guested on CNN, MSNBC, NBC, NPR, PBS, and radio stations worldwide. His columns, blogs, and articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Reuters, Forbes, and Bloomberg News . * How Lincoln's Economic Thinking Informs COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter Movement: Exciting new research and insights on Lincoln's economic strategy, drawing stunning relevance to these pressing times. The Afterword specifically addresses the failure of infrastructure during the pandemic.

Details