Capital Instincts: Life as an Entrepreneur, Financier, and Athlete

"Thom Weisel’s career has been remarkable. In sequence he has built two successful investment banking and research firms. That would be enough, but he has also revitalized the U.S. Ski Team, backed and inspired the winning Tour de France cycling team, encouraged Lance Armstrong to become a world-class competitor again after his battle with cancer, financially and spiritually empowered the Empower America think tank, and assembled a world-class contemporary art collection. You cannot do all this without having exceptional energy, uncanny vision, outstanding leadership qualities and extraordinary intuition. This book tells Thom’s story and includes some of his own insightful thought pieces. In Capital Instincts, you will learn a lot about management, motivation, leadership and the special qualities of humanity that are the substance of greatness."
–Byron R. Wien
Managing Director
Morgan Stanley

"Serial successes are rare. Those that span Silicon Valley and Wall Street, modern art, Olympic ski racing, and the Tour de France, rarer still. No, Capital Instincts: Life as an Entrepreneur, Financier, and Athlete isn’t a novel. But it is a thriller. Richard Brandt isn’t Robert Ludlum, but he’ll have you enjoying turning pages just as much. And Thom Weisel isn’t Jason Bourne, but he moves about as fast and covers more territory. A fascinating force, a remarkable blend of energy and focus, of talent and instinct for markets and people, of guts and drive, he has lit up the worlds of finance, art and sports for decades. Part biography, part business history, part Weisel’s own views on subjects from management, investment banking and entrepreneurship to the Internet bubble/bust and financial future, Capital Instincts is simply riveting. More than a must read–a delightful read as well. And with Weisel going strong, I can hardly wait for the sequel."
–Michael J. Boskin
T.M. Friedman Professor of Economics and Hoover Institution Senior Fellow
Stanford University

"Thom Weisel and Richard Brandt have produced an easy reading history that should be included in every business study program. Leadership lessons in sports and finance laced with real-life experiences. I found myself remembering recent headlines as Thom tells the inside story."
–Harvey W. Schiller
President & CEO US Operations
Assante Corp