Michael T. Starks

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  • The Age of Things

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    Things matter. What things impact our lives at this time? Phones, airplanes, cars, social media, computers, cameras, the printing press, agriculture, fire, and more are worthwhile candidates. Let’s consider the age of things with regard to how they impact our lives. As a kid, I checked out lots of books from the local library. (The…

  • Underwhelmed

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    I’m feeling underwhelmed. On July 4, 2025, people in the USA are celebrating Independence Day. I’m thrilled for the people who are enjoying the revelry. I hear the firecrackers from China, and I think of the tariffs that may make them scarce next year. Mostly, I’m upset about the Big Beautiful Bill that is going…

  • Wealth in Society

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    When I was a kid, the United States of America had a strong and vibrant middle class. This led to lots of innovation and growth. Here’s a report that provides a decent look at the data. The key take-away is that income and wealth inequality has risen significantly since the 1970’s. In practical terms, this…

  • Maybe This Time

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    Here’s my attempt to sing and play this classic song from the musical Cabaret. I stumbled upon the music while searching for an Elton John song. And I had to get it. Enjoy!

  • Wealth Building

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    I’ve written about this topic previously. In this post, I want to keep it as simple as possible. We pretty much all know how to build wealth. Simply spend less than you earn; then, save and invest the rest. The concept is simple. Putting it into practice is not so easy. The problem is that…

  • Optimism

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    When I was a kid, I thought the future was only going to get better. While I admit to being a bit naive, I never imagined that the United States of America would have a President like Trump. I’m an optimistic person. I really do believe that we can figure shit out together and that…

  • The Struggle for Existence

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    Today, author Geoff Jones has released the second book in his trilogy, The Preservation of Species! In case you missed the first book, you can get The Rule of Extinction here. And The Struggle for Existence can be found here. I had the pleasure of interviewing Geoff Jones earlier this year. Here’s the full interview.…

  • Small Actions Matter

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    It’s easy to convince ourselves that only big actions matter: grand gestures, bold moves, and earth-shattering initiatives. Nothing could be further from the truth! Habits are typically built from taking small actions over and over. Building wealth is a good example. You don’t need to win the lottery. In fact, a surprising number of people…

  • Coercion

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    Sometimes people can be convinced to do something with a show of force or threats. This is often accompanied by playing on people’s fears and stoking hatred. Our current administration seems to like this approach. If a “strongman” incites a riot, our society suffers. When choosing between the carrot and the stick, I often prefer…

  • Entry Level Work

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    I just stumbled across this article on the “Bottom Rung of the Career Ladder“. I share the author’s concerns. Who can become an expert programmer without first being an entry-level programmer? If AI replaces many entry-level jobs, how can young professionals gain the experience needed to enter the job market at positions above entry-level jobs?…