"Music can be such a revelation"
-Madonna

A person’s taste in music and books tells me a lot about who they are.

When John Eckberg, business reporter and columnist for the Cincinnati Enquirer, wrote The Success Effect, (Sterling and Ross Publishers) he interviewed Donald Trump, Jerry Springer and over 40 other successful business people. Eckberg showed us the traits that helped these successful people get to where they are today.

He also asked them what CDs were in their CD changer and what books were on their nightstand. 

I am fascinated by what people are listening to and what people are reading.  Common musical tastes allow me to connect with people I might otherwise disagree. 

A conservative political commentator sometimes appears on a talk show with me.  If we talked politics long enough, the show would turn into a chair throwing, Jerry Springer-like event.  I personally like him because of our similar taste in music. 

A guy who saw Joe Jackson in concert cannot be so bad even if he does think George Bush is brilliant.

Eckberg’s, The Success Effect is the complete opposite of his first book, Road Dog, which is about serial killer Glenn Rogers. While The Success Effect is about people striving to do their best, Road Dog is about people striving to do evil.

I email almost anyone who emails me.  A rare time I did not was when one of Glenn Rogers’ ex girlfriends wrote me.  I wanted to write back and tell her that several of Glenn’s ex girlfriends reside in cemeteries but did not want to create a connection.

However, if any of Donald Trump’s ex girlfriends want to write, my email is at the end of the column. 

I suspect a romance with one of them would be short lived. One of us would say “you’re fired” pretty quickly.

The only thing Trump and I have in common is our first name.  We look different, talk different, and have different ways of operating our businesses.  

He has weird looking hair. I have little hair at all.

Yet, I feel some connection to Trump because one of his CDs is Elton John’s “Tumbleweed Connection.”  He picked one of Elton’s greatest albums (from days when they had albums), and I own a copy as well.

Trump’s selection in books shows me his lack of intellectual depth.  He only has three books on his nightstand, and one allegedly is Bill Clinton’s autobiography.

No one has actually read Bill Clinton’s autobiography. I will bet even Bill has not read it—a 1008 page long ordeal  that includes every piece of minutia from Bill’s early life.  Yet, it manages to roll past the Monica Lewinsky story in about two sentences.  

I received it as a gift, which is how everyone gets their copies.  People buy Clinton’s book for other people, who put it on their nightstand to impress visitors. Showing off and putting on an act is the exact thing Donald Trump would do.

 You can buy a copy of Clinton’s book  for 32 cents on Amazon.

Unlike Clinton’s book, Eckberg’s book is easy and fun to read.   He devotes about 5 to 10 pages to each person.  He tells us a little bit about them but really gives us a glimpse into their souls by telling us the books and music they like.

I liked professional golfer Dave Pelz, for what little I know about putting came from his book.   I really like him now that I know he is a Harry Chapin fan.

Unlike Trump, Pelz is upfront and admits he does not read much.   Most Americans do not read books, and since Pelz spends hours upon hours hitting golf balls, I can see why he is not at home pretending to read the Clinton book.

Dr. Stephen Covey, author of The 7 habits of Highly Effective People, gave The Success Effect a strong review. 

I wish Eckberg had called him and asked what he is listening to.   If listening to rock ‘n roll is an indication of effectiveness, I am definitely a success.

What bothers me is Donald Trump would also meet that definition.

Don McNay is President of McNay Settlement Group in Richmond Kentucky where we try to give our clients “the success effect.”  His email address to be shared with Donald Trump old girlfriends and anyone else is This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and you can read other columns at www.donmcnay.com   His column is syndicated on the CNHI News Service.