Podcast Episode 18 - The Secrets of Economic Development with Novelist and Econ Dev Don Erwin

Episode #18 of the Econ Dev Show Podcast is now live.

In this episode Dane talks to retired economic developer Don Erwin. He's written an engrossing thriller and an economic development textbook.  (They're the same book: Buffalo Hunting in Alabama: A Novel.)

Listen now.

Episode Links

• DonErwin.net
• Economic Development By The Book on Vimeo — Economic Development Assoc. of Alabama Summer Conference -- July 27th
• 21 Book Recommendations for 2021 — Happy Holidays from DCI!
• Review: Buffalo Hunting in Alabama by Don Erwin - Birmingham Business Journal
• Real Estate Matters Podcast - 86: Profiles in Real Estate - Don Erwin
• Buffalo Hunting in Alabama: A Novel — What if economic development was a cross between Jurassic Park, James Bond and Jack Reacher? (Our review.)
• (Paperback) Buffalo Hunting in Alabama: A Novel
• (Kindle eBook) Buffalo Hunting in Alabama: A Novel
• (Audible Audiobook) Buffalo Hunting in Alabama: A Novel

In our pre-interview, we asked Don:

What's been your most influential book and why?

I inhale books, so it’s impossible to name a specific one.

For writing "Buffalo Hunting in Alabama," the most useful book was "Story Engineering," by Larry Brooks.

My favorite thriller fiction writers are Daniel Silva, David Ignatius, Nelson DeMille, and John Grisham.

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. I think it helps understand how people make site decisions.

I'm currently reading "The Long Game," by Rush Doshi.

What is your favorite productivity tool or resource?

For writing a book, it’s the dictation/transcription feature on iPhones and iPads and the outlining features of Microsoft Word.