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Living and learning through African American entrepreneurs

If you've ever wondered how today's prominent black businesspeople earned their success, pick up Take a Lesson: Today's Black Achievers on How They Made It and What They Learned Along the Way (John Wiley & Sons Inc., $24.95). Due in bookstores this month, Take a Lesson is a compilation of the stories of black professionals who have made it in their careers, from corporate America to the entertainment field.

In Take a Lesson, our own Editorial Director of BE Books, Caroline V. Clarke, sat down with Ann Fudge, Johnnie Cochran, Terrie Williams, and Spike Lee, among others, to find out what motivated them, discouraged them, gave them hope or made them lose hope. They also give advice to others who are trying to succeed as professionals.

Last month, the BLACK ENTERPRISE book series released Against All Odds: Ten Entrepreneurs Who Followed Their Hearts and Found Success (John Wiley & Sons Inc., $24.95) by Wendy Beech, contributing writer and former BE small business editor, and the Black Enterprise Guide to Investing (John Wiley & Sons Inc., $19.95) by James Anderson, contributing writer and former BE Moneywise editor. Against All Odds profiles African American entrepreneurs who overcame staggering odds to become successful. The Black Enterprise Guide to Investing provides suggestions on investing profitably.