This text comprises excerpts from John Brooks' Business Adventures, exploring various facets of the business world in the mid-20th century. It examines the 1962 Wall Street crash, triggered by margin calls, and its global impact. The disastrous launch of the Edsel car is analysed, highlighting marketing failures and production defects. The complexities and inequities of the US federal income tax system are detailed, focusing on loopholes exploited by the wealthy. Insider trading at Texas Gulf Sulphur is recounted, showing the SEC's efforts to enforce fair market practices. Finally, the rapid success of Xerox and the challenges of copyright infringement in the age of photocopying are explored.