Category Archives: Books
Book Review: The Ideas That Conquered the World
The Ideas That Conquered the World By Michael Mandelbaum PublicAffairs, New York, NY, 2002 The Ideas That Conquered the World was published with some fanfare in 2002, in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. I can’t remember how … Continue reading
Book Review: The Second Machine Age
The Second Machine Age By Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee W. W. Norton & Company, New York, 2014 The steam engine was the iconic invention and the driving force behind the first machine age. It transformed the world by enabling … Continue reading
Book Review: David and Goliath
Malcolm Gladwell’s latest book, David and Goliath, is really a collection of stories, variations on the theme of lopsided conflicts, of the weak prevailing against the strong. Apparent strength can mask great weakness, and there are often diminishing returns, even … Continue reading
Book Review: An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth
Remember Chris Hadfield? Sure you do. He’s the Canadian astronaut who sang Space Oddity from the International Space Station, from a tin can far above the world. Back on Earth and now retired, he’s written a book; An Astronaut’s Guide … Continue reading
Book Review: The Checklist Manifesto
The Checklist ManifestoBy Atul GawandePicador, New York, 2009 I didn’t finish reading this book. It wasn’t worth it. Don’t get me wrong; checklists are extremely useful. They’re great for capturing, organizing and sharing knowledge and best practices. They help us … Continue reading
Book Review: The End of Big
The End of BigBy Nicco MeleSt. Martin’s Press, New York, 2013 The only reason I didn’t throw this book against a wall is because I read it on my Kindle. The main idea in The End of Big: How the … Continue reading
Book Review: The End of Power
Moisés Naím uses a lot of words that start with “d” to describe what’s happening to power these days; dilution, dissipation, disruption, diffusion, and decay. The full title of his book is The End of Power: From Boardrooms to Battlefields … Continue reading
Book Review: Thomas Jefferson – The Art of Power
Thomas Jefferson: The Art of PowerBy Jon MeachamRandom House, New York, 2013 Despite weighing in at over 500 pages, Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, by Jon Meacham, seems to be just an introduction to the man. It’s not that … Continue reading
Book Review: Good Prose
Good Prose: The Art of Nonfiction By Tracy Kidder and Richard Todd Random House, New York, 2013 I’ve read a few books about writing over the years. They seem to come in two flavors. Some, like Writing Down the Bones … Continue reading
Book Review: Stealth of Nations
Stealth of Nations: The Global Rise of the Informal Economy By Robert Neuwirth Anchor Books, New York, 2011 Stealth of Nations is about the “informal” economy – the underground, unregistered, unlicensed, untaxed and often unlawful economy. Author Robert Neuwirth calls … Continue reading
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