tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-191834022024-03-06T23:35:24.375-05:00Business ReaderA forum for discussing books and articles currently being read in the business community. The number of books being added to the ranks of business literature is growing every day and this is the place to find out what's worth reading.Catherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-89829741809775926612009-03-19T06:24:00.003-05:002009-03-19T07:34:44.726-05:00The Cluetrain Manifesto: the end of business as usualThis book is really the philosophical foundation on which the current explosion in social media technologies is based. This is not to say that the four men who wrote the book created this philosophy, only that they recognized some fundamental truths well ahead of the rest of us.Published in 2000, written a full decade ago, the four authors speak in voices that are authentic, irreverent and as Catherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-59086095615438041112008-12-29T23:05:00.004-05:002009-01-06T06:47:17.782-05:00You Can't Order Change - Peter S. CohanSubtitled: Lessons from Jim McNerney's Turnaround at Boeing. It was destiny that I ended up with this book. Or perhaps serendipity. Either way, the publisher did me a favor in sending it along.The content in this book is excellent. I would describe the style as a case study and Cohan's writing as analytical. While his writing style did not resonate with me, the information is first rate! I filledCatherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-22528172429606920572008-12-13T23:26:00.005-05:002008-12-14T23:19:33.565-05:00The Dream Manager - Matthew KellyThis is quite a remarkable book that was recommended to me by someone I was working with recently in Charleston, SC. Lonnie Plaster and I have known each other for several years and I admire and respect him as a real estate manager, but have not really gotten to know him well. A chance conversation over dinner brought about this book recommendation.Initially, my interest was from a management Catherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-55628478962970457272008-11-30T09:49:00.009-05:002008-11-30T10:38:35.556-05:00Tribes - Seth GodinSubtitled: We Need You to Lead Us. What an awesome book! I confess I'm a big fan of Seth Godin's books and his blog, so it's not so surprising that I think his latest effort is right on target.Where to start? Well, I teach classes on social media technologies to real estate agents. Getting them to shift their paradigm when it comes to marketing is difficult for those who came to the industry whenCatherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-215685722252850742008-11-23T22:17:00.002-05:002008-11-23T23:13:52.656-05:00Juicing the Orange - Pat Fallon and Fred SennSubtitled: How To Turn Creativity Into A Powerful Business Advantage. This is an interesting and engaging book that opens with a very clear and simple premise in Chapter One: "Imagination is the last legal means of gaining an unfair advantage over the competition." The final chapter closes with the additional observation: "Increasingly, it's the only means." In the intervening chapters, we areCatherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-36173637208147606832008-11-21T13:23:00.003-05:002008-11-21T14:02:05.288-05:00Buy-ology - Martin LindstromSubtitled: Truth and Lies About Why We Buy. This is groundbreaking research in a new field called neuromarketing. Martin Lindstrom gave an interview to National Public Radio on the subject and how retailers are learning to tap into these findings in order to influence our buying habits.The premise of neuromarketing is that what goes on in our subconscious influences what we buy. Figuring out how Catherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-7762058066335305552008-11-15T16:39:00.008-05:002008-11-15T17:37:08.277-05:00Talent is Overrated - Geoff ColvinSubtitled: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else. The book is well researched and presents compelling data for the case against the concept of innate talent. Toward the end of the book Colvin addresses the possibility that there are genes for things like intrinsic motivation; but at its most basic level, his theory suggests that high achievers reach astonishing heights Catherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-42185578849128936422008-11-14T21:54:00.002-05:002008-11-14T22:49:18.971-05:00Our Iceberg is Melting - John P. Kotter, et. alSubtitled: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions. This is a fable, much along the lines in form of "Who Moved My Cheese?" by authors Ken Blanchard and Spenser Johnson (Johnson is a contributing author here as well.)This book was referenced in Kotter's A Sense of Urgency (previously reviewed here) and I can see why. It took me one hour to read it on an airplane. It rolls out the same Catherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-11356021684289868272008-11-08T15:26:00.003-05:002008-11-08T15:52:43.811-05:00A Sense of Urgency - John P. KotterThis book is so timely and relevant given the current global financial meltdown that is affecting businesses in every industry. The world changes very quickly now and being complacent is not something any company can sustain and remain viable. Awareness has been heightened in the last several months as many long standing business icons have gone out of business or been acquired. This is Catherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-88390077956954926442008-10-12T16:22:00.002-05:002008-10-12T16:51:37.673-05:00The Black Swan - Nassim Nicholas TalebSubtitled: The Impact of the Highly Improbable. This book is challenging, but in a good way. It sets what we know and assumptions we hold dear on their ear, and Dr. Taleb shows us in an engaging and entertaining way how even the most revered "experts" can be dead wrong. The challenge is applying these theories of randomness to our perceptions and decision making processes once we return thisCatherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-79999499610074713212008-09-13T21:54:00.003-05:002008-09-13T22:09:46.383-05:00How We Lead Matters - Marilyn Carlson NelsonSubtitled: Reflections on a Life of Leadership, I pre-ordered this book based on a recommendation that appeared in one of Harvey Mackay's weekly columns. It did not disappointment. A beautiful little gem of a book, I read it in a single evening. It is inspiring in it's simplicity, warmth and authenticity.The format works well. On the left page is a quote or poem that has some special meaningCatherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-61320101929406491732008-08-06T19:32:00.003-05:002008-08-06T19:54:15.221-05:00Groundswell - Charlene Li and Josh BernoffSubtitled: "winning in a world transformed by social technologies" it was published in April of 2008 by Harvard Business Press. It is a transformative book that truly enlightens those of us struggling to apply the "buzz" of blogging and social networking to existing business practices.Early in the book the authors make a very essential point about the nature of these hot new technologies: the Catherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-74446969386326545122008-08-01T20:37:00.003-05:002008-08-01T20:48:44.433-05:00The House of Mondavi - Julia Flynn SilerSubtitled: "The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty." I just loved this book! I had read several reviews about it that all raved about what a great book it is and I bought it for "airplane reading" on a cross country flight to Seattle. I was hooked from the beginning. It is absolutely the page turner the critics claim that it is.I don't know where to begin. It is engaging, well Catherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-83564485390058836792008-06-29T15:34:00.004-05:002008-06-29T16:22:22.381-05:00The Speed of Trust - Stephen M. R. CoveySubtitled: The One Thing That Changes Everything. It's an incredible book. Well written, well researched, practical in its guidance and full of personal stories and anecdotes, it's an engaging read. And the ideas and concepts he outlines here I find myself recalling on almost a daily basis now.This is another book recommended to me by my redoubtable business coach. I am fortunate to have a mentorCatherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-11593476725480930732008-05-26T21:32:00.002-05:002008-05-26T21:57:42.411-05:00Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting - Lynn GrabhornSubtitled: The Astonishing Power of Feelings. I got a lot out of this book. It was recommended to me by my business coach - someone I seem to fight less and resist less these days. Now I ask him what book I should be reading and he tells me which one. I approach what he has to say with an open mind. Ah, yes, the mind! It would be easy to connect this book to the well know proverb: “As a manCatherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-43989215000400355512008-05-04T19:44:00.002-05:002008-05-04T20:39:58.068-05:00The Platinum Rule - Tony Alessandra,Michael J. O'ConnorSubtitled: Discover the Four Basic Business Personalities - And How They Can Lead You to Success. Only the book is so much more than that. But you don't know that until you read it. You don't even believe that until you read it. My highly tolerant and very patient mentor has told me about this book for years. But it took a dramatic turn in our working relationship to actually motivate me to Catherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-84289259585817590972008-05-01T14:09:00.005-05:002008-05-01T15:43:03.479-05:00The Paradox of Choice - Barry SchwartzSubtitled: Why More is Less. How the Culture of Abundance Robs Us of Satisfaction. I heard Barry Schwartz speak at Brand ManageCamp '07 in Chicago this past September and was so impressed with his presentation I immediately ordered the book. It's taken me awhile to get to it, but it was worth it. There are so many wonderful concepts put forth here, backed up by excellent research and anecdotal Catherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-50713362874829464432008-04-26T08:40:00.003-05:002008-04-26T09:15:43.884-05:00Way of the Peaceful Warrior - Dan MillmanSubtitled A Book that Changes Lives, it was originally published in the late 80's and took a long time to build a following - mostly by word of mouth. Well, life changing or not, it certainly provides a different perspective which is essential to making life changes. This book is one of those wonders that appeared when I ordered a very different book through Amazon.com. One of my favorite Catherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-48925113791054864722008-03-23T16:21:00.002-05:002008-03-23T17:21:57.682-05:00The Wisdom of Crowds - James SurowieckiThis is such a great book and so very timely! Originally published in 2004 and this edition in paperback having come out in 2005, the information is as timely in 2008 as it was when written. Of great interest to me is the amount of space at the very end of the book that is given to the stock market and the political process. The main thesis of the book is that the collective opinion of any Catherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-57739003007521977422007-12-31T23:18:00.000-05:002007-12-31T23:36:38.087-05:00Stumbling on Happiness - Daniel GilbertThis is a great book! It's a fascinating read that is also laugh-out-loud funny. I had to read it when I could steal the time away to do it, which meant taking the book to the hair salon, the nail salon, the Dept. of Motor Vehicles and Jiffy Lube. You know - all the places you are forced to sit still. And I would sit there and find myself laughing out loud surrounded by other people. Now Catherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-13163617351370471012007-10-08T19:45:00.000-05:002007-10-30T23:16:58.743-05:00The Alchemist - Paulo CoelhoI was just in Borders with my son buying him some books he had to have tonight, when I saw The Alchemist on a shelf near the front of the store. I read that book for the first time last month. I thought it was wonderful, but for some reason it never occurred to me to write about it here. I suppose it was because I was in a strange place, both literally and figuratively speaking, when I read it.I Catherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-9539122112745624482007-09-27T08:28:00.000-05:002007-09-27T10:14:18.483-05:00The Daily Six - John ChappelearSubtitled: Six Simple Steps to Find the Perfect Balance of Prosperity and Purpose. This is small but powerful book - 130 pages. I picked it up on impulse at the Olsson's bookstore at Reagan National Airport back in August when I was flying down to stay with my mother. As it turned out, my mother was moved to Hospice the day after I arrived and this book was one of two that I read while sitting inCatherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-29199386124852559182007-08-10T19:16:00.000-05:002007-08-10T20:24:21.500-05:00Satisfaction - Chris Denove and James D. Power IVSubtitled: How Every Great Company Listens to the Voice of the Consumer. It is co-authored by one of the principals of the legendary J.D. Power and Associates, who pioneered the customer satisfaction survey 35 years ago. It is a must read. Now you might think sometimes, as I do, that it is ridiculous that books are written about concepts that are so obvious. Like Duh! Who does not understand thisCatherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-88698290541414805862007-06-16T15:35:00.000-05:002007-06-16T16:07:43.243-05:00the dip - Seth GodinSubtitled: A Little Book That Teaches You When To Quit (and When to Stick) One of the many things I love about Amazon.com is how they recommend books to me based on what I've purchased, or perused, in the past. That's one good reason I buy my books there. So this book recommendation actually came to me as an email one evening. Sounds pretty unremarkable up to this point, except it was a few Catherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19183402.post-58854612979612183902007-06-04T17:44:00.000-05:002007-06-04T18:26:18.363-05:00The Starbucks Experience - Joseph MichelliSubtitled: 5 Principles for Turning Ordinary into Extraordinary. What a great read! I'm not even sure where to start. I was hooked from the first page to the last, and there are post-it flags in every chapter. Starbucks is a phenomenon. On that I think we can all agree. But they may well have created core business practices that could be a blueprint for companies in many other industries asCatherine S. Readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798830231494255263noreply@blogger.com1