◻️ Book

👉 Biography & Autobiography

  • Glennon Doyle | Untamed: Stop Pleasing, Start Living
    'This book will shake your brain and make your soul scream. I am so ready for myself after reading this book!' Adele 'Untamed will liberate women - emotionally, spiritually, and physically. It is phenomenal.' Elizabeth Gilbert, author of City of Girls and Eat Pray Love Who were you before the world told you who to be? Part inspiration, part memoir, Untamed explores the joy and peace we discover when we stop striving to meet the expectations of the world, and instead dare to listen to and trust in the voice deep inside us. From the beloved New York Times bestselling author, speaker and activist Glennon Doyle. ***** For many years, Glennon Doyle denied her discontent. Then, while speaking at a conference, she looked at a woman across the room and fell instantly in love. Three words flooded her mind: There. She. Is. At first, Glennon assumed these words came to her from on high but soon she realised they had come to her from within. This was the voice she had buried beneath decades of numbing addictions and social conditioning. Glennon decided to let go of the world's expectations of her and reclaim her true untamed self. Soulful and uproarious, forceful and tender, Untamed is both an intimate memoir and a galvanising wake-up call. It is the story of how one woman learned that a responsible mother is not one who slowly dies for her children, but one who shows them how to fully live. It is also the story of how each of us can begin to trust ourselves enough to set boundaries, make peace with our bodies, honour our anger and heartbreak, and unleash our truest, wildest instincts. Untamed shows us how to be brave. And, as Glennon insists, 'The braver we are, the luckier we get.'
  • James Gleick | Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman
    New York Times Bestseller: This life story of the quirky physicist is “a thorough and masterful portrait of one of the great minds of the century” (The New York Review of Books). Raised in Depression-era Rockaway Beach, physicist Richard Feynman was irreverent, eccentric, and childishly enthusiastic—a new kind of scientist in a field that was in its infancy. His quick mastery of quantum mechanics earned him a place at Los Alamos working on the Manhattan Project under J. Robert Oppenheimer, where the giddy young man held his own among the nation’s greatest minds. There, Feynman turned theory into practice, culminating in the Trinity test, on July 16, 1945, when the Atomic Age was born. He was only twenty-seven. And he was just getting started. In this sweeping biography, James Gleick captures the forceful personality of a great man, integrating Feynman’s work and life in a way that is accessible to laymen and fascinating for the scientists who follow in his footsteps.
  • James Salter | Burning the Days
    This is the brilliant memoir of a man who starts out in Manhattan and comes of age in the skies over Korea, before emerging as one of America's finest authors in the New York of the 1960s. Burning the Days showcases James Salter's uniquely beautiful style with some of the most evocative pages about flying ever written, together with portraits of the actors, directors and authors who later influenced him. It is an unforgettable book about passion, ambition and what it means to live and to write.
  • John Rothchild • Peter Lynch | One Up On Wall Street: How To Use What You Already Know To Make Money In The Market
    THE NATIONAL BESTSELLING BOOK THAT EVERY INVESTOR SHOULD OWN Peter Lynch is America's number-one money manager. His mantra: Average investors can become experts in their own field and can pick winning stocks as effectively as Wall Street professionals by doing just a little research. Now, in a new introduction written specifically for this edition of One Up on Wall Street, Lynch gives his take on the incredible rise of Internet stocks, as well as a list of twenty winning companies of high-tech '90s. That many of these winners are low-tech supports his thesis that amateur investors can continue to reap exceptional rewards from mundane, easy-to-understand companies they encounter in their daily lives. Investment opportunities abound for the layperson, Lynch says. By simply observing business developments and taking notice of your immediate world -- from the mall to the workplace -- you can discover potentially successful companies before professional analysts do. This jump on the experts is what produces "tenbaggers," the stocks that appreciate tenfold or more and turn an average stock portfolio into a star performer. The former star manager of Fidelity's multibillion-dollar Magellan Fund, Lynch reveals how he achieved his spectacular record. Writing with John Rothchild, Lynch offers easy-to-follow directions for sorting out the long shots from the no shots by reviewing a company's financial statements and by identifying which numbers really count. He explains how to stalk tenbaggers and lays out the guidelines for investing in cyclical, turnaround, and fast-growing companies. Lynch promises that if you ignore the ups and downs of the market and the endless speculation about interest rates, in the long term (anywhere from five to fifteen years) your portfolio will reward you. This advice has proved to be timeless and has made One Up on Wall Street a number-one bestseller. And now this classic is as valuable in the new millennium as ever.
  • Josh Waitzkin | The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance
    An eight-time national chess champion and world champion martial artist shares the lessons he has learned from two very different competitive arenas, identifying key principles about learning and performance that readers can apply to their life goals. Reprint. 35,000 first printing.
  • M. Mitchell Waldrop | The Dream Machine
    The story of the man who instigated the work that led to the internet—and shifted our understanding of what computers could be. Behind every great revolution is a vision and behind perhaps the greatest revolution of our time, personal computing, is the vision of J.C.R. Licklider. He did not design the first personal computers or write the software that ran on them, nor was he involved in the legendary early companies that brought them to the forefront of our everyday experience. He was instead a relentless visionary that saw the potential of the way individuals could interact with computers and software. At a time when computers were a short step removed from mechanical data processors, Licklider was writing treatises on "human-computer symbiosis", "computers as communication devices", and a now not-so-unfamiliar "Intergalactic Network." His ideas became so influential, his passion so contagious, that Waldrop called him "computing's Johnny Appleseed. In a simultaneously compelling personal narrative and comprehensive historical exposition, Waldrop tells the story of the man who not only instigated the work that led to the internet, but also shifted our understanding of what computers were and could be. Included in this edition are also the original texts of Licklider's three most influential writings: 'Man-computer symbiosis' (1960), which outlines the vision that inspired the personal computer revolution of the 1970s; his 'Intergalactic Network' memo (1963), which outlines the vision that inspired the internet; and "The computer as a communication device" (1968, co-authored with Robert Taylor), which amplifies his vision for what the network could become.
  • Phil Knight | Shoe Dog
    In this young readers edition of the international bestseller, Nike founder and board chairman Phil Knight 'offers a rare and revealing look at the notoriously media-shy man behind the swoosh' (Booklist), opening up about how he went from being a track star at an Oregon high school to the founder of a brand and company that changed everything. You must forget your limits. It was only when Phil Knight got cut from the baseball team as a high school freshman that his mother suggested he try out for track instead. Knight made the track team and he found he could run fast and even more he liked it. Ten years later, young and searching, Knight borrowed fifty dollars from his father and launched a company with one simple mission: import high-quality running shoes from Japan. Selling the shoes from the boot of his car to start, he and his gang of friends and runners built one of the most successful brands ever. Phil Knight encountered risks and setbacks along the way, but always followed his own advice. Just keep going. Don’t stop. Whatever comes up, don’t stop. Filled with wisdom, humanity, humour and heart, the young readers edition of the bestselling Shoe Dog is a story of determination that inspires all who read it. This is an abridged edition of the internationally bestselling adult book, but in addition it includes new frontmatter and backmatter, an introduction to the younger reader and 'A Letter to the Young Reader' that provides advice from Phil Knight for the battles that lie ahead for young people.
  • Richard P. Feynman | "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!": Adventures of a Curious Character
    A New York Times bestseller—the outrageous exploits of one of this century's greatest scientific minds and a legendary American original. Richard Feynman, winner of the Nobel Prize in physics, thrived on outrageous adventures. Here he recounts in his inimitable voice his experience trading ideas on atomic physics with Einstein and Bohr and ideas on gambling with Nick the Greek; cracking the uncrackable safes guarding the most deeply held nuclear secrets; accompanying a ballet on his bongo drums; painting a naked female toreador. In short, here is Feynman's life in all its eccentric—a combustible mixture of high intelligence, unlimited curiosity, and raging chutzpah.
  • Steven Pressfield | The Knowledge: A Too Close To True Novel
    THE KNOWLEDGE is not just a writer’s coming-of-age story. It’s every writer’s coming-of-age story.If you’re a fan of THE WAR OF ART, Pressfield’s new memoir, THE KNOWLEDGE, is the story behind that story and the origin tale between its lines. In the high-crime 1970s in New York, Pressfield was driving a cab and tending bar, incapable of achieving anything literary beyond the completion of his third-in-a-row unpublishable novel. Until fate, in the form of a job tailing his boss’s straying wife, propels him into a Big Lebowski-esque underworld saga that ends with him coming to a life-altering crisis involving not just the criminals he has become deeply and emotionally involved with, but with his own inner demons of the blank page.
  • Walter Isaacson | Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
    Benjamin Franklin is the founding father who winks at us, the one who seems made of flesh rather than marble. In this authoritative and engrossing full-scale biography, Walter Isaacson shows how the most fascinating of America's founders helped define our national character. In a sweeping narrative that follows Franklin's life from Boston to Philadelphia to London and Paris and back, Isaacson chronicles the adventures of the spunky runaway apprentice who became, during his 84-year life, America's best writer, inventor, media baron, scientist, diplomat, and business strategist, as well as one of its most practical and ingenious political leaders. He explores the wit behind Poor Richard's Almanac and the wisdom behind the Declaration of Independence, the new nation's alliance with France, the treaty that ended the Revolution, and the compromises that created a near-perfect Constitution. Above all, Isaacson shows how Franklin's unwavering faith in the wisdom of the common citizen and his instinctive appreciation for the possibilities of democracy helped to forge an American national identity based on the virtues and values of its middle class.
  • Walter Isaacson | The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution
    Chronicles the lives and careers of the men and women responsible for the creation of the digital age, including Doug Englebart, Robert Noyce, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and more.
  • Paul Kalanithi | When Breath Becomes Air
    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST • This inspiring, exquisitely observed memoir finds hope and beauty in the face of insurmountable odds as an idealistic young neurosurgeon attempts to answer the question, What makes a life worth living? “Unmissable . . . Finishing this book and then forgetting about it is simply not an option.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, People, NPR, The Washington Post, Slate, Harper’s Bazaar, Time Out New York, Publishers Weekly, BookPage At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade’s worth of training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, and the next he was a patient struggling to live. And just like that, the future he and his wife had imagined evaporated. When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Kalanithi’s transformation from a naïve medical student “possessed,” as he wrote, “by the question of what, given that all organisms die, makes a virtuous and meaningful life” into a neurosurgeon at Stanford working in the brain, the most critical place for human identity, and finally into a patient and new father confronting his own mortality. What makes life worth living in the face of death? What do you do when the future, no longer a ladder toward your goals in life, flattens out into a perpetual present? What does it mean to have a child, to nurture a new life as another fades away? These are some of the questions Kalanithi wrestles with in this profoundly moving, exquisitely observed memoir. Paul Kalanithi died in March 2015, while working on this book, yet his words live on as a guide and a gift to us all. “I began to realize that coming face to face with my own mortality, in a sense, had changed nothing and everything,” he wrote. “Seven words from Samuel Beckett began to repeat in my head: ‘I can’t go on. I’ll go on.’” When Breath Becomes Air is an unforgettable, life-affirming reflection on the challenge of facing death and on the relationship between doctor and patient, from a brilliant writer who became both. Finalist for the PEN Center USA Literary Award in Creative Nonfiction and the Books for a Better Life Award in Inspirational Memoir

👉 Body, Mind & Spirit

  • Alan W. Watts | The Joyous Cosmology: Adventures in the Chemistry of Consciousness
    In describing the effects of mescaline, Aldous Huxley’s The Doors of Perception opened a proverbial door for a generation of seekers. Watts walked through it with this classic account of the levels of insight that consciousness-changing drugs can facilitate “when accompanied with sustained philosophical reflection by a person who is in search, not of kicks, but of understanding.” Watts and peers including foreword authors Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert (then Harvard professors) anticipated physicists’ recognizing the individual’s “inseparability from the rest of the world,” the work of New Age thinkers who combine scientific findings and spiritual experiences, and federally funded clinical trials utilizing psilocybin to treat a variety of conditions. More than an artifact, The Joyous Cosmology is both a riveting memoir of Watts’s personal experiments and a profound meditation on our perennial questions about the nature of existence and the existence of the sacred.
  • David Icke | The Robots' Rebellion – The Story of Spiritual Renaissance: David Icke's History of the New World Order
    David Icke's strongest book to date, The Robots' Rebellion reveals the alarming extent to which people of all nations are programmed by the ideas fed to them by those in power. We live in a world which is increasingly dominated by technology but, according to Icke, it is we who are the robots. Fearlessly, he tears down the veils of hypocrisy, built up for generations by the corrupt forces of Church, State, science and commerce — and reveals the true pathos of the human condition beneath. He points, too, to the frightening influence wielded throughout the planet by a merciless and manipulative network of secret societies. The existence of long-established links between Earth-bound humanity and beings from other dimensions and planets in the Universe has been suppressed for years, says Icke, by the world's power-broking hierarchy. When ordinary people learn the real role they have to play within a rich and varied cosmic society, rebellion against those who have kept this extraordinary truth from them will, he predicts, be inevitable. The author is no stranger to controversy. Formerly best-known as a TV sports commentator and leading spokesman for the British Green Party, he is gaining increasing authority as a tireless campaigner for truth. His widely-publicised spiritual transformation has given him the courage to speak out fearlessly against lies deceit. Hidebound politicians, bankers, economists, educationalists, scientists and the leaders of the world's established religions are not going to welcome Icke's challenging book. But it is not intended for those who wield and abuse power. This book is for the world's unwilling robots who, says Icke, in an upbeat conclusion, have it within themselves to rise up — and take control of their own exciting destiny. The Robots' Rebellion: Table of Contents Introduction Remember Who You Are PART ONE: The Darkness - The Takeover Bid - Collective Amnesia - The Brotherhood of Clans - Bible Stories - Hell on Earth - Arabian Knights - The Cracks Appear - Eagle Tails - The Rule of Science - The World at War - Big is Beautiful - The New World Order - When Will We Ever Learn? PART TWO: The Light - Goodbye to All That - The Economics of Enough - The Politics of People - The Science of Sanity - Bricks in the Wall - Exploitation of the Spirit - The World Needs Rebels
  • David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D. | Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior
    An internationally bestselling must-read for those on a personal development path from world-renowned author, psychiatrist, clinician, spiritual teacher, and researcher of consciousness, David Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D. Dive deep into the realms of consciousness with Dr. David Hawkins' groundbreaking masterpiece, Power vs. Force, a roadmap to understanding human behavior and emotions. "[A] beautiful gift of writing . . . [Dr. David Hawkins] spreads joy, love, and compassion through what he writes. The fruit of these three is peace, as you know . . ." — Mother Teresa Imagine—what if you had access to a simple yes-or-no answer to any question you wished to ask? A demonstrably true answer. Any question . . . think about it. — from the Foreword We think we live by forces we control, but in fact we are governed by power from unrevealed sources, power over which we have no control. — from the author’s Preface The universe holds its breath as we choose, instant by instant, which pathway to follow; for the universe, the very essence of life itself, is highly conscious. Every act, thought, and choice adds to a permanent mosaic; our decisions ripple through the universe of consciousness to affect the lives of all. — from Power vs. Force ". . . particularly timely . . . a significant contribution to understanding and dealing with the problems we face today." — Lee Iacocca "Overwhelming! A masterpiece! A lifetime work!" — Sheldon Deal, President, International College of Applied Kinesiology “Love is more powerful than hatred; truth sets us free; forgiveness liberates both sides; unconditional love heals; courage empowers; and the essence of Divinity/Reality is peace.” — David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D. In this life-changing motivational book you’ll learn how to: · Tap into the genius consciousness that lies within us all. · Master your emotions and harness your inner power. · Make better decisions and have more peace. · Understand the energy dynamics that influence your life. Power vs. Force stands tall among motivational books, self-development books, and spiritual books, offering inspiration and guidance to all who seek it. Its profound insights and practical wisdom make it an encouraging book to cultivate a more conscious and fulfilling life. Unleash your potential, rise above your limitations, embrace the genius within, and begin your journey toward success and emotional mastery today.
  • James Fadiman | The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys
    Psychedelics for spiritual, therapeutic, and problem-solving use • Presents practices for safe and successful psychedelic voyages, including the benefits of having a guide and how to be a guide • Reviews the value of psychedelics for healing and self-discovery as well as how LSD has facilitated scientific and technical problem-solving • Reveals how microdosing (ultr-low doeses) improve cognitive functioning, emotional balance, and physical stamina • This year 600,000 people in the U.S. alone will try LSD for the the first time, joining the 23 million who have already experimented with this substance Called “America’s wisest and most respected authority on psychedelics and their use,” James Fadiman has been involved with psychedelic research since the 1960s. In this guide to the immediate and long-term effects of psychedelic use for spiritual (high dose), therapeutic (moderate dose), and problem-solving (low dose and microdose) purposes, Fadiman outlines best practices for safe, sacred entheogenic voyages learned through his more than 40 years of experience--from the benefits of having a sensitive guide during a session (and how to be one) to the importance of the setting and pre-session intention. Fadiman reviews the newest as well as the neglected research into the psychotherapeutic value of visionary drug use for increased personal awareness and a host of serious medical conditions, including his recent study of the reasons for and results of psychedelic use among hundreds of students and professionals. He reveals new uses for LSD and other psychedelics, including microdosing, extremely low doses, for improved cognitive functioning and emotional balance. Cautioning that psychedelics are not for everyone, he dispels the myths and misperceptions about psychedelics circulating in textbooks and clinics as well as on the internet. Exploring the life-changing experiences of Ram Dass, Timothy Leary, Aldous Huxley, and Huston Smith as well as Francis Crick and Steve Jobs, Fadiman shows how psychedelics, used wisely, can lead not only to healing but also to scientific breakthroughs and spiritual epiphanies.
  • Jed McKenna | Jed McKenna's Notebook: All Bonus Content from the Enlightenment Trilogy
    Chapters Include: Recipe for Failure, 3 Interviews with Jed, Impersonating Jed McKenna, Blues for Buddha, Zen and the Art of Self-Mutilation, Mannahatta (The Journey to the Shaman, Kill the Swiss, Improbability, My Uncle the Vampire, Bookstore Guru, City Lights, Death & Discrimination) I, Witness, The New World, The Golden Door, Visionary Goofballs, Nothing Forever: A Post-Apocalyptic Lightmare
  • Jed McKenna | Spiritual Enlightenment: The Damnedest Thing: Book One of The Enlightenment Trilogy
    A MASTERPIECE of illuminative writing, Spiritual Enlightenment: The Damnedest Thing is mandatory reading for anyone following a spiritual path. Part exposé and part how-to manual, this is the first book to explain why failure seems to be the rule in the search for enlightenment, and how the rule can be broken. :: Book One of Jed McKenna's Enlightenment Trilogy. Contains Bonus Material.
  • Michael Pollan | How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence
    “Pollan keeps you turning the pages . . . cleareyed and assured.” —New York Times A #1 New York Times Bestseller, New York Times Book Review 10 Best Books of 2018, and New York Times Notable Book A brilliant and brave investigation into the medical and scientific revolution taking place around psychedelic drugs--and the spellbinding story of his own life-changing psychedelic experiences When Michael Pollan set out to research how LSD and psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) are being used to provide relief to people suffering from difficult-to-treat conditions such as depression, addiction and anxiety, he did not intend to write what is undoubtedly his most personal book. But upon discovering how these remarkable substances are improving the lives not only of the mentally ill but also of healthy people coming to grips with the challenges of everyday life, he decided to explore the landscape of the mind in the first person as well as the third. Thus began a singular adventure into various altered states of consciousness, along with a dive deep into both the latest brain science and the thriving underground community of psychedelic therapists. Pollan sifts the historical record to separate the truth about these mysterious drugs from the myths that have surrounded them since the 1960s, when a handful of psychedelic evangelists inadvertently catalyzed a powerful backlash against what was then a promising field of research. A unique and elegant blend of science, memoir, travel writing, history, and medicine, How to Change Your Mind is a triumph of participatory journalism. By turns dazzling and edifying, it is the gripping account of a journey to an exciting and unexpected new frontier in our understanding of the mind, the self, and our place in the world. The true subject of Pollan's "mental travelogue" is not just psychedelic drugs but also the eternal puzzle of human consciousness and how, in a world that offers us both suffering and joy, we can do our best to be fully present and find meaning in our lives.
  • Osho | The Book of Secrets: 112 Meditations to Discover the Mystery Within
    The Book of Secrets is a step by step guide to find the best meditation suitable for you. 112 methods of meditation are described and introduced here with helpful background information to give contemporary people a door to meditation. Reading this book, not only will your outlook on life change, but so will your life. If you want to know more about life and yourself this is your book. Each chapter that focuses on describing specific meditation techniques is followed by a chapter of questions from those who were present during the talks. In most cases, their questions relate to the techniques given in the previous chapter. So, as you start to experiment with a technique, it will be helpful to look into these chapters for some extra hint, some greater depth of understanding, or response to a question that might have arisen for you in your experiments.
  • Sam Harris | Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion
    Spirituality.The search for happiness --Religion, East and West --Mindfulness --The truth of suffering --Enlightenment --The mystery of consciousness.The mind divided --Structure and function --Are our minds already split? --Conscious and unconscious processing in the brain --Consciousness is what matters --The riddle of the self.What are we calling "I"? --Consciousness without self --Lost in thought --The challenge of studying the self --Penetrating the illusion --Meditation.Gradual versus sudden realization --Dzogchen: taking the goal as the path --Having no head --The paradox of acceptance --Gurus, death, drugs, and other puzzles.Mind on the brink of death --The spiritual uses of pharmacology.

👉 Business & Economics

  • Pat Flynn | Superfans
    "Want to create a brand that will stand the test of time? Want to build a business that will last, one made to withstand the onslaught of competition, the whims of algorithmic changes, and the unscrupulous efforts of trolls and hackers? The key isn't the best technology, the diverse revenue stream, or the biggest marketing budget. The key is people. If you want to build a business and brand that can't be foiled, you need to cultivate aficionados who will sing your praises, have your back when things get tough, and buy everything you create. You need superfans"--Dust jacket flap
  • Adam Bryant • Kevin Sharer | The CEO Test: Master the Challenges That Make or Break All Leaders
    Named to the longlist for the 2021 Outstanding Works of Literature (OWL) Award in the Leadership category Are you ready to lead? Will you pass the test? Despite all the effort through the years to understand what it takes to be an effective leader, the challenges of leadership remain enormously difficult and elusive; even today, most CEOs don't last five years in the job. The demands to deliver at a consistently high level can be unforgiving. The loneliness. The weight of responsibility. The relentless second-guessing and criticism. The pressure to build all-star teams. The 24/7 schedule that requires superhuman stamina. The tough decisions that often leave no one happy. The expectation to always have the right answer when it can be hard just to know the right question. These challenges are brought into their highest and sharpest relief in the corner office, but they are hardly unique to chief executives. All leaders face their own version of these tests, and the authors draw on the distilled wisdom, stories, and lessons from hundreds of chief executives to show how every aspiring leader can master these challenges and lead like a CEO. These foundational leadership skills will make all aspiring executives more effective in their roles today and lift the trajectory of their careers. The CEO Test is the authoritative, no-nonsense insider's guide to navigating leadership's toughest challenges, brought to you by authors uniquely qualified to tell the stories. Adam Bryant has conducted in-depth interviews with more than 600 CEOs. Kevin Sharer spent more than two decades as president and then CEO of Amgen, where he led its expansion from $1 billion in annual revenues to nearly $16 billion. He has served on many boards and is a sought-after mentor for CEOs of global companies. Leadership is getting harder as the speed of disruption across all industries accelerates. The CEO Test will better prepare you to succeed, whether you're a CEO or just setting out to become one.
  • Adam Grant | Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success
    A groundbreaking look at why our interactions with others hold the key to success, from the New York Times bestselling author of Think Again, Originals, and the forthcoming Hidden Potential For generations, we have focused on the individual drivers of success: passion, hard work, talent, and luck. But in today’s dramatically reconfigured world, success is increasingly dependent on how we interact with others. In Give and Take, Adam Grant, an award-winning researcher and Wharton’s highest-rated professor, examines the surprising forces that shape why some people rise to the top of the success ladder while others sink to the bottom. Praised by social scientists, business theorists, and corporate leaders, Give and Take opens up an approach to work, interactions, and productivity that is nothing short of revolutionary.
  • Adam Grant | Originals: How Non-conformists Change the World
    WINNER of the Chartered Management Institute's (CMI's) Mangement Book of the Year Awards 2017, JP Morgan's Best Summer Read 2018, and a #1 New York Times Bestseller! ‘Extraordinary’ JJ Abrams ‘Fascinating’ Arianna Huffington ‘Inspire creativity and change’ Richard Branson ‘One of my favourite thinkers’ Malcolm Gladwell ‘Masterful’ Peter Thiel ‘One of the great social scientists of our time’ Susan Cain, bestselling author of Quiet ‘Fresh research, counter-intuitive insights, lively writing, practical calls to action’ The Financial Times The New York Times bestselling author examines how people can drive creative, moral, and organisational progress—and how leaders can encourage originality in their organisations. How can we originate new ideas, policies and practices without risking it all? Adam Grant shows how to improve the world by championing novel ideas and values that go against the grain, battling conformity, and bucking outdated traditions. Using surprising studies and stories spanning business, politics, sports, and entertainment, Grant explores how to recognize a good idea, speak up without getting silenced, build a coalition of allies, choose the right time to act, and manage fear and doubt. Parents will learn how to nurture originality in children, and leaders will discover how to fight groupthink to build cultures that welcome dissent. Told through dazzling case studies of people going against the grain, you’ll encounter an entrepreneur who pitches the reasons not to invest, a woman at Apple who challenged Steve Jobs from three levels below, an analyst who challenged secrecy at the CIA, a billionaire financial wizard who fires employees who don’t criticize him, and the TV executive who saved Seinfeld from the cutting room floor. Originals will give you groundbreaking insights about rejecting conformity and how to change the world.
  • Al Ries • Laura Ries | The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding: How to Build a Product or Service into a World-Class Brand
    This marketing classic has been expanded to include new commentary, new illustrations, and a bonus book: The 11 Immutable Laws of Internet Branding. Smart and accessible, The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding is the definitive text on branding, pairing anecdotes about some of the best brands in the world, like Rolex, Volvo, and Heineken, with the signature savvy of marketing gurus Al and Laura Ries. Combining The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding and The 11 Immutable Laws of Internet Branding, this book proclaims that the only way to stand out in today's marketplace is to build your product or service into a brand—and provides the step-by-step instructions you need to do so. The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding also tackles one of the most challenging marketing problems today: branding on the Web. The Rieses divulge the controversial and counterintuitive strategies and secrets that both small and large companies have used to establish internet brands. The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding is the essential primer on building a category-dominating, world-class brand.
  • Al Switzler • Joseph Grenny • Kerry Patterson • Ron McMillan | Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High
    The New York Times and Washington Post bestseller that changed the way millions communicate “[Crucial Conversations] draws our attention to those defining moments that literally shape our lives, our relationships, and our world. . . . This book deserves to take its place as one of the key thought leadership contributions of our time.” —from the Foreword by Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People “The quality of your life comes out of the quality of your dialogues and conversations. Here’s how to instantly uplift your crucial conversations.” —Mark Victor Hansen, cocreator of the #1 New York Times bestselling series Chicken Soup for the Soul® The first edition of Crucial Conversations exploded onto the scene and revolutionized the way millions of people communicate when stakes are high. This new edition gives you the tools to: Prepare for high-stakes situations Transform anger and hurt feelings into powerful dialogue Make it safe to talk about almost anything Be persuasive, not abrasive
  • Alexander Green | AARP The Secret of Shelter Island: Money and What Matters
    AARP Digital Editions offer you practical tips, proven solutions, and expert guidance. In The Secret of Shelter Island, nationally renowned financial analyst and bestselling author Alexander Green explores the complicated relationship we all have with money and reveals the road map to a rich life. Drawing on some of today's best minds and many of history's greatest thinkers, The Secret of Shelter Island is both a much-needed source of inspiration and an insightful look at the role of both money and values in the pursuit of the good life. Addresses what really matters when it comes to money and how to make smarter decisions with what you have Describes the profound connection between money, character, personal philosophy, and outlook Other bestselling titles by Green: The Gone Fishin' Portfolio If you want to understand what ultimately provides meaning, contentment, and the satisfaction of a life well-lived, then read The Secret of Shelter Island.
  • Amanda Palmer | The Art of Asking: How I learned to stop worrying and let people help
    REDISCOVER THE FORGOTTEN ART OF ASKING IN THIS NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING BOOK 'Amanda Palmer joyfully shows a generation how to change their lives' Caitlin Moran 'To read Amanda Palmer's remarkable memoir about asking and giving is to tumble headlong into her world' Elizabeth Gilbert 'The Art of Asking is a book about cultivating trust and getting as close as possible to love, vulnerability, and connection. Uncomfortably close. Dangerously close. Beautifully close' Brene Brown Imagine standing on a box in the middle of a busy city, dressed as a white-faced bride, and silently using your eyes to ask people for money. Or touring Europe in a punk cabaret band, and finding a place to sleep each night by reaching out to strangers on Twitter. For Amanda Palmer, actions like these have gone beyond satisfying her basic needs for food and shelter - they've taught her how to turn strangers into friends, build communities, and discover her own giving impulses. And because she had learned how to ask, she was able to go to the world to ask for the money to make a new album and tour with it, and to raise over a million dollars in a month. In the New York TImes bestseller The Art of Asking, Palmer expands upon her popular TED talk to reveal how ordinary people, those of us without thousands of Twitter followers and adoring fans, can use these same principles in our own lives.
  • Amy Wallace • Ed Catmull | Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration
    The co-founder and longtime president of Pixar updates and expands his 2014 New York Times bestseller on creative leadership, reflecting on the management principles that built Pixar’s singularly successful culture, and on all he learned during the past nine years that allowed Pixar to retain its creative culture while continuing to evolve. “Might be the most thoughtful management book ever.”—Fast Company For nearly thirty years, Pixar has dominated the world of animation, producing such beloved films as the Toy Story trilogy, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Up, and WALL-E, which have gone on to set box-office records and garner eighteen Academy Awards. The joyous storytelling, the inventive plots, the emotional authenticity: In some ways, Pixar movies are an object lesson in what creativity really is. Here, Catmull reveals the ideals and techniques that have made Pixar so widely admired—and so profitable. As a young man, Ed Catmull had a dream: to make the first computer-animated movie. He nurtured that dream as a Ph.D. student, and then forged a partnership with George Lucas that led, indirectly, to his founding Pixar with Steve Jobs and John Lasseter in 1986. Nine years later, Toy Story was released, changing animation forever. The essential ingredient in that movie’s success—and in the twenty-five movies that followed—was the unique environment that Catmull and his colleagues built at Pixar, based on philosophies that protect the creative process and defy convention, such as: • Give a good idea to a mediocre team and they will screw it up. But give a mediocre idea to a great team and they will either fix it or come up with something better. • It’s not the manager’s job to prevent risks. It’s the manager’s job to make it safe for others to take them. • The cost of preventing errors is often far greater than the cost of fixing them. • A company’s communication structure should not mirror its organizational structure. Everybody should be able to talk to anybody. Creativity, Inc. has been significantly expanded to illuminate the continuing development of the unique culture at Pixar. It features a new introduction, two entirely new chapters, four new chapter postscripts, and changes and updates throughout. Pursuing excellence isn’t a one-off assignment but an ongoing, day-in, day-out, full-time job. And Creativity, Inc. explores how it is done.
  • Andrew S. Grove | High Output Management
    In this legendary business book and Silicon Valley staple, the former chairman and CEO of Intel shares his perspective on how to build and run a company. A practical handbook for navigating real-life business scenarios and a powerful management manifesto with the ability to revolutionize the way we work. The essential skill of creating and maintaining new businesses—the art of the entrepreneur—can be summed up in a single word: managing. Born of Grove’s experiences at one of America’s leading technology companies (as CEO and employee number three at Intel), High Output Management is equally appropriate for sales managers, accountants, consultants, and teachers, as well as CEOs and startup founders. Grove covers techniques for creating highly productive teams, demonstrating methods of motivation that lead to peak performance. "Generous enough with advice and observations to be required reading." —The Wall Street Journal
  • Andrew S. Grove | Only the Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company
    Andy Grove, founder and former CEO of Intel shares his strategy for success as he takes the reader deep inside the workings of a major company in Only the Paranoid Survive. Under Andy Grove's leadership, Intel became the world's largest chip maker and one of the most admired companies in the world. In Only the Paranoid Survive, Grove reveals his strategy for measuring the nightmare moment every leader dreads--when massive change occurs and a company must, virtually overnight, adapt or fall by the wayside--in a new way. Grove calls such a moment a Strategic Inflection Point, which can be set off by almost anything: mega-competition, a change in regulations, or a seemingly modest change in technology. When a Strategic Inflection Point hits, the ordinary rules of business go out the window. Yet, managed right, a Strategic Inflection Point can be an opportunity to win in the marketplace and emerge stronger than ever. Grove underscores his message by examining his own record of success and failure, including how he navigated the events of the Pentium flaw, which threatened Intel's reputation in 1994, and how he has dealt with the explosions in growth of the Internet. The work of a lifetime, Only the Paranoid Survive is a classic of managerial and leadership skills.
  • Anna Rosling Rönnlund • Hans Rosling • Ola Rosling | Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About The World - And Why Things Are Better Than You Think
    'One of the most important books I've ever read - an indispensable guide to thinking clearly about the world' BILL GATES 'A hopeful book about the potential for human progress when we work off facts rather than our inherent biases' BARACK OBAMA The international bestseller, inspiring and revelatory, filled with lively anecdotes and moving stories, Factfulness is an urgent and essential book that will change the way you see the world, and make you realise things are better than you thought. *#1 Sunday Times bestseller * New York Times bestseller * Observer 'best brainy book of the decade' * Irish Times bestseller * audiobook bestseller * Guardian bestseller *
  • Annie Duke | Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away
    From the bestselling author of Thinking in Bets comes a toolkit for mastering the skill of quitting to achieve greater success Business leaders, with millions of dollars down the drain, struggle to abandon a new app or product that just isn’t working. Governments, caught in a hopeless conflict, believe that the next tactic will finally be the one that wins the war. And in our own lives, we persist in relationships or careers that no longer serve us. Why? According to Annie Duke, in the face of tough decisions, we’re terrible quitters. And that is significantly holding us back. In Quit, Duke teaches you how to get good at quitting. Drawing on stories from elite athletes like Mount Everest climbers, founders of leading companies like Stewart Butterfield, the CEO of Slack, and top entertainers like Dave Chappelle, Duke explains why quitting is integral to success, as well as strategies for determining when to hold em, and when to fold em, that will save you time, energy, and money. You’ll learn: How the paradox of quitting influences decision making: If you quit on time, you will feel you quit early What forces work against good quitting behavior, such as escalation commitment, desire for certainty, and status quo bias How to think in expected value in order to make better decisions, as well as other best practices, such as increasing flexibility in goal-setting, establishing “quitting contracts,” anticipating optionality, and conducting premortems and backcasts Whether you’re facing a make-or-break business decision or life-altering personal choice, mastering the skill of quitting will help you make the best next move.
  • Anthony Robbins • Peter Mallouk • Tony Robbins | Unshakeable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook
    After interviewing fifty of the world's greatest financial minds and penning the #1 New York Times bestseller Money: Master the Game, Tony Robbins returns with a step-by-step playbook, taking you on a journey to transform your financial life and accelerate your path to financial freedom. No matter your salary, your stage of life, or when you started, this book will provide the tools to help you achieve your financial goals more rapidly than you ever thought possible. Robbins, who has coached more than fifty million people from 100 countries, is the world's #1 life and business strategist. In this book, he teams up with Peter Mallouk, the only man in history to be ranked the #1 financial advisor in the US for three consecutive years by Barron's. Together they reveal how to become unshakeable--someone who can not only maintain true peace of mind in a world of immense uncertainty, economic volatility, and unprecedented change, but who can profit from the fear that immobilizes so many. In these pages, through plain English and inspiring stories, you'll discover... -How to put together a simple, actionable plan that can deliver true financial freedom. -Strategies from the world's top investors on how to protect yourself and your family and maximize profit from the inevitable crashes and corrections to come. -How a few simple steps can add a decade or more of additional retirement income by discovering what your 401(k) provider doesn't want you to know. -The core four principles that most of the world's greatest financial minds utilize so that you can maximize upside and minimize downside. -The fastest way to put money back in your pocket: uncover the hidden fees and half truths of Wall Street--how the biggest firms keep you overpaying for underperformance. -Master the mindset of true wealth and experience the fulfillment you deserve today.
  • Ash Maurya | Running Lean
    We're building more products today than ever before, but most of them fail--not because we can't complete what we want to build but because we waste time, money, and effort building the wrong product. What we need is a systematic process for quickly vetting product ideas and raising our odds of success. That's the promise of Running Lean. In this inspiring book, Ash Maurya takes you through an exacting strategy for achieving product/market fit for your fledgling venture. You'll learn ideas and concepts from several innovative methodologies, including the Lean Startup, business model design, design thinking, and Jobs-to-be-Done. This new edition introduces the continuous innovation framework and follows one entrepreneur's journey from initial vision to a business model that works. Deconstruct your idea using a one-page Lean Canvas Stress-test your idea for desirability, viability, and feasibility Define key milestones charted on a traction roadmap Maximize your team's efforts for speed, learning, and focus Prioritize the right actions at the right time Learn how to conduct effective customer interviews Engage your customers throughout the development cycle Continually test your product with smaller, faster iterations Find a repeatable and scalable business model
  • Aytekin Tank | Automate Your Busywork: Do Less, Achieve More, and Save Your Brain for the Big Stuff
    Learn to automate your busywork and focus on what really matters In Automate Your Busywork: Do Less, Achieve More, and Save Your Brain for the Big Stuff entrepreneur, founder, and CEO of Jotform Aytekin Tank delivers a can’t-miss blueprint to help you make the most of your most precious asset: time. You’ll explore what’s possible when you offload repetitive tasks, why automation has democratized innovation, and how you can use cheap—or even completely free—no-code automation tools to transform your ability to focus on what truly matters in your business and life. In the book, you’ll discover: Why the future of business is no-code, and how you can use an automation-first mindset to unlock your productivity potential How to move from busywork to less work, and finally to having the time you need to accomplish your most important work How you can use delegation and automation to achieve “timefulness,” the state of having enough time A must-read handbook for every entrepreneur, founder, business owner, and freelancer who just doesn’t have enough hours in the day, Automate Your Busywork will also earn a place in the libraries of managers, executives, and other business leaders looking to maximize their most valuable resource.
  • Ben Shaw • Lorne Hallendorff | The First Kudu: Building a tech start-up in Africa
    From 'naughty lists' to sprinting swans, wandering ducks to Amarula-based incentives, The First Kudu takes you on the roller coaster ride of a start-up, and dives into real learnings along the way. The narrative invites you to journey through the chaos with the young team and unpacks in gritty detail what goes into building a tech start-up – with stories of fun and failure honestly told in equal measure. The First Kudu tells the story of HouseME, a rental technology company founded in South Africa that grew to 34 employees and 50 000 registered users, processing hundreds of millions of rands each year. The company won awards, raised several rounds of funding and was sought after by competitors. It was exciting. It was excellent. And then ... It was dead. Ben Shaw (former CEO) and Lorne Hallendorff (former COO) provide a whirlwind tour of what goes into building a start-up at the southern tip of Africa and what they would do differently, were they to do it again.
  • Benjamin Graham • Jason Zweig | The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing
    75th Anniversary Edition The classic work on investing, filled with sound and safe principles that are as reliable as ever, now revised with an introduction and appendix by financial legend Warren Buffett—one of the author’s most famous students—and newly updated commentaries on each chapter from distinguished Wall Street Journal writer Jason Zweig. “By far the best book about investing ever written.”—Warren Buffett Since its original publication in 1949, Benjamin Graham’s revered classic, The Intelligent Investor, has taught and inspired millions of people worldwide and remains the most respected guide to investing. Graham’s timeless philosophy of “value investing” helps protect investors against common mistakes and teaches them to develop sensible strategies that will serve them throughout their lifetime. Market developments over the past seven decades have borne out the wisdom of Graham’s basic policies, and in today’s volatile market, The Intelligent Investor remains essential. It is the most important book you will ever read on making the right decisions to protect your investments and make them grow. Featuring updated commentaries which accompany every chapter of Graham’s book—leaving his original text untouched—from noted financial journalist Jason Zweig, this newly revised edition offers readers an even clearer understanding of Graham’s wisdom and how it should be applied by investors today.
  • Benjamin Zander • Rosamund Stone Zander | The Art of Possibility
    In their playing you hear not only precision, color and balance, but thunder, lightning and the language of the heart. This is what the Boston Globe said about a performance by conductor Benjamin Zander with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, but it could apply equally to the Zanders' inspirational book, the product of a synthesis of the diverse worlds of the symphony orchestra and cutting-edge psychology. The Art of Possibility offers a set of breakthrough practices for creativity in all human enterprises. Infused with the energy of their dynamic partnership, the book joins together Ben's extraordinary talent as a mover and shaker, teacher, and communicator, with Rosamund Stone Zander's genius for creating innovative paradigms for personal and professional fulfillment. In lively counterpoint, the authors provide us with a deep sense of the powerful role that the notion of possibility can play in every aspect of our lives. The Zanders' deceptively simple practices are based on two premises: that life is composed as a story ("it's all invented") and that, with new definitions, much more is possible than people ordinarily think. The book shifts our perspective with uplifting stories, parables, and anecdotes from the authors' personal experiences as well as from famous and everyday heroes. From "Giving an A," to the mysterious "Rule Number 6," to "Leading from Any Chair"-the account of Ben's stunning realization that the conductor/leader's power is directly linked to how much greatness he is willing to grant to others-each practice offers an opportunity for personal and organizational transformation. The Art of Possibility provides a life-altering approach to fulfilling dreams large and small. The Zanders invite us all to become passionate communicators, leaders, and performers whose lives radiate possibility into the world. Rosamund Stone Zander is a family therapist and a landscape painter. Benjamin Zander is the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and a professor at the New England Conservatory of Music. Based on the principles developed through the authors' unique partnership, Mr. Zander gives presentations to managers and executives around the world and Ms. Zander conducts workshops for organizations on practicing the art of possibility.
  • Bill Carr • Colin Bryar | Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon
    ‘Essential for any leader in any industry’ – Kim Scott, bestselling author of Radical Candor Working Backwards gives an insider’s account of Amazon’s approach to culture, leadership and best practices from two long-time, top-level Amazon executives. Colin Bryar and Bill Carr joined Amazon in the late 90s. Their time at the company covered a period of unmatched innovation that brought products and services – including Kindle, Amazon Prime, Amazon Echo and Alexa, and Amazon Web Services – to life. Through the story of these innovations they reveal the principles and practices that drive Amazon’s success. Through their wealth of experience they offer unprecedented access to the ‘Amazon way’ as it was refined, articulated and proven to be repeatable, scalable and adaptable. Working Backwards shows how success is not achieved by the genius of any single leader, but rather through commitment to and execution of a set of well-defined, rigorously executed principles and practices that you can apply at your own company, no matter the size. ‘Working Backwards should be read by anyone interested in the real thing – the principles, processes and practices of twenty-first-century management and leadership’ – Forbes ‘Gives us the story as it developed at the time – and that is probably worth the cover price of the book in itself’ – Financial Times
  • Brad Stone | The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon
    **Winner of the Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award** 'Brad Stone's definitive book on Amazon and Bezos' The Guardian 'A masterclass in deeply researched investigative financial journalism . . . riveting' The Times The definitive story of the largest and most influential company in the world and the man whose drive and determination changed business forever. Though Amazon.com started off delivering books through the mail, its visionary founder, Jeff Bezos, was never content with being just a bookseller. He wanted Amazon to become 'the everything store', offering limitless selection and seductive convenience at disruptively low prices. To achieve that end, he developed a corporate culture of relentless ambition and secrecy that's never been cracked. Until now... Jeff Bezos stands out for his relentless pursuit of new markets, leading Amazon into risky new ventures like the Kindle and cloud computing, and transforming retail in the same way that Henry Ford revolutionised manufacturing. Amazon placed one of the first and largest bets on the Internet. Nothing would ever be the same again.
  • Brené Brown | Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
    Researcher and thought leader Dr. Brené Brown offers a powerful new vision in Daring Greatly that encourages us to embrace vulnerability and imperfection, to live wholeheartedly and courageously. 'It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; . . . who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly' -Theodore Roosevelt Every time we are introduced to someone new, try to be creative, or start a difficult conversation, we take a risk. We feel uncertain and exposed. We feel vulnerable. Most of us try to fight those feelings - we strive to appear perfect. Challenging everything we think we know about vulnerability, Dr. Brené Brown dispels the widely accepted myth that it's a weakness. She argues that vulnerability is in fact a strength, and when we shut ourselves off from revealing our true selves we grow distanced from the things that bring purpose and meaning to our lives. Daring Greatly is the culmination of 12 years of groundbreaking social research, across the home, relationships, work, and parenting. It is an invitation to be courageous; to show up and let ourselves be seen, even when there are no guarantees. This is vulnerability. This is daring greatly. 'Brilliantly insightful. I can't stop thinking about this book' -Gretchen Rubin Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. Her groundbreaking work was featured on Oprah Winfrey's Super Soul Sunday, NPR, and CNN. Her TED talk is one of the most watched TED talks of all time. Brené is also the author of The Gifts of Imperfection and I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't).
  • Cal Newport | So Good They Can't Ignore You
    Cal Newport's clearly-written manifesto flies in the face of conventional wisdom by suggesting that it should be a person's talent and skill - and not necessarily their passion - that determines their career path. Newport, who graduated from Dartmouth College (Phi Beta Kappa) and earned a PhD. from MIT, contends that trying to find what drives us, instead of focusing on areas in which we naturally excel, is ultimately harmful and frustrating to job seekers. The title is a direct quote from comedian Steve Martin who, when once asked why he was successful in his career, immediately replied: "Be so good they can't ignore you" and that's the main basis for Newport's book. Skill and ability trump passion. Inspired by former Apple CEO Steve Jobs' famous Stanford University commencement speech in which Jobs urges idealistic grads to chase their dreams, Newport takes issue with that advice, claiming that not only is thsi advice Pollyannish, but that Jobs himself never followed his own advice. From there, Newport presents compelling scientific and contemporary case study evidence that the key to one's career success is to find out what you do well, where you have built up your 'career capital,' and then to put all of your efforts into that direction.
  • Cass R. Sunstein • Daniel Kahneman • Olivier Sibony | Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment
    From the Nobel Prize-winning author of Thinking, Fast and Slow and the coauthor of Nudge, a revolutionary exploration of why people make bad judgments and how to make better ones—"a tour de force” (New York Times). Imagine that two doctors in the same city give different diagnoses to identical patients—or that two judges in the same courthouse give markedly different sentences to people who have committed the same crime. Suppose that different interviewers at the same firm make different decisions about indistinguishable job applicants—or that when a company is handling customer complaints, the resolution depends on who happens to answer the phone. Now imagine that the same doctor, the same judge, the same interviewer, or the same customer service agent makes different decisions depending on whether it is morning or afternoon, or Monday rather than Wednesday. These are examples of noise: variability in judgments that should be identical. In Noise, Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony, and Cass R. Sunstein show the detrimental effects of noise in many fields, including medicine, law, economic forecasting, forensic science, bail, child protection, strategy, performance reviews, and personnel selection. Wherever there is judgment, there is noise. Yet, most of the time, individuals and organizations alike are unaware of it. They neglect noise. With a few simple remedies, people can reduce both noise and bias, and so make far better decisions. Packed with original ideas, and offering the same kinds of research-based insights that made Thinking, Fast and Slow and Nudge groundbreaking New York Times bestsellers, Noise explains how and why humans are so susceptible to noise in judgment—and what we can do about it.
  • Celeste Headlee | We Need To Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter
    Take a moment to consider how many outcomes in your life may have been affected by poor communication skills. Could you have gotten a job you really wanted? Saved a relationship? What about that political conversation that got out of hand at a dinner party? How is it that we so often fail to say the right thing at the right time? In her career as an NPR host, journalist Celeste Headlee has interviewed hundreds of people from all walks of life, and if there's one thing she's learned, it's that it's hard to overestimate the power of conversation and its ability to both bridge gaps and deepen wounds. In We Need to Talk, she shares what she's learned on the job about how to have effective, meaningful, and respectful conversations in every area of our lives. Now more than ever, Headlee argues, we must begin to talk to and, more importantly, listen to one another - including those with whom we disagree. We Need to Talk gives readers ten simple tools to help facilitate better conversations, ranging from the errors we routinely make (put down the smart phone when you're face to face with someone) to the less obvious blind spots that can sabotage any conversation, including knowing when not to talk, being aware of our own bias, and avoiding putting yourself in the centre of the discussion. Whether you're gearing up for a big conversation with your boss, looking to deepen or improve your connection with a relative, or trying to express your child's needs to a teacher, We Need to Talk will arm you with the skills you need to create a productive dialogue.
  • Charles T. Munger | Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger
    From the legendary vice-chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, lessons in investment strategy, philanthropy, and living a rational and ethical life. “Spend each day trying to be a little wiser than you were when you woke up,” Charles T. Munger advises in Poor Charlie’s Almanack. Originally published in 2005, this compendium of eleven talks delivered by the legendary Berkshire Hathaway vice-chairman between 1986 and 2007 has become a touchstone for a generation of investors and entrepreneurs seeking to absorb the enduring wit and wisdom of one of the great minds of the 20th and 21st centuries. Edited by Peter D. Kaufman, chairman and CEO of Glenair and longtime friend of Charlie Munger—whom he calls “this generation’s answer to Benjamin Franklin”—this abridged Stripe Press edition of Poor Charlie’s Almanack features a brand-new foreword by Stripe cofounder John Collison. Poor Charlie’s Almanack draws on Munger’s encyclopedic knowledge of business, finance, history, philosophy, physics, and ethics—and more besides—to introduce the latticework of mental models that underpin his rational and rigorous approach to life, learning, and decision-making. Delivered with Munger’s characteristic sharp wit and rhetorical flair, it is an essential volume for any reader seeking to go to bed a little wiser than when they woke up.
  • Chip Heath • Dan Heath | Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The instant classic about why some ideas thrive, why others die, and how to make your ideas stick. “Anyone interested in influencing others—to buy, to vote, to learn, to diet, to give to charity or to start a revolution—can learn from this book.”—The Washington Post Mark Twain once observed, “A lie can get halfway around the world before the truth can even get its boots on.” His observation rings true: Urban legends, conspiracy theories, and bogus news stories circulate effortlessly. Meanwhile, people with important ideas—entrepreneurs, teachers, politicians, and journalists—struggle to make them “stick.” In Made to Stick, Chip and Dan Heath reveal the anatomy of ideas that stick and explain ways to make ideas stickier, such as applying the human scale principle, using the Velcro Theory of Memory, and creating curiosity gaps. Along the way, we discover that sticky messages of all kinds—from the infamous “kidney theft ring” hoax to a coach’s lessons on sportsmanship to a vision for a new product at Sony—draw their power from the same six traits. Made to Stick will transform the way you communicate. It’s a fast-paced tour of success stories (and failures): the Nobel Prize-winning scientist who drank a glass of bacteria to prove a point about stomach ulcers; the charities who make use of the Mother Teresa Effect; the elementary-school teacher whose simulation actually prevented racial prejudice. Provocative, eye-opening, and often surprisingly funny, Made to Stick shows us the vital principles of winning ideas—and tells us how we can apply these rules to making our own messages stick.
  • Chris Guillebeau | The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future
    In Chris Guillebeau's travel to over 175 countries, he has met two kinds of people: those like himself who have the time and income to follow their whims and who've created an entertaining and fulfilling life--and those who feel trapped. This second group wants what the first group has, but the big stumbling block is making money. Because Chris realized that the first group has knowledge to impart, he identified 1500 people worth emulating, and refining that further, he offers here the 50 most valuable and interesting examples of micro-business success. In nearly all cases, people with no special skills discovered a way to monetize their personal passions. It's about finding the intersection between what you like to do and what other people will pay for. You don't need an MBA, a business plan, or even employees. All you need is a product or service that flows from what you love to do anyway, people willing to pay, and a way to get paid.
  • Chris Voss • Tahl Raz | Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It
    THE HUGE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER A former FBI hostage negotiator offers a new, field-tested approach to negotiating - effective in any situation. 'Riveting' Adam Grant 'Stupendous' The Week 'Brilliant' Guardian ____________________________ After a stint policing the rough streets of Kansas City, Missouri, Chris Voss joined the FBI, where his career as a kidnapping negotiator brought him face-to-face with bank robbers, gang leaders and terrorists. Never Split the Difference takes you inside his world of high-stakes negotiations, revealing the nine key principles that helped Voss and his colleagues succeed when it mattered the most - when people's lives were at stake. Rooted in the real-life experiences of an intelligence professional at the top of his game, Never Split the Difference will give you the competitive edge in any discussion. ____________________________ PRAISE FOR NEVER SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE 'My pick for book of the year.' Forbes 'Who better to learn [negotiation] from than Chris Voss, whose skills have saved lives and averted disaster?' Daily Mail 'Filled with insights that apply to everyday negotiations.' Business Insider 'It's rare that a book is so gripping and entertaining while still being actionable and applicable.' Inc. 'A business book you won't be able to put down.' Fortune
  • Clayton M. Christensen | The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail
    Named one of 100 Leadership & Success Books to Read in a Lifetime by Amazon Editors An innovation classic. From Steve Jobs to Jeff Bezos, Clay Christensen’s work continues to underpin today’s most innovative leaders and organizations. The bestselling classic on disruptive innovation, by renowned author Clayton M. Christensen. His work is cited by the world’s best-known thought leaders, from Steve Jobs to Malcolm Gladwell. In this classic bestseller—one of the most influential business books of all time—innovation expert Clayton Christensen shows how even the most outstanding companies can do everything right—yet still lose market leadership. Christensen explains why most companies miss out on new waves of innovation. No matter the industry, he says, a successful company with established products will get pushed aside unless managers know how and when to abandon traditional business practices. Offering both successes and failures from leading companies as a guide, The Innovator’s Dilemma gives you a set of rules for capitalizing on the phenomenon of disruptive innovation. Sharp, cogent, and provocative—and consistently noted as one of the most valuable business ideas of all time—The Innovator’s Dilemma is the book no manager, leader, or entrepreneur should be without.
  • Cynthia Covey Haller • Stephen R. Covey | Live Life in Crescendo: Your Most Important Work Is Always Ahead of You
    A “beautiful, inspiring, and important” (Professor Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Prize Laureate) final book from the legendary leadership expert, Stephen R. Covey, internationally bestselling author of the classic The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Stephen R. Covey spent his long and storied career inspiring millions of individuals to make their lives more effective, compassionate, and meaningful. Near the end of his life, Covey felt there was a final component to his work: How do you live your best life no matter your age? Live Life in Crescendo is Covey’s directive to live life in crescendo, meaning to continually grow in contribution, learning, and influence. In the same way that music builds on previous notes but leaves us anticipating the next note, a life builds on the past but unfolds in the future. The Crescendo Mentality urges you to use whatever you have—your time, talents, skills, resources, gifts, passion, money, influence—to enrich the lives of people around you, including your family, neighborhood, community, and the world. Cowritten with his daughter, Cynthia Covey Haller, and published posthumously, Live Life in Crescendo is a life-changing and life-affirming book that will “inspire you to dream bigger and bolder” (Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again) and befits the generosity and wisdom of the late Stephen R. Covey.
  • Dan Olsen | The Lean Product Playbook: How to Innovate with Minimum Viable Products and Rapid Customer Feedback
    The missing manual on how to apply Lean Startup to build products that customers love The Lean Product Playbook is a practical guide to building products that customers love. Whether you work at a startup or a large, established company, we all know that building great products is hard. Most new products fail. This book helps improve your chances of building successful products through clear, step-by-step guidance and advice. The Lean Startup movement has contributed new and valuable ideas about product development and has generated lots of excitement. However, many companies have yet to successfully adopt Lean thinking. Despite their enthusiasm and familiarity with the high-level concepts, many teams run into challenges trying to adopt Lean because they feel like they lack specific guidance on what exactly they should be doing. If you are interested in Lean Startup principles and want to apply them to develop winning products, this book is for you. This book describes the Lean Product Process: a repeatable, easy-to-follow methodology for iterating your way to product-market fit. It walks you through how to: Determine your target customers Identify underserved customer needs Create a winning product strategy Decide on your Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Design your MVP prototype Test your MVP with customers Iterate rapidly to achieve product-market fit This book was written by entrepreneur and Lean product expert Dan Olsen whose experience spans product management, UX design, coding, analytics, and marketing across a variety of products. As a hands-on consultant, he refined and applied the advice in this book as he helped many companies improve their product process and build great products. His clients include Facebook, Box, Hightail, Epocrates, and Medallia. Entrepreneurs, executives, product managers, designers, developers, marketers, analysts and anyone who is passionate about building great products will find The Lean Product Playbook an indispensable, hands-on resource.
  • Dan Roam | Show and Tell: How Everybody Can Make Extraordinary Presentations
    “If I tell you the truth, if I tell it with a story, and if I tell that story with pictures, I can keep you glued to your seat. Let me show you how.” For the vast majority of us, giving a presentation is an extremely difficult and nerve-wracking process, whether we’re in a one-on-one meeting, a conference room with a dozen strangers, or a lecture hall in front of thousands. But according to Dan Roam, the visual communications expert and acclaimed author of The Back of the Napkin, it doesn’t have to be so hard. We struggle when we forget the basic steps we learned in kindergarten: show and tell. In this short but powerful book, Roam introduces a new set of tools for making extraordinary presentations in any setting. He also draws on ideas he’s been honing for more than two decades, as an award-winning presenter who has brought his whiteboard everywhere from Fortune 500 companies to tiny startups to the White House. Even if you’re already a good speaker, you’ll learn more about understanding your audience, organizing your content, building a clear storyline, creating effective visuals, and channeling your fear into fun. And you’ll master three fundamental rules: • When we tell the truth, we connect with our audience, we become passionate, and we find self-confidence. • When we tell a story, we make complex concepts clear, we make ideas unforgettable, and we include everyone. • When we use pictures, people see exactly what we mean, we captivate our audience’s mind, and we banish boredom. From nailing the opening to leaving a lasting impression, you’ll soon be able to give the performance of a lifetime . . . time after time. PLEASE NOTE: This eBook edition of SHOW AND TELL is carefully laid out to match the print book; this means it reads much better as designed pages, but you won't be able to use some features such as highlighting and annotating text.
  • Dan Roam | The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures
    The acclaimed bestseller about visual problem solving-now bigger and better "There is no more powerful way to prove that we know something well than to draw a simple picture of it. And there is no more powerful way to see hidden solutions than to pick up a pen and draw out the pieces of our problem." So writes Dan Roam in The Back of the Napkin, the international bestseller that proves that a simple drawing on a humble napkin can be more powerful than the slickest PowerPoint presentation. Drawing on twenty years of experience and the latest discoveries in vision science, Roam teaches readers how to clarify any problem or sell any idea using a simple set of tools. He reveals that everyone is born with a talent for visual thinking, even those who swear they can't draw. And he shows how thinking with pictures can help you discover and develop new ideas, solve problems in unexpected ways, and dramatically improve your ability to share your insights. Take Herb Kelleher and Rollin King, who figured out how to beat the traditional hub-and-spoke airlines with a bar napkin and a pen. Three dots to represent Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Three arrows to show direct flights. Problem solved, and the picture made it easy to sell Southwest Airlines to investors and customers. Now with more color, bigger pictures, and additional content, this new edition does an even better job of helping you literally see the world in a new way. Join the teachers, project managers, doctors, engineers, assembly-line workers, pilots, football coaches, marine drill instructors, financial analysts, students, parents, and lawyers who have discovered the power of solving problems with pictures.
  • Dan Roam | Unfolding the Napkin: The Hands-On Method for Solving Complex Problems with Simple Pictures
    An original workbook companion to the acclaimed business bestseller The Back of the Napkin Dan Roam's The Back of the Napkin, a BusinessWeek bestseller, taught readers the power of brainstorming and communicating with pictures. It presented a new and exciting way to solve all kinds of problems-from the boardroom to the sales floor to the cubicle jungle. The companion workbook, Unfolding the Napkin, helps readers put Roam's principles into practice with step-by-step guidelines. It's filled with detailed case studies, guided do-it-yourself exercises, and plenty of blank space for drawing. Roam structured the book as a complete four-day visual-thinking seminar, taking readers step-by-step from "I can't draw" to "Here is the picture I drew that I think will save the world." The workbook teaches readers how to: •Improve their three "built-in" visual problem solving tools. •Apply the four-step visual thinking process (look-see-imagine-show) in any business situation. •Instantly improve their visual imaginations. •Learn how to recognize the type of problem to choose the best visual solution. If The Back of the Napkin was a guide to fine dining, Unfolding the Napkin is the cookbook that will soon be heavily marked up and dogeared.
  • Dan Sullivan • Dr. Benjamin Hardy | 10x Is Easier Than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less
    Expanding upon one of his high-level foundational teachings: Strategic Coach co-founder Dan Sullivan explains why achieving 10X growth is easier than going for 2X growth. Dan Sullivan, the world's leading coach for highly successful entrepreneurs, wants you to know that achieving 10X growth is exponentially easier than striving for 2X growth. Most find this idea confusing at first because simply imagining 10X growth causes them to think they need to do 10X more work to achieve it. However, being a 10X entrepreneur is nothing like what most people think. 10X is not the outcome; it's a counterintuitive process you can apply every time you want exponential growth in your life and business. To make 10X possible, you must focus on expanding what Dan defines as your four most important freedoms—time, money, relationship, and purpose. As your time becomes 10X more valuable, you increasingly multiply the money you earn both in terms of amount and profitable satisfaction. As money becomes a tool you can increasingly access with greater ease, you will engage with a growing number of other freedom-motivated individuals. As both your professional and personal life fills up with 10X more unique and collaborative relationships, you will realize that your most powerful purposes in all areas become 10X more lasting and positive for everyone involved. You will be impressed by what your life has become, and the meaning and impact you're having. 10X is fundamentally about quality vs quantity, and the quality of your freedoms determines the results you achieve.
  • Dan Sullivan • Dr. Benjamin Hardy | Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork
    The world's foremost entrepreneurial coach shows you how to make a mindset shift that opens the door to explosive growth and limitless possibility--in your business and your life. Have you ever had a new idea or a goal that excites you... but not enough time to execute it? What about a goal you really want to accomplish...but can't because instead of taking action, you procrastinate? Do you feel like the only way things are going to get done is if you do them? But what if it wasn't that way? What if you had a team of people around you that helped you accomplish your goals (while you helped them accomplish theirs)? When we want something done, we've been trained to ask ourselves: "How can I do this?" Well, there is a better question to ask. One that unlocks a whole new world of ease and accomplishment. Expert coach Dan Sullivan knows the question we should ask instead: "Who can do this for me?" This may seem simple. And it is. But don't let the lack of complexity fool you. By mastering this question, you will quickly learn how billionaires and successful entrepreneurs like Dan build incredible businesses and personal freedom. This book will teach you how to make this essential paradigm-shift so you can: • Build a successful business effectively while not killing yourself • Immediately free-up 1,000+ hours of work that you shouldn't be doing anyway • Bypass the typical scarcity and decline of aging and other societal norms • Increase your vision in all areas of life and build teams of WHOs to support you in that vision • Never be limited in your goals and ambitions again • Expand your abundance of wealth, innovation, relationships, and joy • Build a life where everything you do is your choice--how you spend your time, how much money you make, the quality of your relationships, and the type of work you do Making this shift involves retraining your brain to stop limiting your potential based on what you solely can do and instead focus on the nearly infinite and endless connections between yourself and other people as well as the limitless transformation possible through those connections.
  • Daniel Priestley | Entrepreneur Revolution: How to Develop your Entrepreneurial Mindset and Start a Business that Works
    Create a great business and a better life In the newly revised third edition of Entrepreneur Revolution: How to develop your entrepreneurial mindset and start a business that works, serial entrepreneur Daniel Priestley delivers an inspiring and practical book that shows you how to break free from the industrial revolution mindset, quit working so hard, follow your dream, and make a fortune along the way. In the book, you’ll find a masterclass in changing how you think, the way you network, and how you make a living. The author provides clear guidance on: Why this is the greatest time in history to be an entrepreneur How to spot the right business for you How to transform a negative event—like a lay-off, recession, or downsizing—into an entrepreneurial opportunity Strategies for imaginative and creative millennials ready to take charge of their careers Perfect for aspiring and experienced professionals at any stage of their careers, Entrepreneur Revolution will also earn a place on the bookshelves of founders, content creators, business students, young professionals, and veteran managers interested in beginning a new phase of their economic life.
  • Darren Hardy | The Compound Effect
    No gimmicks. No hyperbole. Finally, just the truth on what it takes to earn success As the central curator of the success media industry for over 25 years, author Darren Hardy has heard it all, seen it all, and tried most of it. This book reveals the core principles that drive success. The Compound Effect contains the essence of what every superachiever needs to know, practice, and master to obtain extraordinary success. Inside you will find strategies on: How to win--every time! The No. 1 strategy to achieve any goal and triumph over any competitor, even if they're smarter, more talented or more experienced.Eradicating your bad habits (some you might be unaware of!) that are derailing your progress.Painlessly installing the few key disciplines required for major breakthroughs.The real, lasting keys to motivation--how to get yourself to do things you don't feel like doing.Capturing the elusive, awesome force of momentum. Catch this, and you'll be unstoppable.The acceleration secrets of superachievers. Do they have an unfair advantage? Yes, they do, and now you can too! If you're serious about living an extraordinary life, use the power of The Compound Effect to create the success you desire. Begin your journey today!
  • Derek Sivers | Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur
    'I love this book! If you want a true manifesto, a guidebook with clear signposts, and a fun ride you'll return to again and again, you have it here in this book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did' Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek The iconic manifesto on lessons learned while becoming an entrepreneur ------------------------------------------------------------------ You don't need a visionary master plan, loads of funding or a brilliant team to start a business. When Derek Sivers started CD Baby, he wasn't planning on building a major business. He was a successful independent musician who just wanted to sell his CDs online. He started in 1998 by helping his friends sell their CDs too. In 2000, he hired his first employee. Eight years later, he sold CD Baby for $22 million. Sivers didn't need a business plan and neither do you. You don't need to think big; in fact, it's better if you don't. Anything You Want will inspire you to start with what you have, care about your customers more than yourself, and run your business like you don't need the money. ------------------------------------------------------------------ 'Some of the best hours you'll ever spend will be reading Derek Sivers's new book...Anything You Want' Forbes
  • Donald Miller | Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen
    More than half-a-million business leaders have discovered the power of the StoryBrand Framework, created by New York Times best-selling author and marketing expert Donald Miller. And they are making millions. If you use the wrong words to talk about your product, nobody will buy it. Marketers and business owners struggle to effectively connect with their customers, costing them and their companies millions in lost revenue. In a world filled with constant, on-demand distractions, it has become near-impossible for business owners to effectively cut through the noise to reach their customers, something Donald Miller knows first-hand. In this book, he shares the proven system he has created to help you engage and truly influence customers. The StoryBrand process is a proven solution to the struggle business leaders face when talking about their companies. Without a clear, distinct message, customers will not understand what you can do for them and are unwilling to engage, causing you to lose potential sales, opportunities for customer engagement, and much more. In Building a StoryBrand, Donald Miller teaches marketers and business owners to use the seven universal elements of powerful stories to dramatically improve how they connect with customers and grow their businesses. His proven process has helped thousands of companies engage with their existing customers, giving them the ultimate competitive advantage. Building a StoryBrand does this by teaching you: The seven universal story points all humans respond to; The real reason customers make purchases; How to simplify a brand message so people understand it; and How to create the most effective messaging for websites, brochures, and social media. Whether you are the marketing director of a multibillion-dollar company, the owner of a small business, a politician running for office, or the lead singer of a rock band, Building a StoryBrand will forever transform the way you talk about who you are, what you do, and the unique value you bring to your customers.
  • Edward de Bono | Six Thinking Hats: The multi-million bestselling guide to running better meetings and making faster decisions
    THE MULTI-MILLION COPY BESTSELLING PHENOMENON Do you regularly find yourself in long, unstructured meetings which end without a decision? Are you a team leader looking for tips on increasing productivity? Or are you looking for ways to enhance collaboration? Six Thinking Hats, Edward de Bono's classic book on meetings, remains as relevant as ever. Used to huge success by big companies and organisations such as IBM, Siemens and NASA, the Six-Hats method is a proven way to: - Reduce meeting length to one quarter of what they were previously - Make decisions in just 15 minutes, rather than 3 hours - Increase productivity by nearly 500% This extremely simple tool not only increases efficiency in discussions and decision-making, but also encourages openness and trust among colleagues, resulting in happier team, a rise in productivity, and decisions which almost make themselves. 'An inspiring man with brilliant ideas. De Bono never ceases to amaze' Sir Richard Branson
  • Edwin Lefèvre | Reminiscences of a Stock Operator
    Unknown to most modern-day investors and traders who cherish Reminiscences of a Stock Operator as one of the most important investment books ever written, the material first appeared in the 1920s as a series of articles and illustrations in the Saturday Evening Post. Now, for the first time ever, this beloved classic is being made available in its original, illustrated format. You'll track the exploits of Jesse Livermore as he won and lost tens of millions of dollars playing the stock and commodities markets during the early 1900s. At one point, he made the then astronomical sum of 10 million dollars in just one month of trading! Originally published as a fictionalized account, the Illustrated Edition combines the Saturday Evening Post's memorable illustrations with Edwin LeFevre's timeless investment advice, recreating the look, feel, and message that was first published more than 80 years ago. Among the most compelling and enduring pieces ever written on trading, the new Illustrated Edition brings this story to life like never before. Order your copy today.
  • Eldar Shafir • Sendhil Mullainathan | Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much
    In this provocative book based on cutting-edge research, Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir show that scarcity creates a distinct psychology for everyone struggling to manage with less than they need. Busy people fail to manage their time efficiently for the same reasons the poor and those maxed out on credit cards fail to manage their money. The dynamics of scarcity reveal why dieters find it hard to resist temptation, why students and busy executives mismanage their time, and why the same sugarcane farmers are smarter after harvest than before. Once we start thinking in terms of scarcity, the problems of modern life come into sharper focus, and Scarcity reveals not only how it leads us astray but also how individuals and organizations can better manage scarcity for greater satisfaction and success.
  • Eric Verzuh | The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management
    The all-inclusive guide to exceptional project management The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management is the comprehensive guide to real-world project management methods, tools, and techniques. Practical, easy-to-use, and deeply thorough, this book gives you answers you need now. You'll find the cutting-edge ideas and hard-won wisdom of one of the field's leading experts, delivered in short, lively segments that address common management issues. Brief descriptions of important concepts, tips on real-world applications, and compact case studies illustrate the most sought-after skills and the pitfalls you should watch out for. This new fifth edition features new case studies, new information on engaging stakeholders, change management, new guidance on using Agile techniques, and new content that integrates current events and trends in the project management sphere. Project management is a complex role, with seemingly conflicting demands that must be coordinated into a single, overarching, executable strategy — all within certain time, resource, and budget constraints. This book shows you how to get it all together and get it done, with expert guidance every step of the way. Navigate complex management issues effectively Master key concepts and real-world applications Learn from case studies of today's leading experts Keep your project on track, on time, and on budget From finding the right sponsor to clarifying objectives to setting a realistic schedule and budget projection, all across different departments, executive levels, or technical domains, project management incorporates a wide range of competencies. The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management shows you what you need to know, the best way to do it, and what to watch out for along the way.
  • Erin Meyer • Reed Hastings | No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention
    *** Shortlisted for the 2020 Financial Times & McKinsey Business Book of the Year *** It's time to do things differently. Trust your team. Be radically honest. And never, ever try to please your boss. These are some of the ground rules if you work at Netflix. They are part of a unique cultural experiment that explains how the company has transformed itself at lightning speed from a DVD mail order service into a streaming superpower - with 190 million fervent subscribers and a market capitalisation that rivals the likes of Disney. Finally Reed Hastings, Netflix Chairman and CEO, is sharing the secrets that have revolutionised the entertainment and tech industries. With INSEAD business school professor Erin Meyer, he will explore his leadership philosophy - which begins by rejecting the accepted beliefs under which most companies operate - and how it plays out in practice at Netflix. From unlimited holidays to abolishing approvals, Netflix offers a fundamentally different way to run any organisation, one far more in tune with an ever-changing fast-paced world. For anyone interested in creativity, productivity and innovation, the Netflix culture is something close to a holy grail. This book will make it, and its creator, fully accessible for the first time.
  • Gary Keller • Jay Papasan | The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results
    • More than 500 appearances on national bestseller lists • #1 Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today • Won 12 book awards • Translated into 35 languages • Voted Top 100 Business Book of All Time on Goodreads People are using this simple, powerful concept to focus on what matters most in their personal and work lives. Companies are helping their employees be more productive with study groups, training, and coaching. Sales teams are boosting sales. Churches are conducting classes and recommending for their members. By focusing their energy on one thing at a time people are living more rewarding lives by building their careers, strengthening their finances, losing weight and getting in shape, deepening their faith, and nurturing stronger marriages and personal relationships. YOU WANT LESS. You want fewer distractions and less on your plate. The daily barrage of e-mails, texts, tweets, messages, and meetings distract you and stress you out. The simultaneous demands of work and family are taking a toll. And what's the cost? Second-rate work, missed deadlines, smaller paychecks, fewer promotions--and lots of stress. AND YOU WANT MORE. You want more productivity from your work. More income for a better lifestyle. You want more satisfaction from life, and more time for yourself, your family, and your friends. NOW YOU CAN HAVE BOTH — LESS AND MORE. In The ONE Thing, you'll learn to * cut through the clutter * achieve better results in less time * build momentum toward your goal* dial down the stress * overcome that overwhelmed feeling * revive your energy * stay on track * master what matters to you The ONE Thing delivers extraordinary results in every area of your life--work, personal, family, and spiritual. WHAT'S YOUR ONE THING?
  • Gillian Zoe Segal | Getting There: A Book of Mentors
    “The highest achievers share some of their lowest moments, and there is much wisdom to be gained from those struggles. Captivating, thought-provoking.” —David Faber, CNBC The path to success is rarely easy or direct, and good mentors are hard to find. In Getting There, thirty leaders in diverse fields share their secrets to navigating the rocky road to the top. In an honest, direct, and engaging way, these role models describe the obstacles they faced, the setbacks they endured, and the vital lessons they learned. They dispense not only essential and practical career advice, but also priceless wisdom applicable to life in general. Getting There is for everyone—from students contemplating their futures to the vast majority of us facing challenges or seeking to reach our potential. “Kudos to Gillian Zoe Segal for assembling this remarkable group of visionaries and helping them all tell their stories without filters or false bravado. Getting There is both empowering and illuminating.” —Piper Kerman, New York Times-bestselling author of Orange Is the New Black “Life-changing, real-world advice.” —Vanity Fair “Reading Getting There is like having an intimate, one-on-one talk with some of the world’s most fascinating and accomplished people. You will be taken aback by their honesty, entertained by their anecdotes, and, most of all, learn invaluable lessons about both business and life. This book is fantastic—you will not be able to put it down!”—JJ Ramberg, bestselling author of It’s Your Business “Somehow, Gillian Zoe Segal has gotten these leaders to share their stories in a unique, authentic, and revealing way.” —Robert Steven Kaplan, former president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
  • Greg McKeown | Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most
    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A Times (UK) Best Book of the Year • From the author of the million-copy-selling Essentialism comes an empowering guide to achieving your goals. It all starts with a simple principle: Not everything has to be so hard. “In a world beset by burnout, Greg McKeown’s work is essential.”—Daniel H. Pink, author of When, Drive, and To Sell Is Human “At a time when fear, uncertainty, and our ever-growing list of responsibilities have come to feel like much too much to handle, Effortless couldn’t be timelier, or more necessary.”—Eve Rodsky, author of Fair Play Do you ever feel like: • You’re teetering right on the edge of burnout? • You want to make a higher contribution, but lack the energy? • You’re running faster but not moving closer to your goals? • Everything is so much harder than it used to be? As high achievers, we’ve been conditioned to believe that the path to success is paved with relentless work. That if we want to overachieve, we have to overexert, overthink, and overdo. That if we aren’t perpetually exhausted, we’re not doing enough. But lately, working hard is more exhausting than ever. And the more depleted we get, the more effort it takes to make progress. Stuck in an endless loop of “Zoom, eat, sleep, repeat,” we’re often working twice as hard to achieve half as much. Getting ahead doesn’t have to be as hard as we make it. No matter what challenges or obstacles we face, there is a better way: instead of pushing ourselves harder, we can find an easier path. Effortless offers actionable advice for making the most essential activities the easiest ones, so you can achieve the results you want, without burning out. Effortless teaches you how to: • Turn tedious tasks into enjoyable rituals • Prevent frustration by solving problems before they arise • Set a sustainable pace instead of powering through • Make one-time choices that eliminate many future decisions • Simplify your processes by removing unnecessary steps • Make relationships easier to maintain and manage • And much more The effortless way isn't the lazy way. It's the smart way. It may even be the only way. Not every hard thing in life can be made easy. But we can make it easier to do more of what matters most.
  • Gretchen Hirsch | The Complete Idiot's Guide to Difficult Conversations: Get the Positive Results You Want When the Going Is Tough
    How to tackle sensitive subjects. Covering both professional and personal situations, this guide examines ways to approach and handle conversations that are often put off or avoided altogether. The most comprehensive book of its kind, it provides all the information you need to approach difficult conversations with confidence, avoid blaming, overcome defensiveness, and make better decisions. -The only book on the market covering difficult conversations in both the workplace and one's personal life -Can be read cover to cover or used as a quick reference guide -Reviewed and approved by the Program Chair of Organizational Communication at Franklin University and former professor of Applied Linguistics at Harvard University
  • Jack D. Schwager | Market Wizards: Interviews with Top Traders
    THE INVESTMENT CLASSIC "I've read Market Wizards at several stages of my career as it shows the staying power of good down-to-earth wisdoms of true practitioners with skin in the game. This is the central document showing the heuristics that real-life traders use to manage their affairs, how people who do rather than talk have done things. Twenty years from now, it will still be fresh. There is no other like it." NASSIM N. TALEB, former derivatives trader, author of The Black Swan, and professor, NYU-Poly "Market Wizards is one of the most fascinating books ever written about Wall Street. A few of the 'Wizards' are my friends and Jack Schwager has nailed their modus operandi on the head." MARTIN W. ZWEIG, PhD, Editor, The Zweig Forecast "It is difficult enough to develop a method that works. It then takes experience to believe what your method is telling you. But the toughest task of all is turning analysis into money. If you don't believe it, try it. These guys have it all: a method, the conviction, and the discipline to act decisively time after time, regardless of distractions and pressures. They are heroes of Wall Street, and Jack Schwager's book brings their characters vividly to life." ROBERT R. PRECHTER, JR., Editor, The Elliott Wave Theorist
  • Jake Knapp | Sprint
    Anda mungkin beruntung memiliki pekerjaan atau proyek mendatang dengan visi yang cemerlang. Namun, upaya mewujudkan visi ini sering kali tak mudah. Setiap hari Anda gampang sekali terjebak dalam berbagai hal: surel yang seolah tiada habisnya, tenggat yang molor, rapat-rapat seharian yang menyita waktu, dan proyek jangka panjang yang hanya berdasarkan asumsi. Sudah waktunya Anda mencoba Sprint, sebuah metode untuk memecahkan masalah dan menguji ide-ide baru, menyelesaikan lebih banyak hal dengan efisien. Buku ini ditulis Jake Knapp, mantan Design Partner Google Ventures, untuk menuntun Anda merasakan pengalaman menerapkan metode yang telah mendunia ini. Sprint mewujudkan pengeksekusian ide besar hanya dalam lima hari. Menuntun tim Anda dengan checklist lengkap, mulai dari Senin hingga Jumat. Menjawab segala pertanyaan penting yang sering kali hanya disimpan di benak mereka yang sedang menguji ide/konsep/produk. Sprint juga membantu Anda lebih menikmati setiap proses. Anda bisa mengamati dan bergabung dengan ratusan dari pelaku Sprint di seluruh dunia melalui tagar #sprintweek di Twitter. Sebuah proyek besar terjadi pada 2009. Seorang insinyur Gmail bernama Peter Balsiger mencetuskan ide mengenai surel yang bisa teratur secara otomatis. Saya sangat tertarik dengan idenya—yang disebut “Kotak Masuk Prioritas”—dan merekrut insinyur lain, Annie Chen, untuk bergabung bersama kami. Annie setuju, tetapi dia hanya punya waktu sebulan untuk mengerjakannya. Kalau kami tidak bisa membuktikan bahwa ide itu bisa diterapkan dalam jangka waktu tersebut, Annie akan beralih ke proyek lainnya. Saya yakin waktunya tidak akan cukup, tetapi Annie adalah insinyur yang luar biasa. Jadi, saya memutuskan untuk menjalaninya saja. Kami membagi waktu sebulan itu ke dalam empat bagian yang masing-masing lamanya seminggu. Setiap pekan, kami menggarap desain baru. Annie dan Peter membuat purwarupa, lalu pada akhir minggu, kami menguji desain ini bersama beberapa ratus orang lainnya. Pada akhir bulan, kami menemukan solusi yang bisa dipahami dan diinginkan orang- orang. Annie tetap menjadi pemimpin untuk tim Kotak Masuk Prioritas. Dan entah bagaimana caranya, kami berhasil menyelesaikan tugas desainnya dalam waktu yang lebih singkat dari biasanya. Beberapa bulan kemudian, saya mengunjungi Serge Lachapelle dan Mikael Drugge, dua orang karyawan Google di Stockholm. Kami bertiga ingin menguji ide perangkat lunak untuk konferensi video yang bisa dijalankan lewat peramban. Karena saya berada di kota tersebut hanya selama beberapa hari, kami bekerja secepat mungkin. Pada penghujung kunjungan saya, kami berhasil menyelesaikan purwarupanya. Kami mengirimkannya ke rekan kerja kami lewat surel dan mulai menggunakannya dalam rapat. Dalam beberapa bulan, seluruh perusahaan sudah bisa menggunakannya. (Selanjutnya, versi yang sudah dipoles dan disempurnakan dari aplikasi berbasis web tersebut dikenal sebagai Google Hangouts.) Dalam kedua kasus tersebut, saya menyadari bahwa saya bekerja jauh lebih efektif ketimbang rutinitas kerja harian saya atau ketika mengikuti lokakarya diskusi sumbang saran. Apa yang membedakannya? Saya menimbang kembali lokakarya tim yang saya gagas sebelumnya. Bagaimana kalau saya memasukkan elemen ajaib lainnya—fokus pada kerja individu, waktu untuk membuat purwarupa, dan tenggat yang tak bisa ditawar? Saya lalu menyebutkan, “sprint” desain. Saya membuat jadwal kasar untuk sprint pertama saya: satu hari untuk berbagi informasi dan mereka ide, diikuti dengan empat hari pembuatan purwarupa. Sekali lagi, tim Google menyambut baik eksperimen ini. Saya memimpin sprint untuk mendesain Chrome, Google Search, Gmail, dan proyek-proyek lainnya. Ini sangat menarik. Sprint ini berhasil. Ide-ide diuji, dibangun, diluncurkan, dan yang terbaik, kebanyakan dari ide-ide ini berhasil diterapkan dalam dunia nyata. Proses sprint menyebar di seisi Google dari satu tim ke tim lain, dari satu kantor ke kantor lain. Seorang desainer dari Google X tertarik dengan metode ini, jadi dia menjalankan sprint untuk sebuah tim di Google Ads. Anggota tim dalam sprint di Ads kemudian menyampaikannya kepada kolega mereka, dan begitu seterusnya. Dalam waktu singkat saya mendengar penerapan sprint dari orang-orang yang tidak saya kenal. Dalam perjalanannya, saya membuat beberapa kesalahan. Sprint pertama saya melibatkan empat puluh orang—jumlah yang sangat besar dan justru hampir menghambat sprint tersebut, bahkan sebelum dimulai. Saya menyesuaikan waktu yang diperlukan untuk mengembangkan ide dan pembuatan purwarupa. Saya jadi memahami mana yang terlalu cepat, terlalu lambat, hingga akhirnya menemukan yang waktu paling sesuai. Beberapa tahun kemudian, saya bertemu Bill Maris untuk membicarakan sprint. Bill adalah CEO Google Ventures, perusahaan modal ventura yang didirikan Google untuk berinvestasi pada startup-startup potensial. Dia adalah salah satu orang berpengaruh di Silicon Valley. Namun, Anda tidak akan menyangkanya dari pembawaannya yang santai. Pada sore itu, dia mengenakan pakaian khasnya, yaitu topi bisbol dan kaus dengan tulisan tentang Vermont. Bill tertarik untuk menjalankan sprint dengan startup dalam portofolio GV. Startup biasanya hanya memiliki satu kesempatan emas untuk mendesain sebuah produk yang sukses, sebelum akhirnya kehabisan dana. Sprint bisa membantu mencari tahu apakah startup-startup ini berada di jalur yang tepat sebelum akhirnya mereka bisa berkecimpung dalam tahapan yang lebih berisiko untuk membangun dan meluncurkan produk mereka. Dengan menjalankan sprint, mereka bisa mendapatkan sekaligus menghemat uang. Namun agar berhasil, saya harus menyesuaikan proses sprint ini. Saya sudah berpikir mengenai produktivitas individu dan tim selama beberapa tahun. Namun, saya hampir tidak tahu apa-apa mengenai startup dan kebutuhan bisnis mereka. Tetap saja, antusiasme Bill meyakinkan saya bahwa Google Ventures adalah tempat yang tepat untuk menerapkan sprint—sekaligus tempat yang tepat bagi saya. “Ini misi kita,” ujarnya, “untuk bisa menemukan entrepreneur terbaik di muka bumi dan membantu mereka membuat dunia ini menjadi tempat yang lebih baik.” Saya tentu tak bisa menolaknya. Di GV, saya bergabung dengan tiga rekan lain: Braden Kowitz, John Zeratsky, dan Michael Margolis. Bersama, kami mulai menjalankan sprint dengan startup-startup, bereksperimen dengan prosesnya, dan menguji hasilnya agar bisa menemukan cara untuk memperbaikinya. Ide-ide dalam buku ini lahir dari semua anggota tim kami. Braden Kowitz memasukkan desain berbasis cerita dalam proses sprint, sebuah pendekatan tak biasa yang berfokus pada pengalaman konsumen alih-alih komponen individu atau teknologi. John Zeratsky membantu kami memulai dari akhir sehingga tiap sprint bisa membantu menjawab berbagai pertanyaan bisnis paling penting. Braden dan John memiliki pengalaman dalam bisnis dan startup, hal yang tidak saya miliki, dan mereka menyesuaikan prosesnya untuk menciptakan fokus yang lebih baik dan keputusan yang lebih cerdas di tiap sprint. Michael Margolis mendorong kami untuk mengakhiri tiap sprint dengan pengujian di dunia nyata. Dia menjalankan riset konsumen, yang perencanaan dan pelaksanaannya bisa menghabiskan waktu berminggu-minggu, dan menemukan cara untuk mendapatkan hasil yang jelas hanya dalam sehari. Ini benar-benar sebuah keajaiban. Kami tidak perlu lagi menebak-nebak apakah solusi kami bagus atau tidak karena di akhir tiap sprint, kami mendapatkan jawabannya. Kemudian ada Daniel Burka, seorang entrepreneur yang mendirikan dua startup sebelum menjual salah satunya ke Google dan bergabung dengan GV. Saat kali pertama menjelaskan proses sprint kepadanya, dia skeptis. Baginya, sprint terdengar seperti serangkaian proses manajemen yang rumit. Namun, dia sepakat untuk mencoba salah satunya. “Dalam sprint pertama itu, kami memangkas prosesnya dan menciptakan sesuatu yang ambisius hanya dalam sepekan. Saya benar-benar jatuh hati.” Setelah kami berhasil meyakinkannya, pengalaman langsung Daniel sebagai seorang pendiri startup dan sikapnya yang tidak menoleransi omong kosong membantu kami menyempurnakan prosesnya. Sejak sprint pertama di GV pada 2012, kami telah beradaptasi dan bereksperimen. Mulanya kami mengira pembuatan purwarupa dan riset yang cepat hanya akan berhasil untuk produk berskala besar. Mampukah kami bergerak sama cepatnya jika konsumen kami adalah para ahli di berbagai bidang seperti kesehatan dan keuangan? Tanpa disangka, proses lima hari ini bisa bertahan. Proses ini sesuai untuk semua jenis konsumen, mulai dari investor sampai petani, dari onkolog sampai pemilik bisnis skala kecil. Juga bagi situs web, aplikasi iPhone, laporan medis, hingga perangkat keras berteknologi tinggi. Tidak hanya untuk mengembangkan produk, kami juga menggunakan sprint untuk menentukan prioritas, strategi pemasaran, bahkan menamai perusahaan. Proses ini berulang-ulangmenyatukan tim dan menjadikan ide-ide menjadi nyata. Selama beberapa tahun belakangan, tim kami mendapatkan beragam kesempatan untuk bereksperimen dan memvalidasi ide kami mengenai proses kerja. Kami menjalankan lebih dari seratus sprint bersama dengan startup-startup dalam portofolio GV. Kami bekerja bersama, sekaligus belajar dari para entrepreneur brilian seperti Anne Wojcicki (pendiri 23andMe), Ev Williams (pendiri Twitter, Blogger, dan Medium), serta Chad Hurley dan Steve Chen (pendiri YouTube). Pada awalnya, saya hanya ingin membuat hari-hari kerja saya efisien dan berkualitas. Saya ingin berfokus pada apa yang benar-benar penting dan menjadikan waktu saya berharga—bagi saya, tim, dan konsumen kami. Kini, lebih dari satu dekade kemudian, proses sprint secara konsisten telah membantu saya meraih mimpi tesebut. Dan saya sangat senang berbagi mengenai hal tersebut dengan Anda dalam buku ini. Dengan keberuntungan, Anda bisa memilih pekerjaan Anda karena visi yang tajam. Anda ingin berbagi visi tersebut kepada dunia, baik yang berupa pesan, layanan, maupun pengalaman, dengan perangkat lunak maupun keras, atau bahkan—sebagaimana dicontohkan dalam buku ini—sebuah cerita atau ide. Namun, mewujudkan visi ini tak mudah. Gampang sekali terjebak dalam berbagai hal: surel yang seolah tiada habisnya, tenggat yang molor, rapat-rapat seharian yang menyita waktu Anda, dan proyek jangka panjang yang hanya berdasarkan asumsi. Prosesnya tidak harus selalu seperti ini. Sprint menawarkan jalur untuk memecahkan masalah-masalah besar, menguji ide-ide baru, menyelesaikan lebih banyak hal, dan melakukan semuanya dengan lebih cepat. Sprint juga membantu Anda lebih menikmati prosesnya. Dengan kata lain, Anda benar-benar harus mencobanya sendiri. Ayo kita mulai. —Jake Knapp San Francisco, Februari 2016 [Mizan, Bentang Pustaka, Manajemen, Ide, Kreatif, Inovasi, Motivasi, Dewasa, Indonesia] spesial seri bentang bisnis & startup
  • James Sonhill DBA • Sun Tzu | SUN TZU THE WARRIOR™
    Sun Tzu The Warrior™ gives you all success strategy principles and success strategy formulas that are easy to understand and simple to implement so that you can quickly master and apply them and become a Sun Tzu Warrior™. A Sun Tzu Warrior™ is someone who embraces Sun Tzu The Art of War™ as their way of thinking and apply this powerful wisdom and philosophy for attaining a higher version of themselves, for reaching their higher potential, and for achieving their personal victory and success both in business and in life. The book ends with Sun Tzu Success Code™, which you should live by if you want to be successful. For more information on our business strategy books, business strategy planners, business strategy courses, and business strategy certification programs, visit our websites: www.JamesSonhill.com and www.SunTzuStore.com.
  • Jamie Wheal • Steven Kotler | Stealing Fire: How Silicon Valley, the Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work
    National Bestseller CNBC and Strategy + Business Best Business Book of the Year It’s the biggest revolution you’ve never heard of, and it’s hiding in plain sight. Over the past decade, Silicon Valley executives like Eric Schmidt and Elon Musk, Special Operators like the Navy SEALs and the Green Berets, and maverick scientists like Sasha Shulgin and Amy Cuddy have turned everything we thought we knew about high performance upside down. Instead of grit, better habits, or 10,000 hours, these trailblazers have found a surprising short cut. They're harnessing rare and controversial states of consciousness to solve critical challenges and outperform the competition. New York Times bestselling author Steven Kotler and high performance expert Jamie Wheal spent four years investigating the leading edges of this revolution—from the home of SEAL Team Six to the Googleplex, the Burning Man festival, Richard Branson’s Necker Island, Red Bull’s training center, Nike’s innovation team, and the United Nations’ Headquarters. And what they learned was stunning: In their own ways, with differing languages, techniques, and applications, every one of these groups has been quietly seeking the same thing: the boost in information and inspiration that altered states provide. Today, this revolution is spreading to the mainstream, fueling a trillion dollar underground economy and forcing us to rethink how we can all lead richer, more productive, more satisfying lives. Driven by four accelerating forces—psychology, neurobiology, technology and pharmacology—we are gaining access to and insights about some of the most contested and misunderstood terrain in history. Stealing Fire is a provocative examination of what’s actually possible; a guidebook for anyone who wants to radically upgrade their life.
  • Janine Kurnoff • Lee Lazarus | Everyday Business Storytelling: Create, Simplify, and Adapt A Visual Narrative for Any Audience
    A practical, easy-to-use guide to transform business communications into memorable narratives that drive conversations—and your career—forward In Everyday Business Storytelling: Create, Simplify, and Adapt A Visual Narrative for Any Audience, visual communication and storytelling experts Janine Kurnoff and Lee Lazarus leverage decades of experience helping executives at the world's top brands—including Facebook, Nestle, Accenture, and Marriot—bring clarity and meaning to their business communications. Whether you're building a presentation, crafting a high-stakes email, or need to influence decisions in your next meeting with an executive, Everyday Business Storytelling offers an insightful exploration of how to develop compelling business narratives. You'll discover how to use a simple, repeatable framework to choreograph your ideas, data, and insights into an authentic, persuasive story. You'll also find clever visual techniques to help humanize your stories and build an emotional connection with your audience, leading to improved presentation skills and effective data storytelling. Just a few of the things you'll learn from this business book include: The science behind why storytelling is the most effective way to trigger emotion in an audience and how to craft a business narrative that makes your ideas engaging The four signposts of storytelling and how to identify and weave in your BIG idea to capture attention How to craft expert headlines that guide your audience and advance your story Everyday Business Storytelling is an indispensable guide to making your communications stick in the minds of your audience and drive change. If you're a busy, talented businessperson responsible for executive presentations, one-pagers, emails, or virtual meetings, this communication book is for you.
  • Jeffrey A. Hoffer • Joey F. George • Joseph S. Valacich | Modern Systems Analysis and Design
    The third edition of Modern Systems Analysis and Design investigates the very latest of systems analysis and design. Rather than looking strictly at the technological aspects, Hoffer, George and Valacich focus on the business perspective and the human, organizational and technical skills an information systems professional needs to be successful. Chapter topics cover foundations for systems development, making the business case, analysis, design, implementation and maintenance, and advanced analysis and design methods.
  • Jessica Livingston | Founders at Work: Stories of Startups' Early Days
    Now available in paperback—with a new preface and interview with Jessica Livingston about Y Combinator! Founders at Work: Stories of Startups' Early Days is a collection of interviews with founders of famous technology companies about what happened in the very earliest days. These people are celebrities now. What was it like when they were just a couple friends with an idea? Founders like Steve Wozniak (Apple), Caterina Fake (Flickr), Mitch Kapor (Lotus), Max Levchin (PayPal), and Sabeer Bhatia (Hotmail) tell you in their own words about their surprising and often very funny discoveries as they learned how to build a company. Where did they get the ideas that made them rich? How did they convince investors to back them? What went wrong, and how did they recover? Nearly all technical people have thought of one day starting or working for a startup. For them, this book is the closest you can come to being a fly on the wall at a successful startup, to learn how it's done. But ultimately these interviews are required reading for anyone who wants to understand business, because startups are business reduced to its essence. The reason their founders become rich is that startups do what businesses do—create value—more intensively than almost any other part of the economy. How? What are the secrets that make successful startups so insanely productive? Read this book, and let the founders themselves tell you.
  • Jim Kwik | Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life
    Unlock the full potential of your brain, learn faster, and achieve your goals with this instant New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller from Jim Kwik, the world’s #1 brain coach. This ultimate brain training book is packed with practical techniques to help you level-up your mental performance and transform your life. “There’s no genius pill, but Jim gives you the process for unlocking your best brain and brightest future. Just like you want a healthy body, you want a flexible, strong, energized, and fit brain. That’s what Jim does for a living—he is the personal trainer for the mind.” — Mark Hyman, M.D., Head of Strategy and Innovation, Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, author of 12 New York Times best-selling books For over 25 years, Jim Kwik has worked closely with successful men and women who are at the top in their fields as actors, athletes, CEOs, and business leaders from all walks of life to unlock their true potential. In Limitless, he reveals the science-based practices and field-tested tips to accelerate self-learning, communication, memory, focus, recall, and speed reading, to create amazing results. Limitless is the ultimate transformation book and gives people the ability to accomplish more--more productivity, more transformation, more personal success and business achievement--by changing their Mindset, Motivation, and Methods. These “3 M’s” live in the pages of Limitless along with practical techniques that unlock the superpowers of your brain and change your habits. Learn how to: FLIP YOUR MINDSET Identify and challenge the assumptions, habits, and procrastinations that limit you and expand the boundaries of what you believe is possible. IGNITE YOUR MOTIVATION By uncovering your passions, purposes, and sources of energy, you can stay focused and clear on your goals. Uncovering what motivates you is the key that opens up limitless mental capacity. This is where Passion + Purpose + Energy meet to move you closer to your goals, while staying focused and clear. MASTER THE METHOD Accelerate learning, improve memory, and enhance brain performance Jim Kwik applies the latest neuroscience for accelerated learning, and will help you finish a book 3x faster through speed reading (and remember every part of it), learn a new language in record time, and master new skills with ease. “What you’ll get within these pages is a series of tools that will help you cast off your perceived restrictions. You’re going to learn how to unlimit your brain. You’re going to learn how to unlimit your drive. You’re going to learn how to unlimit your memory, your focus, and your habits. If I am your mentor in your hero’s journey, then this book is your map to master your mind, motivation, and methods to learn how to learn. And once you’ve done that, you will be limitless.” –Jim Kwik Packed with tips and techniques to improve memory, focus, recall, and speed reading, this brain training book is the perfect gift for anyone looking to transform their life."
  • Jim VandeHei • Mike Allen • Roy Schwartz | Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less
    THE BESTSELLING GUIDE TO SAYING MORE WITH LESS --NOW A WALL STREET JOURNAL AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER-- Brevity is confidence. Length is fear. This is the guiding principle of Smart Brevity, a communication formula built by Axios journalists to prioritize essential news and information, explain its impact and deliver it in a concise and visual format. Now, the co-founders of Axios have created an essential guide for communicating effectively and efficiently using Smart Brevity - think Strunk and White's Elements of Style for the digital age. In SMART BREVITY: The Power of Saying More with Less, Axios co-founders Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz teach readers how to say more with less in virtually any format. They also share communications lessons learned from their decades of experience in media, business and communications.
  • Jocko Willink • Leif Babin | Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win
    An updated edition of the blockbuster bestselling leadership book that took America and the world by storm, two U.S. Navy SEAL officers who led the most highly decorated special operations unit of the Iraq War demonstrate how to apply powerful leadership principles from the battlefield to business and life. Sent to the most violent battlefield in Iraq, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin’s SEAL task unit faced a seemingly impossible mission: help U.S. forces secure Ramadi, a city deemed “all but lost.” In gripping firsthand accounts of heroism, tragic loss, and hard-won victories in SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser, they learned that leadership—at every level—is the most important factor in whether a team succeeds or fails. Willink and Babin returned home from deployment and instituted SEAL leadership training that helped forge the next generation of SEAL leaders. After departing the SEAL Teams, they launched Echelon Front, a company that teaches these same leadership principles to businesses and organizations. From promising startups to Fortune 500 companies, Babin and Willink have helped scores of clients across a broad range of industries build their own high-performance teams and dominate their battlefields. Now, detailing the mind-set and principles that enable SEAL units to accomplish the most difficult missions in combat, Extreme Ownership shows how to apply them to any team, family or organization. Each chapter focuses on a specific topic such as Cover and Move, Decentralized Command, and Leading Up the Chain, explaining what they are, why they are important, and how to implement them in any leadership environment. A compelling narrative with powerful instruction and direct application, Extreme Ownership revolutionizes business management and challenges leaders everywhere to fulfill their ultimate purpose: lead and win.
  • John Doerr | Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs
    #1 New York Times Bestseller Legendary venture capitalist John Doerr reveals how the goal-setting system of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) has helped tech giants from Intel to Google achieve explosive growth—and how it can help any organization thrive. In the fall of 1999, John Doerr met with the founders of a start-up whom he'd just given $12.5 million, the biggest investment of his career. Larry Page and Sergey Brin had amazing technology, entrepreneurial energy, and sky-high ambitions, but no real business plan. For Google to change the world (or even to survive), Page and Brin had to learn how to make tough choices on priorities while keeping their team on track. They'd have to know when to pull the plug on losing propositions, to fail fast. And they needed timely, relevant data to track their progress—to measure what mattered. Doerr taught them about a proven approach to operating excellence: Objectives and Key Results. He had first discovered OKRs in the 1970s as an engineer at Intel, where the legendary Andy Grove ("the greatest manager of his or any era") drove the best-run company Doerr had ever seen. Later, as a venture capitalist, Doerr shared Grove's brainchild with more than fifty companies. Wherever the process was faithfully practiced, it worked. In this goal-setting system, objectives define what we seek to achieve; key results are how those top-priority goals will be attained with specific, measurable actions within a set time frame. Everyone's goals, from entry level to CEO, are transparent to the entire organization. The benefits are profound. OKRs surface an organization's most important work. They focus effort and foster coordination. They keep employees on track. They link objectives across silos to unify and strengthen the entire company. Along the way, OKRs enhance workplace satisfaction and boost retention. In Measure What Matters, Doerr shares a broad range of first-person, behind-the-scenes case studies, with narrators including Bono and Bill Gates, to demonstrate the focus, agility, and explosive growth that OKRs have spurred at so many great organizations. This book will help a new generation of leaders capture the same magic.
  • John Warrillow | Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You
    According to John Warrillow, the number one mistake entrepreneurs make is to build a business that relies too heavily on them. Thus, when the time comes to sell, buyers aren't confident that the company-even if it's profitable-can stand on its own. To illustrate this, Warrillow introduces us to a fictional small business owner named Alex who is struggling to sell his advertising agency. Alex turns to Ted, an entrepreneur and old family friend, who encourages Alex to pursue three criteria to make his business sellable: * Teachable: focus on products and services that you can teach employees to deliver. * Valuable: avoid price wars by specialising in doing one thing better than anyone else. * Repeatable: generate recurring revenue by engineering products that customers have to repurchase often.
  • Julie Zhuo | The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You
    Instant Wall Street Journal Bestseller! Congratulations, you're a manager! After you pop the champagne, accept the shiny new title, and step into this thrilling next chapter of your career, the truth descends like a fog: you don't really know what you're doing. That's exactly how Julie Zhuo felt when she became a rookie manager at the age of 25. She stared at a long list of logistics--from hiring to firing, from meeting to messaging, from planning to pitching--and faced a thousand questions and uncertainties. How was she supposed to spin teamwork into value? How could she be a good steward of her reports' careers? What was the secret to leading with confidence in new and unexpected situations? Now, having managed dozens of teams spanning tens to hundreds of people, Julie knows the most important lesson of all: great managers are made, not born. If you care enough to be reading this, then you care enough to be a great manager. The Making of a Manager is a modern field guide packed everyday examples and transformative insights, including: * How to tell a great manager from an average manager (illustrations included) * When you should look past an awkward interview and hire someone anyway * How to build trust with your reports through not being a boss * Where to look when you lose faith and lack the answers Whether you're new to the job, a veteran leader, or looking to be promoted, this is the handbook you need to be the kind of manager you wish you had.
  • Kathy Sierra | Badass: Making Users Awesome
    Note for ebook customers: The design and layout of this book play a key role in conveying the author's message. When creating the ebooks, we've tried to keep the look and feel of the print edition, but this means that not all e-reading devices will support the files. The EPUB format is optimized for iPad. The Mobi files are optimized for Kindle Fire tablets and phones and for Kindle reading apps. Imagine you’re in a game with one objective: a bestselling product or service. The rules? No marketing budget, no PR stunts, and it must be sustainably successful. No short-term fads. This is not a game of chance. It is a game of skill and strategy. And it begins with a single question: given competing products of equal pricing, promotion, and perceived quality, why does one outsell the others? The answer doesn’t live in the sustainably successful products or services. The answer lives in those who use them. Our goal is to craft a strategy for creating successful users. And that strategy is full of surprising, counter-intuitive, and astonishingly simple techniques that don’t depend on a massive marketing or development budget. Techniques typically overlooked by even the most well-funded, well-staffed product teams. Every role is a key player in this game. Product development, engineering, marketing, user experience, support—everyone on the team. Even if that team is a start-up of one. Armed with a surprisingly overlooked science and a unique POV, we can can reduce the role of luck. We can build sustainably successful products and services that rely not on unethical persuasive marketing tricks but on helping our users have deeper, richer experiences. Not just in the moments while they’re using our product but, more importantly, in the moments when they aren’t.
  • Kim Scott | Radical Candor: Fully Revised & Updated Edition: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity
    * New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller multiple years running * Translated into 20 languages, with more than half a million copies sold worldwide * A Hudson and Indigo Best Book of the Year * Recommended by Shona Brown, Rachel Hollis, Jeff Kinney, Daniel Pink, Sheryl Sandberg, and Gretchen Rubin Radical Candor has been embraced around the world by leaders of every stripe at companies of all sizes. Now a cultural touchstone, the concept has come to be applied to a wide range of human relationships. The idea is simple: You don't have to choose between being a pushover and a jerk. Using Radical Candor—avoiding the perils of Obnoxious Aggression, Manipulative Insincerity, and Ruinous Empathy—you can be kind and clear at the same time. Kim Scott was a highly successful leader at Google before decamping to Apple, where she developed and taught a management class. Since the original publication of Radical Candor in 2017, Scott has earned international fame with her vital approach to effective leadership and co-founded the Radical Candor executive education company, which helps companies put the book's philosophy into practice. Radical Candor is about caring personally and challenging directly, about soliciting criticism to improve your leadership and also providing guidance that helps others grow. It focuses on praise but doesn't shy away from criticism—to help you love your work and the people you work with. Radically Candid relationships with team members enable bosses to fulfill their three core responsibilities: 1. Create a culture of Compassionate Candor 2. Build a cohesive team 3. Achieve results collaboratively Required reading for the most successful organizations, Radical Candor has raised the bar for management practices worldwide.
  • Lewis Howes | The Greatness Mindset: Unlock the Power of Your Mind and Live Your Best Life Today
    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Now in paperback, the host of The School of Greatness podcast leads you to discover the mindset shifts you need to achieve your innate, inevitable greatness. “In a world overcome with burnout, stress, and anxiety, The Greatness Mindset will help readers reconnect with their purpose, unlock their inner strength, and use their gifts to better the communities around them.” — Arianna Huffington, co-founder of The Huffington Post and founder/CEO of Thrive Global Are you living your most authentic life? Are you leaning into your purpose or running away from it? Is this the story you want your future self to tell or do you ache for something more? Through his breakthrough discoveries, New York Times best-selling author Lewis Howes reveals how you can rewrite your past to propel yourself into a powerful and abundant future. With these raw and revealing personal stories, science-backed strategies from industry-leading experts, and step-by-step guidance, you will learn how to: Clearly define a Meaningful Mission to enhance your purpose for this season of life Identify the root causes of self-doubt and conquer the fears that hold you back Transform your mind to end self-sabotaging thoughts to live a rich life Manifest your greatness to make the maximum positive impact on those around you By applying the lessons and strategies found inside The Greatness Mindset, you will be able to design the life of your dreams and turn it into reality. Are you ready? Your journey to greatness begins now! “Whatever you do in life, adopting the right mindset is the most important ingredient to fulfilling your dreams. In this wonderful book, Lewis Howes gives you the practical tools to achieve true greatness.” — Dr. Joe Dispenza, New York Times best-selling author of You Are the Placebo
  • Luke Burgis | Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life
    * Financial Times Business Book of the Month * Next Big Idea Club Nominee * One of Bloomberg's "52 New Books That Top Business Leaders Are Recommending" * Aleo Review of Books 2022 Book of the Year * A groundbreaking exploration of why we want what we want, and a toolkit for freeing ourselves from chasing unfulfilling desires. Gravity affects every aspect of our physical being, but there’s a psychological force just as powerful—yet almost nobody has heard of it. It’s responsible for bringing groups of people together and pulling them apart, making certain goals attractive to some and not to others, and fueling cycles of anxiety and conflict. In Wanting, Luke Burgis draws on the work of French polymath René Girard to bring this hidden force to light and reveals how it shapes our lives and societies. According to Girard, humans don’t desire anything independently. Human desire is mimetic—we imitate what other people want. This affects the way we choose partners, friends, careers, clothes, and vacation destinations. Mimetic desire is responsible for the formation of our very identities. It explains the enduring relevancy of Shakespeare’s plays, why Peter Thiel decided to be the first investor in Facebook, and why our world is growing more divided as it becomes more connected. Wanting also shows that conflict does not arise because of our differences—it comes from our sameness. Because we learn to want what other people want, we often end up competing for the same things. Ignoring our large similarities, we cling to our perceived differences. Drawing on his experience as an entrepreneur, teacher, and student of classical philosophy and theology, Burgis shares tactics that help turn blind wanting into intentional wanting--not by trying to rid ourselves of desire, but by desiring differently. It’s possible to be more in control of the things we want, to achieve more independence from trends and bubbles, and to find more meaning in our work and lives. The future will be shaped by our desires. Wanting shows us how to desire a better one.
  • Malcolm Gladwell • Seth Godin | Unleashing the Ideavirus: Stop Marketing AT People! Turn Your Ideas into Epidemics by Helping Your Customers Do the Marketing Thing for You.
    The book that sparked a marketing revolution. "This is a subversive book. It says that the marketer is not--and ought not to be--at the center of successful marketing. The customer should be. Are you ready for that?" --From the Foreword by Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point. Counter to traditional marketing wisdom, which tries to count, measure, and manipulate the spread of information, Seth Godin argues that the information can spread most effectively from customer to customer, rather than from business to customer. Godin calls this powerful customer-to-customer dialogue the ideavirus, and cheerfully eggs marketers on to create an environment where their ideas can replicate and spread. In lively detail, Godin looks at the ways companies such as PayPal, Hotmail, GeoCities, even Volkswagen have successfully launched ideaviruses. He offers a "recipe" for creating your own ideavirus, identifies the key factors in the successful spread of an ideavirus (powerful sneezers, hives, a clear vector, a smooth, friction-free transmission), and shows how any business, large or small, can use ideavirus marketing to succeed in a world that just doesn't want to hear it anymore from the traditional marketers.
  • Marc Randolph | That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea
    In the tradition of Phil Knight's Shoe Dog comes the incredible untold story of how Netflix went from concept to company-all revealed by co-founder and first CEO Marc Randolph. Once upon a time, brick-and-mortar video stores were king. Late fees were ubiquitous, video-streaming unheard was of, and widespread DVD adoption seemed about as imminent as flying cars. Indeed, these were the widely accepted laws of the land in 1997, when Marc Randolph had an idea. It was a simple thought—leveraging the internet to rent movies—and was just one of many more and far worse proposals, like personalized baseball bats and a shampoo delivery service, that Randolph would pitch to his business partner, Reed Hastings, on their commute to work each morning. But Hastings was intrigued, and the pair—with Hastings as the primary investor and Randolph as the CEO—founded a company. Now with over 150 million subscribers, Netflix's triumph feels inevitable, but the twenty first century's most disruptive start up began with few believers and calamity at every turn. From having to pitch his own mother on being an early investor, to the motel conference room that served as a first office, to server crashes on launch day, to the now-infamous meeting when Netflix brass pitched Blockbuster to acquire them, Marc Randolph's transformational journey exemplifies how anyone with grit, gut instincts, and determination can change the world—even with an idea that many think will never work. What emerges, though, isn't just the inside story of one of the world's most iconic companies. Full of counter-intuitive concepts and written in binge-worthy prose, it answers some of our most fundamental questions about taking that leap of faith in business or in life: How do you begin? How do you weather disappointment and failure? How do you deal with success? What even is success? From idea generation to team building to knowing when it's time to let go, That Will Never Work is not only the ultimate follow-your-dreams parable, but also one of the most dramatic and insightful entrepreneurial stories of our time.
  • Michael E. Gerber • Robert Armstrong, J.D. • Sanford Fisch, J.D. | The E-Myth Attorney: Why Most Legal Practices Don't Work and What to Do About It
    The complete guide to the business of running a successful legal practice Many attorneys in small and mid-size practices are experts on the law, but may not have considered their practice as much from a business perspective. Michael Gerber’s The E-Myth Attorney fills this void, giving you powerful advice on everything you need to run your practice as a successful business, allowing you to achieve your goals and grow your practice. Featuring Gerber's signature easy-to-understand, easy-to-implement style, The E-Myth Attorney features: A complete start-up guide you can use to get your practice off the ground quickly, as well as comprehensive action steps for maximizing the performance of an existing practice Industry specific advice from two recognized legal experts that have developed a highly successful legal practice using Gerber’s principles Gerber’s universal appeal as a recognized expert on small businesses who has coached, taught, and trained over 60,000 small businesses The E-Myth Attorney is the last guide you'll ever need to make the difference in building or developing your successful legal practice.
  • Michael Hyatt | Free to Focus: A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less
    Everyone gets 168 hours a week, but it never feels like enough, does it? Work gobbles up the lion's share--many professionals are working as much as 70 hours a week--leaving less and less for rest, exercise, family, and friends. You know, all those things that make life great. Most people think productivity is about finding or saving time. But it's not. It's about making our time work for us. Just imagine having free time again. It's not a pipe dream. In Free to Focus, New York Times bestselling author Michael Hyatt reveals to readers nine proven ways to win at work so they are finally free to succeed at the rest of life--their health, relationships, hobbies, and more. He helps readers redefine their goals, evaluate what's working, cut out the nonessentials, focus on the most important tasks, manage their time and energy, and build momentum for a lifetime of success.
  • Morgan Housel | Same as Ever: Timeless Lessons on Risk, Opportunity and Living a Good Life
    When planning for the future we often ask, “What will the economy be doing this time next year?” Or, “What will be different ten years from now?” But forecasting is hard. The important events that will shape the future are inherently unpredictable. Instead, we should be asking a different question: What will be the same ten years from now? What will be the same one hundred years from now? Knowledge of the things that never change is more useful, and more important, than an uncertain prediction of an unknowable future. In Same As Ever, bestselling author Morgan Housel shares 24 short stories about the ways that life, behaviour, and business will always be the same. Armed with this knowledge of the unchanging, you will have a powerful new ability to think about risk, opportunity, and how to navigate the uncertainty of the future. As you see familiar themes repeat again and again in the years ahead, you’ll find yourself nodding and saying, “Yep, same as ever.”
  • Morten T. Hansen | Great at Work: The Hidden Habits of Top Performers
    The Wall Street Journal bestseller—a Financial Times Business Book of the Month and named by The Washington Post as “One of the 11 Leadership Books to Read in 2018”—is “a refreshingly data-based, clearheaded guide” (Publishers Weekly) to individual performance, based on a groundbreaking study. Why do some people perform better at work than others? This deceptively simple question continues to confound professionals in all sectors of the workforce. Now, after a unique, five-year study of more than 5,000 managers and employees, Morten Hansen reveals the answers in his “Seven Work Smarter Practices” that can be applied by anyone looking to maximize their time and performance. Each of Hansen’s seven practices is highlighted by inspiring stories from individuals in his comprehensive study. You’ll meet a high school principal who engineered a dramatic turnaround of his failing high school; a rural Indian farmer determined to establish a better way of life for women in his village; and a sushi chef, whose simple preparation has led to his unassuming restaurant being awarded the maximum of three Michelin stars. Hansen also explains how the way Alfred Hitchcock filmed Psycho and the 1911 race to become the first explorer to reach the South Pole both illustrate the use of his seven practices. Each chapter “is intended to inspire people to be better workers…and improve their own work performance” (Booklist) with questions and key insights to allow you to assess your own performance and figure out your work strengths, as well as your weaknesses. Once you understand your individual style, there are mini-quizzes, questionnaires, and clear tips to assist you focus on a strategy to become a more productive worker. Extensive, accessible, and friendly, Great at Work will help us “reengineer our work lives, reduce burnout, and improve performance and job satisfaction” (Psychology Today).
  • Nick Maggiulli | Just Keep Buying: Proven ways to save money and build your wealth
    Everyone faces big questions when it comes to money: questions about saving, investing, and whether you’re getting it right with your finances. Unfortunately, many of the answers provided by the financial industry have been based on belief and conjecture rather than data and evidence—until now. In Just Keep Buying, hugely popular finance blogger Nick Maggiulli crunches the numbers to answer the biggest questions in personal finance and investing, while providing you with proven ways to build your wealth right away. You will learn why you need to save less than you think; why saving up cash to buy market dips isn’t a good idea; how to survive (and thrive) during a market crash; and much more. By following the strategies revealed here, you can act smarter and live richer each and every day. It’s time to take the next step in your wealth-building journey. It’s time to Just Keep Buying.
  • Nir Eyal | Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products
    THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER WITH OVER 500,000 COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE. IN ‘HOOKED’, NIR EYAL REVEALS HOW SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES CREATE PRODUCTS PEOPLE CAN'T PUT DOWN. ‘Hooked changed my life. It's essential reading for anyone who wants to better understand their actions and habits.' – Steven Bartlett, investor, BBC Dragon and host of The Diary of a CEO podcast ***** Why do some products capture our attention while others flop? What makes us engage with certain things out of sheer habit? Is there an underlying pattern to how technologies hook us? Nir Eyal answers these questions (and many more) with the Hook Model – a four-step process that, when embedded into products, subtly encourages customer behaviour. Through consecutive "hook cycles," these products bring people back again and again. Eyal provides readers with practical insights to create user habits that stick; actionable steps for building products people love; and riveting examples, from the iPhone to Twitter, Instagram and Google. WHAT READERS ARE SAYING: ‘A great book for the modern marketing or business professional but [also] a great read for anyone interested in the psychology of habit and how it shapes our lives, our personalities and products.’ ‘Whether you are an entrepreneur just getting started, a psychologist seeking depth or an avid reader wanting to know more about the world around us, you’ll love this book!’ ‘Ironically, I was hooked on to this book! A must read for people looking to know the psychology behind tech giants like Facebook and Pinterest.'
  • Patrick M. Lencioni | The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else In Business
    There is a competitive advantage out there, arguably more powerful than any other. Is it superior strategy? Faster innovation? Smarter employees? No, New York Times best-selling author, Patrick Lencioni, argues that the seminal difference between successful companies and mediocre ones has little to do with what they know and how smart they are and more to do with how healthy they are. In this book, Lencioni brings together his vast experience and many of the themes cultivated in his other best-selling books and delivers a first: a cohesive and comprehensive exploration of the unique advantage organizational health provides. Simply put, an organization is healthy when it is whole, consistent and complete, when its management, operations and culture are unified. Healthy organizations outperform their counterparts, are free of politics and confusion and provide an environment where star performers never want to leave. Lencioni’s first non-fiction book provides leaders with a groundbreaking, approachable model for achieving organizational health—complete with stories, tips and anecdotes from his experiences consulting to some of the nation’s leading organizations. In this age of informational ubiquity and nano-second change, it is no longer enough to build a competitive advantage based on intelligence alone. The Advantage provides a foundational construct for conducting business in a new way—one that maximizes human potential and aligns the organization around a common set of principles.
  • Paul Jarvis | Company of One: Why Staying Small is the Next Big Thing for Business
    What if the real key to a richer and more fulfilling career was not to create and scale a new start-up, but rather, to be able to work for yourself, determine your own hours, and become a (highly profitable) and sustainable company of one? Suppose the better--and smarter--solution is simply to remain small? This book explains how to do just that. Company of One is a refreshingly new approach centered on staying small and avoiding growth, for any size business. Not as a freelancer who only gets paid on a per piece basis, and not as an entrepreneurial start-up that wants to scale as soon as possible, but as a small business that is deliberately committed to staying that way. By staying small, one can have freedom to pursue more meaningful pleasures in life, and avoid the headaches that result from dealing with employees, long meetings, or worrying about expansion. Company of One introduces this unique business strategy and explains how to make it work for you, including how to generate cash flow on an ongoing basis. Paul Jarvis left the corporate world when he realized that working in a high-pressure, high profile world was not his idea of success. Instead, he now works for himself out of his home on a small, lush island off of Vancouver, and lives a much more rewarding and productive life. He no longer has to contend with an environment that constantly demands more productivity, more output, and more growth. In Company of One, Jarvis explains how you can find the right pathway to do the same, including planning how to set up your shop, determining your desired revenues, dealing with unexpected crises, keeping your key clients happy, and of course, doing all of this on your own.
  • Peter H. Diamandis • Steven Kotler | Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think
    The authors document how four forces--exponential technologies, the DIY innovator, the Technophilanthropist, and the Rising Billion--are conspiring to solve our biggest problems. "Abundance" establishes hard targets for change and lays out a strategic roadmap for governments, industry and entrepreneurs, giving us plenty of reason for optimism.
  • Rasmus Ankersen | The Gold Mine Effect: Crack the Secrets of High Performance
    'A great read and a fascinating insight into performance.' Sir Clive Woodward We all want to discover our hidden talents and make an impact with them. But how? Rasmus Ankersen, an ex-footballer and performance specialist, quit his job and for six intense months lived with the world's best athletes in an attempt to answer this question. Why have the best middle distance runners grown up in the same Ethiopian village? Why are the leading female golfers from South Korea? How did one athletic club in Kingston, Jamaica, succeed in producing so many world-class sprinters? Ankersen presents his surprising conclusions in seven lessons on how anyone - or any business, organisation or team - can defy the many misconceptions of high performance and learn to build their own gold mine of real talent.
  • Robert Axelrod | The Evolution of Cooperation: Revised Edition
    A famed political scientist's classic argument for a more cooperative world We assume that, in a world ruled by natural selection, selfishness pays. So why cooperate? In The Evolution of Cooperation, political scientist Robert Axelrod seeks to answer this question. In 1980, he organized the famed Computer Prisoners Dilemma Tournament, which sought to find the optimal strategy for survival in a particular game. Over and over, the simplest strategy, a cooperative program called Tit for Tat, shut out the competition. In other words, cooperation, not unfettered competition, turns out to be our best chance for survival. A vital book for leaders and decision makers, The Evolution of Cooperation reveals how cooperative principles help us think better about everything from military strategy, to political elections, to family dynamics.
  • Rod Judkins | The Art of Creative Thinking
    A scuba diving company faces bankruptcy because sharks have infested the area. Solution? Open the world's first extreme diving school. The Art of Creative Thinking reveals how we can transform ourselves, our businesses and our society through a deeper understanding of human creativity. Rod Judkins, of the world-famous St Martin's College of Art, has studied successful creative thinkers from every walk of life, throughout history. Drawing on an extraordinary range of reference points - from the Dada Manifesto to Nobel Prize Winning economists, from Andy Warhol's studio to Einstein's desk - he distils a lifetime's expertise into a succinct, surprising book that will inspire you to think more confidently and creatively. You'll realise why you should be happy when your train is cancelled; meet the most successful class in educational history (in which every single student won a Nobel prize); discover why graphic nudity during public speaking can be both a hindrance and surprisingly persuasive; and learn why, in the twenty-first century, it's technically illegal to be as good as Michelangelo. Be stubborn about compromise. Plan to have more accidents. Be mature enough to be childish. Contradict yourself more often. Discover the Art of Creative Thinking. *From the publishers of the international bestseller The Art of Thinking Clearly*
  • Ron Friedman | Decoding Greatness: How the Best in the World Reverse Engineer Success
    National Bestseller For readers of Outliers, Atomic Habits, and Deep Work, comes a game-changing approach to unlocking your greatness, using a secret strategy that’s vaulted business titans and creative geniuses to the top of their profession. We’ve long been taught there are two ways to succeed—either talent or practice. In Decoding Greatness, award-winning social psychologist Ron Friedman illuminates a powerful third path—one that has launched icons in a wide range of fields, from artists, writers, and chefs, to athletes, inventors, and entrepreneurs: reverse engineering. To reverse engineer is to look beyond what is evident on the surface and find a hidden structure. It’s the ability to taste an intoxicating dish and deduce its recipe, to listen to a beautiful song and discern its chord progression, to watch your favorite film and grasp its narrative arc. “Clear, concise, and backed by science” (Daniel Pink, author of When), Decoding Greatness marries “alluring stories and illuminating studies” (Adam Grant, author of Think Again) of top performers—from Agatha Christie to Andy Warhol, Barack Obama, to Serena Williams—with groundbreaking research on pattern recognition and skill acquisition. You’ll learn how to take apart acheivements you admire, pinpoint precisely what makes them work, and apply that knowledge to develop novel ideas and products that are uniquely your own. Bursting with unforgettable stories and actionable strategies, Decoding Greatness is an indispensable guide to learning from the best, upgrading your skills, and sparking breakthrough ideas.
  • Russell Brunson | Expert Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Converting Your Online Visitors into Lifelong Custo mers
    Master the art of what to say in your funnels to convert your online visitors into lifelong customers in this updated edition from the $100M entrepreneur and co-founder of the software company ClickFunnels. Your business is a calling. You’ve been called to serve a group of people with the products, services, and offers that you’ve created. The impact that the right message can have on someone at the right time in their life is immeasurable. Your message could help to save marriages, repair families, change someone’s health, grow a company, or more. . . . But only if you know how to get it into the hands of the people whose lives you have been called to change. By positioning yourself as an expert and telling your story in a way that gets people to move, you will be able to guide people through your value ladder, offer solutions to their problems, and give them the results they are looking for. This is how you change the lives of your customers, and this is how you grow your company. In this updated edition of Expert Secrets, Russell Brunson, CEO and co-founder of the multimillion-dollar software company ClickFunnels, gives you the step-by-step strategies you need to turn your expertise into a carefully crafted sales message that will attract your dream customers. Don’t hide inside your business. Implement these story selling techniques now so you can find your voice and gain the confidence to become a leader, build a movement of people whose lives you can change, and make this calling a career.
  • Sarah Frier | No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram
    "Award-winning reporter Sarah Frier reveals an inside, never-before-told, behind-the-scenes look at how Instagram defied the odds to become one of the most culturally defining apps of the decade"--
  • Shari Harley | How to Say Anything to Anyone: A Guide to Building Business Relationships That Really Work
    Take charge of your career by taking charge of your business relationships and communication skills. We all know how it feels when our colleagues talk about us but not to us. It's frustrating, and it creates tension. When effective communication is missing in the workplace, employees feel like they're working in the dark. Leaders don't have crucial conversations; managers are frustrated when outcomes are not what they expect; and employees often don’t get positive feedback or constructive feedback. Many of us remain passive against poor communication habits and communication barriers, hoping that business communication will miraculously improve--but it won't. Business communication and relationships won’t improve without skills and effort. The people you work with can work with you, around you, or against you. How people work with you depends on the business relationships you cultivate. Do your colleagues trust you? Can they speak openly to you when projects and tasks go awry? Do you have effective communication skills? Take charge of your career by eliminating communication barriers and taking charge of your business relationships. Make your work environment less tense and more productive by improving communication skills. Set relationship expectations, work with people how they like to work, and give positive feedback and constructive feedback. In How to Say Anything to Anyone, you'll learn how to: - ask for what you want at work - improve communication skills - strengthen all types of working relationships - reduce the gossip and drama in your office - tell people when you’re frustrated and have difficult conversations in a way that resonates - take action on your ideas and feelings - get honest positive feedback and constructive feedback on your performance Harley shares the real-life stories of people who have struggled to get what they want at work. With her clear and specific business communication roadmap in hand, Harley enables you to improve communication skills and create the career and business relationships you really want--and keep them.
  • Simon Sinek | The Infinite Game
    From the New York Times bestselling author of Start With Why and Leaders Eat Last, a bold framework for leadership in today’s ever-changing world. How do we win a game that has no end? Finite games, like football or chess, have known players, fixed rules and a clear endpoint. The winners and losers are easily identified. Infinite games, games with no finish line, like business or politics, or life itself, have players who come and go. The rules of an infinite game are changeable while infinite games have no defined endpoint. There are no winners or losers—only ahead and behind. The question is, how do we play to succeed in the game we’re in? In this revelatory new book, Simon Sinek offers a framework for leading with an infinite mindset. On one hand, none of us can resist the fleeting thrills of a promotion earned or a tournament won, yet these rewards fade quickly. In pursuit of a Just Cause, we will commit to a vision of a future world so appealing that we will build it week after week, month after month, year after year. Although we do not know the exact form this world will take, working toward it gives our work and our life meaning. Leaders who embrace an infinite mindset build stronger, more innovative, more inspiring organizations. Ultimately, they are the ones who lead us into the future.
  • Subir Chowdhury | The Difference: When Good Enough Isn't Enough
    If you saw a toothpick on the floor, what would you do? This seemingly innocuous question was posed to Subir Chowdhury by one of his longtime clients, and ultimately lead him to a profound realization: good enough is not enough. The best processes in the world won't work without developing the kind of mindset — a caring mindset — that is needed to achieve real and sustainable change in both organizations and individuals. In his compelling new book, bestselling author and globally recognized management consultant Subir Chowdhury tackles an issue that has haunted him in his work with many of the world’s largest organizations. Why is it that some improve only incrementally, while others improve 50 times that? The ideas and training are exactly the same. What is the difference? The difference, Chowdhury explains, is the ability to nurture the skills, loyalty and passion of the people who make up an organization. It is a culture built on straightforwardness, thoughtfulness, accountability and resolve. Organizations and individuals that embrace all of these “STAR” attributes—not just one or two of them—will shine. He goes further, showing us why having a caring mindset outside of work is integral to both personal and professional success. A powerful guide to living a successful life and career, The Difference will inspire you to be the difference — at work or home.
  • Valerie Patrick | When Bad Teams Happen to Good People: Your Complete Repair Guide for Successful Teamwork
    The teamwork troubleshooter we all need! Turn your team into a cohesive unit. “This timely book provides readers with a new way of thinking about work and survival strategies for those who find themselves on bad teams. Readers who are looking for a playbook that can help them to understand and develop soft skills needed for teamwork will be eager to have a copy nearby.”—Booklist Why do some team members not get along? What is the best way to get new teams and ad-hoc teams to maximize their performance in the least amount of time? How can meetings be designed to achieve useful outcomes? Teams are the source of problem-solving and innovation that today’s organizations need to survive and thrive in an increasingly complex and challenging marketplace. Teamwork is hard because there is no magic formula or step-by-step procedure to ensure results. Think of a programmer asked to develop new features for a cell phone: they write new code, test the code, troubleshoot problems encountered, revise the code, and repeat the testing process until the new features work without problems. Similarly, a team leader asked to deliver specified outcomes develops a plan, runs team meetings, troubleshoots problems encountered, revises the plan, and repeats until the team outcomes are achieved. The difference is that a programmer has tools to help streamline troubleshooting, while team leaders do not—until now. Valerie Patrick applies a troubleshooting mindset that includes: Proven tactics for team members and leaders to address leadership problems Guidelines for recruiting and changing teams for optimum performance Techniques to identify and address aspects of team climate that are limiting the productivity of one or more team members Examples of effective ways to operate teams and of meeting designs that produce transformative outcomes
  • Will Guidara | Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect
    Essential lessons in hospitality for every business, from the former co-owner of legendary restaurant Eleven Madison Park. Will Guidara was twenty-six when he took the helm of Eleven Madison Park, a struggling New York City two-star brasserie that had never quite lived up to its majestic room. Eleven years later, EMP was named the best restaurant in the world. How did Guidara pull off this unprecedented transformation? Radical reinvention, a true partnership between the kitchen and the dining room—and memorable, over-the-top, bespoke hospitality. Guidara’s team surprised a family who had never seen snow with a magical sledding trip to Central Park after their dinner; they filled a private dining room with sand, complete with mai-tais and beach chairs, to console a couple with a cancelled vacation. And his hospitality extended beyond those dining at the restaurant to his own team, who learned to deliver praise and criticism with intention; why the answer to some of the most pernicious business dilemmas is to give more—not less; and the magic that can happen when a busser starts thinking like an owner. Today, every business can choose to be a hospitality business—and we can all transform ordinary transactions into extraordinary experiences. Featuring sparkling stories of his journey through restaurants, with the industry’s most famous players like Daniel Boulud and Danny Meyer, Guidara urges us all to find the magic in what we do—for ourselves, the people we work with, and the people we serve.
  • William E. Halal | The New Management: Bringing Democracy and Markets Inside Organizations
    A guide to the parallel revolutions in technology, organizations, and leadership, this practical yet thought-provoking book presents a wealth of evidence to show that the two recurrent themes of democracy and enterprise are transforming our institutions. Organizations are becoming changing clusters of entrepreneurial units working together to form "internal markets," while this diversity is being integrated into a "corporate community" that unites the interests of investors, workers, clients, business partners, and the public. Even fierce competitors are cooperating. o "Serving enterprises" make customers working partners in the creation of value o "Knowledge entrepreneurs" form teams of self-managed internal enterprises o "Internal markets" and "Corporate community" harness external forces to drive continuous change o The power of "inner leadership" unites liberated workers, critical clients, and temporary business partners o "Intelligent growth" offers strategic advantage that is ecologically benign Illustrative examples, survey data, trends, anecdotes, and exercises offer original insights into the use of New Management principles. In addition, mini-case studies of MCI, Saturn, The Body Shop, Hewlett-Packard, Johnson & Johnson, Southwest Airlines, Home Depot, IKEA, Wal-Mart and other great companies illustrate vividly how creative managers design and lead organizations in an era of global competition, constant change, and empowered people. The author also analyzes critical issues, such as the nagging old conflict between profit and society, to provide managers a comprehensive, stimulating guide to where their craft is heading. Halal argues that the transition to a New Management is almost inevitable because it is being driven not by altruism or even good leadership, but by the relentless advance of the Information Revolution. Only small entrepreneurial teams operating from the bottom-up can master today's exploding complexity, and gaining stakeholder support is now essential because a knowledge-based economy has made cooperation a competitive advantage. Rather than fussing over quick fixes, The New Management points the way toward more fundamental solutions to the massive changes that will confront all institutions as the transition to a knowledge society rolls on into the 21st century.
  • William F. Heitman | The Knowledge Work Factory: Turning the Productivity Paradox into Value for Your Business: Turning the Productivity Paradox into Value for Your Business
    Unlock your company’s true potential by eliminating knowledge work waste that’s hiding in plain sight.Back in 1987, Nobel laureate Robert Solow quipped, “You can see the computer age everywhere but in the productivity statistics.” This costly condition soon became known as the “productivity paradox.” Why does it persist today? Why do knowledge workers spend a third of their days on needless correction, avoidable work and overservice, despite existing office technology that could help, even automate, their actions? And why does nobody notice? The answers—and solutions—are in this book. The Knowledge Work Factory uncovers the well-intentioned waste that hides in plain sight within virtually every organization. It reveals the ingrained perceptual biases that trick our brains into accepting the status quo and missing breakthrough opportunities. It draws stunning parallels to industrial production, which cracked this very code over 100 years ago. Most importantly, it gives you an easy-to-follow, one-stop guide to boost efficiency, productivity, and morale among the very knowledge workers who struggle under the burden of the productivity paradox. Discover your organization’s true, untapped capacity. Maximize the productivity of every single knowledge worker. Uncover “better-than-best practices.” Reap benefits that drop straight to the bottom line. The power is in your hands—with The Knowledge Work Factory.
  • William J. Bernstein | The Four Pillars of Investing
    Sound, sensible advice from a hero to frustrated investors everywhere William Bernstein's The Four Pillars of Investing gives investors the tools they need to construct top-returning portfolios--without the help of a financial adviser. In a relaxed, nonthreatening style, Dr. Bernstein provides a distinctive blend of market history, investing theory, and behavioral finance, one designed to help every investor become more self-sufficient and make better-informed investment decisions. The 4 Pillars of Investing explains how any investor can build a solid foundation for investing by focusing on four essential lessons, each building upon the other. Containing all of the tools needed to achieve investing success, without the help of a financial advisor, it presents: Practical investing advice based on fascinating history lessons from the market Exercises to determine risk tolerance as an investor An easy-to-understand explanation of risk and reward in the capital markets
  • William J. Bernstein | The Four Pillars of Investing, Second Edition: Lessons for Building a Winning Portfolio
    The classic guide to constructing a solid portfolio―without a financial advisor! First published two decades ago, The Four Pillars of Investing has been the go-to resource for an entire generation of investors. This updated edition of the investing classic provides the foundational knowledge you need to avoid the most common pitfalls and build a portfolio in today’s roller-coaster world of investing. Retired neurologist and master investor William J. Bernstein has seen it all throughout his career. Buying investments with borrowed money. Chasing past performance. Overestimating one’s own risk tolerance. Listening to cable news. These are just a few of the many mistakes he has witnessed smart, serious investors make, to the peril of their portfolios. Add to these behavioral errors such economic factors as deflation, sudden stock declines, soaring inflation, and the like—and investing can seem like something to be avoided at all costs. But with the right discipline and knowledge, you can build and manage an impressive portfolio. It all comes down to understanding four key pillars: Theory: Risk and return go hand in hand—you can’t make money without risk History: Understand past markets to understand today’s markets Psychology: Avoid the most common behavioral mistakes that tank portfolios Business: The cost of investment services can be high—unreasonably high After taking you on a deep dive into each of these topics, Bernstein walks you through the process of designing and maintaining a powerful portfolio. Times have changed. Economies have changed. And markets are ever-changing. But sound investing principles haven’t changed. Use The Four Pillars of Investing to stay a step ahead of your investing peers and build a portfolio to be proud of.
  • William Thorndike | The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success
    It's time to redefine the CEO success story. Meet eight iconoclastic leaders who helmed firms where returns on average outperformed the S&P 500 by more than 20 times.
  • Simon Sinek | The Infinite Game: From the bestselling author of Start With Why
    The New York Times-bestselling author of Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, and Together Is Better offers a bold new approach to business strategy by asking one question: are you playing the finite game or the infinite game? In The Infinite Game, Sinek applies game theory to explore how great businesses achieve long-lasting success. He finds that building long-term value and healthy, enduring growth - that playing the infinite game - is the only thing that matters to your business.
  • Chris Fussell • David Silverman • General Stanley McChrystal • Tantum Collins | Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World
    What if you could combine the agility, adaptability, and cohesion of a small team with the power and resources of a giant organization? When General Stanley McChrystal took command of the Joint Special Operations Task Force in Iraq in 2003, he quickly realized that conventional military tactics were failing. The allied forces had a huge advantage in numbers, equipment and training - but none of the enemy's speed and flexibility. McChrystal and his colleagues discarded a century of conventional wisdom to create a 'team of teams' that combined extremely transparent communication with decentralized decision-making authority. Faster, flatter and more flexible, the task force beat back al-Qaeda. In this powerful book, McChrystal and his colleagues show how the challenges they faced in Iraq can be relevant to any leader. Through compelling examples, the authors demonstrate that the 'team of teams' strategy has worked everywhere from hospital emergency rooms to NASA and has the potential to transform organizations large and small. 'A bold argument that leaders can help teams become greater than the sum of their parts' Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit 'An indispensable guide to organizational change' Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs
  • Nir Eyal | Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life
    *As heard on Steven Bartlett's Diary of a CEO* 'A must-read' Mark Manson We are living through a crisis of distraction. Plans get sidetracked, friends are ignored, work never seems to get done. Why does it feel like we're distracting our lives away? In Indistractable, behavioural designer Nir Eyal reveals the hidden psychology driving you to distraction. Empowering and optimistic, this is the book that will help you design your time, realise your ambitions, and live the life you really want. 'If you value your time, your focus or your relationships, this book is essential reading' Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous Mind 'A guide to staying focused in an age of constant distraction' Guardian 'Exactly what most of us need in order to focus on what is important, rather than the dazzling, illuminated, unsatisfying distractions of modern life' Matt Haig 'Does exactly as it promises. Amazing' Chris Evans 'The best guide I've read for reclaiming our attention, our focus and our lives' Arianna Huffington
  • Simon Sinek | Leaders Eat Last Deluxe: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't
    The Deluxe Edition of Leaders Eat Last, now with an expanded chapter and appendix on leading millennials, includes over 30 minutes of exclusive video and 30 minutes of audio of Simon Sinek. The acclaimed, bestselling author of Start With Why and Together is Better delves deeper into book’s themes and shares additional examples and insights. Imagine a world where almost everyone wakes up inspired to go to work, feels trusted and valued during the day, then returns home feeling fulfilled. This is not a crazy, idealized notion. Today, in many successful organizations, great leaders create environments in which people naturally work together to do remarkable things. In his work with organizations around the world, Simon Sinek noticed that some teams trust each other so deeply that they would literally put their lives on the line for each other. Other teams, no matter what incentives are offered, are doomed to infighting, fragmentation and failure. Why? The answer became clear during a conversation with a Marine Corps general. "Officers eat last," he said. Sinek watched as the most junior Marines ate first while the most senior Marines took their place at the back of the line. What's symbolic in the chow hall is deadly serious on the battlefield: Great leaders sacrifice their own comfort--even their own survival--for the good of those in their care. Too many workplaces are driven by cynicism, paranoia, and self-interest. But the best ones foster trust and cooperation because their leaders build what Sinek calls a "Circle of Safety" that separates the security inside the team from the challenges outside. Sinek illustrates his ideas with fascinating true stories that range from the military to big business, from government to investment banking.
  • Brian P. Moran • Michael Lennington | The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months
    The guide to shortening your execution cycle down from one year to twelve weeks Most organizations and individuals work in the context of annual goals and plans; a twelve-month execution cycle. Instead, The 12 Week Year avoids the pitfalls and low productivity of annualized thinking. This book redefines your "year" to be 12 weeks long. In 12 weeks, there just isn't enough time to get complacent, and urgency increases and intensifies. The 12 Week Year creates focus and clarity on what matters most and a sense of urgency to do it now. In the end more of the important stuff gets done and the impact on results is profound. Explains how to leverage the power of a 12 week year to drive improved results in any area of your life Offers a how-to book for both individuals and organizations seeking to improve their execution effectiveness Authors are leading experts on execution and implementation Turn your organization's idea of a year on its head, and speed your journey to success.
  • Brian P. Moran • Michael Lennington | The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months
    The guide to shortening your execution cycle down from one year to twelve weeks Most organizations and individuals work in the context of annual goals and plans; a twelve-month execution cycle. Instead, The 12 Week Year avoids the pitfalls and low productivity of annualized thinking. This book redefines your "year" to be 12 weeks long. In 12 weeks, there just isn't enough time to get complacent, and urgency increases and intensifies. The 12 Week Year creates focus and clarity on what matters most and a sense of urgency to do it now. In the end more of the important stuff gets done and the impact on results is profound. Explains how to leverage the power of a 12 week year to drive improved results in any area of your life Offers a how-to book for both individuals and organizations seeking to improve their execution effectiveness Authors are leading experts on execution and implementation Turn your organization's idea of a year on its head, and speed your journey to success.

👉 Computers

  • Gerald Jay Sussman • Harold Abelson | Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (SICP)
  • Andrew Chen | The Cold Start Problem: Using Network Effects to Scale Your Product
    'A true Silicon Valley insider' Wired Why do some products take off? And what can we learn from them? The hardest part of launching a product is getting started. When you have just an idea and a handful of customers, growth can feel impossible. This is the cold start problem. Now, one of Silicon Valley's most esteemed investors uncovers how any product can surmount the cold start problem - by harnessing the hidden power of network effects. Drawing on interviews with the founders of Uber, LinkedIn, Airbnb and Zoom, Andrew Chen reveals how any start-up can launch, scale and thrive. _ 'Chen walks readers through interviews with 30 world-class teams and founders, including from Twitch, Airbnb and Slack, to paint a picture of what it takes to turn a start-up into a massive brand' TechCrunch 'Articulates the stages that every product must go through to be successful . . . and illustrates what companies need to do to achieve them' Forbes
  • Chris Dixon | Read Write Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet
    ‘A compelling vision of where the internet should go and how to get there.’ Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI _ A potent exploration of the power of blockchains to reshape the future of the internet – and how that affects us all – from technology entrepreneur and startup investor Chris Dixon. The internet of today is a far cry from its early promise of a decentralized, democratic network of innovation, connection and freedom. In the past decade, it has fallen almost entirely under the control of a very small group of companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook. In Read Write Own, tech visionary Chris Dixon argues that the dream of a creative, entrepreneurial internet doesn’t have to die and can, in fact, be saved with blockchain networks. He separates this movement, which aims to provide a solid foundation for everything from social networks to artificial intelligence to virtual worlds, from cryptocurrency speculation – a distinction he calls ‘the computer vs the casino’. Drawing on a 25-year career in the software industry, Dixon lucidly shows how the history of the internet has been defined by three distinct eras that have brought us to the critical moment we’re in today. The first was the ‘read’ era, in which early networks democratized information. The second was the ‘read-write’ era, in which corporate networks democratized publishing. We are now in the midst of the ‘read-write-own’ era, sometimes called web3, in which blockchain networks are granting power and economic benefits to communities of users, not just corporations. Read Write Own is a must-read for anyone – internet users, business leaders, creators, entrepreneurs – who wants to understand where we’ve been and where we’re going. It provides a vision for a better internet and a playbook to navigate and build the future. ‘A must for anyone who wants to better understand the real potential of blockchains and web3 to drive even greater innovation.’ Robert Iger, CEO, Disney 'Fascinating . . . a refreshing and radical new take at a time when we need fresh thinking more than ever.' Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind and author of The Coming Wave
  • Christine Bresnahan • Richard Blum | Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible
    Advance your understanding of the Linux command line with this invaluable resource Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible, 4th Edition is the newest installment in the indispensable series known to Linux developers all over the world. Packed with concrete strategies and practical tips, the latest edition includes brand-new content covering: Understanding the Shell Writing Simple Script Utilities Producing Database, Web & Email Scripts Creating Fun Little Shell Scripts Written by accomplished Linux professionals Christine Bresnahan and Richard Blum, Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible, 4th Edition teaches readers the fundamentals and advanced topics necessary for a comprehensive understanding of shell scripting in Linux. The book is filled with real-world examples and usable scripts, helping readers navigate the challenging Linux environment with ease and convenience. The book is perfect for anyone who uses Linux at home or in the office and will quickly find a place on every Linux enthusiast’s bookshelf.
  • Christopher Negus | Linux Bible
    The industry favorite Linux guide, updated for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 and the cloud Linux Bible, 9th Edition is the ultimate hands-on Linux user guide, whether you're a true beginner or a more advanced user navigating recent changes. This updated ninth edition covers the latest versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 (RHEL 7), Fedora 21, and Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, and includes new information on cloud computing and development with guidance on Openstack and Cloudforms. With a focus on RHEL 7, this practical guide gets you up to speed quickly on the new enhancements for enterprise-quality file systems, the new boot process and services management, firewalld, and the GNOME 3 desktop. Written by a Red Hat expert, this book provides the clear explanations and step-by-step instructions that demystify Linux and bring the new features seamlessly into your workflow. This useful guide assumes a base of little or no Linux knowledge, and takes you step by step through what you need to know to get the job done. Get Linux up and running quickly Master basic operations and tackle more advanced tasks Get up to date on the recent changes to Linux server system management Bring Linux to the cloud using Openstack and Cloudforms Linux Bible, 9th Edition is the one resource you need, and provides the hands-on training that gets you on track in a flash.
  • David Both | The Linux Philosophy for SysAdmins: And Everyone Who Wants To Be One
    Reveals and illustrates the awesome power and flexibility of the command line, and the design and usage philosophies that support those traits. This understanding of how to extract the most from the Linux command line can help you become a better SysAdmin. Understand why many things in the Linux and Unix worlds are done as they are, and how to apply the Linux Philosophy to working as a SysAdmin. The original Unix/Linux Philosophy presented foundational and functional tenets - rules, guidelines, and procedural methods - that worked well. However, it was intended for the developers of those operating systems. Although System Administrators could apply many of the tenets to their daily work, many important tenets were missing. Over the years that David Both has been working with Linux and Unix, he has formulated his own philosophy – one which applies more directly to the everyday life of the System Administrator. This book defines a philosophy, and then illuminates the practical aspects of that philosophy with real-world experiments you can perform. Inspired by David’s real mentors, and dedicated to them, The Linux Philosophy for System Administrators is a mentor to SysAdmins everywhere; remember - "If you fail you learn." What You Will Learn Apply the Linux philosophy to working as a SysAdmin Unlock the power of the knowledge you already have Fully understand and access the vast power of the command line Review the power of Linux as a function of the philosophies that built it Who This Book Is For If you want to learn the secrets that make the best Linux SysAdmins powerful far beyond that of mere mortals; if you want to understand the concepts that unlock those secrets; if you want to be the SysAdmin that everyone else turns to when the bytes hit the fan – then this book is for you.
  • David Vandevoorde • Nicolai M. Josuttis | C++ Templates
    Includes index.
  • Don Roberts • John Brant • Kent Beck • Martin Fowler • William Opdyke | Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code
    As the application of object technology--particularly the Java programming language--has become commonplace, a new problem has emerged to confront the software development community. Significant numbers of poorly designed programs have been created by less-experienced developers, resulting in applications that are inefficient and hard to maintain and extend. Increasingly, software system professionals are discovering just how difficult it is to work with these inherited, "non-optimal" applications. For several years, expert-level object programmers have employed a growing collection of techniques to improve the structural integrity and performance of such existing software programs. Referred to as "refactoring," these practices have remained in the domain of experts because no attempt has been made to transcribe the lore into a form that all developers could use. . .until now. In Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code, renowned object technology mentor Martin Fowler breaks new ground, demystifying these master practices and demonstrating how software practitioners can realize the significant benefits of this new process. With proper training a skilled system designer can take a bad design and rework it into well-designed, robust code. In this book, Martin Fowler shows you where opportunities for refactoring typically can be found, and how to go about reworking a bad design into a good one. Each refactoring step is simple--seemingly too simple to be worth doing. Refactoring may involve moving a field from one class to another, or pulling some code out of a method to turn it into its own method, or even pushing some code up or down a hierarchy. While these individual steps may seem elementary, the cumulative effect of such small changes can radically improve the design. Refactoring is a proven way to prevent software decay. In addition to discussing the various techniques of refactoring, the author provides a detailed catalog of more than seventy proven refactorings with helpful pointers that teach you when to apply them; step-by-step instructions for applying each refactoring; and an example illustrating how the refactoring works. The illustrative examples are written in Java, but the ideas are applicable to any object-oriented programming language.
  • Donald E. Knuth | The Art of Computer Programming
    Finally, after a wait of more than thirty-five years, the first part of Volume 4 is at last ready for publication. Check out the boxed set that brings together Volumes 1 - 4A in one elegant case, and offers the purchaser a $50 discount off the price of buying the four volumes individually. The Art of Computer Programming, Volumes 1-4A Boxed Set, 3/e ISBN: 0321751043 Art of Computer Programming, Volume 4, Fascicle 4,The: Generating All Trees--History of Combinatorial Generation: Generating All Trees--History of Combinatorial Generation This multivolume work on the analysis of algorithms has long been recognized as the definitive description of classical computer science.The three complete volumes published to date already comprise a unique and invaluable resource in programming theory and practice. Countless readers have spoken about the profound personal influence of Knuth's writings. Scientists have marveled at the beauty and elegance of his analysis, while practicing programmers have successfully applied his “cookbook” solutions to their day-to-day problems. All have admired Knuth for the breadth, clarity, accuracy, and good humor found in his books. To begin the fourth and later volumes of the set, and to update parts of the existing three, Knuth has created a series of small books called fascicles, which will be published at regular intervals. Each fascicle will encompass a section or more of wholly new or revised material. Ultimately, the content of these fascicles will be rolled up into the comprehensive, final versions of each volume, and the enormous undertaking that began in 1962 will be complete. Volume 4, Fascicle 4 This latest fascicle covers the generation of all trees, a basic topic that has surprisingly rich ties to the first three volumes of The Art of Computer Programming. In thoroughly discussing this well-known subject, while providing 124 new exercises, Knuth continues to build a firm foundation for programming. To that same end, this fascicle also covers the history of combinatorial generation. Spanning many centuries, across many parts of the world, Knuth tells a fascinating story of interest and relevance to every artful programmer, much of it never before told. The story even includes a touch of suspense: two problems that no one has yet been able to solve.
  • Evi Nemeth | UNIX and Linux System Administration Handbook
    Surveys the best practices for all aspects of system administration, covering such topics as storage management, email, Web hosting, performance analysis, virtualization, DNS, security, and configuration management.
  • James Vlahos | Talk to Me: Amazon, Google, Apple and the Race for Voice-Controlled AI
    The gripping inside story of the race to build conversationally capable computers Chat with the author: ask your Alexa device to ‘open the voice computing book’ __________________ The next great technological disruption is coming. The titans of Silicon Valley are racing to build the last, best computer that the world will ever need. They know that whoever successfully creates it will revolutionise our relationship with technology – and make billions of dollars in the process. They call it conversational AI. Computers that can speak and think like humans do may seem like the stuff of science fiction, but they are rapidly moving towards reality. In Talk to Me, veteran tech journalist James Vlahos meets the researchers at Google, Amazon and Apple who are leading the way to a voice computing revolution. He explores how voice tech will transform every sector of society: handing untold new powers to businesses, upending traditional notions of privacy, revolutionising access to information, and fundamentally altering the way we understand human consciousness. And he even tries to understand the significance of the revolution firsthand – by building a chatbot version of his terminally ill father. Vlahos’s research leads him to one fundamental question: What happens when our computers become as articulate, compassionate, and creative as we are? __________________ ‘Brilliant and essential . . . You’ll find insights and meaning on every page, and you’ll keep turning them. This book is dynamite.’ NICHOLAS THOMPSON, editor-in-chief of Wired ‘Conversational AI is a genuine paradigm shift in our experience with technology. Vlahos brings the whole story to life . . . A thoughtful and enjoyable read.’ TOM GRUBER, co-creator of Siri ‘The baton of disruption has been passed from the smart phone to voice, and Vlahos helps make sense of this tectonic shift.’ SCOTT GALLOWAY, author of The Four ‘Voice computing is revolutionising the way we interact with our devices. Talk to Me offers a road map showing how we got to this point and the opportunities and risks that lie ahead.’ MARTIN FORD, author of The Rise of the Robots ‘Well researched and reported, written by someone with a deep understanding of the tech itself.’ NEW YORK TIMES ‘James Vlahos has written an excellent book on how voice computing has become more and more of a growing presence in our everyday world.’ RAY KURZWEIL, author of The Singularity Is Near
  • John Ousterhout | A Philosophy of Software Design
  • Michael Kerrisk | The Linux Programming Interface: A Linux and UNIX System Programming Handbook
    The Linux Programming Interface (TLPI) is the definitive guide to the Linux and UNIX programming interface—the interface employed by nearly every application that runs on a Linux or UNIX system. In this authoritative work, Linux programming expert Michael Kerrisk provides detailed descriptions of the system calls and library functions that you need in order to master the craft of system programming, and accompanies his explanations with clear, complete example programs. You'll find descriptions of over 500 system calls and library functions, and more than 200 example programs, 88 tables, and 115 diagrams. You'll learn how to: –Read and write files efficiently –Use signals, clocks, and timers –Create processes and execute programs –Write secure programs –Write multithreaded programs using POSIX threads –Build and use shared libraries –Perform interprocess communication using pipes, message queues, shared memory, and semaphores –Write network applications with the sockets API While The Linux Programming Interface covers a wealth of Linux-specific features, including epoll, inotify, and the /proc file system, its emphasis on UNIX standards (POSIX.1-2001/SUSv3 and POSIX.1-2008/SUSv4) makes it equally valuable to programmers working on other UNIX platforms. The Linux Programming Interface is the most comprehensive single-volume work on the Linux and UNIX programming interface, and a book that's destined to become a new classic.
  • Nicolai M. Josuttis | The C++ Standard Library: A Tutorial and Reference
    The C++ Standard Library provides a set of common classes and interfaces that greatly extend the core C++ language. Josuttis' book not only provides comprehensive documentation of each library component, it also offers clearly written explanations of complex concepts, describes the practical programming details needed for effective use, and gives example after example of working code. This thoroughly up-to-date book reflects the newest elements of the C++ standard library incorporated into the full ANSI/ISO C++ language standard. In particular, the text focuses on the Standard Template Library (STL), examining containers, iterators, function objects, and STL algorithms.
  • Scott Meyers | Effective Modern C++: 42 Specific Ways to Improve Your Use of C++11 and C++14
    Coming to grips with C++11 and C++14 is more than a matter of familiarizing yourself with the features they introduce (e.g., auto type declarations, move semantics, lambda expressions, and concurrency support). The challenge is learning to use those features effectively—so that your software is correct, efficient, maintainable, and portable. That’s where this practical book comes in. It describes how to write truly great software using C++11 and C++14—i.e. using modern C++. Topics include: The pros and cons of braced initialization, noexcept specifications, perfect forwarding, and smart pointer make functions The relationships among std::move, std::forward, rvalue references, and universal references Techniques for writing clear, correct, effective lambda expressions How std::atomic differs from volatile, how each should be used, and how they relate to C++'s concurrency API How best practices in "old" C++ programming (i.e., C++98) require revision for software development in modern C++ Effective Modern C++ follows the proven guideline-based, example-driven format of Scott Meyers' earlier books, but covers entirely new material. "After I learned the C++ basics, I then learned how to use C++ in production code from Meyer's series of Effective C++ books. Effective Modern C++ is the most important how-to book for advice on key guidelines, styles, and idioms to use modern C++ effectively and well. Don't own it yet? Buy this one. Now". -- Herb Sutter, Chair of ISO C++ Standards Committee and C++ Software Architect at Microsoft
  • Scott Meyers | Effective STL: 50 Specific Ways to Improve Your Use of the Standard Template Library
    “This is Effective C++ volume three – it’s really that good.” – Herb Sutter, independent consultant and secretary of the ISO/ANSI C++ standards committee “There are very few books which all C++ programmers must have. Add Effective STL to that list.” – Thomas Becker, Senior Software Engineer, Zephyr Associates, Inc., and columnist, C/C++ Users Journal C++’s Standard Template Library is revolutionary, but learning to use it well has always been a challenge. Until now. In this book, best-selling author Scott Meyers (Effective C++, and More Effective C++) reveals the critical rules of thumb employed by the experts – the things they almost always do or almost always avoid doing – to get the most out of the library. Other books describe what’s in the STL. Effective STL shows you how to use it. Each of the book’s 50 guidelines is backed by Meyers’ legendary analysis and incisive examples, so you’ll learn not only what to do, but also when to do it – and why. Highlights of Effective STL include: Advice on choosing among standard STL containers (like vector and list), nonstandard STL containers (like hash_set and hash_map), and non-STL containers (like bitset). Techniques to maximize the efficiency of the STL and the programs that use it. Insights into the behavior of iterators, function objects, and allocators, including things you should not do. Guidance for the proper use of algorithms and member functions whose names are the same (e.g., find), but whose actions differ in subtle (but important) ways. Discussions of potential portability problems, including straightforward ways to avoid them. Like Meyers’ previous books, Effective STL is filled with proven wisdom that comes only from experience. Its clear, concise, penetrating style makes it an essential resource for every STL programmer.
  • Scott Meyers | More Effective C++: 35 New Ways to Improve Your Programs and Designs
    More than 150,000 copies in print! Praise for Scott Meyers’ first book, Effective C++: “I heartily recommend Effective C++ to anyone who aspires to mastery of C++ at the intermediate level or above.” – The C/C++ User’s Journal From the author of the indispensable Effective C++, here are 35 new ways to improve your programs and designs. Drawing on years of experience, Meyers explains how to write software that is more effective: more efficient, more robust, more consistent, more portable, and more reusable. In short, how to write C++ software that’s just plain better. More Effective C++ includes: Proven methods for improving program efficiency, including incisive examinations of the time/space costs of C++ language features Comprehensive descriptions of advanced techniques used by C++ experts, including placement new, virtual constructors, smart pointers, reference counting, proxy classes, and double-dispatching Examples of the profound impact of exception handling on the structure and behavior of C++ classes and functions Practical treatments of new language features, including bool, mutable, explicit, namespaces, member templates, the Standard Template Library, and more. If your compilers don’t yet support these features, Meyers shows you how to get the job done without them. More Effective C++ is filled with pragmatic, down-to-earth advice you’ll use every day. Like Effective C++ before it, More Effective C++ is essential reading for anyone working with C++.
  • William Shotts | The Linux Command Line: A Complete Introduction
    You've experienced the shiny, point-and-click surface of your Linux computer--now dive below and explore its depths with the power of the command line. The Linux Command Line takes you from your very first terminal keystrokes to writing full programs in Bash, the most popular Linux shell (or command line). Along the way you'll learn the timeless skills handed down by generations of experienced, mouse-shunning gurus: file navigation, environment configuration, command chaining, pattern matching with regular expressions, and more. In addition to that practical knowledge, author William Shotts reveals the philosophy behind these tools and the rich heritage that your desktop Linux machine has inherited from Unix supercomputers of yore. As you make your way through the book's short, easily-digestible chapters, you'll learn how to: • Create and delete files, directories, and symlinks • Administer your system, including networking, package installation, and process management • Use standard input and output, redirection, and pipelines • Edit files with Vi, the world's most popular text editor • Write shell scripts to automate common or boring tasks • Slice and dice text files with cut, paste, grep, patch, and sed Once you overcome your initial "shell shock," you'll find that the command line is a natural and expressive way to communicate with your computer. Just don't be surprised if your mouse starts to gather dust.

👉 Family & Relationships

  • Andrew G Marshall | I Love You, But I'm Not In Love With You
    If your relationship with your significant other is defined more by companionship than passion... if you love each other deeply but are not deeply in love... if you feel that something's missing or is no longer there... then you could be experiencing ILYB (I Love You, But...).In 'I Love You, but I'm Not in Love with You' couple's counsellor Andrew G. Marshall draws on twenty years of experience to help couples who have 'fallen out of love' or want to rekindle the love that once was to learn how to use Marshall's program with impressive results.
  • Gary Chapman | The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts
    Over 20 million copies sold! A perennial New York Times bestseller for over a decade! Falling in love is easy. Staying in love—that’s the challenge. How can you keep your relationship fresh and growing amid the demands, conflicts, and just plain boredom of everyday life? In the #1 New York Times international bestseller The 5 Love Languages®, you’ll discover the secret that has transformed millions of relationships worldwide. Whether your relationship is flourishing or failing, Dr. Gary Chapman’s proven approach to showing and receiving love will help you experience deeper and richer levels of intimacy with your partner—starting today. The 5 Love Languages® is as practical as it is insightful. Updated to reflect the complexities of relationships today, this new edition reveals intrinsic truths and applies relevant, actionable wisdom in ways that work. Includes the Love Language assessment so you can discover your love language and that of your loved one.
  • Julie Lythcott-Haims | How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success
    New York Times Bestseller "Julie Lythcott-Haims is a national treasure. . . . A must-read for every parent who senses that there is a healthier and saner way to raise our children." -Madeline Levine, author of the New York Times bestsellers The Price of Privilege and Teach Your Children Well "For parents who want to foster hearty self-reliance instead of hollow self-esteem, How to Raise an Adult is the right book at the right time." -Daniel H. Pink, author of the New York Times bestsellers Drive and A Whole New Mind A provocative manifesto that exposes the harms of helicopter parenting and sets forth an alternate philosophy for raising preteens and teens to self-sufficient young adulthood In How to Raise an Adult, Julie Lythcott-Haims draws on research, on conversations with admissions officers, educators, and employers, and on her own insights as a mother and as a student dean to highlight the ways in which overparenting harms children, their stressed-out parents, and society at large. While empathizing with the parental hopes and, especially, fears that lead to overhelping, Lythcott-Haims offers practical alternative strategies that underline the importance of allowing children to make their own mistakes and develop the resilience, resourcefulness, and inner determination necessary for success. Relevant to parents of toddlers as well as of twentysomethings-and of special value to parents of teens-this book is a rallying cry for those who wish to ensure that the next generation can take charge of their own lives with competence and confidence.
  • Todd Rose | Square Peg: My Story and What It Means for Raising Innovators, Visionaries, and Out-of-the-Box Thinkers
    In the seventh grade, Todd Rose was suspended-not for the first time-for throwing six stink bombs at the blackboard, where his art teacher stood with his back to the class. At eighteen, he was a high school dropout, stocking shelves at a department store for $4.25 an hour. Today, Rose is a faculty member at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Square Peg illuminates the struggles of millions of bright young children -- and their frustrated parents and teachers--who are stuck in a one-size-fits-all school system that fails to approach the student as an individual. Rose shares his own incredible journey from troubled childhood to Harvard, seamlessly integrating cutting-edge research in neuroscience and psychology along with advances in the field of education, to ultimately provide a roadmap for parents and teachers of kids who are the casualties of America's antiquated school system. With a distinguished blend of humor, humility, and practical advice for nurturing children who are a poor fit in conventional schools, Square Peg is a game-changing manifesto that provides groundbreaking insight into how we can get the most out of all the students in our classrooms, and why today's dropouts could be tomorrow's innovators.
  • John Gottman | The Seven Principles For Making Marriage Work
    The revolutionary guide to show couples how to create an emotionally intelligent relationship - and keep it on track Straightforward in its approach, yet profound in its effect, the principles outlined in this book teach partners new and startling strategies for making their marriage work. Gottman has scientifically analysed the habits of married couples and established a method of correcting the behaviour that puts thousands of marriages on the rocks. He helps couples focus on each other, on paying attention to the small day-to-day moments that, strung together, make up the heart and soul of any relationship. Packed with questionnaires and exercises whose effectiveness has been proven in Dr Gottman's workshops, this is the definitive guide for anyone who wants their relationship to attain its highest potential.

👉 Fiction

  • Cixin Liu | The Three-Body Problem Trilogy: Remembrance of Earth's Past
    'This series will soon become a Netflix series... so get in on the ground floor while you still can' Esquire Imagine a universe patrolled by numberless and nameless predators. Imagine what might happen to any civilisation unwise enough to broadcast its location. This is Cixin Liu's THREE-BODY PROBLEM TRILOGY. Weaving a complex web of stratagem, subterfuge, philosophy and physics across light years of space and 18.9 million years of time, this tale of humanity's struggle to reach the stars is a visionary masterwork of unprecedented scale and momentum. Available now in a single volume, including: 1 THE THREE-BODY PROBLEM 2 THE DARK FOREST 3 DEATH'S END Read the award-winning, critically acclaimed, multi-million-selling phenomenon – soon to be a Netflix Original Series from the creators of Game of Thrones. Reviews for Cixin Liu: 'A milestone' New York Times 'Immense' Barack Obama 'Unique' George R.R. Martin 'SF in the grand style' Guardian 'Mind-altering and immersive' Daily Mail
  • Daniel Defoe • Mark Twain | The Complete Adventures
    Book 1: Embark on a river journey full of adventure and self-discovery with “ Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain .” Mark Twain's iconic novel follows the escapades of Huck Finn and Jim, a runaway slave, as they navigate the Mississippi River. Twain's masterful storytelling explores themes of friendship, freedom, and the moral complexities of society. Book 2: Join the mischievous escapades of a small-town boy with “ The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Complete by Mark Twain .” Mark Twain introduces readers to the irrepressible Tom Sawyer as he navigates the challenges of adolescence in a 19th-century American town. Twain's humor and insight make this classic a timeless portrayal of youth, friendship, and the thrill of adventure. Book 3: Experience the solitude and survival instincts of a marooned sailor with “ The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe .” Daniel Defoe's timeless tale follows Robinson Crusoe as he grapples with isolation on a desert island, confronting nature's challenges and his own inner struggles. This pioneering work of fiction remains a captivating exploration of human resilience and the quest for self-discovery.
  • David James Duncan | The Brothers K
    A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK Once in a great while a writer comes along who can truly capture the drama and passion of the life of a family. David James Duncan, author of the novel The River Why and the collection River Teeth, is just such a writer. And in The Brothers K he tells a story both striking and in its originality and poignant in its universality. This touching, uplifting novel spans decades of loyalty, anger, regret, and love in the lives of the Chance family. A father whose dreams of glory on a baseball field are shattered by a mill accident. A mother who clings obsessively to religion as a ward against the darkest hour of her past. Four brothers who come of age during the seismic upheavals of the sixties and who each choose their own way to deal with what the world has become. By turns uproariously funny and deeply moving, and beautifully written throughout, The Brothers K is one of the finest chronicles of our lives in many years. Praise for The Brothers K “The pages of The Brothers K sparkle.”—The New York Times Book Review “Duncan is a wonderfully engaging writer.”—Los Angeles Times “This ambitious book succeeds on almost every level and every page.”—USA Today “Duncan’s prose is a blend of lyrical rhapsody, sassy hyperbole and all-American vernacular.”—San Francisco Chronicle “The Brothers K affords the . . . deep pleasures of novels that exhaustively create, and alter, complex worlds. . . . One always senses an enthusiastic and abundantly talented and versatile writer at work.”—The Washington Post Book World “Duncan . . . tells the larger story of an entire popular culture struggling to redefine itself—something he does with the comic excitement and depth of feeling one expects from Tom Robbins.”—Chicago Tribune
  • Gay Hendricks • Tinker Lindsay | The Second Rule of Ten: A Tenzing Norbu Mystery
    Ex–Buddhist monk turned private eye Tenzing Norbu is back with a new case, a new love—and a whole new set of problems In The Second Rule of Ten, Norbu is faced with not one but two cases. While he investigates the unexplained death of his former client—a Hollywood mogul named Marv Rudolf—he must also search for the missing sister of a wizened L.A. philanthropist. But when an unforeseen family crisis that sends him back to Tibet, Ten finds himself on the outs with his best buddy and former partner, Bill, who is heading up the official police investigation into Marv’s death. Cases and crises start to collide. When Ten mistakenly ignores his second rule, he becomes entangled in an unfortunate association with a Los Angeles drug cartel. As he fights to save those he loves, and himself, from the deadly gang, he also comes face to face with his own personal demons. Working through his anger at Bill, doubts about his latest lady love, and a challenging relationship with his father, Ten learns to see the world in a new light—and realizes that in every situation the truth is sometimes buried beneath illusion.
  • Hermann Hesse | Siddhartha
  • Neal Stephenson | Snow Crash
    THE 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION WITH NEW, NEVER-BEFORE-PUBLISHED MATERIAL After the Internet, what came next? Enter the Metaverse - cyberspace home to avatars and software daemons, where anything and just about everything goes. Newly available on the Street - the Metaverse's main drag - is Snow Crash. A cyberdrug that reduces avatars in the digital world to dust, but also infects users in real life, leaving them in a vegetative state. This is bad news for Hiro, a freelance hacker and the Metaverse's best swordfighter, and mouthy skateboard courier Y. T.. Together, investigating the Infocalypse, they trace back the roots of language itself to an ancient Sumerian priesthood and find they must race to stop a shadowy virtual villain hell-bent on world domination. In this special edition of the remarkably prescient modern classic, Neal Stephenson explores linguistics, computer science, politics and philosophy in the form of a break-neck adventure into the fast-approaching yet eerily recognizable future. 'Fast-forward free-style mall mythology for the twenty-first century' William Gibson 'Brilliantly realized' New York Times Book Review 'Like a Pynchon novel with the brakes removed' Washington Post 'A remarkably prescient vision of today's tech landscape' Vanity Fair
  • Scott Adams | God's Debris: A Thought Experiment
    In God's Debris, best-selling author and creator of Dilbert Scott Adams fashioned a thought-provoking exploration of life's great mysteries (everything from quantum physics and God to psychic phenomena and dating) that quickly captured the attention and imaginations of readers everywhere. The intriguing story of a deliveryman who meets the world's smartest person and learns the secret of reality is threaded with a variety of hypnosis techniques that Adams, a certified hypnotist, used to induce a feeling of euphoric enlightenment in readers to mirror the main character's feelings as he discovers the true nature of the universe.Launched to coincide with the hardcover publication of its sequel, The Religion War (see opposite page), this first paperback edition of God's Debris will soon make the leap to a broader audience. As Adams designed it, the book will "make your brain spin around inside your skull" and drive readers toward The Religion War as they seek to confirm or deny the dizzying impressions and chaotic memories of reading God's Debris.The book provides one of the most compelling visions of reality ever experienced on the printed page. Along the way, readers will enjoy the Thought Experiment: Trying to discover what's wrong with the sage's explanation of reality. This is a book, as Adams says, to be shared and savored with smart friends.
  • Ted Chiang | Exhalation: Stories
    NATIONAL BESTSELLER • ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR • Nine stunningly original, provocative, and poignant stories—two published for the very first time—all from the mind of the incomparable author of Stories of Your Life and Others Tackling some of humanity’s oldest questions along with new quandaries only he could imagine, these stories will change the way you think, feel, and see the world. They are Ted Chiang at his best: profound, sympathetic, revelatory. Ted Chiang tackles some of humanity’s oldest questions along with new quandaries only he could imagine. In “The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate,” a portal through time forces a fabric seller in ancient Baghdad to grapple with past mistakes and second chances. In “Exhalation,” an alien scientist makes a shocking discovery with ramifications that are literally universal. In “Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom,” the ability to glimpse into alternate universes necessitates a radically new examination of the concepts of choice and free will.
  • Ted Chiang | Stories of Your Life and Others
    ‘A science fiction genius . . . Ted Chiang is a superstar.’ – Guardian With Stories of Your Life and Others, multiple-award-winning author Ted Chiang deftly blends human emotion and scientific rationalism in eight remarkably diverse stories, all told in his trademark precise and evocative prose. The science fiction novella 'Story of Your Life' is the basis for the Academy Award nominated film Arrival. From a soaring Babylonian tower that connects a flat Earth with the firmament above, to a world where angelic visitations are a wondrous and terrifying part of everyday life; from a neural modification that eliminates the appeal of physical beauty, to an alien language that challenges our very perception of time and reality, Chiang’s rigorously imagined fantasias invite us to question our understanding of the universe and our place in it. ‘United by a humane intelligence that speaks very directly to the reader, and makes us experience each story with immediacy and Chiang’s calm passion.’ – China Miéville

👉 Health & Fitness

  • Gail Hudson • Gary McAvoy • Jane Goodall | Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating
    "An exploration of the global meaning of food and what all of us can do to exercise power over the food industry and, ultimately, our environment"--Provided by the publisher.
  • Benjamin Bikman | Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease--and How to Fight It
    A scientist reveals the groundbreaking evidence linking many major diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease, to a common root cause—insulin resistance—and shares an easy, effective plan to reverse and prevent it. We are sick. Around the world, we struggle with diseases that were once considered rare. Cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes affect millions each year; many people are also struggling with hypertension, weight gain, fatty liver, dementia, low testosterone, menstrual irregularities and infertility, and more. We treat the symptoms, not realizing that all of these diseases and disorders have something in common. Each of them is caused or made worse by a condition known as insulin resistance. And you might have it. Odds are you do—over half of all adults in the United States are insulin resistant, with most other countries either worse or not far behind. In Why We Get Sick, internationally renowned scientist and pathophysiology professor Benjamin Bikman explores why insulin resistance has become so prevalent and why it matters. Unless we recognize it and take steps to reverse the trend, major chronic diseases will be even more widespread. But reversing insulin resistance is possible, and Bikman offers an evidence-based plan to stop and prevent it, with helpful food lists, meal suggestions, easy exercise principles, and more. Full of surprising research and practical advice, Why We Get Sick will help you to take control of your health.
  • Dan Buettner | The Blue Zones Solution: Eating and Living Like the World's Healthiest People
    Bestselling author Dan Buettner reveals how to transform your health using smart nutrition, lifestyle, and fitness habits gleaned from longevity research on the diets, eating habits, and lifestyle practices of the communities he's identified as "Blue Zones"—those places with the world's longest-lived, and thus healthiest, people, including locations such as Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California. With the audacious belief that the lifestyles of the world's Blue Zones could be adapted and replicated in towns across North America, Buettner launched the largest preventive health care project in the United States, The Blue Zones City Makeovers, which has impacted the health of millions of Americans since 2009. In The Blue Zones Solution, readers can be inspired by the specific stories of the people, foods, and routines of our healthy elders; understand the role community, family, and naturally healthy habits can play in improving our diet and health; and learn the exact foods—including the 50 superfoods of longevity and dozens of recipes adapted for Western tastes and markets—that offer delicious ways to eat your way to optimum health. Throughout the book are lifestyle recommendations, checklists, and stories to help you create your own personal Blue Zones solution. Readers will learn and apply the 80/20 rule, the plant slant diet, social aspects of eating that lead to weight loss and great health naturally, cultivating your "tribe" of friends and family, and your greater purpose as part of your daily routine. Filled with moving personal stories, delicious recipes, checklists, and useful tips that will transform any home into a miniature blue zone, The Blue Zones Solution is the ultimate blueprint for a healthy, happy life.
  • Michael Greger, M.D., FACLM | How Not to Age: The Scientific Approach to Getting Healthier as You Get Older
    Instant New York Times Bestseller Uncover the evidence-based science to slowing the effects of aging, from the New York Times bestselling author of the How Not to Die series When Dr. Michael Greger, founder of NutritionFacts.org, dove into the top peer-reviewed anti-aging medical research, he realized that diet could regulate every one of the most promising strategies for combating the effects of aging. We don’t need Big Pharma to keep us feeling young—we already have the tools. In How Not to Age, the internationally renowned physician and nutritionist breaks down the science of aging and chronic illness and explains how to help avoid the diseases most commonly encountered in our journeys through life. Physicians have long treated aging as a malady, but getting older does not have to mean getting sicker. There are eleven pathways for aging in our bodies’ cells and we can disrupt each of them. Processes like autophagy, the upcycling of unusable junk, can be boosted with spermidine, a compound found in tempeh, mushrooms, and wheat germ. Senescent “zombie” cells that spew inflammation and are linked to many age-related diseases may be cleared in part with quercetin-rich foods like onions, apples, and kale. And we can combat effects of aging without breaking the bank. Why spend a small fortune on vitamin C and nicotinamide facial serums when you can make your own for up to 2,000 times cheaper? Inspired by the dietary and lifestyle patterns of centenarians and residents of “blue zone” regions where people live the longest, Dr. Greger presents simple, accessible, and evidence-based methods to preserve the body functions that keep you feeling youthful, both physically and mentally. Brimming with expertise and actionable takeaways, How Not to Age lays out practical strategies for achieving ultimate longevity.
  • Michael Greger, M.D., FACLM | How Not to Diet: The Groundbreaking Science of Healthy, Permanent Weight Loss
    Discover the cutting-edge science behind long-term weight loss success, in this powerful new book from the New York Times bestselling author of How Not to Die. Every month seems to bring a trendy new diet or weight loss fad—and yet obesity rates continue to rise, and with it a growing number of diseases and health problems. It’s time for a different approach. Enter Dr. Michael Greger, the internationally-renowned nutrition expert, physician, and founder of Nutrition Facts website. Author of the mega bestselling How Not to Die, Dr. Greger now turns his attention to the latest research on the leading causes—and remedies—of obesity. Dr. Greger hones in on the optimal criteria to enable weight loss, while considering how these foods actually affect our health and longevity. He lays out the key ingredients of the ideal weight-loss diet—factors such as calorie density, the insulin index, and the impact of foods on our gut microbiome—showing how plant-based eating is crucial to our success. But How Not to Diet goes beyond food to identify twenty-one weight-loss accelerators available to our bodies, incorporating the latest discoveries in cutting-edge areas like chronobiology to reveal the factors that maximize our natural fat-burning capabilities. Dr. Greger builds the ultimate weight loss guide from the ground up, taking a timeless, proactive approach that can stand up to any new trend. Chock full of actionable advice and groundbreaking dietary research, How Not to Diet will put an end to dieting—and replace those constant weight-loss struggles with a simple, healthy, sustainable lifestyle.
  • Peter Attia, MD | Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity
    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD • A groundbreaking manifesto on living better and longer that challenges the conventional medical thinking on aging and reveals a new approach to preventing chronic disease and extending long-term health, from a visionary physician and leading longevity expert “One of the most important books you’ll ever read.”—Steven D. Levitt, New York Times bestselling author of Freakonomics AN ECONOMIST AND BLOOMBERG BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Wouldn’t you like to live longer? And better? In this operating manual for longevity, Dr. Peter Attia draws on the latest science to deliver innovative nutritional interventions, techniques for optimizing exercise and sleep, and tools for addressing emotional and mental health. For all its successes, mainstream medicine has failed to make much progress against the diseases of aging that kill most people: heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and type 2 diabetes. Too often, it intervenes with treatments too late to help, prolonging lifespan at the expense of healthspan, or quality of life. Dr. Attia believes we must replace this outdated framework with a personalized, proactive strategy for longevity, one where we take action now, rather than waiting. This is not “biohacking,” it’s science: a well-founded strategic and tactical approach to extending lifespan while also improving our physical, cognitive, and emotional health. Dr. Attia’s aim is less to tell you what to do and more to help you learn how to think about long-term health, in order to create the best plan for you as an individual. In Outlive, readers will discover: • Why the cholesterol test at your annual physical doesn’t tell you enough about your actual risk of dying from a heart attack. • That you may already suffer from an extremely common yet underdiagnosed liver condition that could be a precursor to the chronic diseases of aging. • Why exercise is the most potent pro-longevity “drug”—and how to begin training for the “Centenarian Decathlon.” • Why you should forget about diets, and focus instead on nutritional biochemistry, using technology and data to personalize your eating pattern. • Why striving for physical health and longevity, but ignoring emotional health, could be the ultimate curse of all. Aging and longevity are far more malleable than we think; our fate is not set in stone. With the right roadmap, you can plot a different path for your life, one that lets you outlive your genes to make each decade better than the one before.
  • Richard Johnson | Nature Wants Us to Be Fat: The Surprising Science Behind Why We Gain Weight and How We Can Prevent--and Reverse--It
    2022 NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARDS FINALIST — HEALTH: GENERAL “It is exceptionally well organized and presented, making it an ideal and highly recommended addition to personal, community, college, and university library Health/Medicine collections.” —Midwest Book Review Nature puts a “survival switch” in our bodies to protect us from starvation. Stuck in the “on” position, it’s the hidden source of weight gain, heart disease, and many other common health struggles. But you can turn it off. Dr. Richard Johnson has been on the cutting edge of research into the cause of obesity for more than a decade. His team’s discovery of the fructose-powered survival switch—a metabolic pathway that animals in nature turn on and off as needed, but that our modern diet has permanently fixed in the “on” position, where it becomes a fat switch—revolutionized the way we think about why we gain weight. In Nature Wants Us to Be Fat, he details the mounting evidence on how this switch is responsible both for excess fat storage and for many of the major diseases endemic to the Western world, including heart disease, cancer, and dementia. Dr. Johnson also reveals the surprising link between the survival switch and health conditions such as gout, kidney disease, liver disease, stroke—and even behavioral issues like addiction and ADHD. And, most important, he shares a science-based plan to help readers fight back against nature. Guided by ongoing clinical research—plus fascinating observations from the animal kingdom, evolution, and history—Dr. Johnson takes you along on an eye-opening investigation into: What you can do to turn off your survival switch What we have in common with hibernating bears, sperm whales, and the world’s fattest bird Why it’s fructose (not glucose) that drives insulin resistance and metabolic disease The foods we eat that trigger the body to make its own fructose The surprising role salt and dehydration play in fat accumulation The surprising link between the survival switch and health conditions such as gout and liver and kidney diseases, and even behavioral issues like addiction and ADHD Dr. Johnson not only provides new recommendations for how we can prevent or treat obesity, but also how we can use this information to reduce our risk of developing disease. Nature wants us to be fat, and when we understand why, we gain the tools we need to lose weight and optimize our health.
  • Russell Foster | Life Time: The New Science of the Body Clock, and How It Can Revolutionize Your Sleep and Health
    ** THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER ** A GUIDE TO USING THE SCIENCE OF THE BODY CLOCK TO CREATE THE OPTIMUM PERSONAL ROUTINE: SLEEP BETTER, WORK BETTER, FEEL BETTER. 'A superlative guide to some of the most intriguing questions of human existence' - Bill Bryson, author of The Body: A Guide for Occupants 'Who knew our body clocks determined so much of our health, happiness, and lifespan? I learned so much' - James Nestor, author of Breath In the twenty-first century, we increasingly push our daily routines into the night, carrying out work, exercise and our social lives long after dark. But we have forgotten that our bodies are governed by a 24-hour biological clock which guides us towards the best time to sleep, eat and think. In Life Time, Professor Russell Foster shares his life's work, taking us on a fascinating and surprising journey through the science of our body clocks. Using his own studies, as well as insights from an international community of sleep scientists and biologists studying circadian rhythms, he illustrates the surprising effects the time of day can have on our health, including: - how a walk outside at dawn can ensure a better night's sleep - how eating after sundown can affect our weight - the extraordinary effects the time we take our medication can have on our risk of life-threatening conditions, such as strokes In the modern world, we have neglected an essential part of our biology. But with knowledge of this astonishing science, we can get back into the rhythm, and live healthier, sharper lives.
  • Ori Hofmekler | The Warrior Diet: Switch on Your Biological Powerhouse For High Energy, Explosive Strength, and a Leaner, Harder Body
    Reshape your body and mind by eating light during the day and filling up at night—the core tenet of this revolutionary nutrition program based on survival science. Join Ori Hofmekler as he turns to history for a solution to obesity and its attendant ailments—back to the primal habits of early cultures like nomads, hunter-gatherers, the Greeks, and the Romans. Drawing on both survival science and historical data, Hofmekler argues that robust health and a lean, strong body can best be achieved by mimicking the classical warrior mode of cycling—working and eating sparingly (undereating) during the day and filling up at night. A radical yet surprisingly simple lifestyle overhaul, the Warrior Diet Nutritional Program and the Controlling Fatigue Training Program can literally reshape your body! Inside, you’ll learn how to: • Find ideal fuel foods and food combinations to reduce body fat • Gain strength, speed, and resilience to fatigue through special drills • Prepare warrior meals and recipes • Increase sex drive, potency, and animal magnetism • Personalize the diet for your needs Featuring forewords by Fit for Life author Harvey Diamond and Fat That Kills author Dr. Udo Erasmus, The Warrior Diet shows readers weary of fad diets how to attain enduring vigor, explosive strength, a better appearance, and increased vitality and health.
  • Pavel Tsatsouline | Power to the People!: Russian Strength Training Secrets for Every American
    How would you like to own a world class body-whatever your present condition- by doing only two exercises, for twenty minutes a day? A body so lean, ripped and powerful looking, you won't believe your own reflection when you catch yourself in the mirror. And what if you could do it without a single supplement, without having to waste your time at a gym and with only a 150 bucks of simple equipment? And how about not only being stronger than you've ever been in your life, but having higher energy and better performance in whatever you do? How would you like to have an instant download of the world's absolutely most effective strength secrets? To possess exactly the same knowledge that created world-champion athletes-and the strongest bodies of their generation? Pavel Tsatsouline's Power to the People!-Russian Strength Training Secrets for Every American delivers all of this and more.
  • Pavel Tsatsouline | Kettlebell: Simple & Sinister
  • Judd Biasiotto | Psych
  • Pavel Tsatsouline | The Russian Kettlebell Challenge: Xtreme Fitness for Hard Living Comrades
    Both the Soviet Special Forces and numerous world-champion Soviet Olympic athletes used the ancient Russian Kettlebell as their secret weapon for extreme fitness. Thanks to the kettlebell's astonishing ability to turbo charge physical performance, these Soviet supermen creamed their opponents time-and-time-again, with inhuman displays of raw power and explosive strength. Now, former Spetznaz trainer, international fitness author and nationally ranked kettlebell lifter, Pavel Tsatsouline, delivers this secret Soviet weapon into your hands.

👉 History

  • Ariel Durant • Will Durant | The Lessons of History
    A concise survey of the culture and civilization of mankind, The Lessons of History is the result of a lifetime of research from Pulitzer Prize–winning historians Will and Ariel Durant. With their accessible compendium of philosophy and social progress, the Durants take us on a journey through history, exploring the possibilities and limitations of humanity over time. Juxtaposing the great lives, ideas, and accomplishments with cycles of war and conquest, the Durants reveal the towering themes of history and give meaning to our own.
  • Donald Robertson • Seneca | Letters from a Stoic: The Ancient Classic
    DISCOVER THE ENDURING LEGACY OF ANCIENT STOICISM Since Roman antiquity, Lucius Annaeus Seneca’s Letters have been one of the greatest expressions of Stoic philosophy. In a highly accessible and timeless way, Seneca reveals the importance of cultivating virtue and the fleeting nature of time, and how being clear sighted about death allows us to live a life of meaning and contentment. Letters from a Stoic continues to fascinate and inspire new generations of readers, including those interested in mindfulness and psychological techniques for well-being. This deluxe hardback selected edition includes Seneca’s first 65 letters from the Richard M. Gummere translation. An insightful introduction by Donald Robertson traces Seneca’s busy life at the centre of Roman power, explores how he reconciled his Stoic outlook with vast personal wealth, and highlights Seneca’s relevance for the modern reader.
  • Matt Ridley | The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves
    Shortlisted for the BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-fiction 2011. Life is on the up.
  • Shaun Usher | Letters of Note: Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience
    Letters of Note, the book based on the beloved website of the same name, became an instant classic on publication in 2013, selling hundreds of thousands of copies. This new edition sees the collection of the world's most entertaining, inspiring and unusual letters updated with fourteen riveting new missives and a new introduction from curator Shaun Usher. From Virginia Woolf's heart-breaking suicide letter to Queen Elizabeth II's recipe for drop scones sent to President Eisenhower; from the first recorded use of the expression 'OMG' in a letter to Winston Churchill, to Gandhi's appeal for calm to Hitler; and from Iggy Pop's beautiful letter of advice to a troubled young fan, to Leonardo da Vinci's remarkable job application letter, Letters of Note is a celebration of the power of written correspondence which captures the humour, seriousness, sadness and brilliance that make up all of our lives.
  • Steven Pinker | The Better Angels of Our Nature: The Decline of Violence In History And Its Causes
    'The most inspiring book I've ever read' Bill Gates, 2017 'A brilliant, mind-altering book ... Everyone should read this astonishing book' Guardian 'Will change the way you see the world' Daily Mail Shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize 2012 Wasn't the twentieth century the most violent in history? In his extraordinary, epic book Steven Pinker shows us that this is wrong, telling the story of humanity in a completely new and unfamiliar way. From why cities make us safer to how books bring about peace, Pinker weaves together history, philosophy and science to examine why we are less likely to die at another's hand than ever before, how it happened and what it tells us about our very natures. 'May prove to be one of the great books of our time ... he writes like an angel' Economist 'Masterly, a supremely important book ... For anyone interested in human nature, it is engrossing' The New York Times 'Marvellous ... riveting and myth-destroying' New Statesman 'A marvellous synthesis of science, history and storytelling, written in Pinker's distinctively entertaining and clear personal style ... I was astonished by the extent to which violence has declined in every shape, form and scale' Financial Times 'An outstandingly fruitful read, with fascinating nuggets on almost every page' Sunday Times, Books of the Year
  • Yuval Noah Harari | 21 Lessons for the 21st Century: 'Truly mind-expanding... Ultra-topical' Guardian
    **THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER** In twenty-one bite-sized lessons, Yuval Noah Harari explores what it means to be human in an age of bewilderment. How can we protect ourselves from nuclear war, ecological cataclysms and technological disruptions? What can we do about the epidemic of fake news or the threat of terrorism? What should we teach our children? The world-renowned historian and intellectual Yuval Noah Harari takes us on a thrilling journey through today's most urgent issues. The golden thread running through his exhilarating new book is the challenge of maintaining our collective and individual focus in the face of constant and disorienting change. Faced with a litany of existential and real crises, are we still capable of understanding the world we have created? '[Harari] has teed up a crucial global conversation about how to take on the problems of the 21st century' Bill Gates, New York Times '21 Lessons is, simply put, a crucial book' Adam Kay, author of Undoctored

👉 Language Arts & Disciplines

  • Anne Lamott | Bird by Bird: Instructions on Writing and Life
    Bird by Bird is the bible of writing guides - a wry, honest, down-to-earth book that has never stopped selling since it was first published in the United States in the 1990s. Bestselling novelist and memoirist Anne Lamott distils what she's learned over years of trial and error. Beautifully written, wise and immensely helpful, this is the book for all serious writers and writers-to-be.
  • David Baker • Patrick Lo | The Marketing of Academic, National and Public Libraries Worldwide: Marketing, Branding, Community Engagement
    The Marketing of Academic, National and Public Libraries Worldwide: Marketing, Branding, Community Engagement enables readers to learn about the most up-to-date trends, as well as hands-on practices and marketing tactics taken directly from 48 highly seasoned marketing and community engagement librarians around the world, namely in Africa, Australia, Canada, Croatia, Germany, Hong Kong, Latvia and Qatar. Via a series of in-depth and semi-structured interviews, this book provides insights into successful marketing strategies librarians can use to encourage donors and patrons to understand that their libraries are a great choice for fulfilling information needs, recreational interests, intellectual pursuits, and more. - Written with a strong belief that library marketing and branding play a vital part in keeping existing library end-users and potential users informed and educated - Presents the very first book of its kind to examine various factors affecting successful marketing campaigns and long-term brand building for libraries through a systematic review of case studies around the world - Serves as a primary guide for library professionals to build their own brands via effective marketing campaigns, as well as long-lasting relationships with their communities
  • Mark Forsyth | The Elements of Eloquence: How To Turn the Perfect English Phrase
    FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER THE ETYMOLOGICON. 'An informative but highly entertaining journey through the figures of rhetoric ... Mark Forsyth wears his considerable knowledge lightly. He also writes beautifully.' David Marsh, Guardian. Mark Forsyth presents the secret of writing unforgettable phrases, uncovering the techniques that have made immortal such lines as 'To be or not to be' and 'Bond. James Bond.' In his inimitably entertaining and witty style, he takes apart famous quotations and shows how you too can write like Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde or John Lennon. Crammed with tricks to make the most humdrum sentiments seem poetic or wise, The Elements of Eloquence reveals how writers through the ages have turned humble words into literary gold - and how you can do the same.

👉 Literary Collections

  • Aldous Huxley | The Doors of Perception: And Heaven and Hell
    Discover this profound account of Huxley's famous experimentation with mescalin that has influenced writers and artists for decades. ‘Concise, evocative, wise and, above all, humane, The Doors of Perception is a masterpiece’ Sunday Times In 1953, in the presence of an investigator, Aldous Huxley took four-tenths of a gram of mescalin, sat down and waited to see what would happen. When he opened his eyes everything, from the flowers in a vase to the creases in his trousers, was transformed. Huxley described his experience with breathtaking immediacy in The Doors of Perception. In its sequel Heaven and Hell, he goes on to explore the history and nature of mysticism. Still bristling with a sense of excitement and discovery, these illuminating and influential writings remain the most fascinating account of the visionary experience ever written. WITH A FOREWORD J.G. BALLARD

👉 Mathematics

  • Barbara A. Oakley | A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science
    Includes bibliographical references (pages 291-302) and index.
  • Charles Wheelan | Naked Statistics: Stripping the Dread from the Data
    A New York Times bestseller "Brilliant, funny…the best math teacher you never had." —San Francisco Chronicle Once considered tedious, the field of statistics is rapidly evolving into a discipline Hal Varian, chief economist at Google, has actually called "sexy." From batting averages and political polls to game shows and medical research, the real-world application of statistics continues to grow by leaps and bounds. How can we catch schools that cheat on standardized tests? How does Netflix know which movies you’ll like? What is causing the rising incidence of autism? As best-selling author Charles Wheelan shows us in Naked Statistics, the right data and a few well-chosen statistical tools can help us answer these questions and more. For those who slept through Stats 101, this book is a lifesaver. Wheelan strips away the arcane and technical details and focuses on the underlying intuition that drives statistical analysis. He clarifies key concepts such as inference, correlation, and regression analysis, reveals how biased or careless parties can manipulate or misrepresent data, and shows us how brilliant and creative researchers are exploiting the valuable data from natural experiments to tackle thorny questions. And in Wheelan’s trademark style, there’s not a dull page in sight. You’ll encounter clever Schlitz Beer marketers leveraging basic probability, an International Sausage Festival illuminating the tenets of the central limit theorem, and a head-scratching choice from the famous game show Let’s Make a Deal—and you’ll come away with insights each time. With the wit, accessibility, and sheer fun that turned Naked Economics into a bestseller, Wheelan defies the odds yet again by bringing another essential, formerly unglamorous discipline to life.
  • J. D. Williams | The Compleat Strategyst: Being a Primer on the Theory of Games of Strategy
    Only a basic understanding of arithmetic is needed to grasp these strategy games with two or more sets of inimical interests and a limitless array of zero-sum payoffs.

👉 Medical

  • Atul Gawande | The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right
    The New York Times bestselling author of Being Mortal and Complications reveals the surprising power of the ordinary checklist We live in a world of great and increasing complexity, where even the most expert professionals struggle to master the tasks they face. Longer training, ever more advanced technologies—neither seems to prevent grievous errors. But in a hopeful turn, acclaimed surgeon and writer Atul Gawande finds a remedy in the humblest and simplest of techniques: the checklist. First introduced decades ago by the U.S. Air Force, checklists have enabled pilots to fly aircraft of mind-boggling sophistication. Now innovative checklists are being adopted in hospitals around the world, helping doctors and nurses respond to everything from flu epidemics to avalanches. Even in the immensely complex world of surgery, a simple ninety-second variant has cut the rate of fatalities by more than a third. In riveting stories, Gawande takes us from Austria, where an emergency checklist saved a drowning victim who had spent half an hour underwater, to Michigan, where a cleanliness checklist in intensive care units virtually eliminated a type of deadly hospital infection. He explains how checklists actually work to prompt striking and immediate improvements. And he follows the checklist revolution into fields well beyond medicine, from disaster response to investment banking, skyscraper construction, and businesses of all kinds. An intellectual adventure in which lives are lost and saved and one simple idea makes a tremendous difference, The Checklist Manifesto is essential reading for anyone working to get things right.
  • Stuart McGill | Low Back Disorders: Evidence-based Prevention and Rehabilitation
    This second edition of 'Low Back Disorders' provides research information on low back problems and shows readers how to interpret the data for clinical applications.

👉 Others

  • Randall Munroe | What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
    AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! "The questions throughout What If? 2 are equal parts brilliant, gross, and wonderfully absurd and the answers are thorough, deeply researched, and great fun. . . . Science isn’t easy, but in Munroe’s capable hands, it surely can be fun." —TIME The #1 New York Times bestselling author of What If? and How To answers more of the weirdest questions you never thought to ask The millions of people around the world who read and loved What If? still have questions, and those questions are getting stranger. Thank goodness xkcd creator Randall Munroe is here to help. Planning to ride a fire pole from the Moon back to Earth? The hardest part is sticking the landing. Hoping to cool the atmosphere by opening everyone’s freezer door at the same time? Maybe it’s time for a brief introduction to thermodynamics. Want to know what would happen if you rode a helicopter blade, built a billion-story building, made a lava lamp out of lava, or jumped on a geyser as it erupted? Okay, if you insist. Before you go on a cosmic road trip, feed the residents of New York City to a T. rex, or fill every church with bananas, be sure to consult this practical guide for impractical ideas. Unfazed by absurdity, Munroe consults the latest research on everything from swing-set physics to airliner catapult–design to answer his readers’ questions, clearly and concisely, with illuminating and occasionally terrifying illustrations. As he consistently demonstrates, you can learn a lot from examining how the world might work in very specific extreme circumstances.
  • Karl Raimund Popper | Objective Knowledge: An Evolutionary Approach
    The essays in this volume represent an approach to human knowledge that has had a profound influence on many recent thinkers. Popper breaks with a traditional commonsense theory of knowledge that can be traced back to Aristotle. A realist and fallibilist, he argues closely and in simple language that scientific knowledge, once stated in human language, is no longer part of ourselves but a separate entity that grows through critical selection. -- From product's description.
  • Mary Reckmeyer • Tom Rath | How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids
    An illustrated adaptation of the long-running bestseller How Full Is Your Bucket? (more than 400,000 copies sold) for kids — told through the story of a boy who learns a valuable “bucket filling” metaphor and watches it come to life as the day unfolds. Every moment matters. Each of us has an invisible bucket. When our bucket is full, we feel great. When it’s empty, we feel awful. Yet most children (and many adults) don’t realize the importance of having a full bucket throughout the day. In How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids, Felix begins to see how every interaction in a day either fills or empties his bucket. Felix then realizes that everything he says or does to other people fills or empties their buckets as well. Follow along with Felix as he learns how easy it can be to fill the buckets of his classmates, teachers and family members. Before the day is over, you’ll see how Felix learns to be a great bucket filler, and in the process, discovers that filling someone else’s bucket also fills his own.
  • Brian Tracy | Eat That Frog!
    There's an old saying: if you eat a live frog first thing each morning, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that it's probably the worst thing you'll do all day. Using "eat that frog" as a metaphor for tackling the most challenging task of your day, the one you are most likely to procrastinate on, but also the one that might have the greatest positive impact on your life, Eat That Frog! shows you how to zero in on these critical tasks and organize your day. You'll not only get more done faster, but get the right things done. In his trademark high-energy style, acclaimed speaker and bestselling author Brian Tracy cuts to the core of what is vital to effective personal time management: decision, discipline, and determination. He reminds us: "The purpose of time-management skills, of eating that frog, and getting more done in less time, is to enable you to spend more 'face time' with the people you care about, doing the things that give you the greatest amount of joy in life."
  • Herminia Ibarra | Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader
    A new edition of the bestseller that has helped aspiring leaders worldwide advance their careers and step up to larger leadership roles. You aspire to lead with greater impact. The problem is, you're busy executing on today's demands. You know you have to carve out time from your "day job" to build your leadership skills, but it's easy to let immediate problems and old mindsets get in the way. Herminia Ibarra--renowned leadership expert at London Business School--shows how individuals at all levels can step up to leadership by making small but crucial changes in their jobs, their networks, and themselves. In Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader, Ibarra offers advice to: Redefine your job in order to make more-strategic contributions Diversify your network so that you connect to, and learn from, a wider range of stakeholders Become more playful with your self-concept, allowing your familiar (and possibly outdated) leadership style to evolve Ibarra turns the usual leadership advice--to generate insight about yourself through reflection and analysis of your strengths and weaknesses--on its head by arguing that you must first act and experiment your way into trying new things. The valuable external perspective you gain from direct experiences and experimentation, which Ibarra calls "outsight," provides new and critical information on what kind of work is important to you, how you should invest your time, why and which relationships matter, and, ultimately, who you want to become. Packed with self-assessments and practical advice that you can implement immediately, this book gives you the tools to start acting like a leader and to advance your career to the next level.
  • Marianne Lewis • Wendy Smith | Both/and Thinking
  • Ron Friedman | Decoding Greatness
  • Ariel Durant • Will Durant | The Lessons of History
  • Peter Bevelin | Seeking Wisdom

👉 Performing Arts

  • John Truby | The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller
    John Truby is one of the most respected and sought-after story consultants in the film industry, and his students have gone on to pen some of Hollywood's most successful films, including Sleepless in Seattle, Scream, and Shrek. The Anatomy of Story is his long-awaited first book, and it shares all of his secrets for writing a compelling script. Based on the lessons in his award-winning class, Great Screenwriting, The Anatomy of Story draws on a broad range of philosophy and mythology, offering fresh techniques and insightful anecdotes alongside Truby's own unique approach for how to build an effective, multifaceted narrative. Truby's method for constructing a story is at once insightful and practical, focusing on the hero's moral and emotional growth. As a result, writers will dig deep within and explore their own values and worldviews in order to create an effective story. Writers will come away with an extremely precise set of tools to work with—specific, useful techniques to make the audience care about their characters, and that make their characters grow in meaningful ways. They will construct a surprising plot that is unique to their particular concept, and they will learn how to express a moral vision that can genuinely move an audience. The foundations of story that Truby lays out are so fundamental they are applicable—and essential—to all writers, from novelists and short-story writers to journalists, memoirists, and writers of narrative non-fiction.
  • Matthew Dicks | Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling
    A five-time Moth GrandSLAM winner and bestselling novelist shows how to tell a great story — and why doing so matters. Whether we realize it or not, we are always telling stories. On a first date or job interview, at a sales presentation or therapy appointment, with family or friends, we are constantly narrating events and interpreting emotions and actions. In this compelling book, storyteller extraordinaire Matthew Dicks presents wonderfully straightforward and engaging tips and techniques for constructing, telling, and polishing stories that will hold the attention of your audience (no matter how big or small). He shows that anyone can learn to be an appealing storyteller, that everyone has something “storyworthy” to express, and, perhaps most important, that the act of creating and telling a tale is a powerful way of understanding and enhancing your own life.

👉 Philosophy

  • Robert M. Pirsig | Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
    Tells a story of the narrator, his son Chris and their month-long motorcycle odyssey from Minnesota to California profoundly affected an entire generation.
  • Alan W Watts | The Way of Zen
    'The perfect guide for a course correction in life' Deepak Chopra If we open our eyes and see clearly it becomes obvious that there is no other time than this instant An insightful exploration into the origins and history of Zen Buddhism from pioneering Zen scholar Alan Watts. With a rare combination of freshness and lucidity, Watts explores the principles of Zen and how it can revolutionize our daily life.
  • Alan Watts | Alan Watts - In the Academy: Essays and Lectures
    Explores language and mysticism, Buddhism and Zen, Christianity, comparative religion, psychedelics, and psychology and psychotherapy. To commemorate the 2015 centenary of the birth of Alan Watts (1915–1973), Peter J. Columbus and Donadrian L. Rice have assembled a much-needed collection of Watts’s scholarly essays and lectures. Compiled from professional journals, monographs, scholarly books, conferences, and symposia proceedings, the volume sheds valuable light on the developmental arc of Watts’s thinking about language and mysticism, Buddhism and Zen, Christianity, comparative religion, psychedelics, and psychology and psychotherapy. This definitive collection challenges Watts’s reputation as a “popularizer” or “philosophical entertainer,” revealing his concerns to be much more expansive and transdisciplinary than is suggested by the parochial “Zen Buddhist” label commonly affixed to his writings. The editors’ authoritative introduction elucidates contemporary perspectives on Watts’s life and work, and supports a bold rethinking of his contributions to psychology, philosophy, and religion. “This excellent volume is important in establishing Watts as perhaps the most important Western thinker and writer on Eastern religions and philosophy, as well as comparative religions, of the twentieth century.” — John W. Traphagan, author of Rethinking Autonomy: A Critique of Principlism in Biomedical Ethics
  • Alan Watts | The Tao of Philosophy
    Featuring the edited transcripts of eight lectures delivered by Alan Watts from 1960 to 1973. The Tao of Philosophy offers a rich introduction to the wit and wisdom of one of the foremost philosophers of the twentieth century.
  • Björn Natthiko Lindeblad | I May Be Wrong: The Sunday Times Bestseller
    'This book really, really will stay with me forever. It's not only laced with the most incredible wisdom, but it's also gentle and beautiful and eloquent. It brought me so much joy and so much comfort' FEARNE COTTON The Sunday Times bestselling book of comfort and timeless wisdom from former forest monk, Björn Natthiko Lindeblad ___________ Let me tell you what this book is not. It's not about religion. It's not about telling you how to live your life. It's not about taking on a new set of beliefs. Plain and simple, it's about how to relate to your own thoughts and emotions in a way that makes your life more enjoyable, more free, brighter, clearer and wiser. We like to think we understand what's happening around us; that we can determine the path our life takes. But often, things don't go that way - in fact, they rarely do. What helps us respond to life as it unfolds? To live freely, stay humble and find comfort in difficult times? In the Swedish sensation I May Be Wrong, former forest monk Björn Natthiko Lindeblad shares his advice on how to face the uncertainty and doubt that is a natural part of life. We don't choose our thoughts. We don't control the shape they take, or what pops into our minds. We can only choose whether or not to believe them. Infusing the everyday with heart, grace and gentle humour, this is a book to help us all navigate the realities of modern life. ___________ 'I read it, turning down the corners of pages I wished to refer back to, and marking certain passages with a pencil. By the end, almost every page was folded and marked' TELEGRAPH 'A book of some brilliance' DAILY MAIL 'Genuinely stays with you . . . Will encourage you to let go of the small stuff, accept the things you cannot control and open your heart and mind to a more happy and peaceful life' WOMAN & HOME 'With our potential to maintain a peaceful state of mind, it is possible to remain optimistic in the face of difficulties. Björn Natthiko Lindeblad, a former forest monk in Thailand, relates his experience of training to properly direct his thoughts which can benefit all' HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA
  • Deepak Chopra | The Book Of Secrets: Who am I? Where did I come from? Why am I here?
    Crafted with all the skills that have made his previous books bestsellers, The Book of Secrets will be essential reading for Deepak Chopra's huge number of followers worldwide, and also appeal to everyone searching for the meaning of life, and looking for answers to the questions: Who Am I? Where Did I Come From? and Why Am I Here? Each of the fifteen chapters discusses a 'secret' - such as: The World Is In You; Transformation Is Not The Same As Change; Death Is Conquered By Dying Every Day; Everything Is Pure Essence. Chopra believes that 'Every life is a book of secrets ready to be opened', and that the only way to discover the answers to these secrets is to delve inside yourself, and cease to be a mystery to yourself. Only by going to 'the still point inside' can you see life as it really is.
  • Friedrich Nietzsche | On the Genealogy of Morals and Ecce Homo
    Masterful translations of the great philosopher’s major work on ethics, along with his own remarkable review of his life and works. On the Genealogy of Morals (1887) shows Nietzsche using philsophy, psychology, and classical philology in an effort to give new direction to an ancient discipline. The work consists of three essays. The first contrasts master morality and slave morality and indicates how the term "good" has widely different meanings in each. The second inquiry deals with guilt and the bad conscience; the third with ascetic ideals—not only in religion but also in the academy. Ecce Homo, written in 1898 and first published posthumously in 1908, is Nietzsche's review of his life and works. It contains chapters on all the books he himself published. His interpretations are as fascinating as they are invaluable. Nothing Nietzsche wrote is more stunning stylistically or as a human document. Walter Kaufmann's translations are faithful of the word and spirit of Nietzsche, and his running footnote commentaries on both books are more comprehensive than those in his other Nietzsche translations because these two works have been so widely misunderstood.
  • Jed McKenna | Jed Mckenna's Theory of Everything: The Enlightened Perspective
    We are programmed from birth to believe that our existence is an unsolvable riddle, but if we make an honest effort, we discover that mystery itself is the riddle. Not just what is the big mystery, but why is there any mystery at all? And what if there isn’t? What if the Mysterium Tremendum is just an internal belief without any external counterpart? What if the answers to life’s biggest questions were all hidden in plain sight? “If man will strike, strike through the mask! How can the prisoner reach outside except by thrusting through the wall?” Herman Melville Those interested in striking through the mask will welcome a theory of everything that makes sense, doesn’t rely on religious or scientific chicanery, and can be easily understood. And those familiar with Jed McKenna and the Enlightenment Trilogy will know that it’s not just a theory.
  • Jed McKenna | Jed Talks #1 2nd Edition
    2nd Edition contains Starship Gita: Song of the Borg. ContentsToe JamSatsang with JedInsane Little MonkeysThe Liberating AngelWhat Is Enlightenment?The Champions of DelusionYolanda PeriwinkleThe Spiritual AnarchistThe Second ComingGoldilocks UniverseThe Magic PartThe Cross of the MomentThe Caneless Cane
  • John Rawls | A Theory of Justice
    Since it appeared in 1971, John Rawls's A Theory of Justice has become a classic. The author has now revised the original edition to clear up a number of difficulties he and others have found in the original book. Rawls aims to express an essential part of the common core of the democratic tradition--justice as fairness--and to provide an alternative to utilitarianism, which had dominated the Anglo-Saxon tradition of political thought since the nineteenth century. Rawls substitutes the ideal of the social contract as a more satisfactory account of the basic rights and liberties of citizens as free and equal persons. "Each person," writes Rawls, "possesses an inviolability founded on justice that even the welfare of society as a whole cannot override." Advancing the ideas of Rousseau, Kant, Emerson, and Lincoln, Rawls's theory is as powerful today as it was when first published.
  • Kamal Ravikant | Live Your Truth
  • Kapil Gupta | Atmamun
  • Kapil Gupta | Direct Truth
  • Kapil Gupta | Secret Whispers
  • Osho | The Great Challenge
    In these pages you will find the experience of a twentieth century buddha as He responds to questions from people like you and me who sense that there is more to life than meets the eye. If reading Osho's words you find a thirst arising in you to explore that beyond you have heard this invitation you have accepted this Great Challenge.
  • Plato | THE ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE - Plato
    The work " The Allegory of the Cave," also known as the Cave Allegory or Cave Parable, is an extremely intelligent allegory with a philosophical and pedagogical intent, written by the Greek philosopher Plato. It is found in the work "The Republic" and aims to exemplify how human beings can free themselves from the condition of darkness that imprisons them through the light of truth. It is a timeless text whose message fits perfectly into contemporary times when sectarian ideologies still permeate many societies. Furthermore, reading "The Allegory of the Cave" allows for a beneficial reflection by rescuing and presenting important philosophical values to readers.
  • Will Durant | The Story of Philosophy
    Pulitzer Prize–winning author Will Durant chronicles the lives and ideas of several key philosophical thinkers throughout history in this informative yet eminently readable text. An essential read for anyone fascinated by the development of Western philosophy.
  • William MacAskill | What We Owe the Future
    An Instant New York Times Bestseller “This book will change your sense of how grand the sweep of human history could be, where you fit into it, and how much you could do to change it for the better. It's as simple, and as ambitious, as that.” —Ezra Klein An Oxford philosopher makes the case for “longtermism” — that positively influencing the long-term future is a key moral priority of our time. The fate of the world is in our hands. Humanity’s written history spans only five thousand years. Our yet-unwritten future could last for millions more — or it could end tomorrow. Astonishing numbers of people could lead lives of great happiness or unimaginable suffering, or never live at all, depending on what we choose to do today. In What We Owe The Future, philosopher William MacAskill argues for longtermism, that idea that positively influencing the distant future is a key moral priority of our time. From this perspective, it’s not enough to reverse climate change or avert the next pandemic. We must ensure that civilization would rebound if it collapsed; counter the end of moral progress; and prepare for a planet where the smartest beings are digital, not human. If we make wise choices today, our grandchildren’s grandchildren will thrive, knowing we did everything we could to give them a world full of justice, hope and beauty.
  • Eugen Herrigel | Zen in the Art of Archery
    A classic work on Eastern philosophy, and a charming, deeply illuminating story of one man’s experience with Zen. Eugen Herrigel, a German professor of Philosophy in Tokyo, took up the study of archery as a step toward an understanding of Zen Buddhism. This book is the account of the six years he spent as a student of one of Japan’s great kyudo (archery) masters, and of how he gradually overcame his initial inhibitions and began to feel his way toward new truths and ways of seeing.
  • Nassim Nicholas Taleb | Skin in the Game: Hidden Asymmetries in Daily Life
    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A bold work from the author of The Black Swan that challenges many of our long-held beliefs about risk and reward, politics and religion, finance and personal responsibility In his most provocative and practical book yet, one of the foremost thinkers of our time redefines what it means to understand the world, succeed in a profession, contribute to a fair and just society, detect nonsense, and influence others. Citing examples ranging from Hammurabi to Seneca, Antaeus the Giant to Donald Trump, Nassim Nicholas Taleb shows how the willingness to accept one’s own risks is an essential attribute of heroes, saints, and flourishing people in all walks of life. As always both accessible and iconoclastic, Taleb challenges long-held beliefs about the values of those who spearhead military interventions, make financial investments, and propagate religious faiths. Among his insights: • For social justice, focus on symmetry and risk sharing. You cannot make profits and transfer the risks to others, as bankers and large corporations do. You cannot get rich without owning your own risk and paying for your own losses. Forcing skin in the game corrects this asymmetry better than thousands of laws and regulations. • Ethical rules aren’t universal. You’re part of a group larger than you, but it’s still smaller than humanity in general. • Minorities, not majorities, run the world. The world is not run by consensus but by stubborn minorities imposing their tastes and ethics on others. • You can be an intellectual yet still be an idiot. “Educated philistines” have been wrong on everything from Stalinism to Iraq to low-carb diets. • Beware of complicated solutions (that someone was paid to find). A simple barbell can build muscle better than expensive new machines. • True religion is commitment, not just faith. How much you believe in something is manifested only by what you’re willing to risk for it. The phrase “skin in the game” is one we have often heard but rarely stopped to truly dissect. It is the backbone of risk management, but it’s also an astonishingly rich worldview that, as Taleb shows in this book, applies to all aspects of our lives. As Taleb says, “The symmetry of skin in the game is a simple rule that’s necessary for fairness and justice, and the ultimate BS-buster,” and “Never trust anyone who doesn’t have skin in the game. Without it, fools and crooks will benefit, and their mistakes will never come back to haunt them.”
  • C. S. Lewis | The Four Loves
    The Four Loves is a 1960 book by C. S. Lewis which explores the nature of love from a Christian and philosophical perspective through thought experiments. The book was based on a set of radio talks from 1958 which had been criticized in the U.S. at the time for their frankness about sex. C.S. Lewis examines storge or empathy love; philia, friendship love; eros, romantic love; and agape, or God love. Excerpt: "GOD is love," says St. John. When I first tried to write this book I thought that his maxim would provide me with a very plain highroad through the whole subject. I thought I should be able to say that human loves deserved to be called loves at all just in so far as they resembled that Love which is God."
  • Shannon Lee | Be Water, My Friend: Die Lehren des Bruce Lee
    Bruce Lee ist eine Ikone, weltbekannt für seine Kampfkünste und sein filmisches Vermächtnis. Aber er war auch ein zutiefst philosophischer Denker, der glaubte, dass Kampfsport mehr sei als nur eine Übung in körperlicher Disziplin – vielmehr sah er in ihm eine Metapher für persönliches Wachstum. In diesem Buch teilt Shannon Lee bisher unbekannte Anekdoten aus dem Leben ihres Vaters und all jene Ideen, die den Kern seiner Lehren bildeten. Jedes Kapitel enthüllt eine Lektion der legendären »Be Water«-Philosophie und nimmt uns so mit auf den Weg hin zu einer kraftvollen, ausgeglichenen Art des Seins.

👉 Poetry

  • Kahlil Gibran • Suheil Badi Bushrui | The Prophet
    One of the greatest poetic masterpieces now with revised and updated annotations from world-renowned Gibran expert, Professor Suheil Bushrui Originally published in 1923, The Prophet continues to inspire millions worldwide with its timeless words of love and mystical longing. Writing with insight, hope, and a remarkable compassion for the human condition, Kahlil Gibran explores ideas of joy and sorrow, friendship, good and evil, pleasure, reason and passion, expressing humanity’s yearning for a Unity of Being, only achieved through love. Introduced and annotated throughout by world expert Suheil Bushrui, this revised and updated edition is a truly enlightening experience for anyone seeking solace and wisdom in the chaotic modern age.

👉 Political Science

  • Thomas L. Friedman | The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century
    This Independence Day edition of The World is Flat 3.0 includes an an exclusive preview of That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back, by Thomas L. Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum, on sale September 5th, 2011. A New Edition of the Phenomenal #1 Bestseller "One mark of a great book is that it makes you see things in a new way, and Mr. Friedman certainly succeeds in that goal," the Nobel laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz wrote in The New York Times reviewing The World Is Flat in 2005. In this new edition, Thomas L. Friedman includes fresh stories and insights to help us understand the flattening of the world. Weaving new information into his overall thesis, and answering the questions he has been most frequently asked by parents across the country, this third edition also includes two new chapters--on how to be a political activist and social entrepreneur in a flat world; and on the more troubling question of how to manage our reputations and privacy in a world where we are all becoming publishers and public figures. The World Is Flat 3.0 is an essential update on globalization, its opportunities for individual empowerment, its achievements at lifting millions out of poverty, and its drawbacks--environmental, social, and political, powerfully illuminated by the Pulitzer Prize--winning author of The Lexus and the Olive Tree.
  • Tim Urban | What's Our Problem?: A Self-Help Book for Societies
    From the creator of the wildly popular blog Wait But Why, a fun and fascinating deep dive into what the hell is going on in our strange, unprecedented modern times. Between 2013 and 2016, Tim Urban became one of the world’s most popular bloggers, writing dozens of viral, long-form articles about everything from AI to colonizing Mars to procrastination. Then, he turned his attention to a new topic: the society around him. Why was everything such a mess? Why was everyone acting like such a baby? When did things get so tribal? Why do humans do this stuff? This massive topic sent Tim tumbling down his deepest rabbit hole yet, through mountains of history, evolutionary psychology, political theory, neuroscience, and modern-day political movements, as he tried to figure out the answer to a simple question: What’s our problem? Six years later, he emerged from the hole holding this book. What’s Our Problem? is a deep and expansive analysis of our modern times, in the classic style of Wait But Why, packed with original concepts, sticky metaphors, and 300 drawings. The book provides an entirely new framework and language for thinking and talking about today’s complex world. Instead of focusing on the usual left-center-right horizontal political axis, which is all about what we think, the book introduces a vertical axis that explores how we think, as individuals and as groups. Readers will find themselves on a delightful and fascinating journey that will ultimately change the way they see the world around them. Anyway he wanted to say a lot more about all of this but there was a word limit on this book description so just go read the book.

👉 Psychology

  • Annie Murphy Paul | The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain
    A bold new book reveals how we can tap the intelligence that exists beyond our brains--in our bodies, our surroundings, and our relationships Use your head. That's what we tell ourselves when facing a tricky problem or a difficult project. But a growing body of research indicates that we've got it exactly backwards. What we need to do, says acclaimed science writer Annie Murphy Paul, is think outside the brain. A host of "extra-neural" resources--the feelings and movements of our bodies, the physical spaces in which we learn and work, and the minds of those around us-- can help us focus more intently, comprehend more deeply, and create more imaginatively. The Extended Mind outlines the research behind this exciting new vision of human ability, exploring the findings of neuroscientists, cognitive scientists, psychologists, and examining the practices of educators, managers, and leaders who are already reaping the benefits of thinking outside the brain. She excavates the untold history of how artists, scientists, and authors--from Jackson Pollock to Jonas Salk to Robert Caro--have used mental extensions to solve problems, make discoveries, and create new works. In the tradition of Howard Gardner's Frames of Mind or Daniel Goleman's Emotional Intelligence, The Extended Mind offers a dramatic new view of how our minds work, full of practical advice on how we can all think better.
  • Byron Katie • Stephen Mitchell | Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life
    Discover the truth hiding behind troubling thoughts with Byron Katie’s self-help classic. In 2003, Byron Katie first introduced the world to The Work with the publication of Loving What Is. Nearly twenty years later, Loving What Is continues to inspire people all over the world to do The Work; to listen to the answers they find inside themselves;and to open their minds to profound, spacious, and life-transforming insights. The Work is simply four questions that, when applied to a specific problem, enable you to see what is troubling you in an entirely different light. Loving What Is shows you step by step, through clear and vivid examples, exactly how to use this revolutionary process for yourself. In this revised edition, readers will enjoy seven new dialogues, or real examples of Katie doing The Work with people to discover the root cause of their suffering. You will observe people work their way through a broad range of human problems, learning freedom through the very thoughts that had caused their suffering—thoughts such as “my husband betrayed me” or “my mother doesn’t love me enough.” If you continue to do The Work, you may discover that the questioning flows into every aspect of your life, effortlessly undoing the stressful thoughts that keep you from experiencing peace. Loving What Is offers everything you need to learn and live this remarkable process, and to find happiness as what Katie calls “a lover of reality.”
  • Christopher M. Palmer, MD | Brain Energy: A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Mental Health--and Improving Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, OCD, PTSD, and More
    Nautilus Book Awards Gold Winner in Psychology/Mental & Emotional Well-Bein Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Finalist in Health 2023 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist This is the book that will forever change the way we understand and treat mental health. If you or someone you love is affected by mental illness, it might change your life. We are in the midst of a global mental health crisis, and mental illnesses are on the rise. But what causes mental illness? And why are mental health problems so hard to treat? Drawing on decades of research, Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Chris Palmer outlines a revolutionary new understanding that for the first time unites our existing knowledge about mental illness within a single framework: Mental disorders are metabolic disorders of the brain. Brain Energy explains this new understanding of mental illness in detail, from symptoms and risk factors to what is happening in brain cells. Palmer also sheds light on the new treatment pathways this theory opens up—which apply to all mental disorders, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, alcoholism, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, autism, and even schizophrenia. Brain Energy pairs cutting-edge science with practical advice and strategies to help people reclaim their mental health. This groundbreaking book reveals: Why classifying mental disorders as “separate” conditions is misleading The clear connections between mental illness and disorders linked to metabolism, including diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, pain disorders, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, and epilepsy The link between metabolism and every factor known to play a role in mental health, including genetics, inflammation, hormones, neurotransmitters, sleep, stress, and trauma The evidence that current mental health treatments, including both medications and therapies, likely work by affecting metabolism New treatments available today that readers can use to promote long-term healing Palmer puts together the pieces of the mental illness puzzle to provide answers and offer hope. Brain Energy will transform the field of mental health, and the lives of countless people around the world.
  • Deepak Chopra • Marshall B. Rosenberg | Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships
    5,000,000 COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE • TRANSLATED IN MORE THAN 35 LANGUAGES What is Violent Communication? If "violent" means acting in ways that result in hurt or harm, then much of how we communicate—judging others, bullying, having racial bias, blaming, finger pointing, discriminating, speaking without listening, criticizing others or ourselves, name-calling, reacting when angry, using political rhetoric, being defensive or judging who's "good/bad" or what's "right/wrong" with people—could indeed be called "violent communication." What is Nonviolent Communication? Nonviolent Communication is the integration of four things: • Consciousness: a set of principles that support living a life of compassion, collaboration, courage, and authenticity • Language: understanding how words contribute to connection or distance • Communication: knowing how to ask for what we want, how to hear others even in disagreement, and how to move toward solutions that work for all • Means of influence: sharing "power with others" rather than using "power over others" Nonviolent Communication serves our desire to do three things: • Increase our ability to live with choice, meaning, and connection • Connect empathically with self and others to have more satisfying relationships • Sharing of resources so everyone is able to benefit
  • Dr. Anna Lembke | Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence
    INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES and LOS ANGELES TIMES BESTSELLER “Brilliant . . . riveting, scary, cogent, and cleverly argued.”—Beth Macy, author of Dopesick, as heard on Fresh Air This book is about pleasure. It’s also about pain. Most important, it’s about how to find the delicate balance between the two, and why now more than ever finding balance is essential. We’re living in a time of unprecedented access to high-reward, high-dopamine stimuli: drugs, food, news, gambling, shopping, gaming, texting, sexting, Facebooking, Instagramming, YouTubing, tweeting . . . The increased numbers, variety, and potency is staggering. The smartphone is the modern-day hypodermic needle, delivering digital dopamine 24/7 for a wired generation. As such we’ve all become vulnerable to compulsive overconsumption. In Dopamine Nation, Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist and author, explores the exciting new scientific discoveries that explain why the relentless pursuit of pleasure leads to pain . . . and what to do about it. Condensing complex neuroscience into easy-to-understand metaphors, Lembke illustrates how finding contentment and connectedness means keeping dopamine in check. The lived experiences of her patients are the gripping fabric of her narrative. Their riveting stories of suffering and redemption give us all hope for managing our consumption and transforming our lives. In essence, Dopamine Nation shows that the secret to finding balance is combining the science of desire with the wisdom of recovery.
  • Eric Formm | The Art of Loving
    The renowned psychoanalyst and social philosopher Erich Fromm has helped millions of men and women achieve rich, productive lives by developing their hidden capacities for love. In this astonishingly frank and candid book, he explores the ways in which this extraordinary emotion can alter the whole course of your life. Most of us are unable to develop our capacities for love on the only level that really counts—a love that is compounded of maturity, self-knowledge, and courage. Learning to love, like other arts, demands practice and concentration. Even more than any other art it demands genuine insight and understanding. In this classic work, Fromm explores love in all its aspects–not only romantic love, steeped in false conceptions and lofty expectations, but also love of parents, children, brotherly love, erotic love, self-love, and the love of God.
  • John Tierney • Roy F. Baumeister | Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength
    One of the world's most esteemed and influential psychologists, Roy F. Baumeister, teams with New York Times science writer John Tierney to reveal the secrets of self-control and how to master it. "Deep and provocative analysis of people's battle with temptation and masterful insights into understanding willpower: why we have it, why we don't, and how to build it. A terrific read." —Ravi Dhar, Yale School of Management, Director of Center for Customer Insights Pioneering research psychologist Roy F. Baumeister collaborates with New York Times science writer John Tierney to revolutionize our understanding of the most coveted human virtue: self-control. Drawing on cutting-edge research and the wisdom of real-life experts, Willpower shares lessons on how to focus our strength, resist temptation, and redirect our lives. It shows readers how to be realistic when setting goals, monitor their progress, and how to keep faith when they falter. By blending practical wisdom with the best of recent research science, Willpower makes it clear that whatever we seek—from happiness to good health to financial security—we won’t reach our goals without first learning to harness self-control.
  • Kevin Simler • Robin Hanson | The Elephant in the Brain: Hidden Motives in Everyday Life
    Human beings are primates, and primates are political animals. Our brains, therefore, are designed not just to hunt and gather, but also to help us get ahead socially, often via deception and self-deception. But while we may be self-interested schemers, we benefit by pretending otherwise. The less we know about our own ugly motives, the better - and thus we don't like to talk or even think about the extent of our selfishness. This is the elephant in the brain. Such an introspective taboo makes it hard for us to think clearly about our nature and the explanations for our behavior. The aim of this book, then, is to confront our hidden motives directly - to track down the darker, unexamined corners of our psyches and blast them with floodlights. Then, once everything is clearly visible, we can work to better understand ourselves: Why do we laugh? Why are artists sexy? Why do we brag about travel? Why do we prefer to speak rather than listen? Our unconscious motives drive more than just our private behavior; they also infect our venerated social institutions such as Art, School, Charity, Medicine, Politics, and Religion. In fact, these institutions are in many ways designed to accommodate our hidden motives, to serve covert agendas alongside their official ones. The existence of big hidden motives can upend the usual political debates, leading one to question the legitimacy of these social institutions, and of standard policies designed to favor or discourage them. You won't see yourself - or the world - the same after confronting the elephant in the brain.
  • Malcolm Gladwell | Outliers: The Story of Success
    From the bestselling author of Blink and The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers: The Story of Success overturns conventional wisdom about genius to show us what makes an ordinary person an extreme overachiever. Why do some people achieve so much more than others? Can they lie so far out of the ordinary? In this provocative and inspiring book, Malcolm Gladwell looks at everyone from rock stars to professional athletes, software billionaires to scientific geniuses, to show that the story of success is far more surprising, and far more fascinating, than we could ever have imagined. He reveals that it's as much about where we're from and what we do, as who we are - and that no one, not even a genius, ever makes it alone. Outliers will change the way you think about your own life story, and about what makes us all unique. 'Gladwell is not only a brilliant storyteller; he can see what those stories tell us, the lessons they contain' Guardian 'Malcolm Gladwell is a global phenomenon ... he has a genius for making everything he writes seem like an impossible adventure' Observer 'He is the best kind of writer - the kind who makes you feel like you're a genius, rather than he's a genius' The Times
  • Matt Ridley | The Origins of Virtue
    Why are people nice to each other? What are the reasons for altrusim? Matt Ridley explains how the human mind has evolved a special instinct for social exchange, offering a lucid and persuasive argument about the paradox of human benevolence.
  • Matt Ridley | The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature
    Sex is as fascinating to scientists as it is to the rest of us. A vast pool of knowledge, therefore, has been gleaned from research into the nature of sex, from the contentious problem of why the wasteful reproductive process exists at all, to how individuals choose their mates and what traits they find attractive. This fascinating book explores those findings, and their implications for the sexual behaviour of our own species. It uses the Red Queen from ‘Alice in Wonderland’ – who has to run at full speed to stay where she is – as a metaphor for a whole range of sexual behaviours. The book was shortlisted for the 1994 Rhone-Poulenc Prize for Science Books. ‘Animals and plants evolved sex to fend off parasitic infection. Now look where it has got us. Men want BMWs, power and money in order to pair-bond with women who are blonde, youthful and narrow-waisted ... a brilliant examination of the scientific debates on the hows and whys of sex and evolution’ Independent.
  • Matthew Syed • Matthew Syed Consulting Ltd | Black Box Thinking: The Surprising Truth About Success
    The Sunday Times No.1 Bestseller From the Bestselling Author of Bounce What links the Mercedes Formula One team with Google? What links Team Sky and the aviation industry? What connects James Dyson and David Beckham? They are all Black Box Thinkers. Black Box Thinking is a new approach to high performance, a means of finding an edge in a complex and fast-changing world. It is not just about sport, but has powerful implications for business and politics, as well as for parents and students. In other words, all of us. Drawing on a dizzying array of case studies and real-world examples, together with cutting-edge research on marginal gains, creativity and grit, Matthew Syed tells the inside story of how success really happens - and how we cannot grow unless we are prepared to learn from our mistakes.
  • Tony Riddle | Be More Human: How to transform your lifestyle for optimum health, happiness and vitality
    'Tony Riddle's mission is to present ways of living that are more in sync with our human biology, to help us thrive in this modern world' Dr Rangan Chatterjee 'This book is brilliant with such an important message' The Happy Pear ___________________________ The ultimate guide to boosting your mental and physical health by reconnecting with the way we, as humans, were supposed to live, eat, sleep, breathe and move. The bright lights, late nights and constant hustle of our modern world have detached us from the way we, as humans, were supposed to live, connect and thrive. Be More Human explores the importance of reconnecting with our natural state and help us learn how to meet our true needs and live more naturally. Tony Riddle (@thenaturallifestylist) will explore how the majority of us do not sit, breathe, eat, sleep or move as nature intended and so we're actively going against our biology. This book will help us all to reassess our habits and tap back into our natural rhythms and ways of being to optimise our mental and physical wellbeing, reduce stress, sit correctly, breathe better and improve our quality of sleep. Tony is committed to helping us reconnect with how we were built to live in a way that can be incorporated into our hectic, modern lifestyles. His expertise will make this a transformative, empowering and practical guide to getting back in tune with a happier, healthier self to discover physical, emotional, mental and spiritual strength and wellbeing. We can't all live in nature, but we can all live more naturally and learn how to thrive instead of just survive. ___________________________ 'Inspiring read' Rich Roll, author of Finding Ultra 'Vital stuff' Bruce Parry
  • Viktor E. Frankl | Man's Search for Meaning
    The bestselling Holocaust memoir about finding purpose and strength in times of despair—selected as a Library of Congress “10 Most Influential Books in America” This stunning gift edition of “one of the great books of our time” (Harold S. Kushner) features new photos, end papers, and Frankl’s never-before-published speeches and letters. Hailed as “an enduring work of survival literature” by the New York Times, Viktor Frankl’s account of his time in the Nazi concentration camps—and his insights into our ability to find meaning despite great adversity—has offered solace and guidance to generations of readers since it was first published in 1946. This stunning hardcover gift edition features previously unpublished material—including letters, speeches, essays, and an 8-page photo insert—that reveal Frankl’s enduring lessons on perseverance and strength in even greater depth. At the heart of Frankl’s theory of logotherapy (from the Greek word for “meaning”) is a conviction that the primary human drive is not pleasure, as Freud maintained, but rather the discovery and pursuit of what the individual finds meaningful. Today, as new generations face new challenges and an ever more complex and uncertain world, Frankl’s classic work continues to inspire us all to find significance in the very act of living, in spite of all obstacles. With more than 16 million copies sold in over 50 languages, this timeless masterpiece is “one of the outstanding contributions to psychological thought” (Carl Rogers) and offers inspiration for coping with suffering and finding your purpose.
  • Viktor E. Frankl | Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything
    Find hope even in these dark times with this rediscovered masterpiece, a companion to his international bestseller Man’s Search for Meaning. Eleven months after he was liberated from the Nazi concentration camps, Viktor E. Frankl held a series of public lectures in Vienna. The psychiatrist, who would soon become world famous, explained his central thoughts on meaning, resilience, and the importance of embracing life even in the face of great adversity. Published here for the very first time in English, Frankl’s words resonate as strongly today—as the world faces a coronavirus pandemic, social isolation, and great economic uncertainty—as they did in 1946. He offers an insightful exploration of the maxim “Live as if you were living for the second time,” and he unfolds his basic conviction that every crisis contains opportunity. Despite the unspeakable horrors of the camps, Frankl learned from the strength of his fellow inmates that it is always possible to “say yes to life”—a profound and timeless lesson for us all.
  • Walter Kaufmann | Existentialism From Dostoevsky To Sartre
    What is Existentialism? It is perhaps the most misunderstood of modern philosophic positions—misunderstood by reason of its broad popularity and general unfamiliarity with its origins, representatives, and principles. Existential thinking does not originate with Jean Paul Sartre. It has prior religious, literary, and philosophic origins. In its narrowest formulation it is a metaphysical doctrine, arguing as it does that any definition of man’s essence must follow, not precede, an estimation of his existence. In Heidegger, it affords a view of Being in its totality; in Kierkegaard an approach to that inwardness indispensable to authentic religious experience; for Dostoevsky, Kafka, and Rilke the existential situation bears the stamp of modern man’s alienation, uprootedness, and absurdity; to Sartre it has vast ethical and political implications. Walter Kaufmann, author of Nietzsche, is eminently qualified to present and interpret the insights of existentialism as they occur and are deepened by the major thinkers who express them. In every case complete selections or entire works have been employed: The Wall, Existentialism, and the complete chapter on “Self-Deception” from L’être et le Néant by Sartre; two lectures from Jaspers’ book Reason and Existenz; original translations of On My Philosophy by Jaspers and The Way Back into the Ground of Metaphysics by Heidegger. There is, as well, material from Dostoevsky, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Rilke, and Camus.
  • Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi | Flow and the Foundations of Positive Psychology: The Collected Works of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
    The second volume in the collected works of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi covers about thirty years of Csikszentmihalyi‘s work on three main and interconnected areas of study: attention, flow and positive psychology. Describing attention as psychic energy and in the footsteps of William James, Csikszentmihalyi explores the allocation of attention, the when and where and the amount of attention humans pay to tasks and the role of attention in creating ‘experiences’, or ordered patterns of information. Taking into account information processing theories and attempts at quantifying people’s investment, the chapters deal with such topics as time budgets and the development and use of the Experience Sampling Method of collecting data on attention in everyday life. Following the chapters on attention and reflecting Csikszentmihalyi’s branching out into sociology and anthropology, there are chapters on the topic of adult play and leisure and connected to that, on flow, a concept formulated and developed by Csikszentmihalyi. Flow has become a popular concept in business and management around the world and research on the concept continues to flourish. Finally, this volume contains articles that stem from Csikszentmihalyi’s connection with Martin Seligman; they deal with concepts and theories, as well as with the development and short history, of the field and the “movement” of positive psychology.
  • Bruce Patton • Douglas Stone • Sheila Heen | Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most
    The 10th-anniversary edition of the New York Times business bestseller-now updated with "Answers to Ten Questions People Ask" We attempt or avoid difficult conversations every day-whether dealing with an underperforming employee, disagreeing with a spouse, or negotiating with a client. From the Harvard Negotiation Project, the organization that brought you Getting to Yes, Difficult Conversations provides a step-by-step approach to having those tough conversations with less stress and more success. you'll learn how to: · Decipher the underlying structure of every difficult conversation · Start a conversation without defensiveness · Listen for the meaning of what is not said · Stay balanced in the face of attacks and accusations · Move from emotion to productive problem solving

👉 Religion

  • Geshe Michael Roach • Lama Christie McNally | The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha on Managing Your Business and Your Life
    With a unique combination of ancient and contemporary wisdom from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, The Diamond Cutter presents readers with empowering strategies for success in their work and personal lives. Geshe Michael Roach, one of the great teachers today of Tibetan Buddhism, has richly woven The Diamond Cutter in three layers. The first is a translation of selections from the Diamond Sutra itself, an ancient text comprised of conversations between the Buddha and his close disciple Subhuti. Considered a central work by Buddhists throughout the world, the Diamond Sutra has been the focus of much interpretation over the centuries. In the second layer, Geshe Michael quotes from some of the best commentaries of the Tibetan tradition. In the main text, the third layer, he uses both sutra and commentary as a jumping-off point for presenting his own teaching. Geshe Michael gives fresh insight into ancient wisdom by using examples from his own experience as one of the founders of the Andin International Diamond Corporation, which was started with capital of fifty thousand dollars and which today has annual sales in excess of one hundred million dollars. Much of the success of Andin has come from applying the business strategies presented in The Diamond Cutter. Geshe Michael's easy style and spiritual understanding make this work of timeless wisdom an invaluable source for those already familiar with, and those unfamiliar with, Tibetan Buddhism.
  • Shunryu Suzuki | Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice
    "In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few." So begins this most beloved of all American Zen books. Seldom has such a small handful of words provided a teaching as rich as has this famous opening line. In a single stroke, the simple sentence cuts through the pervasive tendency students have of getting so close to Zen as to completely miss what it’s all about. An instant teaching on the first page. And that’s just the beginning. In the forty years since its original publication, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind has become one of the great modern Zen classics, much beloved, much reread, and much recommended as the best first book to read on Zen. Suzuki Roshi presents the basics—from the details of posture and breathing in zazen to the perception of nonduality—in a way that is not only remarkably clear, but that also resonates with the joy of insight from the first to the last page. It’s a book to come back to time and time again as an inspiration to practice, and it is now available to a new generation of seekers in this fortieth anniversary edition, with a new afterword by Shunryu Suzuki’s biographer, David Chadwick.
  • Anthony De Mello | Awareness: Conversations with the Masters
    “Wisdom from one of the greatest spiritual masters of our time.”—James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage The heart of Anthony de Mello's bestselling spiritual message is awareness. Mixing Christian spirituality, Buddhist parables, Hindu breathing exercises, and psychological insight, de Mello's words of hope come together in Awareness in a grand synthesis. In short chapters for reading in quiet moments at home or at the office, he cajoles and challenges: We must leave this go-go-go world of illusion and become aware. And this only happens, he insists, by becoming alive to the needs and potential of others, whether at home or in the workplace. Here, then, is a masterful book of the spirit, challenging us to wake up in every aspect of our lives.
  • C. S. Lewis | MERE CHRISTIANITY (Including The Case for Christianity, Christian Behaviour and Beyond Personality)
    This carefully crafted ebook: "MERE CHRISTIANITY (Including The Case for Christianity, Christian Behaviour and Beyond Personality)" is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. Mere Christianity is a theological book and is considered a classic of Christian apologetics, the transcripts of the broadcasts originally appeared in print as three separate pamphlets: The Case for Christianity (1942), Christian Behaviour (1943), and Beyond Personality (1944). Lewis, an Anglican, intended to describe the Christian common ground. In Mere Christianity, he aims at avoiding controversies to explain fundamental teachings of Christianity, for the sake of those basically educated as well as the intellectuals of his generation, for whom the jargon of formal Christian theology did not retain its original meaning. Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963) was a British novelist, poet, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian, lecturer, and Christian apologist. He is best known for his fictional work, especially The Screwtape Letters, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Space Trilogy, and for his non-fiction Christian apologetics, such as Mere Christianity, Miracles, and The Problem of Pain.

👉 Science

  • Anders Ericsson • Robert Pool | Peak: How All of Us Can Achieve Extraordinary Things
    'Anyone who wants to get better at anything should read Peak.' Fortune Do you want to stand out at work, improve your athletic or musical performance, or help your child achieve academic goals? Anders Ericsson has made a career studying chess champions, violin virtuosos, star athletes, and memory mavens. Peak distils three decades of myth-shattering research into a powerful learning strategy that is fundamentally different from the way people traditionally think about acquiring new abilities. Ericsson's revolutionary methods will show you how to improve at almost any skill that matters to you, and that you don't have to be a genius to achieve extraordinary things. 'Remarkable...who among us doesn't want to learn how to get better at life?' Stephen J. Dubner, co-author of Freakonomics 'This book...could truly change the world' Joshua Foer, author of Moonwalking with Einstein
  • Carlo Rovelli | Reality Is Not What It Seems: The Journey to Quantum Gravity
    “The man who makes physics sexy . . . the scientist they’re calling the next Stephen Hawking.” —The Times Magazine From the New York Times–bestselling author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics, The Order of Time, Helgoland, and Anaximander, a closer look at the mind-bending nature of the universe. What are the elementary ingredients of the world? Do time and space exist? And what exactly is reality? Theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli has spent his life exploring these questions. He tells us how our understanding of reality has changed over the centuries and how physicists think about the structure of the universe today. In elegant and accessible prose, Rovelli takes us on a wondrous journey from Democritus to Albert Einstein, from Michael Faraday to gravitational waves, and from classical physics to his own work in quantum gravity. As he shows us how the idea of reality has evolved over time, Rovelli offers deeper explanations of the theories he introduced so concisely in Seven Brief Lessons on Physics. This book culminates in a lucid overview of quantum gravity, the field of research that explores the quantum nature of space and time, seeking to unify quantum mechanics and general relativity. Rovelli invites us to imagine a marvelous world where space breaks up into tiny grains, time disappears at the smallest scales, and black holes are waiting to explode—a vast universe still largely undiscovered.
  • Carlo Rovelli | Seven Brief Lessons on Physics
    The New York Times bestseller from the author of The Order of Time and Reality Is Not What It Seems, Helgoland, and Anaximander “One of the year’s most entrancing books about science.”—The Wall Street Journal “Clear, elegant...a whirlwind tour of some of the biggest ideas in physics.”—The New York Times Book Review This playful, entertaining, and mind-bending introduction to modern physics briskly explains Einstein's general relativity, quantum mechanics, elementary particles, gravity, black holes, the complex architecture of the universe, and the role humans play in this weird and wonderful world. Carlo Rovelli, a renowned theoretical physicist, is a delightfully poetic and philosophical scientific guide. He takes us to the frontiers of our knowledge: to the most minute reaches of the fabric of space, back to the origins of the cosmos, and into the workings of our minds. The book celebrates the joy of discovery. “Here, on the edge of what we know, in contact with the ocean of the unknown, shines the mystery and the beauty of the world,” Rovelli writes. “And it’s breathtaking.”
  • David A. Sinclair • Matthew D. LaPlante | Lifespan: Why We Age—and Why We Don't Have To
    A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “Brilliant and enthralling.”​ —The Wall Street Journal A paradigm-shifting book from an acclaimed Harvard Medical School scientist and one of Time’s most influential people. It’s a seemingly undeniable truth that aging is inevitable. But what if everything we’ve been taught to believe about aging is wrong? What if we could choose our lifespan? In this groundbreaking book, Dr. David Sinclair, leading world authority on genetics and longevity, reveals a bold new theory for why we age. As he writes: “Aging is a disease, and that disease is treatable.” This eye-opening and provocative work takes us to the frontlines of research that is pushing the boundaries on our perceived scientific limitations, revealing incredible breakthroughs—many from Dr. David Sinclair’s own lab at Harvard—that demonstrate how we can slow down, or even reverse, aging. The key is activating newly discovered vitality genes, the descendants of an ancient genetic survival circuit that is both the cause of aging and the key to reversing it. Recent experiments in genetic reprogramming suggest that in the near future we may not just be able to feel younger, but actually become younger. Through a page-turning narrative, Dr. Sinclair invites you into the process of scientific discovery and reveals the emerging technologies and simple lifestyle changes—such as intermittent fasting, cold exposure, exercising with the right intensity, and eating less meat—that have been shown to help us live younger and healthier for longer. At once a roadmap for taking charge of our own health destiny and a bold new vision for the future of humankind, Lifespan will forever change the way we think about why we age and what we can do about it.
  • David Deutsch | The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations that Transform The World
    'Science has never had an advocate quite like David Deutsch ... A computational physicist on a par with his touchstones Alan Turing and Richard Feynman, and a philosopher in the line of his greatest hero, Karl Popper. His arguments are so clear that to read him is to experience the thrill of the highest level of discourse available on this planet and to understand it' Peter Forbes, Independent In our search for truth, how far have we advanced? This uniquely human quest for good explanations has driven amazing improvements in everything from scientific understanding and technology to politics, moral values and human welfare. But will progress end, either in catastrophe or completion - or will it continue infinitely? In this profound and seminal book, David Deutsch explores the furthest reaches of our current understanding, taking in the Infinity Hotel, supernovae and the nature of optimism, to instill in all of us a wonder at what we have achieved - and the fact that this is only the beginning of humanity's infinite possibility. 'This is Deutsch at his most ambitious, seeking to understand the implications of our scientific explanations of the world ... I enthusiastically recommend this rich, wide-ranging and elegantly written exposition of the unique insights of one of our most original intellectuals' Michael Berry, Times Higher Education Supplement 'Bold ... profound ... provocative and persuasive' Economist 'David Deutsch may well go down in history as one of the great scientists of our age' Scotsman
  • David Deutsch | The Fabric of Reality
    An extraordinary and challenging synthesis of ideas uniting Quantum Theory, and the theories of Computation, Knowledge and Evolution, Deutsch's extraordinary book explores the deep connections between these strands which reveal the fabric of realityin which human actions and ideas play essential roles.
  • David Eagleman | Incognito
    "This book will shine light on some of the hard-to-reach places in the brain, showing the ways in which we are not the ones driving the boat. Why does the conscious mind know so little? What do visual illusions unmask about the machinery running under the hood? How much of our lives are determined by choices and behaviors that are hard-wired, unconscious, and beyond our control? Do we have any management over who we find gorgeous or repugnant? How is it possible to get angry at yourself: who exactly, is mad at whom? If the drunk Mel Gibson is an anti-Semite and the sober Mel Gibson is authentically apologetic, is there a real Mel Gibson? Why did Supreme Court Justice William Douglas claim that he was able to play football and go hiking, when everyone could see that he was paralyzed after his stroke? Why do people willingly give up their money to banks for Christmas accounts (and why don't monkeys do this)? Why do patients on Parkinson's medications become compulsive gamblers? Why do athletes follow routines, like bouncing the ball three times before taking a free throw? Why did Charles Whitman suddenly kill his family and shoot forty six others from the UT Austin tower, and what did this have to do with his brain? How much of who we are is in the genes, and how much in the environment? Does free will exist or not, and how does that affect our view of blameworthiness and credit? The emerging understanding of the brain drastically changes our view of ourselves, shifting us from an intuitive sense that we are at the center of the operations, to a more sophisticated, illuminating, and wondrous view of the situation"-- Provided by publisher.
  • David Eagleman | The Brain: The Story of You
    'This is the story of how your life shapes your brain, and how your brain shapes your life.' Join renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman on a whistle-stop tour of the inner cosmos. It's a journey that will take you into the world of extreme sports, criminal justice, genocide, brain surgery, robotics, and the search for immortality. On the way, amidst the infinitely dense tangle of brain cells and their trillions of connections, something emerges that you might not have expected to see: you.
  • Dean Buonomano | Your Brain Is a Time Machine: The Neuroscience and Physics of Time
    "Beautifully written, eloquently reasoned…Mr. Buonomano takes us off and running on an edifying scientific journey." —Carol Tavris, Wall Street Journal In Your Brain Is a Time Machine, leading neuroscientist Dean Buonomano embarks on an "immensely engaging" exploration of how time works inside the brain (Barbara Kiser, Nature). The human brain, he argues, is a complex system that not only tells time, but creates it; it constructs our sense of chronological movement and enables "mental time travel"—simulations of future and past events. These functions are essential not only to our daily lives but to the evolution of the human race: without the ability to anticipate the future, mankind would never have crafted tools or invented agriculture. This virtuosic work of popular science will lead you to a revelation as strange as it is true: your brain is, at its core, a time machine.
  • Grace Lindsay | Models of the Mind: How Physics, Engineering and Mathematics Have Shaped Our Understanding of the Brain
    The human brain is made up of 85 billion neurons, which are connected by over 100 trillion synapses. For more than a century, a diverse array of researchers searched for a language that could be used to capture the essence of what these neurons do and how they communicate – and how those communications create thoughts, perceptions and actions. The language they were looking for was mathematics, and we would not be able to understand the brain as we do today without it. In Models of the Mind, author and computational neuroscientist Grace Lindsay explains how mathematical models have allowed scientists to understand and describe many of the brain's processes, including decision-making, sensory processing, quantifying memory, and more. She introduces readers to the most important concepts in modern neuroscience, and highlights the tensions that arise when the abstract world of mathematical modelling collides with the messy details of biology. Each chapter of Models of the Mind focuses on mathematical tools that have been applied in a particular area of neuroscience, progressing from the simplest building block of the brain – the individual neuron – through to circuits of interacting neurons, whole brain areas and even the behaviours that brains command. In addition, Grace examines the history of the field, starting with experiments done on frog legs in the late eighteenth century and building to the large models of artificial neural networks that form the basis of modern artificial intelligence. Throughout, she reveals the value of using the elegant language of mathematics to describe the machinery of neuroscience.
  • John Medina | Brain Rules for Work: the science of thinking smarter in the office and at home
    Bestselling author Dr John Medina turns his expertise to the professional world, guiding the reader through what brain science and evolutionary biology have to say about topics ranging from office space and work—life balance to power dynamics and work interactions. Medina discusses vital questions to do with the workplace in the time of COVID-19, such as how to keep people interested in a presentation, how to keep oneself engaged in work and the office, and how to be productive — all based on scientific peer-reviewed research. He also covers topics such as why taking breaks in nature during the workday improves productivity; how planning a meeting beforehand makes it more effective; why an open-office plan isn’t a good office plan; how a more diverse team is a more potent team; why talking to co-workers online is so exhausting; why allowing for failure is vital to a company’s success; and much, much more As ever, Medina’s charming descriptions and hilarious anecdotes break the science down to practical applications that every reader can understand and benefit from.
  • Matthew Sands • Richard P. Feynman • Robert B. Leighton | Six Easy Pieces: Essentials of Physics Explained by Its Most Brilliant Teacher
    Learn how to think like a physicist from a Nobel laureate and "one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century" (New York Review of Books) with these six classic and beloved lessons It was Richard Feynman's outrageous and scintillating method of teaching that earned him legendary status among students and professors of physics. From 1961 to 1963, Feynman delivered a series of lectures at the California Institute of Technology that revolutionized the teaching of physics around the world. Six Easy Pieces, taken from these famous Lectures on Physics, represent the most accessible material from the series. In these classic lessons, Feynman introduces the general reader to the following topics: atoms, basic physics, energy, gravitation, quantum mechanics, and the relationship of physics to other topics. With his dazzling and inimitable wit, Feynman presents each discussion with a minimum of jargon. Filled with wonderful examples and clever illustrations, Six Easy Pieces is the ideal introduction to the fundamentals of physics by one of the most admired and accessible physicists of modern times. "If one book was all that could be passed on to the next generation of scientists it would undoubtedly have to be Six Easy Pieces."- John Gribbin, New Scientist
  • Matthew Sands • Richard P. Feynman • Robert B. Leighton | Six Not-So-Easy Pieces: Einstein's Relativity, Symmetry, and Space-Time
    No twentieth-century American scientist is better known to a wider spectrum of people than Richard P. Feynman (1918-1988) -- physicist, teacher, author, and cultural icon. His autobiographies and biographies have been read and enjoyed by millions of readers around the world, while his wit and eccentricities have made him the subject of TV specials and even a theatrical film. The spectacular reception of the book and audio versions of Feynman's Six Easy Pieces (published in 1995) resulted in a worldwide clamor for "More Feynman! More Feynman!" The outcome is these six additional lectures, drawn from the celebrated three-volume Lectures on Physics. Though slightly more challenging than the first six, these lectures are more focused, delving into the most revolutionary discovery in twentieth-century physics: Einstein's Theory of Relativity. No single breakthrough in twentieth-century physics (with the possible exception of quantum mechanics) changed our view of the world more than that of Einstein's discovery of relativity. The notions that the flow of time is not a constant, that the mass of an object depends on its velocity, and that the speed of light is a constant no matter what the motion of the observer, at first seemed shocking to scientists and laymen alike. But, as Feynman shows so clearly and so entertainingly in the lectures chosen for this volume, these crazy notions are no mere dry principles of physics, but are things of beauty and elegance. No one -- not even Einstein himself -- explained these difficult, anti-intuitive concepts more clearly, or with more verve and gusto, than Richard Feynman.

👉 Self-Help

  • Ben Horowitz | What You Do Is Who You Are
    Ben Horowitz, a leading venture capitalist, modern management expert, and New York Times bestselling author, combines lessons both from history and from modern organizational practice with practical and often surprising advice to help executives build cultures that can weather both good and bad times. Ben Horowitz has long been fascinated by history, and particularly by how people behave differently than you’d expect. The time and circumstances in which they were raised often shapes them—yet a few leaders have managed to shape their times. In What You Do Is Who You Are, he turns his attention to a question crucial to every organization: how do you create and sustain the culture you want? To Horowitz, culture is how a company makes decisions. It is the set of assumptions employees use to resolve everyday problems: should I stay at the Red Roof Inn, or the Four Seasons? Should we discuss the color of this product for five minutes or thirty hours? If culture is not purposeful, it will be an accident or a mistake. What You Do Is Who You Are explains how to make your culture purposeful by spotlighting four models of leadership and culture-building—the leader of the only successful slave revolt, Haiti’s Toussaint Louverture; the Samurai, who ruled Japan for seven hundred years and shaped modern Japanese culture; Genghis Khan, who built the world’s largest empire; and Shaka Senghor, a man convicted of murder who ran the most formidable prison gang in the yard and ultimately transformed prison culture. Horowitz connects these leadership examples to modern case-studies, including how Louverture’s cultural techniques were applied (or should have been) by Reed Hastings at Netflix, Travis Kalanick at Uber, and Hillary Clinton, and how Genghis Khan’s vision of cultural inclusiveness has parallels in the work of Don Thompson, the first African-American CEO of McDonalds, and of Maggie Wilderotter, the CEO who led Frontier Communications. Horowitz then offers guidance to help any company understand its own strategy and build a successful culture. What You Do Is Who You Are is a journey through culture, from ancient to modern. Along the way, it answers a question fundamental to any organization: who are we? How do people talk about us when we’re not around? How do we treat our customers? Are we there for people in a pinch? Can we be trusted? Who you are is not the values you list on the wall. It’s not what you say in company-wide meeting. It’s not your marketing campaign. It’s not even what you believe. Who you are is what you do. This book aims to help you do the things you need to become the kind of leader you want to be—and others want to follow.
  • Gay Hendricks | The Big Leap
    “Gay Hendricks is a great role model for true success. He enjoys abundance and a deep connection with his own spiritual essence, and at the same time has lived for three decades in a thriving marriage. Now, he shows us how to do it for ourselves.” — Mark Victor Hansen, co-author of Cracking the Millionaire Code In The Big Leap, Gay Hendricks, the New York Times bestselling author of Five Wishes, demonstrates how to eliminate the barriers to success by overcoming false fears and beliefs. Fans of Wayne Dyer, Eckhart Tolle, Marianne Williamson, and The Secret will find useful, effective tips for breaking down the walls to a better life in The Big Leap.
  • Nick Bare | 25 Hours a Day: Going One More to Get What You Want
    You have big dreams that fire you up, and yet a fear of failure is holding you back. You see the success others have achieved and doubt you could ever do what they've done. You tell yourself you lack the smarts, skills, or leadership capabilities to live out your dream, but the truth is, there's a massive gap between what you think you can do and what you're actually capable of doing. Nick Bare wants to help you close that gap. In Twenty-Five Hours A Day, Nick shares the lessons he learned while building his business as a member of the US Army. He grew that business to seven figures by flipping the switch and going all in--then breaking that switch so he could never go back. Now, Nick wants to help you transform your life by embracing the suck, living like you've got an extra hour, and harnessing the power of "one more." By applying these simple lessons, you'll radically improve your chances of success.
  • Arthur C. Brooks | From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life
    THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 'In this book, Arthur C. Brooks helps people find greater happiness as they age and change' - The Dalai Lama 'This book is amazing' - Chris Evans 'A valuable guide to finding new purpose and success in later life' - Daily Mail From the bestselling author and columnist behind The Atlantic's popular 'How to Build a Life' series, a guide to transforming the life changes we fear into a source of strength. In the first half of life, ambitious strivers embrace a simple formula for success in work and life: focus single-mindedly, work tirelessly, sacrifice personally, and climb the ladder relentlessly. It works. Until it doesn't. The second half of life is governed by different rules. In middle age, many strivers begin to find success coming harder and harder, rewards less satisfying, and family relationships withering. In response, they do what strivers always do: they double down on work in an attempt to outrun decline and weakness, and deny the changes that are becoming more and more obvious. The result is often anger, fear, and disappointment at a time in life that they imagined would be full of joy, fulfilment and pride. It doesn't have to be that way. In From Strength to Strength, happiness expert and bestselling author Arthur C. Brooks reveals a path to beating the 'striver's curse.' Drawing on science, classical philosophy, theology and history, he shares strategies for releasing old habits and forming new life practices, showing you how to: - Kick the habits of workaholism, success addiction, and self-objectification - Meditate on death – in order to beat fear and live well - Start a spiritual adventure - Embrace weakness in a way that turns it into strength. Change in your life is inevitable, but suffering is not. From Strength to Strength shows you how to accept the gifts of the second half of life with grace, joy, and ever deepening purpose.
  • Austin Kleon | Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad
    Keep Going shows you how to stay true to and focused on your own creative vision when the world seems out of control.In ten heavily illustrated, inspiring chapters, bestselling author Austin Kleon offers advice, stories, and anecdotes that teach you how to persist in doing work that helps make a world worth living in.
  • Barbara Oakley, PhD | A Mind For Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)
    The companion book to COURSERA®'s wildly popular massive open online course "Learning How to Learn" Whether you are a student struggling to fulfill a math or science requirement, or you are embarking on a career change that requires a new skill set, A Mind for Numbers offers the tools you need to get a better grasp of that intimidating material. Engineering professor Barbara Oakley knows firsthand how it feels to struggle with math. She flunked her way through high school math and science courses, before enlisting in the army immediately after graduation. When she saw how her lack of mathematical and technical savvy severely limited her options—both to rise in the military and to explore other careers—she returned to school with a newfound determination to re-tool her brain to master the very subjects that had given her so much trouble throughout her entire life. In A Mind for Numbers, Dr. Oakley lets us in on the secrets to learning effectively—secrets that even dedicated and successful students wish they’d known earlier. Contrary to popular belief, math requires creative, as well as analytical, thinking. Most people think that there’s only one way to do a problem, when in actuality, there are often a number of different solutions—you just need the creativity to see them. For example, there are more than three hundred different known proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem. In short, studying a problem in a laser-focused way until you reach a solution is not an effective way to learn. Rather, it involves taking the time to step away from a problem and allow the more relaxed and creative part of the brain to take over. The learning strategies in this book apply not only to math and science, but to any subject in which we struggle. We all have what it takes to excel in areas that don't seem to come naturally to us at first, and learning them does not have to be as painful as we might think.
  • Brad Stulberg • Steve Magness | Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success
    "A transfixing book on how to sustain peak performance and avoid burnout" — Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Option B, Originals, and Give and Take "An essential playbook for success, happiness, and getting the most out of ourselves." — Arianna Huffington, author of Thrive and The Sleep Revolution "I doubt anyone can read Peak Performance without itching to apply something to their own lives." — David Epstein, New York Times bestselling author of The Sports Gene A few common principles drive performance, regardless of the field or the task at hand. Whether someone is trying to qualify for the Olympics, break ground in mathematical theory or craft an artistic masterpiece, many of the practices that lead to great success are the same. In Peak Performance, Brad Stulberg, a former McKinsey and Company consultant and writer who covers health and the science of human performance, and Steve Magness, a performance scientist and coach of Olympic athletes, team up to demystify these practices and demonstrate how you can achieve your best. The first book of its kind, Peak Performance combines the inspiring stories of top performers across a range of capabilities — from athletic, to intellectual, to artistic — with the latest scientific insights into the cognitive and neurochemical factors that drive performance in all domains. In doing so, Peak Performance uncovers new linkages that hold promise as performance enhancers but have been overlooked in our traditionally-siloed ways of thinking. The result is a life-changing book in which you can learn how to enhance your performance via myriad ways including: optimally alternating between periods of intense work and rest; priming the body and mind for enhanced productivity; and developing and harnessing the power of a self-transcending purpose. In revealing the science of great performance and the stories of great performers across a wide range of capabilities, Peak Performance uncovers the secrets of success, and coaches you on how to use them. If you want to take your game to the next level, whatever "your game" may be, Peak Performance will teach you how.
  • Dan Lyons | STFU: The Power of Keeping Your Mouth Shut in an Endlessly Noisy World
    “Entertaining, illuminating, and inspiring! More than a book, it’s a public service announcement that we’d all do well to―well, STFU and listen to!” ―Sarah Knight, New York Times bestselling author of Calm the F*ck Down New York Times bestselling author Dan Lyons is here to tell you - and don't take this the wrong way - that you really need to shut the f*ck up! Our noisy world has trained us to think that those who get in the last word win, when in fact it’s those who know how to stay silent who really hold the power. STFU is a book that unlocks this power and will change your life, freeing you to focus on what matters. Lyons combines leading behavioral science with actionable advice on how to communicate with intent, think critically, and open your mind and ears to the world around you. Talk less, get more. That’s what STFU is all about. Prescriptive, informative, and addictively readable, STFU gives you the tools to become your better self, whether that’s in the office, at home, online, or in your most treasured relationships. Because, after all, what you say is who you are. So take a deep breath, turn the page, and quietly change your life.
  • Daryl Van Tongeren | Humble: Free Yourself from the Traps of a Narcissistic World
    A practical and philosophical deep dive into humility: how it can build confidence, foster honesty about our strengths and limitations, and help us achieve success Daryl Van Tongeren is a leading researcher on the science of humility. In Humble, he gives this unassuming trait a much-needed rebrand, explaining why the humble enjoy a more secure sense of self, handle challenges better, and, indeed, are often the people we like the most. That’s not to say Van Tongeren has mastered humility. (When he asked his wife to rate him on a scale from 1 to 10, she gave him a 4.) But in a world where narcissism is on the rise—where the shameless dominate social media and getting noticed is considered key to getting ahead—it’s not surprising that we all have a bit of work to do on our sometimes self-sabotaging egos. In its true sense, humbleness is the happy medium between self-denial and self-obsession: It grants the holder an accurate view of reality. By seeing where we have room to improve, we can grow. By admitting our doubts, we can learn. And by acknowledging our own worldview as one among many, we can truly connect with others despite our differences. A thought-provoking call to reexamine our values, Humble signals a paradigm shift—from the “self-esteem movement” run amok to a better world in which we lift up one another.
  • David Lynch | Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity
    In this "unexpected delight,"* filmmaker David Lynch describes his personal methods of capturing and working with ideas, and the immense creative benefits he has experienced from the practice of meditation. Now in a beautiful paperback edition, David Lynch's Catching the Big Fish provides a rare window into the internationally acclaimed filmmaker's methods as an artist, his personal working style, and the immense creative benefits he has experienced from the practice of meditation. Catching the Big Fish comes as a revelation to the legion of fans who have longed to better understand Lynch's personal vision. And it is equally compelling to those who wonder how they can nurture their own creativity. Catching Ideas Ideas are like fish. If you want to catch little fish, you can stay in the shallow water. But if you want to catch the big fish, you've got to go deeper. Down deep, the fish are more powerful and more pure. They're huge and abstract. And they're very beautiful. I look for a certain kind of fish that is important to me, one that can translate to cinema. But there are all kinds of fish swimming down there. There are fish for business, fish for sports. There are fish for everything. Everything, anything that is a thing, comes up from the deepest level. Modern physics calls that level the Unified Field. The more your consciousness-your awareness-is expanded, the deeper you go toward this source, and the bigger the fish you can catch. --from Catching the Big Fish
  • Debra Fine | The Fine Art Of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation, Keep It Going, Build Networking Skills – and Leave a Positive Impression!
    In this bestselling guide to social success, communication expert Debra Fine reveals the techniques and strategies anyone can use to make small talk in any situation. Does striking up a conversation with a stranger make your stomach do flip-flops? Do you spend time hiding out in the bathroom at social gatherings? Do you dread the very thought of networking? Is scrolling your phone a crutch to avoid interacting? Help is on the way with The Fine Art of Small Talk, the classic guide that's now revised for the modern era. Small talk is more than just chitchat; it's a valuable tool to help you climb the corporate ladder, widen your business and social circles, and boost your self-confidence. With practical advice and simple conversation 'cheat sheets,' this book offers easy-to-learn techniques that will allow you to feel comfortable in any type of social situation-from a video meeting to a first date to a cocktail party where you don't know a soul. Communication expert Debra Fine will show you how to: - Learn to connect with others regardless of the occasion, event or situation - Come across as composed and self-assured when entertaining - Avoid awkward silences and 'foot in mouth' disease - Convey warmth and enthusiasm so that other people feel good about being near you - Make a positive, lasting impression from the minute you say hello. Once you master The Fine Art of Small Talk, you'll excel at making others feel included, valued and comfortable. Let Debra Fine turn you into a small-talk expert - and watch the contacts, business deals and social relationships multiply before your eyes!
  • Elizabeth Gilbert | Big Magic: How to Live a Creative Life, and Let Go of Your Fear
    ______________ THE INSTANT NUMBER ONE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ______________ 'Wise, authentic and brave' - Psychologies 'Brimming with positive ways in which to think about creative living' - Mail on Sunday 'Consider her your own personal life coach' - Marie Claire 'Magic ... I'm on board' - Viv Groskop 'I have profoundly changed my approach to creating since I read this book' - Huffington Post ______________ Readers of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration from Elizabeth Gilbert's books for years. Now, this beloved author shares her wisdom and unique understanding of creativity, shattering the perceptions of mystery and suffering that surround the process – and showing us all just how easy it can be. By sharing stories from her own life, as well as those from her friends and the people that have inspired her, Elizabeth Gilbert challenges us to embrace our curiosity, tackle what we most love and face down what we most fear. Whether you long to write a book, create art, cope with challenges at work, embark on a long-held dream, or simply to make your everyday life more vivid and rewarding, Big Magic will take you on a journey of exploration filled with wonder and unexpected joys.
  • Gail Hudson • Gary McAvoy • Jane Goodall | Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating
    From world-renowned scientist Jane Goodall, as seen in the new National Geographic documentary Jane, comes a provocative look into the ways we can positively impact the world by changing our eating habits. "One of those rare, truly great books that can change the world."-John Robbins, author of The Food Revolution The renowned scientist who fundamentally changed the way we view primates and our relationship with the animal kingdom now turns her attention to an incredibly important and deeply personal issue-taking a stand for a more sustainable world. In this provocative and encouraging book, Jane Goodall sounds a clarion call to Western society, urging us to take a hard look at the food we produce and consume-and showing us how easy it is to create positive change.Offering her hopeful, but stirring vision, Goodall argues convincingly that each individual can make a difference. She offers simple strategies each of us can employ to foster a sustainable society. Brilliant, empowering, and irrepressibly optimistic, Harvest for Hope is one of the most crucial works of our age. If we follow Goodall's sound advice, we just might save ourselves before it's too late.
  • James H. Austin | Chase, Chance, and Creativity: The Lucky Art of Novelty
    A personal story of the ways in which persistence, chance, and creativity interact in biomedical research. This first book by the author of Zen and the Brain examines the role of chance in the creative process. James Austin tells a personal story of the ways in which persistence, chance, and creativity interact in biomedical research; the conclusions he reaches shed light on the creative process in any field. Austin shows how, in his own investigations, unpredictable events shaped the outcome of his research and brought about novel results. He then goes beyond this story of serendipity to propose a new classification of the varieties of chance, drawing on his own research and examples from the history of science—including the famous accidents that led Fleming to the discovery of penicillin. Finally, he explores the nature of the creative process, considering not only the environmental and neurophysiological correlates of creativity but also the role of intuition in both scientific discoveries and spiritual quests. This updated MIT Press paperback edition includes a new introduction and recent material on medical research, creativity, and spirituality.
  • Jeffrey Brantley • Jeffrey C. Wood • Matthew McKay | The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook: Practical DBT Exercises for Learning Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, and Distress Tolerance
    A clear and effective approach to learning evidence-based DBT skills—now in a fully revised and updated second edition. Do you have trouble managing your emotions? First developed by Marsha M. Linehan for treating borderline personality disorder, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has proven effective as treatment for a range of other mental health problems, and can greatly improve your ability to handle distress without losing control and acting destructively. However, to make use of these techniques, you need to build skills in four key areas: distress tolerance, mindfulness, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook, a collaborative effort from three esteemed authors, offers evidence-based, step-by-step exercises for learning these concepts and putting them to work for real and lasting change. Start by working on the introductory exercises and, after making progress, move on to the advanced-skills chapters. Whether you’re a mental health professional or a general reader, you'll benefit from this clear and practical guide to better managing your emotions. This fully revised and updated second edition also includes new chapters on cognitive rehearsal, distress tolerance, and self-compassion. Once you’ve completed the exercises in this book and are ready to move on to the next level, check out the authors’ new book, The New Happiness Workbook.
  • Jon Kabat-Zinn | Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life
    Find quiet reflective moments in your life—and reduce your stress levels drastically—with this classic bestselling guide updated and featuring a new introduction and afterword. When Wherever You Go, There You Are was first published in 1994, no one could have predicted that the book would launch itself onto bestseller lists nationwide and sell over 1 million copies to date. Thirty years later, Wherever You Go, There You Are remains a foundational guide to mindfulness and meditation, introducing readers to the practice and guiding them through the process. The author of over half a dozen books on mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn combines his research and medical background with his spiritual knowledge to help readers find peace and change their lives. In this new edition, readers will find a new introduction and afterword from Kabat-Zinn, as well as factual updates throughout to address changes in research and knowledge since it was originally published. After the special tumult of the last few years, as well as the promise of more unrest in the future, Wherever You Go, There You Are serves as an anchor for a whole new generation of readers looking to find their center and achieve their true self.
  • Julia Cameron | The Artist's Way
    "With its gentle affirmations, inspirational quotes, fill-in-the-blank lists and tasks — write yourself a thank-you letter, describe yourself at 80, for example — The Artist’s Way proposes an egalitarian view of creativity: Everyone’s got it."—The New York Times "Morning Pages have become a household name, a shorthand for unlocking your creative potential"—Vogue Over four million copies sold! Since its first publication, The Artist's Way phenomena has inspired the genius of Elizabeth Gilbert and millions of readers to embark on a creative journey and find a deeper connection to process and purpose. Julia Cameron's novel approach guides readers in uncovering problems areas and pressure points that may be restricting their creative flow and offers techniques to free up any areas where they might be stuck, opening up opportunities for self-growth and self-discovery. The program begins with Cameron’s most vital tools for creative recovery – The Morning Pages, a daily writing ritual of three pages of stream-of-conscious, and The Artist Date, a dedicated block of time to nurture your inner artist. From there, she shares hundreds of exercises, activities, and prompts to help readers thoroughly explore each chapter. She also offers guidance on starting a “Creative Cluster” of fellow artists who will support you in your creative endeavors. A revolutionary program for personal renewal, The Artist's Way will help get you back on track, rediscover your passions, and take the steps you need to change your life.
  • Kamal Ravikant | Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It
    The bestselling self-published phenomenon addressing our urgent need for self-love in the world today. Now expanded with new reader oriented lessons, and a powerful and transformative personal story of the practice in action.
  • Kevin Kelly | Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier
    “A shorthand manual for living with kindness, decency, and generosity of spirit.” —Maria Popova “I love aphorisms, proverbs, and Secrets of Adulthood . . . Excellent Advice for Living includes wise, practical advice for life.” —Gretchen Rubin, via Twitter “One hundred years from now, when so much of the nonsense of our age is forgotten, people will still remember Kevin Kelly and his wisdom.” —Seth Godin “All will benefit from [Kelly's] idiosyncratic wit and wry humor.” —People Wise, practical, optimistic life advice from author and leading technology thinker Kevin Kelly On his 68th birthday, Kevin Kelly began to write down for his young adult children some things he had learned about life that he wished he had known earlier. To his surprise, Kelly had more to say than he thought, and kept adding to the advice over the years, compiling a life’s wisdom into these pages. Kelly’s timeless advice covers an astonishing range, from right living to setting ambitious goals, optimizing generosity, and cultivating compassion. He has wisdom for career, relationships, parenting, and finances, and gives guidance for practical matters ranging from travel to troubleshooting. Excellent Advice for Living is aimed primarily at young people, but speaks to all ages. This is the ideal companion for anyone seeking to navigate life with grace and creativity.
  • Logan Ury | How to Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science That Will Help You Find Love
    A “must-read” (The Washington Post) funny and practical guide to help you find, build, and keep the relationship of your dreams. Have you ever looked around and wondered, “Why has everyone found love except me?” You’re not the only one. Great relationships don’t just appear in our lives—they’re the culmination of a series of decisions, including whom to date, how to end it with the wrong person, and when to commit to the right one. But our brains often get in the way. We make poor decisions, which thwart us on our quest to find lasting love. Drawing from years of research, behavioral scientist turned dating coach Logan Ury reveals the hidden forces that cause those mistakes. But awareness on its own doesn’t lead to results. You have to actually change your behavior. Ury shows you how. This “simple-to-use guide” (Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone) focuses on a different decision in each chapter, incorporating insights from behavioral science, original research, and real-life stories. You’ll learn: -What’s holding you back in dating (and how to break the pattern) -What really matters in a long-term partner (and what really doesn’t) -How to overcome the perils of online dating (and make the apps work for you) -How to meet more people in real life (while doing activities you love) -How to make dates fun again (so they stop feeling like job interviews) -Why “the spark” is a myth (but you’ll find love anyway) This “data-driven” (Time), step-by-step guide to relationships, complete with hands-on exercises, is designed to transform your life. How to Not Die Alone will help you find, build, and keep the relationship of your dreams.
  • Marie Kondo | The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up: A Magical Story to Spark Joy in Life, Work and Love
    From the #1 New York Times bestselling author and star of Netflix’s Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, this graphic novel brings Kondo's life-changing tidying method to life with the fun, quirky story of a woman who transforms her home, work, and love life using Kondo's advice and inspiration. In The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo presents the fictional story of Chiaki, a young woman in Tokyo who struggles with a cluttered apartment, messy love life, and lack of direction. After receiving a complaint from her attractive next-door neighbour about the sad state of her balcony, Chiaki gets Kondo to take her on as a client. Through a series of entertaining and insightful lessons, Kondo helps Chiaki get her home - and life - in order. This insightful, illustrated case study is perfect for people looking for a fun introduction to the KonMari Method of tidying up, as well as tried-and-true fans of Marie Kondo eager for a new way to think about what sparks joy. Featuring illustrations by award-winning manga artist Yuko Uramoto, this book also makes a great read for manga and graphic novel lovers of all ages.
  • Matthew Dicks | Someday Is Today: 22 Simple, Actionable Ways to Propel Your Creative Life
    REALIZE YOUR CREATIVE DREAMS — STARTING TODAY Are you good at dreaming about what you’re going to accomplish “someday” but not good at finding the time and getting started? How will you actually make that decision and do it? The answer is this book, which offers proven, practical, and simple ways to turn random minutes throughout your days into pockets of productivity, and dreams into accomplishments. In addition to presenting his own winning strategies for getting from dreaming to doing, Matthew Dicks offers insights from a wide range of creative people — writers, editors, performers, artists, and even magicians — on how to augment inspiration with motivation. His actionable steps will help you: • silence negative messages from family, friends, and teachers • eliminate time-sucking activities (and people) • be willing to make terrible things • find supporters here, there, and everywhere • cultivate optimism in the face of negativity and obstacles Each strategy is accompanied by amusing and inspiring personal and professional anecdotes and a clear plan of action. Someday Is Today will give you every tool to get started and finish that _________ [fill in the blank].
  • Maxwell Maltz | Psycho-Cybernetics
    The landmark self-help bestseller that has inspired and enhanced the lives of more than 30 million readers. In this updated edition, with a new introduction and editorial commentary by Matt Furey, president of the Psycho-Cybernetics Foundation, the original 1960 text has been annotated and amplified to make Maxwell Maltz's message even more relevant for the contemporary reader. Maltz was the first researcher and author to explain how the self-image (a term he popularized) has complete control over an individual's ability to achieve, or fail to achieve, any goal. He developed techniques for improving and managing self-image visualization, mental rehearsal and relaxation which have informed and inspired countless motivational gurus, sports psychologists, and self-help practitioners for more than sixty years. Rooted in solid science, the classic teachings in Psycho-Cybernetics continue to provide a prescription for thinking and acting that lead to life-enhancing, quantifiable results.
  • Michael A. Singer | The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself
    #1 New York Times bestseller What would it be like to free yourself from limitations and soar beyond your boundaries? What can you do each day to discover inner peace and serenity? The Untethered Soul offers simple yet profound answers to these questions. Whether this is your first exploration of inner space, or you’ve devoted your life to the inward journey, this book will transform your relationship with yourself and the world around you. You’ll discover what you can do to put an end to the habitual thoughts and emotions that limit your consciousness. By tapping into traditions of meditation and mindfulness, author and spiritual teacher Michael A. Singer shows how the development of consciousness can enable us all to dwell in the present moment and let go of painful thoughts and memories that keep us from achieving happiness and self-realization. Copublished with the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) The Untethered Soul begins by walking you through your relationship with your thoughts and emotions, helping you uncover the source and fluctuations of your inner energy. It then delves into what you can do to free yourself from the habitual thoughts, emotions, and energy patterns that limit your consciousness. Finally, with perfect clarity, this book opens the door to a life lived in the freedom of your innermost being. The Untethered Soul has already touched the lives of more than a million readers, and is available in a special hardcover gift edition with ribbon bookmark—the perfect gift for yourself, a loved one, or anyone who wants a keepsake edition of this remarkable book. Visit www.untetheredsoul.com for more information.
  • Oliver Burkeman | Four Thousand Weeks
    **The instant Sunday Times bestseller** Battling an overfilled inbox? Your ever-lengthening to-do lists? Struggling against distraction? What if you tried to stop doing everything, so you could finally get round to what counts? If you live to 80, you'll have barely more than four thousand weeks on earth. How will you decide how to spend them? Rejecting the futile modern obsession with 'getting everything done,' Four Thousand Weeks introduces readers to tools for constructing a meaningful life by embracing rather than denying their limitations. Drawing on the insights of both ancient and contemporary philosophers, psychologists, and spiritual teachers, Oliver Burkeman sets out to realign our relationship with time - and in doing so, to liberate us from its tyranny. Embrace your limits. Change your life. Make your four thousand weeks count. **A FINANCIAL TIMES, GUARDIAN AND OBSERVER BOOK OF THE YEAR** 'Life is finite. You don't have to fit everything in... Read this book and wake up to a new way of thinking and living' EMMA GANNON 'Wonderful. Instead of offering new tips on how to cram more into your day, it questions why we feel the need to' THE TIMES 'Every sentence is riven with gold' CHRIS EVANS 'Comforting, fascinating, engaging, inspiring and useful' MARIAN KEYES
  • Peter F. Drucker | The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done
    The measure of the executive, Peter Drucker reminds us, is the ability to "get the right things done." This usually involves doing what other people have overlooked as well as avoiding what is unproductive. Intelligence, imagination, and knowledge may all be wasted in an executive job without the acquired habits of mind that mold them into results. Drucker identifies five practices essential to business effectiveness that can, and must, be learned: Management of time Choosing what to contribute to the practical organization Knowing where and how to mobilize strength for best effect Setting up the right priorities And Knitting all of them together with effective decision making Ranging widely through the annals of business and government, Peter Drucker demonstrates the distinctive skill of the executive and offers fresh insights into old and seemingly obvious business situations.
  • Priya Parker | The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters
    "Hosts of all kinds, this is a must-read!" --Chris Anderson, owner and curator of TED From the host of the New York Times podcast Together Apart, an exciting new approach to how we gather that will transform the ways we spend our time together—at home, at work, in our communities, and beyond. In The Art of Gathering, Priya Parker argues that the gatherings in our lives are lackluster and unproductive--which they don't have to be. We rely too much on routine and the conventions of gatherings when we should focus on distinctiveness and the people involved. At a time when coming together is more important than ever, Parker sets forth a human-centered approach to gathering that will help everyone create meaningful, memorable experiences, large and small, for work and for play. Drawing on her expertise as a facilitator of high-powered gatherings around the world, Parker takes us inside events of all kinds to show what works, what doesn't, and why. She investigates a wide array of gatherings--conferences, meetings, a courtroom, a flash-mob party, an Arab-Israeli summer camp--and explains how simple, specific changes can invigorate any group experience. The result is a book that's both journey and guide, full of exciting ideas with real-world applications. The Art of Gathering will forever alter the way you look at your next meeting, industry conference, dinner party, and backyard barbecue--and how you host and attend them.
  • Richard Wiseman | The Luck Factor: The Scientific Study of the Lucky Mind
    IS LUCK REAL? Why do some people lead happy successful lives whilst other face repeated failure and sadness? Why do some find their perfect partner whilst others stagger from one broken relationship to the next? What enables some people to have successful careers whilst others find themselves trapped in jobs they detest? And can unlucky people do anything to improve their luck - and lives? Ten years ago, Professor Richard Wiseman decided to search for the elusive luck factor by investigating the actual beliefs and experiences of lucky and unlucky people. The results reveal a radical new way of looking at luck: in many important ways, we make our own luck. If you think you're unlucky, that bad luck may be the direct result of you believing you're unlucky. Wiseman identifies the four simple behavioural techniques that have been scientifically proven to help you attract good fortune. He then shows how you can use these methods to revolutionise every area of your life - including your relationships, personal finances and career.
  • Rick Rubin | The Creative Act: A Way of Being
    THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 SHORTLISTED FOR THE FOYLES NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 Many famed music producers are known for a particular sound that has its day and then ages out. Rick Rubin is known for something else: creating a space where artists of all different genres and traditions can home in on who they really are and what they really offer. He has made a practice of helping people transcend their self-imposed expectations in order to reconnect with a state of innocence from which the surprising becomes inevitable. Over the years, as he has thought deeply about where creativity comes from and where it doesn’t, he has learned that being an artist isn’t about your specific output; it’s about your relationship to the world. Creativity has a place in everyone’s life, and everyone can make that place larger. In fact, there are few more important responsibilities. The Creative Act is a beautiful and generous course of study that illuminates the path of the artist as a road we all can follow. It distils the wisdom gleaned from a lifetime’s work into a luminous reading experience that puts the power to create moments – and lifetimes – of exhilaration and transcendence within closer reach for all of us.
  • Rolf Dobelli | Stop Reading the News: A Manifesto for a Happier, Calmer and Wiser Life
    STOP READING THE NEWS is a vital toolkit for finding equilibrium and calm at a time of chaos and uncertainty In 2013 Rolf Dobelli stood in front of a roomful of journalists and proclaimed that he did not read the news. It caused a riot. Now the author of the bestselling The Art of Thinking Clearly finally sets down his philosophy in detail. And he practises what he preaches: he hasn't read the news for a decade. Stop Reading the News is Dobelli's manifesto about the dangers of the most toxic form of information - news. He shows the damage it does to our concentration and well-being, and how a misplaced sense of duty can misdirect our behaviour. Most importantly, he offers the reader the guidance on how to live without news, and the many potential gains to be had: less disruption, more time, less anxiety, more insights. In a world of increasing disruption and division, Stop Reading the News is a welcome voice of calm and wisdom.
  • Ryan Holiday | Discipline Is Destiny
    To master anything, we must first master ourselves: our emotions, thoughts and actions. This ancient virtue of self-control is more essential than ever. In this bestselling book, Ryan Holiday makes the case for this essential virtue, and shows how to cultivate willpower, self-respect and focus. From Marcus Aurelius to Toni Morrison, Queen Elizabeth II to Martin Luther King Jr, history's greats have all understood the power of directing your habits and setting your limits. History's cautionary tales prove the same point, from catastrophic military overreaches to career-destroying habits: without self-discipline, we are lost before we can even begin. Self-discipline is the key to our greatest ambitions and simplest joys: this book will show you how to find it, apply it and reap the rewards.
  • Stephen R. Covey | The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families: Creating a Nurturing Family in a Turbulent World
    The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families is Stephen R. Covey's newly revised and updated paperback edition of the New York Times bestseller that offers precious lessons in creating and sustaining a strong family culture in a turbulent world. In his first major work since The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey presents a practical and philosophical guide to solving the problems--large and small, mundane and extraordinary--that confront all families and strong communities. By offering revealing anecdotes about ordinary people as well as helpful suggestions about changing everyday behavior, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families shows how and why to have family meetings, the importance of keeping promises, how to balance individual and family needs, and how to move from dependence to interdependence. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families is an invaluable guidebook to the welfare of families everywhere.
  • Steve Peters | The Chimp Paradox
    "An incredibly powerful mind management model that can help a person become happier, more confident, and a healthier more successful person" --Cover.
  • Tim S. Grover | Winning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness
    From the elite performance coach who authored the international bestseller Relentless and whose clients have included Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade, comes this brutally honest formula for winning in business, sports, or any arena where the battle is fiercely unforgiving. In Winning, Tim Grover shows why he is one of the world’s most sought-after mindset experts. Drawing on three decades of work with elite competitors, Grover strips away the cliches and rah-rah mentality that create mediocrity and challenges you to embrace reality with single-minded intensity. The prize? Massive success. Whether you’re an athlete with championship dreams, an entrepreneur building a business, a CEO managing an empire, a salesperson closing a deal, or simply a competitor determined to stand in the winner’s circle, Winning offers thirteen crucial principles for achieving unbeatable performance. This book reveals the truth about the obstacles and challenges that stand between you and your goals: Winning never lies. Winning knows your secrets. Winning wages war in the battlefield of your mind. Winning wants all of you. And more. If you’re addicted to the taste of success and crave more, then you’re ready for Winning’s results-driven performance strategy. And if you’re already winning and want to learn how to execute at a level that will establish you as one of the greatest—so you can own not just this moment, but the next, and the next—this book will show you the path.
  • David J Schwartz | The Magic of Thinking Big
    More than 6 million readers around the world have improved their lives by reading The Magic of Thinking Big. First published in 1959, David J Schwartz's classic teachings are as powerful today as they were then. Practical, empowering and hugely engaging, this book will not only inspire you, it will give you the tools to change your life for the better - starting from now. His step-by-step approach will show you how to: - Defeat disbelief and the negative power it creates - Make your mind produce positive thoughts - Plan a concrete success-building programme - Do more and do it better by turning on your creative power - Capitalise on the power of NOW Updated for the 21st century, this is your go-to guide to a better life, starting with the way you think.
  • Steven C. Hayes | Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
    Get ready to take a different perspective on your problems and your life—and the way you live it. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a new, scientifically based psychotherapy that takes a fresh look at why we suffer and even what it means to be mentally healthy. What if pain were a normal, unavoidable part of the human condition, but avoiding or trying to control painful experience were the cause of suffering and long-term problems that can devastate your quality of life? The ACT process hinges on this distinction between pain and suffering. As you work through this book, you’ll learn to let go of your struggle against pain, assess your values, and then commit to acting in ways that further those values. ACT is not about fighting your pain; it’s about developing a willingness to embrace every experience life has to offer. It’s not about resisting your emotions; it’s about feeling them completely and yet not turning your choices over to them. ACT offers you a path out of suffering by helping you choose to live your life based on what matters to you most. If you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or problem anger, this book can help—clinical trials suggest that ACT is very effective for a whole range of psychological problems. But this is more than a self-help book for a specific complaint—it is a revolutionary approach to living a richer and more rewarding life. Learn why the very nature of human language can cause suffering Escape the trap of avoidance Foster willingness to accept painful experience Practice mindfulness skills to achieve presence in the moment Discover the things you really value most Commit to living a vital, meaningful life This book has been awarded The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Seal of Merit — an award bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and that incorporate scientifically tested strategies for overcoming mental health difficulties. Used alone or in conjunction with therapy, our books offer powerful tools readers can use to jump-start changes in their lives.
  • Rangan Chatterjee | Make Change That Lasts: 9 Simple Ways to Break Free from the Habits that Hold You Back
    Sunday Times bestselling author Dr Rangan Chatterjee reveals how to make positive change that actually lasts in his latest, most innovative book to date. We all have things we rely on going our way to help us feel calm and happy. Your partner waking up in a good mood. No traffic on the way to work. No queues at the supermarket. And no rain on your day off. But what happens when things don’t work out that way? We fall back on soothing habits. A trip to the cupboard for snacks. Scrolling on social media. A few beers or a couple of glasses of wine after a stressful day. Make Change that Lasts will show you the nine hidden ways day to day life causes these responses -- and show you how to respond to them consciously. Blending ancient philosophy with a deep understanding of health, host of one of the biggest podcasts on the planet, Feel Better, Live More, Dr Rangan Chatterjee will provide a personalized approach and simple techniques for reducing our reliance on the chaotic and uncertain outside world. This book will help you become an expert in yourself - finally unlocking true, long-lasting health and happiness.
  • George S Clason | The Richest Man in Babylon (English)
    DISCLAIMER: The content of this book is in the public domain, and in this edition we have included only the content which in our opinion was integral to the overall message that the book is seeking to convey. There is no content missing, and content that might be deemed as missing has been omitted by us as unnecessary. 'Beloved by millions, this timeless classic holds the key to all you desire and everything you wish to accomplish. This is the book that reveals the secret to personal wealth. The success secrets of the ancients— an assured road to happiness and prosperity countless readers have been helped by the famous “babylonian parables,” hailed as the greatest of all inspirational works on the subject of thrift, financial planning, and personal wealth. In language as simple as that found in the Bible, these fascinating and informative stories set you on a sure path to prosperity and its accompanying joys. Acclaimed as a modern-day classic, this celebrated bestseller offers an understanding of—and a solution to— your personal financial problems that will guide you through a lifetime. This is the book that holds the secrets to keeping your money—and making more.
  • Gretchen Rubin | Secrets of Adulthood: Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives
    The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before distills her key insights into simple truths for living with greater satisfaction, clarity, and happiness. The right idea, invoked at the right time, can change our lives. Drawing from her long studies of happiness, and also from the challenges she’s faced herself, writer Gretchen Rubin has discovered the “Secrets of Adulthood” that can help us manage the complexities of life. To convey her conclusions, she turned to the aphorism—the ancient literary discipline that demands that a writer convey a large truth in a few words. Perhaps you’re paralyzed by indecision, struggling to navigate a big change, fighting a temptation, or puzzled by the behavior of someone you love; whatever you face, the right aphorism can help. From procrastination to the pursuit of happiness, Secrets of Adulthood is filled with witty and thought-provoking reflections such as: “Recognize that, like sleeping with a big dog in a small bed, things that are uncomfortable can also be comforting” “Accept yourself, and expect more from yourself” “Easy children raise good parents” “What can be done at any time is often done at no time” For anyone undergoing a major life transition, such as graduation, career switch, marriage, or moving, or for those just encountering everyday dilemmas, these disarming aphorisms will inspire you by articulating truths that you may never have noticed but instantly recognize.
  • Oprah Winfrey | What I Know for Sure
    Candid, moving, exhilarating, uplifting, and frequently humorous, the words Oprah shares in What I Know For Sure shimmer with the sort of truth that readers will turn to again and again. Oprah Winfrey is a creative force, student of the human heart and soul, and champion of living the life you want. Over the years, she has made history with a legendary talk show, launched her own television network, become the USA's only African-American billionaire, and been awarded both an honorary degree by Harvard University and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. From all her experiences, she has gleaned life lessons – which, for fourteen years, she's shared in O, The Oprah Magazine's widely popular 'What I Know For Sure' column, a monthly source of inspiration and revelation. Now, for the first time, these thoughtful gems have been revised, updated, and collected in What I Know For Sure, packed with insight and revelation from Oprah Winfrey. Organized by theme – joy, resilience, connection, gratitude, possibility, awe, clarity, and power – these essays offer a rare, powerful and intimate glimpse into the heart and mind of one of the world's most extraordinary women, while providing readers a guide to becoming their best selves.
  • Steven Pressfield | The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
    What keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do? Why is there a naysayer within? How can we avoid the roadblocks of any creative endeavor—be it starting up a dream business venture, writing a novel, or painting a masterpiece? The War of Art identifies the enemy that every one of us must face, outlines a battle plan to conquer this internal foe, then pinpoints just how to achieve the greatest success. The War of Art emphasizes the resolve needed to recognize and overcome the obstacles of ambition and then effectively shows how to reach the highest level of creative discipline. Think of it as tough love . . . for yourself.
  • Steven Pressfield | Do the Work!: Overcome Resistance and get ouf of your own way
  • Steven Pressfield | Do the Work!: Overcome Resistance and get ouf of your own way
  • Steven Pressfield | The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
    What keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do? Why is there a naysayer within? How can we avoid the roadblocks of any creative endeavor—be it starting up a dream business venture, writing a novel, or painting a masterpiece? The War of Art identifies the enemy that every one of us must face, outlines a battle plan to conquer this internal foe, then pinpoints just how to achieve the greatest success. The War of Art emphasizes the resolve needed to recognize and overcome the obstacles of ambition and then effectively shows how to reach the highest level of creative discipline. Think of it as tough love . . . for yourself.

👉 Selling

  • Bert Bates • Kathy Sierra | Badass: Making Users Awesome
    The answers to what makes a sustainable bestseller aren't in the successful product. The answers are in the successful product's users. It's not the product success that matters most, it's the successful results of those who use it. Repeatedly. Consistently. Sustainably. The answer to a sustainable bestseller is to shift the focus from making an awesome product to making an awesome user of that product. The answer lies is helping users become badass not just at using the product, but at whatever it is the product can help them do and be. And some of those answers are surprising, counterintuitive, but can be implemented by anyone at any stage in a product's development. Even if you can't improve your product, you can still improve your user's experience by designing for what happens after they use it. Badass: Making Users Awesome is a course in how to create a context in which users can become more skillful, and, most importantly, to stay motivated to keep moving forward. Everything our users experience is part of that context, and even the smallest improvements can have a dramatic impact.

👉 Social Science

  • Victor J. Strecher | Life on Purpose
    A pioneer in the field of behavioral science delivers a groundbreaking work that shows how finding your purpose in life leads to better health and overall happiness. Your life is a boat. You need a rudder. But it doesn’t matter how much wind is in your sails if you’re not steering toward a harbor—an ultimate purpose in your life. While the greatest philosophers have pondered purpose for centuries, today it has been shown to have a concrete impact on our health. Recent studies into Alzheimer’s, heart disease, stroke, depression, functional brain imaging, and measurement of DNA repair are shedding new light on how and why purpose benefits our lives. Going beyond the fads, opinions, and false hopes of “expert” self-help books, Life on Purpose explores the incredible connection between purposeful living and the latest scientific evidence on quality of life and longevity. Drawing on ancient and modern philosophy, literature, psychology, evolutionary biology, genetics, and neuroscience, as well as his experience in public health research, Dr. Vic Strecher reveals the elements necessary for a purposeful life and how to acquire them, and outlines an elegant strategy for improving energy, willpower, and long-term happiness, and well-being. He integrates these core themes into his own personal story—a tragedy that led him to reconsider his own life—and how a deeper understanding of purposeful living helped him not only survive, but thrive. Illuminating, accessible, and authentically grounded in real people’s experiences, Life on Purpose is essential reading for everyone seeking lasting improvement in their lives.
  • Cacilda Jethá • Christopher Ryan | Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality
    "A controversial, idea-driven book that challenges everything you know about sex, marriage, family, and society"--Provided by publisher. Since Darwin's day, we've been told that sexual monogamy comes naturally to our species. But this narrative is collapsing. Here, renegade thinkers Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá, while debunking almost everything we "know" about sex, offer a bold alternative explanation. Ryan and Jethá's central contention is that human beings evolved in egalitarian groups that shared food, child care, and, often, sexual partners. Weaving together convergent, frequently overlooked evidence from anthropology, archaeology, primatology, anatomy, and psychosexuality, the authors show how far from human nature monogamy really is. With intelligence, humor, and wonder, Ryan and Jethá show how our promiscuous past haunts our struggles over monogamy, sexual orientation, and family dynamics. Human beings everywhere and in every era have confronted the same familiar, intimate situations in surprisingly different ways. The authors expose the ancient roots of human sexuality while pointing toward a more optimistic future illuminated by our innate capacities for love, cooperation, and generosity.--From publisher description.
  • Alice Waters | We Are What We Eat: A Slow Food Manifesto
    From chef and food activist Alice Waters, an impassioned plea for a radical reconsideration of the way each and every one of us cooks and eats In We Are What We Eat, Alice Waters urges us to take up the mantle of slow food culture, the philosophy at the core of her life’s work. When Waters first opened Chez Panisse in 1971, she did so with the intention of feeding people good food during a time of political turmoil. Customers responded to the locally sourced organic ingredients, to the dishes made by hand, and to the welcoming hospitality that infused the small space—human qualities that were disappearing from a country increasingly seduced by takeout, frozen dinners, and prepackaged ingredients. Waters came to see that the phenomenon of fast food culture, which prioritized cheapness, availability, and speed, was not only ruining our health, but also dehumanizing the ways we live and relate to one another. Over years of working with regional farmers, Waters and her partners learned how geography and seasonal fluctuations affect the ingredients on the menu, as well as about the dangers of pesticides, the plight of fieldworkers, and the social, economic, and environmental threats posed by industrial farming and food distribution. So many of the serious problems we face in the world today—from illness, to social unrest, to economic disparity, and environmental degradation—are all, at their core, connected to food. Fortunately, there is an antidote. Waters argues that by eating in a “slow food way,” each of us—like the community around her restaurant—can be empowered to prioritize and nurture a different kind of culture, one that champions values such as biodiversity, seasonality, stewardship, and pleasure in work. This is a declaration of action against fast food values, and a working theory about what we can do to change the course. As Waters makes clear, every decision we make about what we put in our mouths affects not only our bodies but also the world at large—our families, our communities, and our environment. We have the power to choose what we eat, and we have the potential for individual and global transformation—simply by shifting our relationship to food. All it takes is a taste.
  • Greg Lukianoff • Jonathan Haidt | The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure
    Something is going wrong on many college campuses in the last few years. Rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide are rising. Speakers are shouted down. Students and professors say they are walking on eggshells and afraid to speak honestly. How did this happen? First Amendment expert Greg Lukianoff and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt show how the new problems on campus have their origins in three terrible ideas that have become increasingly woven into American childhood and education: what doesn’t kill you makes you weaker; always trust your feelings; and life is a battle between good people and evil people. These three Great Untruths are incompatible with basic psychological principles, as well as ancient wisdom from many cultures. They interfere with healthy development. Anyone who embraces these untruths—and the resulting culture of safetyism—is less likely to become an autonomous adult able to navigate the bumpy road of life. Lukianoff and Haidt investigate the many social trends that have intersected to produce these untruths. They situate the conflicts on campus in the context of America’s rapidly rising political polarization, including a rise in hate crimes and off-campus provocation. They explore changes in childhood including the rise of fearful parenting, the decline of unsupervised play, and the new world of social media that has engulfed teenagers in the last decade. This is a book for anyone who is confused by what is happening on college campuses today, or has children, or is concerned about the growing inability of Americans to live, work, and cooperate across party lines.
  • Stephen J. Dubner • Steven D. Levitt | When To Rob A Bank: ...And 131 More Warped Suggestions and Well-Intended Rants
    In celebration of the tenth anniversary of the landmark book Freakonomics comes this curated collection from the most readable economics blog in the universe. It’s the perfect solution for the millions of readers who love all things Freakonomics. Surprising and erudite, eloquent and witty, When to Rob a Bank demonstrates the brilliance that has made the Freakonomics guys an international sensation, with more than seven million books sold in forty languages, and 150 million downloads of their Freakonomics Radio podcast. When Freakonomics was first published, the authors started a blog—and they’ve kept it up. The writing is more casual, more personal, even more outlandish than in their books. In When to Rob a Bank, they ask a host of typically off-centre questions: Why don’t flight attendants get tipped? If you were a terrorist, how would you attack? Why does KFC always run out of fried chicken? Over the past decade, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner have published more than 8,000 blog posts on Freakonomics.com. Many of them, they freely admit, were rubbish. But now they’ve gone through and picked the best of the best. You’ll discover what people lie about, and why; the best way to cut gun deaths; why it might be time for a sex tax; and, yes, when to rob a bank. (Short answer: never; the ROI is terrible.) You’ll also learn a great deal about Levitt’s and Dubner’s own quirks and passions, from gambling and gold to backgammon and the abolition penny.
  • Yuval Noah Harari | Homo Deus: ‘An intoxicating brew of science, philosophy and futurism’ Mail on Sunday
    **THE MILLION COPY BESTSELLER** Sapiens showed us where we came from. In our increasingly uncertain times, Homo Deus shows us where we're going. 'Spellbinding' Guardian The world-renowned historian and intellectual Yuval Noah Harari envisions a near future in which we face a new set of challenges. Homo Deus explores the projects, dreams and nightmares that will shape the twenty-first century and beyond - from overcoming death to creating artificial life. It asks the fundamental questions: how can we protect this fragile world from our own destructive power? And what does our future hold? 'Even more readable, even more important, than his excellent Sapiens' Kazuo Ishiguro 'Homo Deus will shock you. It will entertain you. It will make you think in ways you had not thought before' Daniel Kahneman, bestselling author of Thinking, Fast and Slow
  • Yuval Noah Harari | Sapiens A Graphic History, Volume 2: The Pillars of Civilization
    Discover the second volume of an epic, beautifully illustrated graphic history of humankind, based on Yuval Noah Harari's multi-million copy bestselling phenomenon. When nomadic Homo sapiens settled to live in one place, they started working harder and harder. But why didn't they get a better life in return? In The Pillars of Civilization, Yuval Noah Harari and his companions including Prof. Saraswati and Dr. Fiction travel the length and breadth of human history to investigate how the Agricultural Revolution changed society forever. Discover how wheat took over the world, how war, famine, disease and inequality became a part of the human condition, and why we might only have ourselves to blame. The origins of modern farming are told through Elizabethan tragedy, the changing fortunes of domesticated plants and animals are tracked in the columns of the Daily Business News, and the history of inequality is revealed in a superhero detective story. A radical, witty and colourful retelling of the story of humankind, adapted from Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Volume 2 can be read as a standalone or as a follow-up to Volume 1, The Birth of Humankind. Praise for Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens: 'I would recommend Sapiens to anyone who's interested in the history and future of our species.' Bill Gates 'Interesting and provocative... It gives you a sense of how briefly we've been on this Earth' Barack Obama 'Jaw-dropping from the first word to the last... It may be the best book I've ever read' Chris Evans 'Contains a remarkable piece of information on almost every page and reminds us that we should be grateful to be human.' Matt Haig 'Sweeps the cobwebs out of your brain... Radiates power and clarity, making the world strange and new' Sunday Times 'Provocative and fascinating and opinionated...it makes the familiar seem unfamiliar. It altered how I view our species and our world.' Guardian
  • Yuval Noah Harari | Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
    "From a renowned historian comes a groundbreaking narrative of humanity's creation and evolution--a #1 international bestseller--that explores the ways in which biology and history have defined us and enhanced our understanding of what it means to be "human." One hundred thousand years ago, at least six different species of humans inhabited Earth. Yet today there is only one--homo sapiens. What happened to the others? And what may happen to us? Most books about the history of humanity pursue either a historical or a biological approach, but Dr. Yuval Noah Harari breaks the mold with this highly original book that begins about 70,000 years ago with the appearance of modern cognition. From examining the role evolving humans have played in the global ecosystem to charting the rise of empires, Sapiens integrates history and science to reconsider accepted narratives, connect past developments with contemporary concerns, and examine specific events within the context of larger ideas .Dr. Harari also compels us to look ahead, because over the last few decades humans have begun to bend laws of natural selection that have governed life for the past four billion years. We are acquiring the ability to design not only the world around us, but also ourselves. Where is this leading us, and what do we want to become? Featuring 27 photographs, 6 maps, and 25 illustrations/diagrams, this provocative and insightful work is sure to spark debate and is essential reading for aficionados of Jared Diamond, James Gleick, Matt Ridley, Robert Wright, and Sharon Moalem"-- Provided by publisher.
  • David Brooks | The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life
    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Everybody tells you to live for a cause larger than yourself, but how exactly do you do it? The author of The Road to Character explores what it takes to lead a meaningful life in a self-centered world. “Deeply moving, frequently eloquent and extraordinarily incisive.”—The Washington Post Every so often, you meet people who radiate joy—who seem to know why they were put on this earth, who glow with a kind of inner light. Life, for these people, has often followed what we might think of as a two-mountain shape. They get out of school, they start a career, and they begin climbing the mountain they thought they were meant to climb. Their goals on this first mountain are the ones our culture endorses: to be a success, to make your mark, to experience personal happiness. But when they get to the top of that mountain, something happens. They look around and find the view . . . unsatisfying. They realize: This wasn’t my mountain after all. There’s another, bigger mountain out there that is actually my mountain. And so they embark on a new journey. On the second mountain, life moves from self-centered to other-centered. They want the things that are truly worth wanting, not the things other people tell them to want. They embrace a life of interdependence, not independence. They surrender to a life of commitment. In The Second Mountain, David Brooks explores the four commitments that define a life of meaning and purpose: to a spouse and family, to a vocation, to a philosophy or faith, and to a community. Our personal fulfillment depends on how well we choose and execute these commitments. Brooks looks at a range of people who have lived joyous, committed lives, and who have embraced the necessity and beauty of dependence. He gathers their wisdom on how to choose a partner, how to pick a vocation, how to live out a philosophy, and how we can begin to integrate our commitments into one overriding purpose. In short, this book is meant to help us all lead more meaningful lives. But it’s also a provocative social commentary. We live in a society, Brooks argues, that celebrates freedom, that tells us to be true to ourselves, at the expense of surrendering to a cause, rooting ourselves in a neighborhood, binding ourselves to others by social solidarity and love. We have taken individualism to the extreme—and in the process we have torn the social fabric in a thousand different ways. The path to repair is through making deeper commitments. In The Second Mountain, Brooks shows what can happen when we put commitment-making at the center of our lives.

👉 Sports & Recreation

  • Alan Murchison | The Cycling Chef: Recipes for Getting Lean and Fuelling the Machine
    'I can't think of a finer chef to have written a book on nutrition and diet for athletes' – Tom Kerridge 'Alan's food is simple, yet tasty and powerful. He's been a key component for my training and racing.' - Alex Dowsett, World Tour rider, former World Hour Record Holder and national champion 'Alan has completely changed my perception of what an athlete's diet can look like.' - Elinor Barker, multiple world champion and Olympic gold medallist A must-have recipe book designed for cyclists of all levels, written by Alan Murchison – a Michelin-starred chef and champion athlete who now cooks for British Cycling's elite athletes. As a cyclist, you can have the most amazing diet, but if that isn't balanced with the right training load, you can still end up piling on the pounds, which will slow you down. Michelin-starred chef and leading sports nutritionist Alan Murchison reveals how you can enjoy delicious, nutritionally balanced food and achieve sustainable long-term weight loss whilst positively impacting your cycling performance. A follow-up to Alan's award-winning The Cycling Chef, this is flavoursome food to get you lean and make you go faster.
  • Bruce Lee | Bruce Lee Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living
    "A teacher is never a giver of truth--he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself. A good teacher is merely a catalyst."--Bruce Lee Within the pages of Striking Thoughts, you will find the secrets of Bruce Lee's incredible success-- as an actor, martial artist, and inspiration to the world. Consisting of eight sections, Striking Thoughts covers 72 topics and 825 aphorisms--from spirituality to personal liberation and from family life to filmmaking--all of which Bruce lived by. His ideas helped energize his life and career and made it possible for him to live a happy and assured life, overcoming challenging obstacles with seeming ease. His ideas also inspired his family, friends, students, and colleagues to achieve success in their own lives and this personal collection will help you in your journey too. Sections include: On First Principles--including life, existence, time, and death On Being Human--including the mind, happiness, fear, and dreams On Matters of Existence--health, love, marriage, raising children, ethics, racism, and adversity On Achievement--work, goals, faith, success, money, and fame On Art and Artists--art, filmmaking, and acting On Personal Liberation--conditioning, Zen Buddhism, meditation, and freedom On the Process of Becoming--self-actualization, self-help, self-expression, and growth On Ultimate (Final) Principles--Yin-yang, totality, Tao, and the truth This Bruce Lee Book is part of the Bruce Lee Library which also features: Bruce Lee: The Celebrated Life of the Golden Dragon Bruce Lee: The Tao of Gung Fu Bruce Lee: Artist of Life Bruce Lee: Letters of the Dragon Bruce Lee: The Art of Expressing the Human Body Bruce Lee: Jeet Kune Do
  • Christopher McDougall | Born to Run: The hidden tribe, the ultra-runners, and the greatest race the world has never seen
    A New York Times bestseller 'A sensation ... a rollicking tale well told' - The Times At the heart of Born to Run lies a mysterious tribe of Mexican Indians, the Tarahumara, who live quietly in canyons and are reputed to be the best distance runners in the world; in 1993, one of them, aged 57, came first in a prestigious 100-mile race wearing a toga and sandals. A small group of the world's top ultra-runners (and the awe-inspiring author) make the treacherous journey into the canyons to try to learn the tribe's secrets and then take them on over a course 50 miles long. With incredible energy and smart observation, McDougall tells this story while asking what the secrets are to being an incredible runner. Travelling to labs at Harvard, Nike, and elsewhere, he comes across an incredible cast of characters, including the woman who recently broke the world record for 100 miles and for her encore ran a 2:50 marathon in a bikini, pausing to down a beer at the 20 mile mark.
  • David Epstein | The Sports Gene: Talent, Practice and the Truth About Success
    ‘A wonderful book. Thoughtful...fascinating’ Malcolm Gladwell Do you believe some people are born athletes? Is sporting talent innate or something that can be achieved through endurance and practise? In this ground-breaking and entertaining exploration of athletic success, award-winning writer David Epstein gets to the heart of the great nature vs. nurture debate, and explodes myths about how and why humans excel. Along the way, Epstein: - Exposes the flaws in the so-called 10,000-hour rule that states that rigorous practice from a young age is the only route to success. - Shows why some skills that we imagine are innate are not – like the bullet-fast reactions of a baseball player. - Uncovers why other characteristics that we assume are entirely voluntary, like the motivation to practice, might in fact have important genetic components. Throughout, The Sports Gene forces us to rethink the very nature of success.
  • James Kerr | Legacy
    THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION Champions do extra. They sweep the sheds. They follow the spearhead. They keep a blue head. They are good ancestors. In Legacy, best-selling author James Kerr goes deep into the heart of the world's most successful sporting team, the legendary All Blacks of New Zealand, to reveal 15 powerful and practical lessons for leadership and business. Legacy is a unique, inspiring handbook for leaders in all fields, and asks: What are the secrets of success - sustained success? How do you achieve world-class standards, day after day, week after week, year after year? How do you handle pressure? How do you train to win at the highest level? What do you leave behind you after you're gone? What will be your legacy?
  • Miyamoto Musashi | The Complete Musashi: The Book of Five Rings and Other Works: The Definitive Translations of the Complete Writings of Miyamoto Musashi--Japan's Greatest Samurai
    Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645) is the most famous Samurai who ever lived. His magnum opus, the Go-Rin-Sho or Book of Five Rings is a classic that is still read by tens of thousands of people each year--Japanese and foreigners alike. Alex Bennett's groundbreaking new translation of The Book of Five Rings reveals the true meaning of this text for the first time. Like Sun Tzu's The Art of War, Musashi's book offers unique insights, not just for warriors, but for anyone wanting to apply the Zen Buddhist principle of awareness to achieve success in their endeavors. This book sheds new light on Japanese history and on the philosophical meaning of Bushido--the ancient "code of the Japanese warrior." Unlike other translations that are based on incomplete and inaccurate versions of Musashi's work, Bennett's is the first to be based on a careful reconstruction of the long-lost original manuscript. Capturing the subtle nuances of the original Japanese classic, the result is a far more accurate and meaningful English version of The Book of Five Rings text. Richly annotated and with an extensive introduction to Musashi's life, this version includes a collection of his other writings--translated into English for the first time. A respected scholar, as well as a skilled martial artist, Bennett's understanding of Musashi's life and work is unparalleled. This book will be widely read by students of Japanese culture, history, military strategy, and martial arts. It sets a new standard against which all other translations will be measured.

👉 Technology & Engineering

  • Alan Eagle • Eric Schmidt • Jonathan Rosenberg | Google
    How Google Works is an entertaining, page-turning primer containing lessons that Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg have learned while helping grow Google from a young start-up to global icon. Using anecdotes from Google's corporate history, How Google Works covers everthing that managers need to know to be successful in the digital age. -- Book Cover.

👉 Travel

  • Douglas B. Lyons • Jim Kaat | Jim Kaat: Good As Gold: My Eight Decades in Baseball
    An unforgettable look at a lifetime of baseball packed with humor and passion for the game With a career that has now touched eight decades, Jim Kaat has had a prime front row seat for baseball's continuing evolution. Not only was he a major-league pitcher for 25 seasons, but his time as a pitching coach and his many years as a broadcaster have given him a singular long view of the game. In Good as Gold, Kaat weaves the tale of a lifetime, taking fans on the field, into the clubhouse, and behind the mic as only he can. Full of priceless stories from New York, Minnesota, and across the major leagues, this honest and engaging autobiography gives fans a rare seat alongside Kaat on a tour of baseball history.
  • Rolf Potts | Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel
    INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • With a new foreword by Tim Ferriss • “Vagabonding easily remains in my top-10 list of life-changing books. Why? Because one incredible trip, especially a long-term trip, can change your life forever. And Vagabonding teaches you how to travel (and think), not just for one trip, but for the rest of your life.”—Tim Ferriss, from the foreword There’s nothing like vagabonding: taking time off from your normal life—from six weeks to four months to two years—to discover and experience the world on your own terms. In this one-of-a-kind handbook, veteran travel writer Rolf Potts explains how anyone armed with an independent spirit can achieve the dream of extended overseas travel. Now completely revised and updated, Vagabonding is an accessible and inspiring guide to • financing your travel time • determining your destination • adjusting to life on the road • working and volunteering overseas • handling travel adversity • re-assimilating back into ordinary life Updated for our ever-changing world, Vagabonding is an indispensable guide for the modern traveler.

👉 Writing

  • Stephen King | On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
    Stephen King reflects on how his writing has helped him through difficult times and describes various aspects of the art of writing.
  • Brenda Ueland | If You Want to Write
    Brenda Ueland was a journalist, editor, freelance writer, and teacher of writing. In If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit she shares her philosophies on writing and life in general. Ueland firmly believed that anyone can write, that everyone is talented, original, and has something important to say. In this book she explains how find that spark that will make you a great writer. Carl Sandburg called this book the best book ever written about how to write. Join the millions of others who've found inspiration and unlocked their own talent.
  • David Kadavy | Digital Zettelkasten: Principles, Methods, & Examples
    Are you an academic, author, or blogger or anyone else who wants to make writing a breeze? The Zettelkasten method is the perfect way to harness the power of technology to remember what you read and boost creativity. Invented in the 16th century, and practiced to its fullest extent by a German sociologist who wrote more than seventy books and hundreds of articles, the Zettelkasten method is exploding in popularity. Writers of all types are discovering that digital tools make the method more powerful than ever, turning your digital life into an “external brain,” or “bicycle for the mind.” In Digital Zettelkasten: Principles, Methods, & Examples, blogger and nonfiction author David Kadavy shares a first-principles approach on how to adapt the Zettelkasten method to simple digital tools of your choice. How to structure your Zettelkasten? Kadavy borrows an element of the Getting Things Done framework to make sure nothing you want to read falls through the cracks. Naming convention pros/cons. Should you adopt the classic “Folgezettel” technique, or do digital tools make it irrelevant for your workflow? Reading workflow. The exact steps to follow to turn what you read into detailed notes you can mix and match to produce writing. Staying comfortable. Build a workflow to maintain your Zettelkasten without being chained to your computer. Examples, examples, examples. See real examples of notes that illustrate concepts, so you can build a Zettelkasten that fits your workflow and tools. Digital Zettelkasten: Principles, Methods, & Examples is short, to the point, with no fluff, so it won’t keep you from what you want – to build your Zettelkasten!
  • Bob Doto | A System for Writing
  • Nicolas Cole | Art and Business of Online Writing

👉 Investment Advisors

👉 中文書

  • 原野守弘(Morihiro Harano) • 張雅琇(Sho Chang) | 創意入門:用喜歡改變世界
    在創意的世界裡,「喜歡」就是一切! ★國際廣告大賞得主,日本知名創意人原野守弘的創意必勝法! ★Docomo、OK GO樂團、Honda、GODIVA....成功案例完全解析! ★李宗柱、電商人妻Audrey、丁菱娟、段鍾沂、林育聖、盧建彰、賴治怡—喜歡推薦! 這是一本為商務人士與創意初學者而寫的創意入門書, 更是一本改變世界觀的生命之書! 日本知名創意人原野守弘,生涯橫跨商務人士以及創意人兩種身分。在人工智慧高度發達的現代社會,他認為,唯有創意才能面對各種提問與挑戰。但在創意世界裡,追求的不該是「如何做」或「表現手法」。真正的創意,源自對「人性」的充分理解。 本書所談的內容,涵蓋當人們想要著手創造新事物時,所有與其相關的人性解析。原野守弘從自身反覆練習的經驗發展而來,試圖找出一般人與創作者之間的「脫節」本質,體驗「張開雙眼」的感覺,並將創造導向成功! 【原野守弘創意金句集】 ‧偉大的品牌不說自己是誰,只談自己熱愛什麼。 ‧品牌要談論「比現在更美好一點的未來」。 ‧廣告是生物學。 ‧「廣告」的目的,不是販售。 ‧創造就是重複「借」、「偷」、「還」的過程。 ‧創造的真義, 是「無視大眾一直以來覺得很重要的事」。 ‧想要創作出「真正創新的東西」,千萬不能知道太多。 ‧容易理解的詞彙,在創意的世界裡大抵都不是正確解答。 ‧所有的創作都是粉絲創作。 ……更多廣告創意金句,切勿錯過! 推薦書評 「關於創意工作的工作流程,從一般商務人士的角度來看,大都覺得是『黑箱作業』。但事實上一點都不黑箱,會這麽感覺的人其實只是『閉上了雙眼』。本書的目的之一,就是讓非創意人士體驗『張開雙眼』的感覺。」—原野守弘 「對我來說,這本書是盞讓我心神安定的燈。如同他說,真正的品牌傳播,是在人們心中留下如火烙般鮮明、灼燙,充滿情感的記憶。」—李宗柱(夢之怪物/創辦人暨創意總監) 「很多時候我們說企劃中能不能提供一些想法,想法的脈絡是否有跡可尋?或是可以從日常生活中找到合適的細節,把它轉化成可用的元素?那就不能夠錯過這本書,深入探討每一個案例背後的發想與演進。」—電商人妻Audrey(電商系統代理商) 「原野先生並非創意人,卻在創意方面有石破天驚的力量,從人性出發去思考自己跟別人有什麼一樣的地方,必能找出那個共鳴的甜蜜創意點!所有的行銷人都值得讀這本書。」—丁菱娟(影響力學院創辦人) 「《創意入門》中文版即將出版,我感覺他又把創意訣竅這件事情變得更精闢而且生動,是值得一讀的好書。」—段鍾沂(滾石音樂董事長、滾石文化董事長、廣告雜誌發行人) 「每一個認為自己有創意,或想從事創意工作的人,都該先看的一本書。除了好好檢視你是真的有創意,還是『自以為有創意』差別,還能夠從中得到關於創意的真正做法。」—林育聖(文案的美 負責人) 「他想的和我想的一樣。但他做的,我還沒做到。」—盧建彰Kurt(導演、作家) 「讀他的書,一邊像看同窗的筆記偷偷比較版本,一邊為他一直沒有改變的任性而暗喜。邀請各位與Mori和我一起加入坎城創意節成為『校友』,願您也有一天任性地改變了世界。」—小魚 賴治怡(坎城國際創意節、台灣獨家全權官方代表) 日本亞馬遜★★★★★讀者五星推薦 「我認為即使對於並非廣告行業的人來說,這也是一本非常好的書。」 「這本書用科學與推導邏輯的方式,表達了高難度的創意和思想。」 「這是一本對於企劃和提案十分實用的書,……甚至我覺得它也是一本改變你世界觀的生命之書。」 「靠著自身的努力,原野先生達到了現在的顛峰狀態……原野先生攀上巨人,卻讓巨人變得更高大。」 「原野先生分析優秀作品的組成結構,並且『發現到現在還沒有使用過的組合』。」
  • 呂冠緯 | 在白天做夢的人: 從臺大醫師到網路教師,敢夢敢為的翻轉人生
    看見自己、看見需要、走出屬於你的路 T.E.勞倫斯在《智慧七柱》中說,那些白天做夢的人是非常危險的, 他們會行動起來,讓自己的夢變成現實。 他愛做夢,他的部落格叫「Dr. DREAM」。 從「想打NBA的音樂班男孩」到成為「全臺灣最會讀書的130個人之一」; 從風光踏出臺大醫學院窄門的「呂醫師」, 搖身變成寫電子黑板翻轉教育的「呂老師」, 他的夢,很天馬行空;他的行動,讓夢想一一實現。 「一個臺大醫學系畢業的醫生,退伍後沒去做醫生的工作,卻為了臺灣小朋友們的教育(特別是偏鄉的孩子),全職的在非營利的均一教育平台做老師,錄了幾百段的教學影片。這傢伙除了會講課,還會作曲唱歌,實在是太酷了!」這是臺大電機系副教授葉丙成在臉書公開推薦呂冠緯的一段話。 呂冠緯,這位被知名翻轉教育推手葉教授形容為「不務正業」的醫師,明明考過醫師執照,卻沒有繼續醫師的工作,海軍醫官退伍後,即轉而投入追求教育理想的行列。常有人問他:「冠緯,你這樣不當醫師會不會太浪費了?」 他的回答是:「我不討厭當醫師,但我更喜歡去?發孩子,看見他們豁然開朗的笑容給我極大的滿足。如今,我跨出我的舒適圈,找到的不僅是一個職業,而是一生的志業。或許會跌倒,也或許會失敗,但每天早晨睜開眼睛,我感覺我的生命充滿動力,有什麼比這更幸福的呢?」 ◎本書主要分為兩部分: 逐夢:以過來人的經驗傳授,幫助年輕學子找到適合的讀書方法,提供職涯選擇建議,分享經營學習生涯的祕訣;並與學生一起思考什麼階段適合談戀愛,要怎麼準備自己,迎向夢想未來。 築夢:描述與夥伴們共同推動翻轉教室與均一教育平台的努力。在致力透過網路工具翻轉臺灣教育的過程中,結識許多同樣懷抱教育夢的熱血教師,並親身到現場參觀教學現況,協助把臺灣經驗推上國際平台、互動交流,爭取跨國合作。 「上帝,我要成為一個追夢者,也要成為一位成全者。」 「有人說我是四分之一醫療人、四分之一教育人、四分之一傳道人、四分之一音樂人。但一直到今天,我最常問自己的問題仍是:我是誰?」 「我漸漸明白我是獨一無二的,每條人生路都應該不一樣。」 ——呂冠緯 摘自《在白天做夢的人》前言&後記 【專文推薦】 ◎嚴長壽(公益平台文化基金會董事長) ◎葉丙成(臺大電機系副教授、臺大磨課師計畫執行長) ◎汪書平(美麗晶華診所醫師) 【好評推薦】 ◎方新舟(財團法人誠致教育基金會董事長) ◎何飛鵬(城邦媒體集團首席執行長) ◎李開復(創新工場董事長) ◎周巽正(生命培訓學院院長、臺北靈糧堂牧師) ◎柳林瑋(沃草有限公司共同創辦人) ◎張輝誠(中山女高國文科教師) ◎連加恩(路加國際組織駐南非辦公室代表) ◎黃國晉(臺大醫學院家庭醫學科教授兼主任、臺大醫院家庭醫學部主任) ◎廖文華(基督教臺北真道教會牧師、社團法人中華民國夢想之家青年發展協會理事長) ◎劉安婷(Teach for Taiwan(創辦人) ◎劉駿豪(得勝者文教創辦人) ◎魏德聖(果子電影有限公司導演) 「假以時日,他必將成為臺灣青年未來的典範!『在白天做夢的人』,以我的解釋來說,代表了一群陽光青年,在他們日正當中的生命中,追逐著人生的夢想,那麼比之於生命正邁向黃昏,卻仍然對這個社會充滿熱情、依舊不捨的黑夜趕路人,我們又是何其榮幸,在這一個美麗的時刻,與你們同行!」 ——嚴長壽(公益平台文化基金會董事長) 「遇見冠緯,讓我對臺灣充滿希望!冠緯的故事能啟發年輕朋友,讓更多人不再隨社會世俗價值而流,開始追求一個利他、有意義的人生。」 ——葉丙成(臺大電機系副教授、臺大磨課師計畫執行長) 「呂冠緯是我認識最敢做夢的人(沒有之一)。要拋開人生之既有、現有和將有,敢夢敢為,做一回傻瓜笨蛋,不是人人能夠。」 ——汪書平(美麗晶華診所醫師) 「很高興冠緯這一年來的表現,大大超出我們的期望。他不斷地『跨出他的舒適圈,去挑戰他不擅長的東西』(包含這本書的寫作)。」 ——方新舟(財團法人誠致教育基金會董事長) 「每個孩子心中都有夢,可是因著升學的壓力在無形中作繭自縛。這本書會重新點燃你心中夢想的願景,給予你尋找你自我的勇氣,帶你進入破繭而出的自由裡!」 ——周巽正(生命培訓學院院長、臺北靈糧堂牧師) 「冠緯的聰明跟認真不必多說,但最令我佩服的是他面對各種處境的樂觀與堅毅。」 ——柳林瑋(沃草有限公司共同創辦人) 「冠緯盡己所能將生活過得多采多姿,他示範了什麼是善用時間,什麼是每分每秒充實自我。 ——張輝誠(中山女高國文科教師 「冠緯是我所認識最特殊的人之一。他傳講的,是價值、信念、創新、勇氣、態度等等。認真聽的話,你會發現這個人身上,有讓這代臺灣年輕人向上提升的元素。」 ——連加恩(路加國際組織駐南非辦公室代表 「看了冠緯所寫的書,讓我更了解為什麼他到醫院實習時,所照顧過的病人或者家屬總是對他念念不忘。 ——黃國晉(臺大醫學院家庭醫學科教授兼主任、臺大醫院家庭醫學部主任) 「這是本拿起來就不會放下的好書! 說了個遇見就無法忘記的年輕人的故事,激勵你展開有夢就絕不放棄的旅程。」 ——廖文華(基督教臺北真道教會牧師、社團法人中華民國夢想之家青年發展協會理事長 「『有機會選擇』對許多臺灣孩子而言仍是遙不可及的特權。我相信冠緯的書,最終便是這樣的一封邀請——你,也能成為一個改變的起點。」 ——劉安婷(Teach for Taiwan(創辦人 「從他身上,我們看到了臺灣新世代的另一個希望,也願這本書能夠激勵更多年輕人,用認真、負責與勇敢來面對自己的人生!」 ——劉駿豪(得勝者文教創辦人) 出版社 商周出版(城邦)
  • 土谷愛 | 天職地圖
  • 曾荃鈺 • 歐嘉竣 | 隱形賽局:揭開運動產業議題的真相
    我們為何需要一本運動產業議題的書? 你是否曾經在看完一場緊張刺激的NBA籃球賽後,心中對其中的戰術、策略感到震驚,甚至對滿場觀眾的商業賽事充滿好奇? 你是否也對於台灣選手出賽時為何不能舉國旗加油感到困惑? 為何奧運會的舉辦城市總是引發爭議?為什麼一名足球員需要賣出天價的轉會費? 這是一本引人深思的讀本,目的是深入探討當今全球體育界所面臨的關鍵性問題,並以引人入勝的方式將這些問題呈現給年輕讀者。運動不僅僅是運動,它還牽涉到商業、社會、文化等多個層面。本書以台灣二○二○年後的全球體育議題為基礎,涵蓋了眾多運動產業的重大問題,包括球團運作、運動經紀人、啦啦隊、運動禁藥、贊助商、品牌行銷、性別平等、科技應用、球探、勞資糾紛、電競運動、心理健康等。書中討論的這些議題是理解體育的第一步,並且希望能為熱愛運動的人提供新的視角,讓他們在享受比賽的同時,培養多元觀點和成為全球公民的能力。 這本讀本不僅希望能引導年輕人藉由向運動員學習,透過身心修練,活出無限人生,還期望大家都可以進入運動產業的議題世界,培養自己的思考和批判性思維能力,並更進一步地理解和參與運動的多元層面。無論你是運動愛好者、未來的運動員,或只是對運動產業感興趣的人,這本書都將為你提供深入的見解和啟發。 作者簡介 曾荃鈺 天下雜誌獨立評論、親子天下翻轉教育、運動視界、換日線專欄作家,台體大兼任講師、兩屆金鐘獎入圍「空中荃運會」體育節目主持人,十三年奧林匹克研討會經歷,曾在奧運發源地希臘奧林匹亞撰寫體育研究,受邀捷克布爾諾談「奧林匹克教育」,訪談超過一百五十位頂尖運動員寫成報導故事,注意到所有選手都曾有過生涯規劃問題,因此成立「中華民國運動員生涯規劃發展協會」,陪伴運動員跨越困境、探索生涯、連結資源並面對真實的未來。著有《場外人生:運動員送給迷惘的我們20種力量》(健行出版)。 現職: 中華奧會教育委員會委員、中華民國運動員生涯規劃發展協會理事長、中區50嵐集團企業關係部副執行長、Podcast 節目「空中荃運會」主持人、業餘鐵人三項選手。 歐嘉竣 校外體育系發起人,政治大學地政系畢業,同時也是男子桌球隊隊長,曾任職於運動行銷公司、立法院,大學時期接觸到「品格籃球」而開始關心運動員或喜歡運動的族群,發起「校外體育系」平台,透過校園職涯講堂、體育活動舉辦,倡議讓體育成為生涯的一環,幫助體育愛好者能拉近與真實運動產業的距離。 現職:台北市政府社會局祕書、業餘桌球選手。 婁華誠 校外體育系共同發起人,實踐大學建築系畢業。目前正職為營造現場工程師,餘暇時兼平面設計。
  • 李佳達.劉劭穎.黃禮宏 | 全球人才搶著學!密涅瓦的思考習慣訓練
    創新教育模式+根植人心的科學學習法= 應對未知挑戰的必修課 為什麼一所成立不到10年的大學, 申請難度卻更勝哈佛、史丹佛等名校? 且看三位密涅瓦人精華揭密! 密涅瓦憑什麼比哈佛難進? 因為他們敢教傳統大學不教的! 混跡產官學三界的律師、客戶橫跨30國的國際業務和看遍生死的急診室主治醫師,三個不同領域的40歲大叔,在人生轉折點回到學校,但卻捨棄培養其他商業人脈的機會,念了一間比EMBA還貴的神秘學校──密涅瓦大學。 這間才成立不到十年的學校,已經打敗哈佛等名校,成為全世界創新排名前三的大學。密涅瓦大學強調課堂上不教知識,而是將所有學習都定位在建立學生應對未知的思考習慣,因為唯有把所學變成一種實際可用的決策演算法,才能跟自己的人生發生關聯。 這樣的觀念和校風,會為他們的人生帶來怎樣的改變?密涅瓦的思考習慣訓練,主要的精髓又是什麼?本書將首度為你揭露密涅瓦受歡迎的秘密。 學習,其實是在滿足我們探索世界的渴望。希望這本書能拋磚引玉,幫大家勾勒出未來學習的可能面貌,成為所有人應對未知挑戰的必修課。 這本書還提供了許多探索世界的工具,讓我們能站在巨人的肩膀上,不重複做別人做過的事,勇敢走出屬於自己的路。 密涅瓦大學決策思考力四大重點 ◇批判思考(Critical Thinking) 想要將批判思考應用在生活中,你需要懂得如何「評估」和「分析」。密涅瓦大學用將近30個思考習慣訓練學生去評估一個論點是否成立及如何建立有效的論證,同時為自己裝備3大類分析工具,來挖掘資料、拆解問題和調整決策。 ◇問題解決(Problem Solving) 未知的問題之所以複雜,就在於多重的可能性和萬物互聯的蝴蝶效應,因此問對問題可能遠比提出解方來得重要,該如何拆解問題,找到對的問題來解決?這其中涉及到的思考習慣,包括定義問題範圍的限制條件,釐清現況與目標狀態的差距分析,以及為自己準備填補差距的創意發想工具箱。 ◇複雜系統(Complex Systems) 我們總說要培養自己的「全局觀」,但到底要看得多「全」、多「大」才夠?密涅瓦認為想要學習有效互動和溝通方法之前,必須先看到全貌,辨別你所在的系統中成員間的網絡和行為模式,才能找到影響系統的有效切入點,運用系統1+1>2的增強迴路,讓溝通事半功倍。 ◇決策思維(Decision Making) 你的每個決定,背後都有三種決策思維齒輪在運作,分別是「數據」「槓桿」和「目標」,我們會透過某種演算法,運用「數據」,設計「槓桿」,來達成「目標」。有效的演算法,可以透過「數據」來確認「槓桿」和「目標」之間的因果關係,我們該如何學習不同的演算法,看見事物發展的反事實,做出更精準的決策。 特別收錄:〈密涅瓦思考習慣清單〉,完整解析應對未知的必修課! 【各界讚譽】(依姓名筆畫排列) 矽谷美味人妻KT/「矽谷為什麼」 科技節目主持人 于為暢/資深網路人 王一郎/賦力國際企管公司創辦人 王智弘/史丹福大學醫學院教授 汪大久/明道中學校長 呂冠緯/均一平台教育基金會董事長暨執行長 周宇修/謙眾國際法律事務所律師、台灣人權促進會長 周震宇/聲音訓練專家 張瑋軒/作家、女人迷創辦人 許毓仁/哈佛大學甘迺迪學院訪問學者、前立法委員 郭希文/前IBM大中華區人力資源總監 連韻文/認知心理學博士、台大心理系副教授 陳思宏/企業講師、教練、作家 陳鈺郿/北市龍山國中地理科教師、Super教師獎得主 陳嘉鳳/政大心理系退休副教授 程金蘭/台北電台主持人 馮燕/前行政院政務委員、台灣大學社工系教授 黃貞祥/清華大學生命科學系助理教授 黃崇興/長庚大學客座教授 黃禮騏/台北市VIS國際實驗教育總校長 楊田林/人文企管講師 楊斯棓/《人生路引》作者 葉玉琪/《工商時報》總主筆 葉怡矜/國立體育大學休閒產業經營學系教授 滿謙法師/佛光山台北道場住持 趙胤丞/企管培訓師、顧問 蔡俊榮/台大管理學院高階管理教育發展中心執行長 鄭同僚/政大台灣實驗教育推動中心計畫主持人 鄭俊德/閱讀人社群主編 劉尚志/陽明交大科技法律學院創院院長 劉宥彤/永齡基金會執行長 賴恆毅/沛德國際教育機構總教練 謝明慧/台灣大學國際企業學系教授 羅凱/密涅瓦計畫亞太區執行總裁 譚光磊/光磊國際版權公司創辦人 嚴長壽/公益平台文化基金會董事長 蘇仰志/雜學校校長 在當下台灣封閉的學習環境及被動鎖國的政治環境下,透過對密涅瓦實際課程的了解,甚至參與其中,學其精華,不失為改變台灣教育,走向未來與邁向國際的可行方法之一。──嚴長壽(公益平台文化基金會董事長) 三位作者以自己的故事提醒了我們,為什麼在這個人類歷史的轉捩點,學習如何訓練我們大腦跨情境的移轉能力是如此的重要。──羅凱(密涅瓦計畫亞太區執行總裁) 密涅瓦的教育,不只是要訓練出一批能解決舊問題的能手,它的企圖心更高。我嗅出它想要訓練出一批能手,可以嘗試解決當下舊問題中特別棘手的問題,以及將來才會出現,現在則無從得知的問題。衷心希望更多台灣人在閱讀此書後,都慢慢換上一顆「密涅瓦腦」!──楊斯棓(《人生路引》作者) 密涅瓦的創新教學理念、訓練學生獨立思考及分析判斷非常具有前瞻性。很高興作者可以把他第一手參與密涅瓦學習的經驗分享出來,相信對很多人非常有幫助。──許毓仁(哈佛大學甘迺迪學院訪問學者、前立法委員) 這是一本重新定義學習與邏輯思考的書,藉由作者們在密涅瓦大學的研讀過程中,看見一種前所未有的創新思考力。用嚴謹的科學邏輯,找到核心問題並建立決策系統,也讓我們看到了嶄新的未來教育之路。──矽谷美味人妻KT(「矽谷為什麼」 科技節目主持人) 自從認識密涅瓦以來,我個人認為未來學校的樣態已經被初步實踐出來,也就是 personalized deep learning 的實踐。書中三位作者透過共創的方式回憶他們在密涅瓦的學習,透過他們的不同角度看見未來教育的長相,讓沒機會去密涅瓦讀書的你我,可以身歷其境地去體會他們的所見所聞!──呂冠緯(均一平台教育基金會董事長暨執行長) 為何現今教育仍深陷重複訓練作答的泥沼?因為培養學生解決問題及獨立思考的能力如何教?如何評估成效?……等問題太難回答,本書借鏡密涅瓦大學的經驗,是目前我認為在面對「解決問題」與「獨立思考」的教育課題中系統性說明最完整的一本書。──劉宥彤(永齡基金會執行長) 作者毫無保留地分享自己在密涅瓦大學,利用數位科技和來自全球頂尖同學、教授一起「跨域學習」,學著如何在面對難以預測的未知環境下,做出最佳決策的過程。終於體會到為什麼過去這幾年,我在矽谷的同學和友人,願意鼓勵他們的小孩放棄常春藤名校就讀機會,進入這所顛覆全球高等教育的「未來大學」重新學習的真實原因。──蔡俊榮(台大管理學院高階管理教育發展中心執行長) 世界愈來愈脆弱,全球暖化、氣候變遷、貧窮、新冠疫情、俄烏戰爭和難民問題……皆需要全球視野與跨文化認知的國際化人才,本書揭露密涅瓦大學獨到的自主學習與批判思考力、跨文化認知與理解力、溝通協作力、快速適應變動力、全球議題解決力的教育方法,積極培訓未來領導人才。──程金蘭(台北電台主持人) 【作者簡介】李佳達 密涅瓦大學決策科學碩士班(2022級),跨界的創新實踐家、律師、哈佛大學訪問學人、聯合國發展計畫青年領袖,曾擔任行政院部長幕僚,以及園區科技公司主管,同時也是跨國文史策展人、大歷史作家,作品曾獲台北文學獎、法律文學獎等。於2018年創辦世界觀學院,開始推廣跨領域、全局觀的未來學習方式,融合「大歷史」(Big History)、複雜系統理論,以及密涅瓦大學的「思考習慣訓練法」,推出「決策思考力」課程,致力於打造一堂跨界、跨齡的決策思維必修課,學生從108素養課綱的高一新生,到台大EMBA班的企業領袖,相信未來的學習不是知識導向,而是透過思考習慣訓練法,為自己裝備應對未知的決策智慧。 黃禮宏 密涅瓦大學決策科學碩士班(2022級)。職涯歷經教育、服務、醫療,而後落腳於製造業的跨領域心理人。熱愛銷售,從事國外業務工作多年,擅長同理、陌生開發、商務談判、關係管理。工作上走遍多國談生意,近距離觀察到這個世界的快速改變,認為以往的學習方式已不足以面對當今的挑戰,也對台灣人才的未來甚感憂心。兩個孩子出生之後,這樣的憂心變成切身的問題,因緣際會接觸到密涅瓦大學,驚呼和心目中的理想教育方式非常接近,而最好的印證方式就是實際跳進來走一遭,提前為孩子打造學習應對未知的方法,陪伴孩子一起成長為未來世界需要的人才。 劉劭穎 密涅瓦大學決策科學碩士班(2022級)。過去曾為急診科醫師,因對教學的熱忱而轉任醫院教學型主治醫師以及自由講師。對世界充滿好奇,喜愛探索,曾到40個國家自助旅行。熱愛教學,擅長遊戲化、遊戲式課程設計,曾結合密室逃脫、實境解謎、桌遊、實境角色扮演等形式應用於教學,也曾出版桌遊。近年熱衷於表演藝術與心靈探索,參與多種戲劇、肢體與表演工作坊及即興劇公開演出,並將其融入至課程活動。曾至多個學校與年輕學子分享,認為培養年輕世代是教育的責任。因為想當個更好的教育者,而投身密涅瓦的課程,除了拓展教學的視野,同時也讓自己回到學生的角度來體驗。認為未來的世界唯一不變的,就只有一切都在變,希望未來的學習不再是傳統的單向輸入,而是創造體驗,讓孩子們在體驗中認識自己、認識世界,並保有面對變化的韌性、熱情與勇氣。
  • 林明樟、林承勳 | 給兒子的18堂商業思維課
    用商業思維看生活小事與個案, 培養孩子能打「世界盃」的眼界與能力! ——揭開日常生活中無所不在的商業奧秘—— 生活中看似平凡無奇的小事,其實都可以套用商業思維來思考! 連續創業家&財報大師林明樟,透過他與兒子日常看到的真實個案,累積成18堂父子間的言語交流,用商業觀點看人生,慢慢地為兒子奠定一些在人生中實用無比的商業思維。 ——以商業思維為孩子的未來創造可能性—— 如供需、價值、交換、佈局與生存等技能,以及建立正確的金錢觀、懂得用錢、賺錢與不貪錢,當子女認識到這些商業思維,即使不一定能變成大富大貴,卻可以為他們的未來創造出更多可能性。 ——本書寫給想為子女的未來多砌一道磚的父母—— 許多在人生場域能夠派上用場的心態、哲理與自我提昇法,都在本書以對談的方式呈現,無壓力引導孩子思考。讀者將能透過書中的大師級商業觀點與教養方式,輔助孩子養成商業思維,培養他們打「世界盃」的眼界與能力! 【本書特色】 1. 全書近200張逗趣插圖,只看圖也可以收獲滿滿商業知識! 2. 個案舉例皆貼近日常生活,零距離感好懂易吸收。 3. 由暢銷書《用生活常識就能看懂財務報表》作者親撰,擅長以白話解釋艱澀的商業原則。 出版社 商周出版 (城邦)
  • 瓦基(莊勝翔) | 只工作、不上班的自主人生
    Podcast「下一本讀什麼」、 「閱讀前哨站」站長瓦基代表作暢銷增訂版 全新收錄:下一步行動計畫── 21天啟動你的自主人生 讓你過得更好、收入更多元的人生富足計畫! 這本書真正展現的,是每個人能力所及, 融合實戰經驗,最毫無保留的人生實踐。 改變,不需要炫目的方法,而是親自去嘗試; 改變,不需要繞路的捷徑,而是扎實地練習; 改變,不需要過人的勇氣,而是接受不完美的自己。 這是一個「平凡人的不平凡故事」。 「每個人都可以發掘真正的自己, 打造自己真正喜歡的工作, 同時獲得成就、獲得財富,讓人生不留遺憾。」──瓦基 好工作不是找來的,是自己打造的! 從為公司打拚到為自己工作, 瓦基渴望探索人生更多的可能性, 不想成為會被取代的員工、朝九晚五的上班族, 他開始設計符合理想、熱情與獲利的工作模式, 最後跳出「升遷加薪」的線性職涯, 奔向職場自由、人生自主之路。 一本融合心態設定、商業思維與實戰經驗的自我實踐指南。 手把手帶你重新定義生命、設計你的理想工作, 打開職涯更多元的選擇! 【與瓦基一起思考、行動與選擇,打造你的夢幻工作!】 .自由的代價是責任,自由就是一個人對自己負責任的極致展現。 .最幸福的時刻不是活得比別人好,而是活得更像自己。 .不一定要很厲害,才能夠開始;而是先開始,才能變得厲害。 .斜槓的起點是問號和動詞,斜槓的終點才是斜線和名詞。 .把字典裡的「失敗」兩個字劃掉,改成「實驗結果比較差」,把「成功」改成「實驗結果比較好」。把人生當做是一次又一次的有趣實驗。 .打造夢幻工作就像釀酒,每個人需要的時間不同,訣竅在於,知道自己在釀的是什麼酒。 .只要有目標、有計畫、有方法、有行動地逐步執行,無論快或慢,一定會持續進步。 .寧可在多年後說「我試過了」,而不要鬱悶地說「我錯過了」。 作者簡介 瓦基(莊勝翔) 一位嗜書成癡的愛書人,喜歡分享閱讀之後的心得和收穫,將書中所學加以活用,實踐在職場與生活當中。他是書評部落格「閱讀前哨站」和Podcast說書頻道「下一本讀什麼」的創辦人,從任職十年的台積電副理轉換跑道投身說書事業。夢想是將閱讀的美好傳遞到有需要的人的手上。 閱讀前哨站 | readingoutpost.com 下一本讀什麼 | readingoutpost.com/podcast
  • 葛如鈞 | 放膽射月!全球最聰明大學「奇點」教我的事
  • 龍應台 | 孩子你慢慢來
    「孩子將我帶回人類的原始起點, 在漠漠穹蒼和莽莽大地之間, 我正在親身參與那石破天驚的創世紀。」 孩子初來乍到,帶著天使的乾淨的眼睛 30年文學經典 初為父母的生命第一堂課 我願意等上一輩子的時間, 讓他從從容容地把這個蝴蝶結紮好, 用他五歲的手指。 孩子你慢慢來,慢慢來。 .收錄全新序文▎ 龍應台以親身經歷寫下《孩子你慢慢來》,訴說著作為母親豐富的心理感受,同時也展現出內心深處的母愛,以及一個母親對待孩子的智慧。 她有兩種身份── 一位充滿理想、人生有無數待辦事項的現代女性,同時也是一位母親,她有時會沮喪,有時也會發怒,有時候,她又化身為一位從旁觀察的紀錄者,映照著大人與孩子眼中不同的世界。全書飽含深情的文字,在一篇又一篇的生活記事中,紀錄下兩個孩子華安(安德烈)和華飛(飛力普)在成長過程中最天真無邪、爛漫幼稚的樣貌,以及初為人母的自己,與孩子相處時的總總驚喜發現,以及自己對孩子的無限寵溺與愛戀。 「媽媽看著他,覺得自己像被一塊大磁鐵吸住了,怎麼也離不開那巨大的魔力。她著迷似的想吻他,幫他穿小衣服時、餵他吃麥片時、為他洗澡時、牽著他手學走路時,無時無刻她不在吻著娃娃的頭髮、臉頰、脖子、肩膀、肚子、屁股、腿、腳趾頭……她就這麼不看時間、不看地點、忘了自己是誰地吻著那肥嘟嘟的小鬈毛。」 「她又怎麼對兩歲半的人解釋:婚姻,和民主制度一樣,只是人類在諸多制度中權衡利弊不得已的選擇;婚姻幸福的另一面無可避免的是個人自由意志的消滅。她又怎麼對兩歲半的人解釋:這個世界在歌頌母愛、崇尚女性的同時,拒絕給女人機會去發揮她作為個人的潛力和欲望?她怎麼對孩子說:媽媽正在為人生的缺陷覺得懊惱?」 走過十年歲月,長大後的華安與華飛,以一個新世代的視角、以其華美的青春,回首童年。 「她永遠有辦法回答我們的問題,而且回答永遠那麼生動那麼新鮮有趣。……我們在黑暗中,聽她輕輕的腳步聲,走向她的書房(也要好幾年之後,我夠大了,才知道,每天晚上,這個時候她才能開始寫作)。」──華飛(飛力普) 「儘管我們之間一直有這種成長的『拔河』,母親卻仍然以一種安靜的、潛移默化的方式,把我教育成了一個,用她的語言來說,『像一株小樹一樣正直』的人。……今天我能夠理解了:她對我一方面極其嚴格,督促我努力學習、認真做事,一方面卻又極其講究自由尊重和理性思考。」──華安(安德烈) 龍應台以母親身分,與生命的本質和起點直接相對,記錄下最初始的生命階段,以及最深刻的生命思索。
  • 郝明義 | 越讀者(十週年增訂版)
    閱讀,是在密林裡尋找一片樹葉。 閱讀,是深夜裡孤獨地攀登七道階梯。 閱讀,是駕駛插翼跑車,跨越夢想的界限。 這是一個沒有越界閱讀,就不成閱讀的時代。 不論錯過了多少機會,不論多麼晚開始,閱讀都在等著給我們一個美好的機會。這是一個歷史上從未有過的越讀者時代。 《越讀者》初版於2007年,廣泛地探討了網路時代如何跨越多種媒體、感官、領域的閱讀,在華文世界獲得廣大迴響。十年後,作者基於自己新的發現與體悟,除了調整架構,並新增內容,也全面修訂了所有文章。 作者郝明義,雖然是長年在出版業工作的人,但是他寫這本書,卻純粹是回到一個普通讀者的立場所寫的。 郝明義生長在中文閱讀貧瘠的韓國社會,高中畢業後來到中文閱讀資源豐富的台灣求學。這一路,他曾努力跨越環境的局限設法多讀,也曾飢渴地什麼都讀再感到空洞無比。大學畢業後,他因緣際會地在不同類型的出版公司與雜誌社做過各種性質、職階不同的工作,不論就身為讀者的需要,還是出版者的工作需要,對閱讀到底是怎麼回事,一直有著越來越升高的困惑。1990年代,網路出現。網路與書籍的界限,以及相互越界的混沌,把他的困惑攪動得更混亂了。 他一直到在出版業工作了二十多年之後,才找到一個出口,接下來一面回顧一面繼續往前摸索。2007年,他回到一個十八歲少年的心情,來整理了自己的心得,希望就一個不斷進行一些越界嘗試後的讀者身分,給同樣困惑的別人,一些或許可供參考的看法。 十年之間,郝明義一邊觀察著網路上的閱讀如何更快速成熟地推展,並因為社群與協作的出現產生了新的生命;同時他也長時間思索紙本書存在於網路時代的意義,設法重新解釋閱讀紙本書的價值。於是在20017年,《越讀者》有了增訂版,架構和章節的調整,就是為了體現這兩點變化。 《越讀者》增訂版架構如下: Part 1 跨越學校的記憶 Part 2 跨越四種閱讀飲食 Part 3 跨越網路 Part 4 跨越紙本書 Part 5 跨越方法與工具 Part 6 跨越七道階梯 Part 7 跨越夢想 郝明義認為,在台灣成長的人時常被一些閱讀界限所捆綁。他在書中提醒讀者:我們身處於人類有史以來,前所未有的豐饒的閱讀時代;網路時代的閱讀是不斷突破界限的「越讀」,讀者應跨越不同界限,提升閱讀層次,憑藉著閱讀追尋夢想。 台灣讀者時常面對著考試教育築成的界限、社會現實壓力施加的界限,還有對「網路」與「書」的刻板印象與使用習慣構成的界限,有不善掌握閱讀時間、空間、工具、方法的所形成的界限,也欠缺對閱讀的意、與想像而劃地自限而形成的界限。 本書正是要協助讀者突破這些界限。 郝明義在書中整體檢視因為中學階段考試教育的影響,探討其對大學階段及出了社會之後所產生的後遺症,以及應有的心理準備。 他將閱讀比喻為給心智的飲食,經由這種比喻,引導讀者重新認識閱讀的四種分類與可能,恢復對閱讀的胃口。 他闡述網路閱讀對我們的意義和價值,解釋為什麼今天一方面可以不需要文字和書,另一方面也說明文字、書籍、網路配起來的話,能如何像插翼的跑車飛馳遠奔。 他分析,相對於網路閱讀所代表的各種動態與白晝的特質,紙本書及其主要承載的文字內容,如何代表一種靜態與黑夜的特質。並探討如何透過詩、哲學、小說、歷史等不同門類的閱讀,來體會這種特質。 他也以如何創造閱讀的時間,加上閱讀的「五加一力」為主要核心,介紹各種閱讀的方法和工具,方便讀者摸索前進。 他說明了閱讀旅程的不同階段,鼓勵讀者拾級而上,跨越閱讀的七道階梯,打開更遠大的眼界。 他更點出了閱讀與夢想的不同關係,解釋閱讀能如何協助我們提升人生層次,引領我們往夢想與理想前行。 《越讀者》搭配了漫畫家張妙如的插畫和各式圖像,希望不論內外都以豐富的圖文編排呈現越界閱讀所可以有的樂趣,來獻給所有曾經以及正在因為閱讀而掙扎的人。
  • 村上春樹 | 走ることについて語るときに僕の語ること
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