Book Description
LEARN HOW GREAT INVESTORS THINK
Michael J. Mauboussin is known throughout the financial world for his innovative approach to succeeding on Wall Street. His unconventional methods have earned him a place on Smart Money's list of the "Most Influential People on Wall Street" and in the Wall Street Journal's All-Star survey. In More Than You Know, Mauboussin shares his secret to becoming an insightful investor and provides invaluable tools to better understand the concepts of choice and risk.
Mauboussin develops sound investment strategies by drawing on diverse sources and disciplines. He builds on the ideas of sage yet diverse visionaries including Warren Buffett and E. O. Wilson, but he also finds wisdom in a range of activities and fields that is both broad and deep, including: casino gambling, horse racing, psychology, and evolutionary biology. He analyzes the strategies of poker experts David Sklansky and Puggy Pearson and pinpoints parallels between mate selection in guppies and stock market booms. Ant colonies, Tupperware parties, "hot hands" in basketball, slime mold, and Tiger Woods's swing all have something to tell us about smart investing.
More Than You Know is written with the professional investor in mind but extends far beyond the world of economics and finance. Mauboussin groups the essays into four categories: Investment Philosophy, Psychology of Investing, Innovation and Competitive Strategy, and Science and Complexity Theory, and he includes useful references for further reading on the topics he discusses. A true eye-opener, More Than You Know shows how a multidisciplinary approach that pays close attention to process and the psychology of decision making offers the best chance for long-term financial results.
Customer Reviews:
More than a rehash.......2007-08-30
This is a collection of essays and articles by the author. They are filled with information about psychology and investing, and teach the reader just how the brain works when it comes to investing/gambling. I have read several books by investors/coaches/traders who speak to this, including Elder, Tharp, Mark Douglas (now my 2nd best after reading this book)., Koppel, and more. I'd say this is just as insightful as anything Douglas wrote and recommend them both. I have yet to read Thaler. It seems with many psychology books, you have to read slow and pay careful attention, there will be many words that the psychology field uses you must remember the name of, so it's a slow, but very interesting read. I found parts fascinating, and interesting, including the parts about guppies, and ants.
Great book! You have to have good emotional control to perform optimally in the markets, so reading these types of books is just as important as those books that teach you how to pick stocks, if not more!
First-principles Investing.......2007-08-12
Food for thought for investors, served as a delicious four-course meal with 30 bite-sized portions. The portions are a la carte and may be consumed in no particular order. The chef cherry-picks from a diverse set of sources and creates a recipe of highly palatable wisdom for all to mull over.
I am no professional investor and my first reaction to the book was that Mauboussin is stating the obvious. The financial wisdom is not being found in as "unconventional places" as the title may suggest: of course, you would look at behavioral psychology, gambling and coin-tosses for learning investment concepts. However, when it comes to investing, don't we all have our stories to tell about the gap between rationality and action at the point-of-decision. In a world where finance theories attempt at creating formulae to replace human responsibility in decision-making, Mauboussin goes back to the basics and provides a tool-kit that empowers humans to make better decisions.
In one of his essays, the author talks about the process of theory-building and explains how proper categorization of theories is essential. As theories improve, they evolve from attribute-based categories to circumstance-based categories. In other words, one needs to know when to apply what theories. Treat the book as a catalogue of references to cool concepts, and I can imagine you going back to its sections every so often in various circumstances.
As an example, the book puts emphasis on internalizing the philosophy of investing based on "expected value" rather than the probability of the outcome alone. As another example, the loss of an amount makes us feel 2 to 2.5 times worse than the gain of the same amount makes us feel better. Read the book to better understand how these apply.
Very interesting food for thought........2007-07-03
Basically takes many different philosophical and scientific angles and shows how systems like the market work. Totally fascinating and will get you thinking. There are no trading tips so if that is what you want look elsewhere. What there is, is analysis of the market as a system and as compared to other natural systems. At the end of it I felt a bit like there was too much to think about and no real solution but then again maybe that is what the market is and why so few succeed at it.
Very Useful New Perspectives.......2007-05-30
Investors often make the critical mistake of assuming good outcomes are the result (proof) of a good process. In contrast, the best long-term performers in any probabilistic field all emphasize process over outcome - eliminating distractions due to short-term luck. One should focus on corporate circumstances, not its attributes (eg. a low p/e ratio). So begins "More Than You Know," and its helpful essays - samples of which follow.
The frequency of correctness is often less important than the magnitude. In a casino, one must bet every time to play (though can increase bets when the odds look good); in the stock market, one only needs to bet when the odds are favorable.
The average percentage of funds exceeding the annual S&P return in any of the last 15 years is about 44%. The average person regrets losses at about 2.5X the rate of gains. It's is not enough to have your own view - also must consider what others think.
The pace of change is accelerating. The average life of a company in the S&P average has gone from 25-35 years in 1950 to 10-15 today; the average mutual fund holding period has fallen from about 15 years to 4 over the same period, while the average portfolio turnover has risen from 20% to over 100% (often simply to minimize deviation from the index). Average speed of product development and process refinement also accelerating.
People tend to respond more to those they admire/like, and want to reciprocate when done a favor. Investors tend to assume lower risks and higher returns when they feel god about an investment; the converse is also true. People also tend to follow the herd in markets, undermining the efficient market thesis, especially regarding investment timing.
Investing in industry shakeout survivors (eg. the disk drive industry) is superior to general investing.
S-Curve Growth: After a change (eg. new product, new market) it is best to buy when sales first start to slowly build, and sell before they taper off (mature, slows) because most buyers think in terms of linear extrapolation. New entrants generate greater returns than older, established competitors. One is very unlikely to achieve double-digit growth in a firm with revenues of over $20 billion; best returns for a firm are in its first five years.
Industry concentration and large market shares are both associated with improved sustained economic performance in an industry. Most discounted-cash-flow models overstate long-term returns - simply extrapolate.
Companies that have fallen (two consecutive years cash flow return on investment (CFROI) less than cost of capital, after two years of greater than cost of capital) have only a 30% chance of sustained recovery.
Of nearly 2,000 tech-stock initial public offerings between '80-'04, 5% accounted for over 100% of the $2 trillion in wealth creation; there was even strong Pareto concentration within this to 5% grouping. Thus, the major challenge of investors is to capture (or avoid) low-probability high-impact events.
Good but not great.......2007-05-12
The book contained nuggets of wisdom and using lessons from social science to drive them home was, at times, enlightening and, always, stylish. However, many of the analogies seemed (to me) to be a stretch and how to apply the knowledge was left entirely to the reader. And while I understand the reasons for leaving "application" to the reader, it just didn't meet my expectations.
Book Description
Shortly after arriving on Cape Cod to spend a year by herself, Joan Anderson’s chance encounter with a wise, playful, and astonishing woman helped her usher in the transformations and self-discoveries that led to her ongoing renewal. First glimpsed as a slender figure on a fogged-in beach, Joan Erikson was not only a friend and confidante when one was most needed, but also a guide as Anderson stretched and grew into her unfinished self.
Joan Erikson was perhaps best known for her collaboration with her husband, Erik, a pioneering psychoanalyst and noted author. After Erik’s death, she wrote several books extending their theory of the stages of life to reflect her understanding of aging as she neared ninety-five. But her wisdom was best taught through their friendship; as she sat with Anderson, weaving tapestries of their lives with brightly colored yarn while exploring the strength gathered from their accumulated experiences, Joan Erikson’s lessons took shape on their small cardboard looms as well as in her friend’s revitalized life.
In writing about their extraordinary friendship, Anderson reveals a need she didn’t know she had: for a mentor to help navigate the transitions she faced as she grew beyond middle age. And when Joan Erikson had to face her husband’s death and the growing limitations of her own body, Anderson was able to give back some of the wisdom she had gleaned. To this poignant, joyful account, Joan Anderson brings the candor and sensitivity that have made her an acclaimed speaker and writer on midlife and its possibilities. A Walk on the Beach is an experience to savor and treasure, a glimpse of the exuberant spirit that can be sustained and passed on in all our friendships.
Customer Reviews:
This is a book you want all your girlfriends to read and cherish .......2007-09-28
Joan Anderson captures a woman's heart and soul. This a book for any woman who is searching to find herself and her place in the world. I feel my life has been enriched by reading this lovely story. Joan Erickson is the wise woman we all long to sit at the feet of and perhaps some day become. I have bought copies for all my women friends. Thank you Joan Anderson for sharing your story and Friendship with Joan Erickson with the world!
little book for our little lives .......2006-10-24
Sure its a "silly" little book about two women trying to get on with their lives with a little joy and self-direction. It is a testament to our "enlightenment" that the steps of re-tooling to the downhill road of life are possible to portray in light, even joyful movements. It might have been "important" for Erik Erikson to come up with the big picture of the 8 stages, but for us old people the stagecoach keeps moving, often in areas not exactly friendly. So Joan Erikson's 9th stage is a real blessing to us, even if the dance in gerotrancendance has overtones of Shakespeare's stages. At least it is not the somber of Shakespeare, and even the 10th stage (that of poor Erik as silent nursing home patient) has a bit of joy in the narrative. As a nursing home chaplain, I wanted to be in the narrative, it was so inviting!
A Disappointment.......2006-08-30
I enjoyed Joan's first two books, but this one was a disappointment. I don't see that Joan Erikson really helped Joan Anderson become her own person. Instead, Anderson often seemed childlike in her relationship with Erikson, allowing Erikson's voice to be more powerful than her own. Surely Anderson is mature enough to know whether she wants to cut her hair, and doesn't need Erikson to dictate what she should wear to a business meeting! Erikson may have had some valuable words of wisdom, but a true mentor honors who you are and encourages you to become your truest self without projecting their own preferences.
Vicarious Mentoring.......2006-08-06
This story portrays the strength of friendship between two women who met by chance on the beach and changed each others lives. Joan describes the life lessons she learned from her mentor and best friend, who just happened to be the wife of Erik Erikson (famous psychologist).
Each chapter left me feeling like I had just learned a valuable life lesson that needed time for digesting before moving on to the next. A very thoughtful, encouraging book...I will return to again and again.
I was disappointed.......2006-07-23
I'm sorry, but I thought that both women in the book, Joan Anderson and Joan Erikson, were not only uninteresting but also annoying. Joan Anderson struck me as totally self-centered, and Joan Erikson as too "cutesy" and even conceited. I find it hard to believe that weaving little pieces of cloth using colors to represent life stages would so suddenly unlock the mystery of Joan A's life. Reminds me of adult "Brownies" . . . Too cutesy for me. Sorry.
Book Description
Forget the perfectly pressed linen. Forget the name cards at every guest's place. Forget the full bar, the four-course meal, and all the fussy little details that supposedly make parties divine. Who has the house, the money, or the time to throw that kind of party, anyway?
In Real Life Entertaining, Jennifer Rubell offers break-the-rules entertaining ideas and quick, easy, stylish recipes for last-minute drop-in dinners, sit-down meals, brunches, buffets, and one-pot meals. Conventional wisdom says it's rude to invite someone to dinner on the same day. Jennifer's real life wisdom says it's never rude to invite guests to your home. The worst that will happen is that they'll be busy and say no. Conventional wisdom says never serve the same meal that you offered guests the last time. Jennifer says if you've got a signature dish, flaunt it!
Jennifer incorporates her relaxed, lively style into a variety of festive themes, from an evening of red wine and bruschetta, to a New York-style brunch, to a one-pot meal of the easiest -- and tastiest! -- meatballs you'll ever make. The recipes are simple and the ingredients lists are short, so you can whip up party-friendly fare such as Thai Chicken Wings, Sesame-Mint Pita Chips, and Grilled Shrimp with Garlic and Citrus in mere minutes.
With Jennifer's expert party tricks, plus full-color photographs throughout, Real Life Entertaining is the ultimate go-to party guide. Jennifer will show you how to get your guests to pitch in and how to make sure that you have as much fun as the people you've invited. Never again will you panic at the prospect of a party.
Customer Reviews:
Quick and Easy Entertaining.......2007-09-18
I have made several of these recipes and find them quick and delicious. They are easy and allow you time to enjoy yourself, spend some time with your guests and not spend all your time in the kitchen.
I questioned some of the ingredients in one recipe but followed it anyway and it was delicious. I even bought the book for a friend. I highly recommend this book for someone who loves to entertain but hates missing the party.
Fun, inspiring read.......2006-11-11
I enjoyed this cookbook; the tone is converational, and there is not much pretense (where there COULD be) in what is presented. On a whim I tried the roast brussel sprouts, and though they were better than expected, I will still NOT serve them for a party. (The success was that I was inspired by the book to even buy the brussel sprouts!) Other recipes are good, even great--try the roasted potatoes with whatever you have on hand (I used fingerlings & purples), just as the book suggests. The info contained here isn't rocket science, but entertaining various crowds can be somewhat daunting if you've been out of the loop a while...which I had been. Jennifer Rubell gives good encouragement, and her advice is sound.
Isn't for the party-giver who likes stress.......2006-08-19
REAL LIFE ENTERTAINING: EASY RECIPES AND UNCONVENTIONAL WISDOM isn't for the party-giver who likes stress: it advocates a more carefree method of throwing a party whether impromptu or planned way ahead, foregoing fancy plans for budget-conscious convenience. Techniques for entertaining pair easy yet elegant recipes with ideas for festive themes. Color pictures throughout enhance the displays.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Perfect for those intimidated by dinner parties.......2006-07-10
I throw a fair number of parties but struggle with how to enjoy them more.
I decided to test this book before reviewing it by having 6 person dinner party. Everyone raved about the food (I made the skirt steak & parmesan/fig potatoes) and I actually did end up enjoying the process more. I followed Jennifer's advice and asked for help from the guests - one couple brought the appetizers, one set up bar outside and made mojitos -everyone had a good time. In fact, two of my "guinea pigs" went out and bought the book after the party.
I particularly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys having people around for parties but not necessarily the prep & process: non-foodies, newlyweds, new graduates. The recipes are easy and the advice is good.
A Book For the Real Humans, With Real Lives.......2006-05-04
This is the cookbook we all needed starting out - at school, in college, first date, first marriage, first kid... and for everything after that too. I've never worked with a book before that made me think, "Wow, that was actually, really easy!" without making me feel like an idiot. Not only are the recipes actually, genuinely, totally useable, but they project Rubell's sexy confidence - you get the sense she's in the room with you saying, "Come on, just throw a little brown sugar and mustard on the pork, throw it in the oven and meet us upstairs for a drink." You do. It tastes perfect. And, you don't feel like a slave to the kitchen. This is a must have.
Book Description
Steven Landsburg's writings are living proof that economics need not be "the dismal science." Readers of The Armchair Economist and his columns in Slate magazine know that he can make economics not only fun but fascinating, as he searches for the reasons behind the odd facts we face in our daily lives. In More Sex Is Safer Sex, he brings his witty and razor-sharp analysis to the many ways that our individually rational decisions can combine into some truly weird collective results -- and he proposes hilarious and serious ways to fix just about everything.
When you stand up at the ballpark in order to see better, you make a rational decision. When everyone else does it too, the results, of course, are lousy. But this is just the tip of the iceberg of individual sanity and collective madness. Did you know that some people may actually increase the spread of sexually transmitted diseases when they avoid casual sex? Do you know why tall people earn more money than shorter competitors? (Hint: it isn't just unfair, unconscious prejudice.) Do you know why it makes no sense for you to give charitable donations to more than one organization?
Landsburg's solutions to the many ways that modern life is unfair or inefficient are both jaw-dropping and maddeningly defensible. We should encourage people to cut in line at water fountains on hot days. We should let firefighters keep any property they rescue from burning houses. We should encourage more people to act like Scrooge, because misers are just as generous as philanthropists.
Best of all are Landsburg's commonsense solutions to the political problems that plague our democracy. We should charge penalties to jurors if they convict a felon who is later exonerated. We should let everyone vote in two congressional districts: their own, and any other one of their choice. While we're at it, we should redraw the districts according to the alphabetical lists of all voters, rather than by geography. We should pay FDA commissioners with shares of pharmaceutical company stocks, and pay our president with a diversified portfolio of real estate from across the country.
Why do parents of sons stay married more often than parents who have only daughters? Why does early motherhood not only correlate with lower income, but actually cause it? Why do we execute murderers but not the authors of vicious computer viruses? The lesson of this fascinating, fun, and endlessly provocative book is twofold: many apparently very odd behaviors have logical explanations, and many apparently logical behaviors make no sense whatsoever.
Customer Reviews:
Bogus arguments.......2007-09-15
The author clearly prefers interesting or controversial theories over correct theories. He has no problem putting for wrong, or even occasionally inconsistent, proposals or arguments, as long as they'll sell a book. He also seems to love taking every hypothesis to absurd conclusions, just to be controversial.
economic thought.......2007-08-31
A very interesting book. Several different topics and a number of controversial views and theories using logic from the discipline of economics
Interesting Read.......2007-08-25
Once again, I was initially drawn to this book by its unique title - what a brilliant marketing ploy! But after reading "Freakonomics" last year, I was curious about what this economist had to say about the little (and big) things in life. I found some of his topics to be extremely insightful (such as How to Fix the Justice System and the link between having daughters and the divorce rate), while others had me scratching my head. However, Landsburg does point out in the beginning that "this book will give you new insights about how the world works. Sometimes it might outrage you. I hope it also makes you smile." He doesn't expect everyone to agree with him, just to look at things in a whole new way. It certainly made me do just that.
Overly Trite and Complex; Sometimes Also Totally Wrong.......2007-07-23
"More Sex is Safer Sex" is a collection of short essays by an economics professor at the University of Rochester. What they all have in common is a focus on externalities (impacts on others) involved in economic choices, making already complex decision-making even more so, and confusing operational (real) significance with statistical significance. In other words, "More Sex Is Safer Sex" is another form of academic hair-splitting that professors think is erudite, and many others (eg. Michael Dell, Bill Gates, Michael Moore, Harry Truman, Orville/William Wright, etc.) have proven they can do quite well without.
Want specifics? 1)How about Landsburg's suggestion that FDA Commissioners be paid in pharmaceutical stock? How long do you think it would take before Thalidomide, Avandia, Vioxx, Crestor, and Celebrex-type tragedies became commonplace? And then there is the already major problem of new "me-too" drugs that offer little/nothing beyond existing drugs except for much higher prices. 2)Landsburg then goes on to misconstrue Bayes' Theorem to mean that EVERYTHING IS relevant - actually, it simply provides a means to incorporate issues that ARE relevant. 3)Rewriting courtroom rules of evidence occupies much of Landsburg's time - he would allow most everything, despite studies that show certain types of complex information are strongly overweighed in decision-making. 4)Landsburg likes Scrooge because he leaves more for everyone else. So, let's all be self-sufficient and tight, and enjoy watching the economy and our standard of living collapse. 5)Finally, Landsburg reports that "37% of those polled would leave New York City if they could;" since they don't "this proves that 37% lie to pollsters." Well, maybe they just couldn't leave New York!
There's more, but what's the point? My point is save your money - don't buy the book, and more importantly, don't send your children to the University of Rochester either!
Misleading second chapter.......2007-07-07
The first chapter (on why more sex is safer) was thought-provoking and the arguments were sound. But the second chapter, that claims it is beneficial to have babies, gave misleading and inaccurate information. Why do you think virtually all innovation is being done in countries with low birth rates? If we have fewer kids we can invest more in them and thus they can accomplish more. There are already way too many existing kids that are not reaching their potential. Millions do not even have basic nutrition, medical care, and primary schooling. Adding more people to such a world is just self-centered. Also, the idea that people live in crowded cities because they want to is ludicrous. I never heard anyone say "Gee, Tokyo sure is a better place to live now that it has 37 million people instead of only 20 million". People live in cities because the jobs are there, and with fewer people the jobs will still be there.
Book Description
Wise insight on building a church, growing a church, and keeping costs low. For pastors, leaders, and building committees.
Customer Reviews:
A thoughtful study.......2007-07-26
This is a "must read" for any church that is beginning to plan for building any addition. It is helpful to answer the questions that the authors present to us before we assume that we know why we are building and what we can expect to accomplish through the building project.
Every church leader needs to read this book!!!.......2007-01-15
In the 35 years I have been a lay leader in several different churches, this is absolutely the best and most practical book I have ever read! It is also an easy read. I gave it to a friend who read it in one afternoon. It should be mandatory reading for every church elder/leader board.
Dale Ewald
"think outside the box" ideas for many church problems.......2005-05-08
I "had" to read this book because I am on the church board. I was pleasantly surprised by it. It is an easy-reading book that offers unique "think outside the box" ideas for solving a variety of church problems. Even if you are NOT thinking about building, many of the ideas in this book may be useful to your church!
Most churches probably don't need to build because there are other very viable and realistic alternatives. (The book gives many examples!) A building may also put the church in financial bondage, and shift the churches focus from people/outreach to the building program. Because the focus changes, the church stops growing...and they end up in a big new building with hardly any people.
Besides the actual physical ideas for creating more usable space in your existing building, the book also encourages you to think more about your churches priorities and principles. Maybe you don't even need more space. Is your church "over-programmed"?? Many churches start new programs without phasing out any of the old. Old and new programs may end up over-lapping with each other. More isn't necessarily better. It can lead to chaos, volunteers stretched thin, lower quality programs, and lack of space. Better to do less and do it well. Cutting out some programs may not only solve the space problems, but just be better for the church anyways! Short on sunday school classrooms? The "team teaching" method described in the book will not only free up space, but it often creates a higher quality of sunday school classes.
I highly recommend this book - many creative ideas... I think all church leaders should read it.
every pastor and church leader - please read this book!.......2004-12-23
i bought this book b/c the church where my husband is a minister built nearly 3 years ago and now the church is so in debt my husband and the other associate minister are about to lose their job so they can pay the mortgage. what a wealth of wisdom is in this book! and a quick read, too. if every church going through growing pains read this book, i believe the face of american churches would be completely different. what i especially love is the common sense advice for how to reorganize ministries to use space better, take the burden off the volunteers, etc.
and you can't argue with the man. the Bible nowhere EVER advocates debt as a good thing, much less a whole body of believers going into debt for something material like a building. i love his chapter on turning church spending upside down, and imagining what a church could do in and for the community with the money they would have spent on an unnecessary building.
a lot of practical, biblical, common sense advice. highly recommend it!
Useful, Helpful, Practical, Perspective.......2003-04-02
An excellent book.
This book advocates that:
churches should use their space intensively;
design for a growing church is different than design for a static church;
flexible multi-use space is preferred to dedicated space (e.g. a sanctuary used once a week);
a church should not build if building will take resources from ministry;
a church should build debt free to the extent possible.
A quote,"Most of a church's ministry takes place not when the church is gathered, but when it is scattered. If we truly understand this, we will no longer feel compelled to keep expanding the church's buildings."
Book Description
Every day companies and their leaders fail to capitalize on opportunities because they misunderstand the real sources of business success.
Based on his popular column in Business 2.0, Jeffrey Pfeffer delivers wise and timely business commentary that challenges conventional wisdom while providing data and insights to help companies make smarter decisions. The book contains a series of short chapters filled with examples, data, and insights that challenge questionable assumptions and much conventional management wisdom. Each chapter also provides guidelines about how to think more deeply and intelligently about critical management issues. Covering topics ranging from managing people to leadership to measurement and strategy, it’s good organizational advice, delivered by Dr. Pfeffer himself.
Customer Reviews:
Unconventional Common Sense .......2007-10-13
Continuing a campaign to induce more common sense thinking into business management, Stanford Business School Professor and well-published author(12 books at last count) Jeffery Pfeffer utilizes materials from his Business 2.0 "The Human Factor" columns to tell us that common sense is not all that common. Or, at the very least to demonstrate that business leadership may not always consider the consequences of their actions and/or they hold inaccurate or incomplete views of human behavior. Touching on subjects from the problems with resume based hiring (looks backward, not forward), to budget based performance evaluations (ignores competitive standards), and strategy by PowerPoint (values planning over doing), Pfeffer presents arguments designed to make the reader think differently about many of the topics faced by businesses today.
Although the title may contain a bit of marketing hype - the wisdom describe in some chapters is not all that unconventional; spend more on training, take chances and make mistakes, build trust in the workplace - it is wisdom worth considering, none-the-less. I particularly liked Chapter 11, on financial incentive schemes, where Professor Pfeffer references, "... the "extrinsic incentives bias," a belief that others are motivated primarily by money even if people know that they, themselves, are not." In this chapter he notes that this bias and the comparative ease of implementing reward and incentive schemes often make this the tool of choice when a business is faced with the need for performance improvement; even though, financial incentives often have undesired consequences and provide no competitive advantage as they are easily copied by competitors. These bits of wisdom, and others like it, make this easy read a recommended selection for managers and OD professionals alike. Dennis DeWilde, author of The Performance Connection.
Easier Said than Done.......2007-08-29
All good information, and an interesting read. The concepts presented are not unlike many Marketing/Innovation books, but the author presents a good case. Every manager/exec should put these principles into practice...but they have probably already read a book that says the same thing!
Maybe not as unconventional, but good.......2007-08-23
The book is maybe not as unconventional as the (American-style) title wants to make you think, but nevertheless good. It will give you some insight, but also some examples to use in your business life to convince people that the "silver bullets" dont work. Can be handy. Also, there's a lot fo organisational psychology language and ideas and it's worth the money. recommended.
Awesome and True Business Management Book!!!.......2007-08-20
An outstanding book that tells the truth about why unconventional management is not only "cool" but it absolutely necessary in today's business world. The book challenges a lot of the management principles taught in most business school classes as well as the "that's the way things are done around here" mentality.
An easy read and a great reference guide. My copy is on my desk at work as it provides a refreshing reminder now and then in the day to day of organizational management.
Awesome book!
Another Great Pfeffer Book.......2007-08-12
While certainly not as great as Pfeffer's truly 5 Star Managing With Power: Politics and Influence in Organizations, this text's explanation and myriad examples of the second-order effects of common business decisions is superb.
This book provides great practical examples of many of the theoretically predicted phenomena laid out in John Roberts' (no, not THAT John Roberts) The Modern Firm: Organizational Design for Performance and Growth (Clarendon Lectures in Management Studies). If you have a deep interest in the economic foundations of the problems inherent in these business decisions, I wold encourage you to read the Roberts book FIRST, so that you can better understand and analyze the problems laid out in Pfeffer's text.
As an example of an important second-order effect of a business decision, consider how in the classic "Safelite Auto Glass" MBA case from Harvard, the implementation of a pay-for-performance system for workers instead of flat hourly wages made performance increase by 40%. However, only half of this benefit came from the direct effect of the compensation scheme on motivation -- the other half was slightly longer term and was due to the fact that the presence of the scheme caused workers in the market to "sort", with harder working individuals eventually filling the spots at Safelite.
Enjoy the book!
ryan
Book Description
An agressive approach to the new economy from America's most trusted financial consultant.
The incredible economic growth of the past few years may have made scores of new millionaires, and plenty of rich people, but it hasn't made managing your personal and business finances any easier. In fact, most of the old rules and principles have proved ill-suited to this new environment.
The Die Broke Complete Book of Money is the definitive guide to modern money management. The man famous for turning conventional wisdom on its head expounds on the new rules for the new millennium with an opinionated, hard hitting, and informative style. Sophisticated and succinct, this incisive and engaging audio is filled with offbeat, practical advice that stems from Pollan's unconventional strategies. It is an indispensable resource for anyone who wants financial success.
Customer Reviews:
Good info, just not right for the audio cassette format.......2002-06-15
I love Stephen Pollan's work. However, listening to the Complete Book of Money on cassette is like listeining to an encyclopedia on cassette. The book is written as a reference and the audio version is basically the author reading each entry in alphabetical order. I loved the intro where he reviews topics from other books as a primer for the info to follow.
I'll buy the book and keep it on my shelf as a reference, but I don't know if I'll ever be able to finish all 4 cassettes.
Buy the book- the info is great.
Junk of money tips.......2002-05-22
Listened audio tape edition of this book. Though the contents are somewhat helpful, the recording is all junk of money tips. I don't understand why the author needed to discuss Mutual fund, Neighborhood, Nursing Home, then Outsourcing (your business) followed by Pension plan in that order. Can Mutual fund and Pension plan be discussed in sequence?
Each one of topic is not discussed in detail, so you better off read a book for particular topic you are interested. I would call this book "Complete Book of Incomplete Money Tips".
Book Description
Knowledge of Asian business is dominated by conventional wisdom. In this revised and updated edition of The Asian Insider, bestselling author, Michael Backman, has researched beneath the surface to reveal the things that you need to know about Asian business. This paperback edition has an important new chapter on the massive, booming Chinese consumer market and updated chapters on China's fast paced economy, India's emerging economy, outsourcing in India, corruption and many other key essentials for Asian Insiders.
Customer Reviews:
Asian Insider: The Most Helpful Book I have Read.......2007-06-18
As a western entrepreneur in China, I have found this the most helpful book that I have read to help me understand what is happening behind the scenes. Backman's information is helpful to anyone dealing with Asia - even if they have been doing business with them for many years.
Prepare for the Asian century with "The Asian Insider".......2004-06-07
The Asian century has just started! Throughout the next decades, global business leaders, opinion makers, politicians and world citizens will realise how much impact Asia will have on the modern world and how influential Asia will be in shaping tomorrow's world. Michael Backman's "The Asian Insider" is a unique and brillant guideline for anyone interested in capturing those insights and opportunities arising from the Asian century, and for all those interested in knowing more about the complex and dynamic landscapes of cultures, politics, businesses, languages and religions called Asia. Michael Backman is one of the most prominent commentators and thoughtleaders on Asian issues, and his engaging, personal and very direct style is an extraordinary experience for any reader. Read "The Asian Insider" (and Michael Backman's other books!) and get to understand better how and why Asia will change tomorrows landscape - in its own way. The Asian way which is crucial to understand for any reader reaching out for the world.
Customer Reviews:
If you read one business book, make it this one!.......2002-10-14
If you read one business book this year, you won't go wrong with HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT WORKING SO
HARD by Robert J. Kriegel . . . it is packed with ideas that will help you stop working so hard--and start working better.
Kriegel, author of the equally excellent IF IT AIN'T BROKE . . . BREAK IT, contends that it is not a badge of honor to work 100 hours per week . . . rather, he points out that it's the innovators, visionaries and new-thinkers who love their work who rise to the top.
I particularly liked his 90 Percent Rule, which says that a relaxed atmosphere produces better results than a tense one . . . he then described his experiments with over 150 salespeople . . . those who made less calls had at least 20 percent better results, largely because they felt more relaxed and were able to listen better.
There were many memorable passages; among them:
* In my programs, I always ask, "How many of you get your best
ideas--barn burners, lightbulbs, the aha's--while at work?" No one ever raises their hand. "Which room in your house do you get your best ideas in?" I ask, The response is always the bathroom or bedroom. "Why is that?" "Because no on bothers me and I get time to think" is the usual response.
* Ray Evernham, with driver Jeff Gordon, used this flip-of-the-rules strategy in NASCAR racing to win the Winston Cup Championship several times. Evernham says, "If conventional wisdom say the corner is the best place to pass, we practice passing on the other end of the track, because nobody is expecting to get passed there."
* Whether it is a book or a proposal, many people have difficulty starting a writing project. That first step seems like an insurmountable hurdle. The first line seems impossible to get right.
One way to get yourself going is to begin at the end or the middle. I have started out writing my last three books with those chapters that I am most excited and clear about. I will often begin writing a chapter, not necessarily at what I think should be the beginning, but with a great story or example that I enjoy relating and that clearly illustrates the point I want to make. Once started, momentum builds and the rest
becomes much easier, whether you have to go forward of backward
of both.
So easy to misapply.......2002-07-04
More so than any other business-advise book I have come accross, this one lends itself to misinterpretation and mishandling by the well-intentioned but dim or by the unscrupulously mischievous. If you are, and know you are, an effective manager, you probably are already doing what this book "dares" you to try. ... you can safely read it and it will cause no harm... you know what to take and what to leave, how to challenge conventional wisdom and how to hedge your bets. You know instinctively most if not all of it. .... after all... most importantly, you also know no real-life situation is identical with edited examples on a book (which of course are always tailored to illustrate a point). Mediocre to self-serving nefarious managers may become equally prone to cite these pages as remedy for their own shortcomings. You want those people out.... not taking advise from Mr. Kriegel. In their hands this work becomes a cookbook for disaster. I've seen it operate at its worst.
There are better ways of spending [money] than buying this book ... including having drinks with a timid supervisor who could use your personal encouragement.
If it ain't broke . . . BREAK IT!.......2002-04-15
Robert Kriegel and Louis Patler provide an interesting look at Conventional Wisdom and how it applies to business as usual. The focus of this book is to give a business manager "permission" to challenge the status quo in order to make paradigm changes. This book can provide insights into professions outside of the business community. Educators can benefit from the numerous examples of challenges to Sacred Cows that inhibit change that could enhance the educational opportunities for all students.
This book empowers the reader to be creative in seeking solutions to everyday problems. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like a jump-start in looking outside the box make his/her workplace a more productive environment.
Insightful!.......2001-03-26
Robert J. Kriegel takes his experience in performance psychology and deftly combines it with his and Louis Patler's expertise in leadership and business. They create an enjoyable and insightful look at how unconventional wisdom can propel a business to the top, especially when mixed with the willingness to be innovative and take risks. Devoid of cliches and useless filler, this book is solid and includes plenty of quotes from other experts. Kriegel and Patler weave business case histories effortlessly into the commentary. We [...] recommend this book to anyone involved in the destiny of any kind of business, as well as to people interested in contemporary culture.
A poor book full of cliche's.......2000-06-21
This book promises unconventional wisdom, yet is full of tired cliches and old advise. Chaptures cover topics such as discovering your passion and following it, continuing to make refinements in your product even if your product is currently well accepted in the market, and listen to your customers and people outside of your industry. Then, around each chapture topic, the author provides 20 short examples or stories of the topic in action. None of the book's topics break any new ground. It's all recycled advice that's available in many other books.
Book Description
What images come to mind when you hear the name "Jesus"? Religious icon? Mystical guru? Maybe he's the figure in the stained glass window at church, or the painting hanging in the hallway of your grandmother's house.Bill Donahue spent years asking these questions, and the Jesus he eventually met was not merely an ancient sage but the living, breathing Son of God. He found himself captivated by Jesus' teaching, embraced by his love and disarmed by his grace. And so in this book, the author brings to life the many facets of who Jesus is and what his work in the world is all about.Written in forty brief segments with opportunities for personal reflection and dialogue with God, In the Company of Jesus makes ideal daily reading. This book is a companion to the Jesus 101 Series and elaborates on the ideas found in those studies.This winsome approach to Jesus will expand your ideas about who he is and draw you into his very presence. Whether you are meeting Jesus for the first time or you've known him for many years, you'll find new insights from time spent in the company of Jesus.
Customer Reviews:
Encouraged Reader.......2007-01-10
I believe this book to be outstanding. It is an easy read, yet has an indepth subject... "Jesus"! It's so refreshing to read the writings of Bill Donahue. I identify with his descriptions and definitions of Jesus. Try it, you'll like it!
Foundational facts that can warm the heart of every believer.......2006-04-04
Want to know Jesus better? Let author Bill Donahue introduce you to the many and wonderful aspects of our Lord's character in this biblically sound and spiritually uplifting book. Whether you're a new believer or a seasoned Christian, these insights are precious and powerful.
The book is divided into eight sections, with each one revealing another facet of the Lord's ministry. Jesus is seen as leader, teacher, healer, and supreme conqueror. These divisions are then examined within five subheadings, making a total of forty reading segments. Because of this orderly breakdown of thoughts, these pages would make an ideal study for small groups or individuals. Each teaching adds another layer of understanding, until the final chapter ends with a glorious revelation of the Lord's everlasting power!
The author's engaging writing style brings this vital subject to life in a real way. His sincerity, honesty, and enthusiasm are evident on every page. Bill Donahue admits to spending years asking questions about the true nature of Jesus. This book is partly the result of his search, which ended in a personal encounter with the Lord. The author's intimate knowledge of Jesus is transferred to the written word with spiritual sensitivity and a feeling of genuine love. Because of this, readers will not only get to know Jesus the Lord; they will actually meet Jesus, the Friend of the author.
Since this book is part of the Jesus 101 Bible Series, the facts are foundational, yet they are able to warm the heart of every believer in Christ. Step into the company of Jesus for a closer walk by His side! - Joyce Handzo, Christian Book Previews.com
Books:
- News That Matters: Television and American Opinion (American Politics and Political Economy Series)
- Operations Management with Student CD-ROM
- Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Field Guide for Leaders, Managers, and Facilitators
- Patent It Yourself
- Pilots Choice
- Product Strategy for High Technology Companies
- Quantum Notes : Whole-Brain Approaches to Note-Taking
- Raintree: Inferno (Silhouette Nocturne)
- Reverse Mergers: Taking a Company Public Without an IPO
- Rich Dad's Advisors®: The ABC's of Real Estate Investing: The Secrets of Finding Hidden Profits Most Investors Miss (Rich Dad's Advisors)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More
- History: Fiction or Science
- Compendium of Tourism Statistics
- Customary International Humanitarian Law Boxed Set of 3 Hardback Books
- Hell's Angels
- Making the Second Ghetto: Race and Housing in Chicago 1940-1960
- Gene Expression And Manipulation In Aquatic Organisms
- Winning the Insurance Game, The Complete Consumer's Guide to Saving Money
- All About DRIPs and DSPs
- Desirada: A Novel
General
| Popular Economics
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable
Inside the House of Money: Top Hedge Fund Traders on Profiting in the Global Markets
Fortune's Formula: The Untold Story of the Scientific Betting System That Beat the Casinos and Wall Street
Hedgehogging
The Little Book of Value Investing
