As someone who has spent a long career influencing people, (or at least trying to) I found "Responsible Influence" by Brian Smith to be a timely and iAs someone who has spent a long career influencing people, (or at least trying to) I found "Responsible Influence" by Brian Smith to be a timely and impactful read. In the non-profit sector, ethical influence is critical, and Smith’s book couldn’t have come at a better time. He offers a balanced approach to persuasion that respects both the audience and the cause. This book is a solid guide for anyone looking to inspire change responsibly.
Smith skillfully navigates the complexities of influence, emphasizing the importance of integrity and accountability. His insights are valuable lessons for anyone aiming to lead with a conscience and make a positive impact. He advocates for a more responsible and sustainable approach to influencing customers. His clear writing and relevant examples make this book an essential read for anyone in the field.
As with others, he prioritizes empathy and ethical considerations, making the book not only informative but also inspiring. It serves as a timely reminder of the responsibilities inherent in wielding influence. For anyone who has had to influence others throughout their career, this book is a solid read....more
Having done the start up thing a few times (and at it again) I found "When Grit is Not Enough" by Dean Guida to be a solid read. This book dives deep Having done the start up thing a few times (and at it again) I found "When Grit is Not Enough" by Dean Guida to be a solid read. This book dives deep into what it truly takes to thrive in today’s competitive environment. Guida debunks the common belief that simply persevering is enough to succeed. Through thorough research and captivating stories, he highlights the importance of mentorship, adaptability, and strategic thinking. It’s a must-read for anyone eager to improve their personal and professional growth strategies.
While hard work alone can mean success, Guida explores how elements like opportunity, timing, and support systems all play crucial roles, showing that a more nuanced approach is essential. His clear and persuasive writing, supported by solid evidence, makes this book a good resource for anyone looking to navigate their career more effectively.
Sure, grit, while essential, must be paired with creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. His and well-articulated insights offer a comprehensive guide to succeeding in a complex world.
As someone who has led many teams over the years, I found "When Grit is Not Enough" by Dean Guida to be an eye-opening read. This book dives deep into what it truly takes to thrive in today’s competitive environment. Guida debunks the common belief that simply persevering is enough to succeed. Through thorough research and captivating stories, he highlights the importance of mentorship, adaptability, and strategic thinking. It’s a must-read for anyone eager to improve their personal and professional growth strategies.
What struck me most about this book is its refreshing perspective on the idea that hard work alone ensures success. Guida explores how elements like opportunity, timing, and support systems all play crucial roles, showing that a more nuanced approach is essential. His clear and persuasive writing, supported by solid evidence, makes this book an invaluable resource for anyone looking to navigate their career more effectively.
If you've ever felt that hard work alone isn't enough, "When Grit is Not Enough" is perfect for you. Guida explains why grit, while essential, must be paired with creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. His solid and well-articulated insights offer a great guide to succeeding in a complex world. ...more
Tanner's book doesn't just focus on external leadership skills but delves deeply into the inner growth necessary for true mastery. This approach sets Tanner's book doesn't just focus on external leadership skills but delves deeply into the inner growth necessary for true mastery. This approach sets it apart from other leadership books.
Throughout the book, the author challenges you to confront your assumptions about leadership. As with others these days, he suggests embracing vulnerability and authenticity, presenting them as sources of strength rather than weaknesses. This is an important point to me in a leader although in today’s political environment (side note) it doesn’t seem important to many voters.
I appreciated the blend of theory and real-world examples that mirrored some of my own experiences. Tanner's insights were relevant, making them not only relatable but also actionable. His has an engaging and relatable writing style and does a solid job of taking complex concepts and making them accessible. ...more
Fascinating account of a fascinating man in a fascinating time and a rather terrible place and time as well . Excellent writing made this a pleasurablFascinating account of a fascinating man in a fascinating time and a rather terrible place and time as well . Excellent writing made this a pleasurable read too . ...more
“A biracial (Korean/British), queer cowboy who is getting together with a fat con-artist and a nonbinary demolition expert to pull off a heist in an a“A biracial (Korean/British), queer cowboy who is getting together with a fat con-artist and a nonbinary demolition expert to pull off a heist in an alternative history with feral and ranching hippos? Wow, my new favorite thing in this world.”
The above review by Goodreads member meltotheany sealed the deal with me on reading River of Teeth. I learned about the book after a co-worker mentioned that Sarah Gailey had written much of their novella at her home so, I was curious to read it.
And it did not disappoint.
One of Gailey's strengths was with the character dialogue. Writing with heavy accents (in this case, Cajun) is typically off putting for me but, they did a masterful job of having the words flow as if I was listening vs. reading the conversations. I also enjoyed their descriptions of the various hippopotami that the cowboys, or "hoppers"rode.
Not gonna to lie, the tabloid headline of this book’s title caught my attention when I saw it in a stack at the office. I started flipping through it Not gonna to lie, the tabloid headline of this book’s title caught my attention when I saw it in a stack at the office. I started flipping through it and admittedly it was hard to put down. It was not just the salacious nature of so many past Presidents and their promiscuous behavior but also some really interesting history surrounding themselves, their wives, mistresses, staff and others beyond just the sexual escapades.
I was very surprised to learn about some of the frequent exploits of long gone Presidents, such as Warren Harding, and even more interesting was that at least one past President was a gay. It’s also hard to believe that Kennedy and Johnson were not outed at the time given the sheer numbers of women they engaged with or worse, sexually harassed.
Spike the Wonder Dog is a mash up of show biz experiences that is a dash of the Rat Pack, a pinch of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas , rolled in with tSpike the Wonder Dog is a mash up of show biz experiences that is a dash of the Rat Pack, a pinch of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas , rolled in with the greats of the insult comedy genre and then all mixed together in what is often the insanity of the entertainment business. This includes the egos, outrageousness and all the other absurdity one might find in this industry presented in a politically correct manner. Wait scratch that, there really isn't anything too politically correct in much of this book, LOL. It is sometimes be a bit crude, even a little rude, and it’s all told in a rather staccato stream of comedic conscience by a english bull terrier dog named Spike. Fans of humor and shows like Family Guy , including the Griffin's family dog Brian, will immensely enjoy the adventures of Spike!
Bill Boggs has probably seen it all in show business and his creative use of using Spike to tell all makes for a rollicking fast paced read. There’s plenty to laugh at with characters that seem to span generations of the entertainment world. I have no doubt there are many actual experiences from Boggs, both with and without the names changed to protect the guilty and innocent, which he tells through the view of Spike.
Much of the book will make you laugh, some of it may make you cringe and parts of it are actually a bit difficult to read. And while on the surface Spike may sometimes seem to be gratuitous and even a bit shallow, there’s a lot of heart and wisdom in this book....more
Fascinating, intense and useful which resurfaced some difficult and sad personal experiences for me (see below and my Kindle Notes and Highlights refeFascinating, intense and useful which resurfaced some difficult and sad personal experiences for me (see below and my Kindle Notes and Highlights references). This is an important book. Perhaps my favorite aspect of this book, however, is reading the Goodreads reviews.
It’s so interesting to see how people perceive de Becker's theme and message and I find elements of my own thoughts in The Gift of Fear from the 1 star to 5 star reviews alike.
My 4 star rating is based on solid writing and very interesting stories that I found informative and enlightening.
It was a truly engaging read for me and the only thing that prevented a 5 star rating was the author was too verbose in more than a few chapters. Goodreads member Emily summed this up well in her review from December 2009, “I appreciate that Mr. de Becker gives the reader permission to trust her instincts while aiming to educate and fine-tune her intuition. That said, he seemed to spend a lot of time at the beginning telling me what he was going to tell me instead of just jumping in and telling me.”
Also. some reviews were critical that de Becker’s material was nothing more than common sense. While that may be true to a degree, I found a lot of new perspectives and guidance on how to decipher what is driving intuition and that said common sense. I definitely learned a lot.
Another review pointed out that technology has changed greatly since the 1997 publish date and needs to be updated and I agree. However, the motivations , behavior and actions of dangerous people are still relevant to any period.
As noted in my Kindle Notes and Highlights, I was reading the chapter on dangerous employee discipline and firings (excellent checklist BTW) on the day that Sam Cassidy killed 9 co-workers at the San Jose Valley Transportation Authority (May 2021). The parallels of this tragic murder and the descriptions in the book were so similar it was stunning. Also, I have personal connections to two of the examples of workplace horrors from long ago cited in Chapter 9. I’ve noted those in my Kindle Notes and Highlights as well. Feel free to inquire if you’re interested in hearing more.
Another tip, especially if you’re a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, it’s worth downloading the book simply to read Chapter 14. That true crime story about a major unnamed celebrity client (a little research led me to learn this was Olivia Newton John) being not just stalked but hunted was as riveting as any I crime thriller I have ever read; fiction or non-fiction.
Before I conclude the review, it’s also worth mentioning that de Becker has built what is arguably the world’s best personal protection agency (Jeff Bezos retains him and had his entire senior leadership team read this book according to author Brad Stone) with, from what I can ascertain, no formal training or previous law enforcement experience that I can find. That’s rather remarkable.
Finally, this book validated something I have always believed, I never want to be famous. People are nuts!...more
A very interesting account of the 116 days from Harry Truman’s unlikely Presidency, after the death of FDR, through the first and only use of atomic wA very interesting account of the 116 days from Harry Truman’s unlikely Presidency, after the death of FDR, through the first and only use of atomic weapons in warfare, followed by worthwhile and thought provoking epilogues as well. Wallace’s writing reminds me of Erik Larson’s narrative history style which I find highly engaging and easy to read.
As with Larson’s narrative history approach, I particularly enjoyed the stories and details with important but secondary players in the science, design, manufacture, ethical debates and other elements of this horrific time and weapon. While plenty has been written about Truman, Oppenheimer, and Tibbets, it was interesting to learn more about these lesser known and even obscure people and contributors. This included various government officials, other B29 crew members, front line support workers with The Manhattan Project and a Hiroshima survivor as well.
Of particular interest, and new learning for me, was about Harry Truman. He seems to have been a man of high integrity but, also a failed business person without a college degree and a product of a corrupt Midwest political machine who, by essentially happenstance, ended up in the White House. How unexpected and random it was that Truman, by most measures unqualified to be a US Senator much less POTUS, found himself as the person to make this pivotal and grave historic decision.
Final note, I also discovered Wallace's co-author Mitch Weiss and I am looking forward to reading some of his other books that look fascinating. ...more
I enjoy reading history in general and, for reasons I am not exactly sure of, have always been interested in the story of Genghis Khan and the Mongol I enjoy reading history in general and, for reasons I am not exactly sure of, have always been interested in the story of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire.
This was my first time delving into that history and the generations of power that followed him that in many ways seemed like a non-fiction Game of Thrones. The book description gives a great summary of the illuminating aspects which I never knew of regarding the people, players and remarkable story.
And that’s the beauty of Goodreads, learn about something that interests you and then discover even more reading and recommendations from others that share a similar interest....more
This year I am playing some “KUR” (Kindle Unlimited Roulette).
The Rules:
1. Select Novellas / Short Reads to crush my 2021 Reading Challenge 2. Select This year I am playing some “KUR” (Kindle Unlimited Roulette).
The Rules:
1. Select Novellas / Short Reads to crush my 2021 Reading Challenge 2. Select genres I don’t typically (never) read 3. Click on a random book. 4. Read it. 5. Review it.
And here we are.
Very well written and whew. Good story and “fine AF” indeed. ...more
I'd love to join in a book club with some of you well read bibliophiles out there who rated this 5 stars with glowing reviews to help me better apprecI'd love to join in a book club with some of you well read bibliophiles out there who rated this 5 stars with glowing reviews to help me better appreciate the "brilliance", "intricacy", and "dazzle" (all pulled from the cover accolades) of this Nobel prize winning novel.
The stream of consciousness of a tightly wound butler made for a combination both plodding and also interesting reading but I know I am missing something.
I welcome your comments and observations :)...more
Diversity and inclusion is important at Goodreads. In fact, we have a special book shelf in the office dedicated to literature that offers many titlesDiversity and inclusion is important at Goodreads. In fact, we have a special book shelf in the office dedicated to literature that offers many titles on the subject. While browsing these books I noticed “LOT” and the title caught my attention. Exactly why, I am not sure. So, I decided to read it sight and review unseen.
Turns out the book was written by a debut author published by Riverhead. Instead of typical chapters it is a string of short related stories of a teen male growing up in a gritty setting in Houston. Bryan Washington’s writing is stark but very readable, even though I had to reference Urban Dictionary more than once for some definitions. I suppose that speaks to the importance of literature to educate on diversity.
"Lot" is a very interesting, a bit different but very well written book about a world I am aware of but really do not know. It’s a raw story, sometimes difficult to read, that definitely kept me engaged. It painted a real and usually harsh view of trying to scrape by and figure life out when one is “too dark for the blancos, too Latin for the blacks” plus gay as well; in the morass of America’s 4th largest city....more
It started out as a 2 star for me, even though right upfront there was an interesting story about a loThere’s nothing really “subtle” about this book.
It started out as a 2 star for me, even though right upfront there was an interesting story about a loser who became a winner by not worrying that he was really a loser. But Manson still seemed like a self-absorbed ass (see referenced 2 star review below for more) whose writing style did not initially appeal to me. I mentioned this to my friend that had lent me the book and was encouraged to stick with it a little further. I am glad I went with that recommendation.
Chapter 2 got better and at chapter 3 it rose to 5 stars as the examples became even more interesting and the concepts both relevant and thought provoking. Plus, I agreed with a lot of what he was saying.
It settled back into 3-4 star territory for the final portion of the book. All in, it was interesting, fast and easy read that definitely made me think and had some really solid points and insights.
In fact, I may buy the Kindle edition to re-read and take advantage of adding notes and highlights. In lieu of that, two quotes that I particularly enjoyed included:
“Many celebrities are as clueless about life as the people that gawk at them and follow their every move.” I am not sure about the celebrities being clueless but, I am sure those that gawk and follow their every damn move are.
“Technology has solved old economic problems by giving us new psychological ones. The Internet has not just open sourced information, it has also open sourced insecurity, self-doubt and shame.” While I agree, I still believe the benefits of the Internet (and social media) continue to far far outweigh the negatives.
Also, while reading the book, as I often do, I enjoyed reading other reviews at about the midway point. I was not too surprised to see a wide spectrum of ratings with negative, neutral and positive reviews like these:
And the #1 reviewer in Korea, Amy Joseph, gave it just 2 stars with 1,011 review likes. Here is her concise take on it as mentioned above.
“Have you ever been in a bar and had a know-it-all tell you everything you need to know about life without any evidence to back up what he's saying? That's what this book felt like” ¬¬ What I did learn from reading these reviews is much of what Mason is talking about appears to be derived from Buddhism and those reviews offered a number of good titles for additional reading.
Bottomline, this is a somewhat counterintuitive self-help book that is a quick easy read and deserving of its popularity.
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