Business Book Reviews

“In this sweeping and penetrating analysis of the global forces driving change over the next twenty-five years, futurist Mary O’Hara Devereaux’s experienced hand draws a compelling, holistic map of the rapidly-shifiting territory we are entering, ‘The Badlands.’ Fortunately, she also provides us with critical navigational tools for systematically scouting our paths into this dangerous future. In our Business Across Borders training sessions, her Cassandra-esque prophecies made a powerful impression on our MBAs and corporate guests alike.” - Leslie Jarmon, Director, Business Across Borders Plus Program, MBA Program, McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin

“This is imperative reading in sustaining your competitive edge in the global, U.S., and China marketplace by focusing on three key factors—fluid strategies, adaptive leadership, and learning about the emerging economic powerhouse China.” - Tom Chin, CEO, Sino-American Development and Investment Corporation

The Paradox of Excellence: How Great Performance Can Kill Your Business
by David Mosby & Michael Weissman

Every so often I encounter a problem that I keep grappling with—its answer eluding me for years. One of the elusive answers happens to be related to the puzzle that has hit my company and made me shake my head over almost a decade: Flawless performance as a vendor can backfire on a company. I kept asking: “How come flawless performance only triggers exaggerated responses when small and insignificant issues surface?”

A year ago, I heard David Mosby discuss this topic, and now his book “The Paradox of Excellence” is available. David Mosby and his coauthor Michael Weissman suggest that you change your communication – both internal and external.

If you are frustrated about business books that drone on with redundant examples, this book is going to appeal to you: It is a fast read, written as a case study with specifics about how to avoid the problem in the future. The book will cause you to rethink your customer interaction and your customer retention policy. -HK

The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century
by Thomas L. Friedman

The World Is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman was sitting on my “to-be-read bookshelf” for three months before I gained the courage and set aside the time to read it. It made it across the Atlantic twice, each time providing ample reading material for the entire trip. But more importantly, it provided an inspiration that made me see the world differently and changed my business outlook.

I took business initiatives that I would not otherwise have taken. The book is heavy and not an easy read, but it is well worth the time invested. More often than not, you will find yourself frowning, then nodding. Friedman’s observations are thought provoking, whether you are a parent, a businesswoman or just a world citizen and voter.

If you are thinking that reading it doesn’t pay because the fad is over, think again. While it is certainly a time sensitive book written based on the current state of the world, it will provide insight that will come in handy for years to come. -HK

Business Beyond Base Camp: A Tale for Business Leaders
by Bernard Johann Putz, Ph.D.

What busy manager has time to read a full-length business book? Yet, consistently busy executives are reading through the entire novel Business Beyond Base Camp. Since it can be read in less than two hours or skimmed in less than 15 minutes, executives often read the book in one sitting, enjoy the story and immediately apply what they learned.

As Charles Albert, CEO of Creativity, Inc., based in San Carlos, commented, “I really enjoyed this book – a captivating story with lots of useful insights. I plan to reread the insights helpfully placed at the end each chapter from time to time to retain and use in the future.”

Business Beyond Base Camp is a business novel that offers engaging insights through storytelling about how to lead organizations to the next level. These practical insights can be consistently executed right now. It helps executives remember the basics necessary to grow a business. -DD

Fish. A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results
by Stephen C. Lundin, Larry Paul & John Christensen

As Silicon Valley companies - and for that matter all companies - are faced with extreme productivity demands, it becomes our challenge to make the best of the situation. Never has it been so important to make work fun, to be focused on helping customers, and to create the positive attitude day by day.

Fish. A remarkable way to boost morale and improve results can provide some very basic tools and ideas in just one hour of reading. The story about Pike Place Fish in Seattle, and how they dared to be different is a true inspiration. And the four main ingredients to make the change are right there for you to show your staff. It is simple and fun - and just plain impossible to read without getting inspired. -HK

Persuasive Business Proposals
by Tom Sant / Published by American Management Association

We all write business proposals. Whether they are short e-mails, one-page letters or “thud proposals” — named after the sound of hundreds of pages hitting the desk or trash can — they need to be persuasive.

I was getting ready for a refresher and found a true gem of a book by Tom Sant. Persuasive Business Proposals covers the entire process:

• How to deliver on-time (take the RFP apart and analyze it, then plan, using Sant’s tools)
• How to persuade (find out what is important to the customer, and prove you can deliver)
• How to structure the value proposition (use the brainstorming tools from the book)

It also offers very practical advice on how to structure the proposal, and how to deal with those irritating proposals where they don’t really allow you to explain anything (“explain how you will solve our problem, using 15 words or less”).

Finally, Tom Sant provides useful advice to prevent the writer from falling into common traps in the English language.

It is well composed, well written and full of useful contents. Enjoyable reading that is sure to present a huge return on investment. -HK

Jack: Straight from the Gut
by Jack Welch

Jack Welch’s book is also about determination. Here is a guy who does not take no for an answer. Not when it is about his own promotion, and definitely not if you as a subordinate do not meet your goals.

Tough as nails, Jack Welch has zero problems with letting non-performers go. But even tough guys have doubts about their actions. It is a great relief to read about the concerns and 20-20 hindsight observations. He made mistakes, too. Whew!

The most remarkable thing about Jack Welsh and his methods is his ability to focus on the future, and not to let the past get in his way. How it was is unrelated to how it will be. You can learn how one of the world’s most determined leaders walked the walk. -HK

Simplicity. The New Competitive Advantage…
by Bill Jensen

Bill Jensen’s book may be about simplicity, but it is an extraordinarily difficult book to read. The study of making life simpler is, however, very worthwhile. Creating clarity about priorities, objectives, tools, and how to spend time and resources may be the most important task a business leader faces. Think about it: 80% of your employees have trouble finding the appropriate tools and information. Every 1,100 days, the information load doubles.

The problem with Jensen’s book is that creating simplicity is not simple. The tool kits presented in the book are huge and difficult to get your arms around. It involves techniques for hitting delete— both when it comes to e-mail and to meetings without purpose, follow-up and milestones.

Among the useful tools: The know-feel-use-do-succeed matrix which lets you narrow down which few things are important, consider and plan what the experience will feel like, focus on the tools and resources, create and manage expectations, and create a teachable view of what you are trying to achieve. If 57% of your employees do not have the tools, training or information to help meet company goals, you already know the most important question every employee has when you want to make a change. -HK

Other Recommended Business Titles