price：$17.74
William Morrow
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Freakonomics felt empty and missed the point) 『This book is a far cry from teaching you how you alone can benefit from economics. On top of that, enough with the commentary already, where are the practical tools that can teach us effective economic thinking summarized in a one-to-ten bullet points list? The reason for it is that if you truly want to learn how to make money in this world or the stock-market you need to read the works of Toby Crabel, Linda Rasche or some other professional traders that make living trading the market daily. Their books are very expensive because they do not right for a living, but trade for a living. I had to go find them on Ebay or Amazon. However, their writing is more focused on the techniques and ways to profit and trade any security, any time. Being very successful in this space myself, it takes a real book from a real trader these days to impress me. Reading Super Freakonomics felt rather tired and there are at least 3 other books in the space already that have become best-sellers on the same pop-economics concept.』
(A little too Random) 『The authors were clearly over-leveraging the success of the first Freakanomics to sell this one. I found this one a bit empty-- taking their formula in a bit of a ridiculous direction...(walk drunk--drive drunk?)...is that normally the option?
It's random examples, comparisons and over-hyped stats rarely came full circle to some sort of point the average person could seriously consider....It seemed every time they started getting somewhere they contradicted themselves in the spirit of objectivity ruining the possibility of any valid perspective they could add to this hod-podge of information. Yes it makes you think...but doesn't supply a clear train of thought nor enough information to foster any type of conclusion. I can see where they were going they just never managed to get there.』
(Vary Good content, but not so good printing quality) 『I've just finished the book and the content is very good, in line with the 1st Freakonomics.
But I was quite disappointed with the quality of the pages as they are badly cut in the edge, showing different sizes -it seems they were cut "by hand". The problem did not prevent me from reading, but it made more difficult to "change pages".』
(Good, but not super great) 『Levitt and Dubner exposes another set of fascinating insights into human nature and mannerisms through economics, statistics and great storytelling. While the information presented was interesting and counter-intuitive, I found the book to be quite lean in material. I was hoping for more, but perhaps that`s why there may be a Doublesuperfreakonomics some time in the future.
Solid read, but wish there were more.』
(Great Read) 『This book, like the first one, makes you think outside of the box.
This isn't supposed to be the definitive answer to global warming or too child safety. But it does make one consider and to look past all the politicking by Corporations, Scientists, and (of course) Politicians.
They don't consider themselves saviors or even to be the final answer. I see them as trying to liberate us from our self proclaimed boxes.
And that's what they do for me.』 『
TheNew York TimesbestsellingFreakonomicswas a worldwide sensation, selling more than four million copies in thirty-five languages and changing the way we look at the world.
Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner return withSuperfreakonomics, and fans and newcomers alike will find that thefreakquel is even bolder, funnier, and more surprising than the first.
SuperFreakonomicschallenges the way we think all over again, exploring the hidden side of everything with such questions as:
How is a street prostitute like a department-store Santa?
What do hurricanes, heart attacks, and highway deaths have in common?
Can eating kangaroo save the planet?
Levitt and Dubner mix smart thinking and great storytelling like no one else. By examining how people respond to incentives, they show the world for what it really is—good, bad, ugly, and, in the final analysis, super freaky.Freakonomicshas been imitated many times over—but only now, withSuperFreakonomics, has it met its match.
』 『Book Description
TheNew York Timesbest-sellingFreakonomicswas a worldwide sensation, selling over four million copies in thirty-five languages and changing the way we look at the world. Now, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner return withSuperFreakonomics,and fans and newcomers alike will find that the freakquel is even bolder, funnier, and more surprising than the first.
Four years in the making,SuperFreakonomicsasks not only the tough questions, but the unexpected ones: What's more dangerous, driving drunk orwalkingdrunk? Why is chemotherapy prescribed so often if it's so ineffective? Can a sex change boost your salary?
SuperFreakonomicschallenges the way we think all over again, exploring the hidden side of everything with such questions as:
How is a street prostitute like a department-store Santa?
Why are doctors so bad at washing their hands?
How much good do car seats do?
What's the best way to catch a terrorist?
Did TV cause a rise in crime?
What do hurricanes, heart attacks, and highway deaths have in common?
Are people hard-wired for altruism or selfishness?
Can eating kangaroo save the planet?
Which adds more value: a pimp or a Realtor?
Levitt and Dubner mix smart thinking and great storytelling like no one else, whether investigating a solution to global warming or explaining why the price of oral sex has fallen so drastically. By examining how people respond to incentives, they show the world for what it really is good, bad, ugly, and, in the final analysis, super freaky.
Freakonomicshas been imitated many times over but only now, withSuperFreakonomics,has it met its match.
FromSuperfreakonomics: Where do you stand on the freak-o-meter?
Four years ago, you were cool. You readFreakonomicswhen it first came out. You impressed family and friends and dazzled dates with the insights you gleaned. Now Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner return withSuperfreakonomics, afreakquel even bolder, funnier, and more surprising than the first.
Have you been keeping up? Can you call yourself a SuperFreak? Test yourSuperfreakonomicsknow-how now:Question 1:5 points According toSuperfreakonomics, what has been most helpful in improving the lives of women in rural India? A. The government ban on dowries and sex-selective abortions B. The spread of cable and satellite television C. Projects that pay women to not abort female babies D. Condoms made specially for the Indian marketQuestion 2:3 points Among Chicago street prostitutes, which night of the week is the most profitable? A. Saturday B. Monday C. Wednesday D. FridayQuestion 3:5 points You land in an emergency room with a serious condition and your fate lies in the hands of the doctor you draw. Which characteristic doesn’t seem to matter in terms of doctor skill? A. Attended a top-ranked medical school and served a residency at a prestigious hospital B. Is female C. Gets high ratings from peers D. Spends more money on treatmentQuestion 4:3 points Which cancer is chemotherapy more likely to be effective for? A. Lung cancer B. Melanoma C. Leukemia D. Pancreatic cancerQuestion 5:5 points Half of the decline in deaths from heart disease is mainly attributable to: A. Inexpensive drugs B. Angioplasty C. Grafts D. StentsQuestion 6:3 points True or False: Child car seats do a better job of protecting children over the age of 2 from auto fatalities than regular seat belts.Question 7:5 points What’s the best thing a person can do personally to cut greenhouse gas emissions? A. Drive a hybrid car B. Eat one less hamburger a week C. Buy all your food from local sourcesQuestion 8:3 points Which is most effective at stopping the greenhouse effect? A. Public-awareness campaigns to discourage consumption B. Cap-and-trade agreements on carbon emissions C. Volcanic explosions D. Planting lots of treesQuestion 9:5 points In the 19th century, one of the gravest threats of childbearing was puerperal fever, which was often fatal to mother and child. Its cause was finally determined to be: A. Tight bindings of petticoats early in the pregnancy B. Foul air in the delivery wards C. Doctors not taking sanitary precautions D. The mother rising too soon in the delivery roomQuestion 10:3 points Which of the following were not aftereffects of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks on September 11, 2001: A. The decrease in airline traffic slowed the spread of influenza. B. Thanks to extra police in Washington, D.C., crime fell in that city. C. The psychological effects of the attacks caused people to cut back on their consumption of alcohol, which led to a decrease in traffic accidents. D. The increase in border security was a boon to some California farmers, who, as Mexican and Canadian imports declined, sold so much marijuana that it became one of the states most valuable crops.Answers and Scoring Question 1 B, Cable and satellite TV. Women with television were less willing to tolerate wife beating, less likely to admit to having a“son preference,” and more likely to exercise personal autonomy. Plus, the men were perhaps too busy watching cricket.Question 2 A, Saturday nights are the most profitable. While Friday nights are the busiest, the single greatest determinant of a prostitute’s price is the specific trick she is hired to perform. And for whatever reason, Saturday customers purchase more expensive services.Question 3 C, One factor that doesn’t seem to matter is whether a doctor is highly rated by his or her colleagues. Those named as best by their colleagues turned out to be no better than average at lowering death rates--although they did spend less money on treatments.Question 4 C, Leukemia. Chemotherapy has proven effective on some cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and testicular cancer, especially if these cancers are detected early. But in most cases, chemotherapy is remarkably ineffective, often showing zero discernible effect. That said, cancer drugs make up the second-largest category of pharmaceutical sales, with chemotherapy comprising thebulk.Question 5 A, Inexpensive drugs. Expensive medical procedures, while technologically dazzling, are responsible for a remarkably small share of the improvement in heart disease. Roughly half of the decline has come from reductions in risk factors like high cholesterol and high blood pressure, both of which are treated with relatively inexpensive drugs. And much of the remaining decline is thanks to ridiculously inexpensive treatments like aspirin, heparin, ACE inhibitors, and beta-blockers.Question 6 False. Based on extensive data analysis as well as crash tests paid for by the authors, old-fashioned seat belts do just as well as car seats.Question 7 B, Shifting less than one day per week’s worth of calories from red meat and dairy products to chicken, fish, eggs, or a vegetable-based diet achieves more greenhouse-gas reduction than buying all locally sourced food, according to a recent study by Christopher Weber and H. Scott Matthews, two Carnegie Mellon researchers. Every timea Prius or other hybrid owner drives to the grocery store, she may be cancelling out its emissions-reducing benefit, at least if she shops in the meat section. Emission from cows, as well as sheep and other ruminants, are 25 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than the carbon dioxide released by cars and humans.Question 8 C, the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines discharged more than 20 million tons of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, which acted like a layer of sunscreen, reducing the amount of solar radiation and cooling off the earth by an average of one degree F.Question 9 C, doctors not taking sanitary precautions. This was the dawning age of the autopsy, and doctors did not yet know the importance of washing their hands after leaving the autopsy room and entering the delivery room.Question 10 C, the psychological effect of the attacks caused people to increase their alcohol consumption, and traffic accidents increased as a result.Scoring 32-40: Certified SuperFreak 25-31: Freak--surprises lay in wait for you 16-24: Wannabe freak--you’ve got some reading to do 1-15: Conventional wisdomer--you’re still thinking in old ways』
price：$16.74
Little, Brown and Company
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Excellent book leaves more to be desired) 『This is truly an excellent book from an excellent writer. However, this book is a far cry from teaching you how to can benefit from such thinking. On top of that, enough with the commentary already, where are the practical tools that can teach us effective economic thinking summarized in a one-to-ten bullet points list? The reason for it is that if you truly want to learn how to make money in this world you either need Ivy League degree, amazing business savvy or need to read the works of Toby Crabel, Linda Rasche - professional futures/stock traders that make living trading the market daily. Their books are very expensive because they do not write for a living, but trade for a living. I had to go find them on Ebay or Amazon. However, their writing is more focused on the techniques and ways to profit and trade any security, any time. Being very successful in this space myself, it takes a real book from a real trader these days to impress me. The reason i gave it 2 stars, is because the author has set the bar so high already, it would take another incredible book (like the first one he released) to give him a top ranking.』
(I'm not quite sure I saw it, though) 『What the Dog Saw (Audio) by Malcolm Gladwell Genre: Non-fiction Rating: 3/5
What the dog saw tells some interesting stories and gives details about things that you never thought about, and probably never wanted to know. It was entertaining but a little silly when you get right down to it. I mean, do I really want to know the in depth process for making the perfect tomato sauce? No, not really.
It was a bit hard to listen to this for more than 45 minutes at a time, and I would recommend listening to one "story" at a time so that you don't get overwhelmed.
The writing was clear but not flowery or over descriptive, and it was read by the author who did a great job, but read without much enthusiasm or inflection, making it difficult to listen to for too long.
Recommendation: Ages 12+. I would think that the people who would enjoy this most would be Journalists, History lovers, or anyone on a long car ride. 』
(Like a provocative comedian, Gladwell chooses familiar rocks) 『Gladwell's subject matter is intentionally, wildly far flung. In addition, one story will go micro and the next will go macro. He revels in the swing. Like a provocative comedian, Gladwell chooses familiar rocks and then breaks them open for the pay off. He exposes the human motivations and the surrounding group dynamics that contribute to any number of calamities. As a premier American Social Scientist, Gladwell is many things; part intuitive savant, part psychologist and sociologist and part investigative interrogator. Above all these gifts, Gladwell is an excellent story teller. He often tackles huge and complex topics with simple unflappable logic. Gladwell's patented "reveal" is his franchise trademark. First he presents an interesting dynamic or problem. He then presents a second, seemingly unrelated problem. Gladwell toggles between the two stories and rolls them out on two long converging lines, logically inching them forward, step-by-step. At the end of each essay, there is a single resolve with an implicit social commentary, (`... the teacher's have an NFL quarterback problem"). He often concedes that knowing the logical answer won't necessarily change the next inevitable outcome. So rest assured, due to our own human nature, curious Mr. Gladwell will never run short of flamboyant material.』
(If you don't need the actual physical book...) 『Not a review so much as a notice. If you don't need the actual book itself, you should know that all of these pieces are available on Malcolm Gladwell's website for free.』
(Enough already, Gladwell Groupies) 『As I walked into my local Borders, I cast a casual glance at the New Book section and caught a glimpse of Gladwell's new "Messianic Verses". With a copy of his penultimate book "Outliers" still fresh on my shelf, I eagerly grabbed "What the Dog Saw" and sat down to a cup of Seattles Best coffee.
As I got about halfway through the Ron Popeil chapter, I muttered, "wait a minute", had I picked a biography in error? I moved on to the Nassim Taleb chapter which was a bit more interesting, perhaps owing to my specific interest in the subject (I work in Finance).
I began flipping through the book in near frustration trying to catch anything that would excite my intellect (as the prior books had). Nothing!! I gently closed the book and quietly slipped out of the bookstore to avoid that funny "you freeloader" look form the store clerks.
I came home and went right to Amazon reviews to guage reactions on the book. I have to say on reading the reviews, every doubt I may harbor about a notional "Cult of Gladwell" has been buried. That anyone can compare this to his prior works, or offer a full-throated recommendation, is a mystery to me - unless of course this board is infested with "shills" planted by Gladwell's publisher.
As to recommendation, my position ought to be evident.
Okey』 『What is the difference between choking and panicking? Why are there dozens of varieties of mustard-but only one variety of ketchup? What do football players teach us about how to hire teachers? What does hair dye tell us about the history of the 20thcentury?
In the past decade, Malcolm Gladwell has written three books that have radically changed how we understand our world and ourselves:The Tipping Point;Blink; andOutliers.Now, inWhat the Dog Saw, he brings together, for the first time, the best of his writing fromTheNew Yorkerover the same period.
Here is the bittersweet tale of the inventor of the birth control pill, and the dazzling inventions of the pasta sauce pioneer Howard Moscowitz. Gladwell sits with Ron Popeil, the king of the American kitchen, as he sells rotisserie ovens, and divines the secrets of Cesar Millan, the "dog whisperer" who can calm savage animals with the touch of his hand. He explores intelligence tests and ethnic profiling and "hindsight bias" and why it was that everyone in Silicon Valley once tripped over themselves to hire the same college graduate.
"Good writing," Gladwell says in his preface, "does not succeed or fail on the strength of its ability to persuade. It succeeds or fails on the strength of its ability to engage you, to make you think, to give you a glimpse into someone else's head."What the Dog Sawis yet another example of the buoyant spirit and unflagging curiosity that have made Malcolm Gladwell our most brilliant investigator of the hidden extraordinary.
price：$19.45
Viking Adult
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Revealing view inside Wall St) 『 Mr. Sorkin has written an insiders view of the power broker and politicians who really run wall st. The back office politics and policy's that shape this nations fortunes. An excellent read, I could not put it down. Better than many suspense/crime novels I have read, only this time it is not fiction but fact.』
(Too big to Fail) 『One of the best I have read this year. A must read for any investor in the markets.』
(Reads like a novel only scarier!!) 『One of the best reads ever!! Even if you think you knew what was going on you were wrong. This was truely an amazing piece of history to survive!』
(Well-researched and objective...) 『Just finished the book and felt compelled to write a review. First, I agree with those who say that low rankings based on price have no place in this type of forum. These people are vindictive and bitter and have better things to do with their time (and they know it). Second, I found the number of typos a bit odd, but I'm convinced that it has to do with the scanning process or whatever they use to transfer the text into Kindle format. All that said, this is a remarkably well-researched and easy-to-follow account of the scramble behind the scenes during fall 2008. History will ultimately be the best judge, but for anyone looking to better understand what happened, this is an excellent place to start.』
(Terribly disappointing.) 『Anyone wanting thoughtful analysis and insight into how America fell into the biggest financial mess since the Great Depression -- and why regulators responded as they did -- should look elsewhere. Too Big To Fail is an almost endless regurgitation of what various bankers said in meetings among themselves and with regulators.』 『A real-life thriller about the most tumultuous period in America’s financial history by an acclaimedNew York TimesReporter
Andrew Ross Sorkin delivers the first true behind-the-scenes, moment-by-moment account of how the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression developed into a global tsunami. From inside the corner office at Lehman Brothers to secret meetings in South Korea, and the corridors of Washington,Too Big to Failis the definitive story of the most powerful men and women in finance and politics grappling with success and failure, ego and greed, and, ultimately, the fate of the world’s economy.
“We’ve got to get some foam down on the runway!” a sleepless Timothy Geithner, the then-president of the Federal Reserve of New York, would tell Henry M. Paulson, the Treasury secretary, about the catastrophic crash the world’s financial system would experience.
Through unprecedented access to the players involved,Too Big to Failre-creates all the drama and turmoil, revealing never disclosed details and elucidating how decisions made on Wall Street over the past decade sowed the seeds of the debacle. This true story is not just a look at banks that were“too big to fail,” it is a real-life thriller with a cast of bold-faced names who themselves thought they were too big to fail.』
price：$16.24
Little, Brown and Company
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (A Quick Read) 『"Outliers: The Story of Success" by Gladwell is an entertaining, quick read. Some of the insights are "Duh", but most are: "Hmm, hadn't thought of that." I liked it.』
(Insightful Perspectves on the Nature of "Success") 『Another terrific book by Malcolm Gladwell, filled with unusual research and keen observations of human behavior conveyed using a clear, varied and persuasive examples of how and why some people succeed...or not. Smart guy--great read-- interesting observations. I listened to Gladwell read it himself on audiobook, which I found a great stress-reliever during long drives. (Review from the award-winning author of Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace: A Guided Imagery Meditation for Physical&Spiritual Wellness』
(Ok Book For Those In The Know, Great Book For Those Unaware) 『Gladwell's insights are helpful in some ways in describing a very small percentage of the popular outlier stories. But I think it places a little bit too much emphasis on luck and opportunity rather than on gift, intellect, and pure skill. For example, he goes into great detail about how Bill Gates was so lucky to be where he was at the right time, in the right location, knowing the right people, and having access to the right things. However, I think if you put someone else in Bill Gates shoes, events would not be guaranteed to turn out the same just because that `someone else' was in place of Bill Gates luck and opportunity.
In other places of the book, his insights are helpful at understanding the present issues with education and the trends among cultures in the differences in educational level. His explanation of why Chinese kids are smarter due to their hard life at the rice paddies and the Chinese language in itself seems to help grasp the advantages they have over other cultures. I also thought his 10,000 hours explanation was insightful on how hard work pays off in any activity or hobby or sport.
Overall, though, I think Gladwell's insights are brief and very high level. There are a lot more reasons for the success stories of the people described in his book than the sole reason of luck/chance/opportunity. Some people make their own opportunity. The examples in the book seem to only support his thesis and disregard the other thousands of success stories that didn't rely so much on luck. The book is also very un-analytical in each idea that is presented. To say that this book helps grasp the major trends in present society is to break down society in very simple terms and disregard all the other variables, no matter how small, out of the equation. The book is also very one-dimensional as every story or event results in the same theme, the same thesis, and the same idea. Gladwell's insights are really his insight, singular, because all he has done is write several chapters on the same scene of a story. 』
(Eloquent exaggerations) 『Gladwell has taken what would be a few ordinary blog posts and added enough eloquent fluff to them to make them into a book. There is probably a good deal of truth to his conclusions, but the evidence is much weaker than he wants you to think.
For his claim that 10,000 hours of practice are needed to become an expert, he doesn't discuss the possibility that the causality often runs the opposite way: having the talent to become an expert creates a desire to practice a lot. He gives at least one example where the person seemed to lack expertise before getting the 10,000 hours of practice, but it's not hard to imagine a variety of immaturity-related reasons why that might happen without the amount of practice causing the expertise.
I'm confused by his claims about how much practice he thinks the Beatles had before becoming successful. He points to somewhere between 1,200 and 1,800 hours of practice they had by late 1962 (which is about when Wikipedia indicates they became successful in the UK). Gladwell seems to say they weren't successful until they came to the US in February 1964. He implies that they had 10,000 hours of practice by then, but I don't see how he could claim they had much more than 3,000 hours of practice by then. So calling the 10,000 hour estimate a rule appears involve a good deal of exaggeration.』
(It Takes 10,000 Hours of Practice To Excel at Anything) 『That was pretty much the only revelation I had by reading this book. The high rating goes to the amount and kind of research that went into explaining why successful people are the way they are. Mr. Gladwell has a knack for making dull statistical data interesting and entertaining. It's fascinating to learn about how one's date of birth can seriously affect his hockey career, or academic excellence for that matter. It was also great to reaffirm what we already know about the role of culture and community in the success (and failure) of the individual.
The book was mostly reiterating what most educated people know about success. Even the revelation I had about the 10,000 hour rule is nothing more than the old adage "Practice makes Perfect." The stories the author uses to support his findings are in and of themselves a compelling read. I certainly enjoyed reading them and re-learning why common sense and perseverance are the only true measures that will bring you success in the end.
This is a great book of entertaining statistics and not a how-to to success.』 『In this stunning new book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of "outliers"--the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high-achievers different? His answer is that we pay too much attention to what successful people are like, and too little attention to where they are from: that is, their culture, their family, their generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing. Along the way he explains the secrets of software billionaires, what it takes to be a great soccer player, why Asians are good at math, and what made the Beatles the greatest rock band.
Brilliant and entertaining, OUTLIERS is a landmark work that will simultaneously delight and illuminate.』 『Amazon Best of the Month, November 2008: Now that he's gotten us talking about the viral life of ideas and the power of gut reactions, Malcolm Gladwell poses a more provocative question inOutliers: why do some people succeed, living remarkably productive and impactful lives, while so many more never reach their potential? Challenging our cherished belief of the "self-made man," he makes the democratic assertion that superstars don't arise out of nowhere, propelled by genius and talent: "they are invariably the beneficiaries of hidden advantages and extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot." Examining the lives of outliers from Mozart to Bill Gates, he builds a convincing case for how successful people rise on a tide of advantages, "some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky."
Outlierscan be enjoyed for its bits of trivia, like why most pro hockey players were born in January, how many hours of practice it takes to master a skill, why the descendents of Jewish immigrant garment workers became the most powerful lawyers in New York, how a pilots' culture impacts their crash record, how a centuries-old culture of rice farming helps Asian kids master math. But there's more to it than that. Throughout all of these examples--and in more that delve into the social benefits of lighter skin color, and the reasons for school achievement gaps--Gladwell invites conversations about the complex ways privilege manifests in our culture. He leaves us pondering the gifts of our own history, and how the world could benefit if more of our kids were granted the opportunities to fulfill their remarkable potential. --Mari Malcolm
price：$5.76
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Awesome Resource for Leaders) 『As a woman at the forefront of a Christian ministry, I recommend this book wholeheartedly. This is one of the best books on leadership I've read in a long time and offers practical advice and tools to better serve your team through purposed leadership. 』
(I loved this book!) 『I loved this book! Nancy Ortberg's new book tells truths about leadership that we don't always hear. Truths that are both encouraging and challenging. Such as: "the core of leadership is hope" - ways to create that culture; "stop being surprised leadership is hard" - expect it; "the leader ought to be the most transformed person in the organization"; "great teams need spirited, unfiltered debate" - handling and even encouraging conflict; and "leaders bear the burden so that hope has free reign".
After reading this book, I want to be a better leader, and I have stories and insights that resonate to help me on that path. Nancy Ortberg's voice is unique - this is not your typical leadership book - and her "non-linear style" so appealing. I was both encouraged by the stories she shared about her own missteps, and challenged by her high view of leadership. After reading Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands, I want to provide a culture of hope for those I lead. 』
(Buy the book!) 『This is the best book on leading and managing I have read in the last 20 years. Really.』
(Great Start) 『Although I haven't had a chance to get too deep into the book yet, the first two chapters and the intro are incredibly enticing and insightful. Looking forward to the rest...when I can get the time...』
(Leadership Challenges are not Linear) 『The thesis of the book is that leading tends not to be linear; it tends to be exponential. The more you pull the rubber band the greater resistance. (I found the analogy particularly interesting since I have recently added using Therabands to my workout schedule. They are very lightweight, portable and can be used almost anywhere. I probably wouldn't need weights in my office if I had learned to use bands when I first starting working out.)
One of the quotes from the book that I liked was, "Great leaders know the value of doing the right things and that includes valuing the contribution of all of the players". I think one area where I have not done as well is telling people I appreciate their contribution. Fortunately I am a life-long learner so I can always change. For me it might even tie in with my own celebration. I tend not to celebrate my own wins as much as I could.
Another quote was, "Much of the frustration that leaders face comes from trying to solve what needs to be managed and trying to manage what needs to be solved. Being able to distinguish which areas need clarity and which areas will be ongoing tensions is a necessary skill." That paragraph was a real truism for me. So many of the things that we are involved in are not solved, they are simply somewhere along a continuum.
I found the book to be interesting, challenging, and thought provoking and would recommend it as a good read.
Only caveat, because Nancy has worked extensively with the church many of her examples have religious overtones that might put some people off.
』 『Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bandsis an engaging and insightful look into the qualities, attributes, and practices that turn ordinary leaders into extraordinary ones. Nancy Ortberg's unique twist on vision casting; managing tensions; nurturing healthy conflict; motivating those around you; fostering creativity, passion, and trust is unlike anything you've ever read before! At times challenging, at times candid, but always inspiring,Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bandswill bring out the best in even the most seasoned leaders.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Started at 5 stars, then...) 『Like being at a nerdy cocktail party playing "Seven Degrees of Kevin Bacon" with statistics, but without the cocktails. Great hook with the speculation that legalizing abortion resulted in decreased crime rate, but downhill from there as the comparisons become more labored and tedious. Couldn't bring myself to finish it.』
(Ok at best) 『Decent but the cool title probably has as much or more to do with this books popularity than anything.』
(Awesonomics) 『This book is a great book for anyone interested in economics. It takes you on a journey of unexpected correlations and defies conventional wisdom. The book shows you truths you never would of expected or thought of with bamboozling statistics and data. It is an easy, enjoyable book for ages 18-168. Also the book is not very long and keeps you entertained. Levitt and Dubner team up to be an awesome duo and they are by far some awesome economists. I high recommend it. Enough Said.』
(Must Own) 『Everyone and anyone should own this book. Humorous insight to the world from an economic point of view without using the wordy terminology.』
(A cool brain teaser) 『Want to look smart at a party? Need a perfect ice-breaker? Want to be witty and charming by "spontaneously" sharing few interesting and/but weird facts with your colleagues? This is a book for you. It offers totally new insight to the facts that might seem to have nothing in common from the first glance, is witty and captivating - great book to relax on your free time, but still, with getting some intelectual stimulation. My personal favourite chapter is about how names "determine" kid's future. Want to know more? You'll have to read it.』
price：$6.64
Penguin Books
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Exemplary life of a modern hero or how respect and care open all doors) 『This is an account from 1993 to 2003 of Greg Mortenson an American climber that after failing to make the K-2 misses his path back and arrives to the small village of Korphe and how he fulfils the promise to the local leader to build a school in his village in Northern Pakistan. The story itself is vibrant and full of stumbling stones and shows how Mr Mortenson manages to go around all of them during a 3 year span and builds the school. He becomes so engaged by the first promise that ever since this has become his mission in life.
This story makes the book already worth reading. Mortenson is a rela hero not only succeding but also going endless strain to achieve it. Additionally it gives a very good insight in the lives and costumes of people in those remote areas of the world and shows their necessities as persons(decent schools, health systems, potable water).
The most interesting aspect probably is how the book breaks with many of the prejudices we might have on Muslims and the way they relate to other people. Greg Mortenson with respect and interest manages to get the support of religious leaders in the area that support his endeavours by educating children to improve the live of these impoverished areas. All this takes makes a very interesting turn when the war on Afghanistan starts after 9/11 and Mortenson experiences how locals see the West with suspicion but keep supporting his initiative.
Mortenson results showing that schools, especially for girls, will improve the life of the region breaking a circle of ignorance in the Karakoram; his actions and attitude are more enriching than the vast majority of motivation books.
The narration with many interviews and quotations of the main characters is lively, direct and touching keeping you tight to the book. The fact that the first thing that Mortenson does when he meets coauthor David Relin is handing out a list of dozens of people that he characterizes as his enemies underlines the credibility to this man and the story. 』
(Inspiring) 『This book tells a remarkable true story of one man's effort to accomplish something good in an area of the world where there is so much suffering from so many heart-breaking problems. His Central Asian Institute stays steadfast in its purpse: to build schools for the children in Afganistan and Pakistan. Greg Mortenson doesn't just talk it--he does it.』
(Very inspiring!) 『I randomly bought this book to read on vacation and was hooked after the first few minutes! It is very inspiring and has opened my eyes. It has changed my thinking that most people think only about themselves and don't care about others. That is clearly not the case here. I am inspired to help in so many ways. I'm so glad I found this book.』
(A Model for Peace) 『I wish I could afford to send a copy of this book to every person in our government who deals with Middle Eastern affairs, especially those involved in military decisions. This is required reading for everyone!』
(Required Reading) 『This book should be required reading for U.S. Citizens and you should not be allowed into a voting booth if you haven't read it. If you read only one book on foreign policy in the next five years. This is it!!!』 『The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyard
Anyone who despairs of the individual’s power to change lives has to read the story of Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistan’s treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade he built fifty-five schools—especially for girls—that offer a balanced education in one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on earth. As it chronicles Mortenson’s quest, which has brought him into conflict with both enraged Islamists and uncomprehending Americans,Three Cups of Teacombines adventure with a celebration of the humanitarian spirit.』
price：$7.02
Back Bay Books
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Enough pieces of sand and you have a Sandbox!) 『Tipping Point is a quick read that illustrates in dramatic fashion how small movements in society become a full blown trend. I have used the term "Tipping Point" in business as success is gained in methodical steps.
Brett Vanderwater, MBA, CIA, CMA, CTP』
(Savor these chapters!) 『Do you need to read this book in order to be successful in life or business? Probably not.
However, this is a book that I purposely read slowly, one chapter at a time, because I would find myself thinking about the case studies and the principles that Gladwell used. Especially interesting was the classification of people into connectors, mavens, and salespeople. We all know them--that chapter will make you think about your sister, your best friend, or your neighbor with a better understanding.
I would highly recommend this book. It will keep your brain running and turning well after the book goes back on the shelf. You will also look smarter at cocktail parties after bringing up some of the theories in this book; that's never a bad thing.』
(Maybe Gladwell's Best to Date?) 『I'd read Gladwell's "Blink" awhile ago, then "Outliers" and thoroughly enjoyed both. Somehow I'd missed "The Tipping Point" until recently, when at the recommendation of a friend I listened to it on audiobook. This is a fascinating book about how trends happen. Malcolm Gladwell has an easily accessible way of communicating social science and group psychology by using compelling, relevant examples that make the reader want to know more. Really interesting examination of "tipping" that occurs sometimes with intent and others, simply resulting from a sequence of events. - Review from the award-winning author of Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace: A Guided Imagery Meditation for Physical&Spiritual Wellness』
(Eye-Opening, Interesting, Revealing, and Fun) 『Simply put, Malcolm Gladwell's "The Tipping Point" is a fantastic book. Widely heralded as a rare and "game changing" book, what Gladwell elegantly offers readers is an interesting set of stories that serve as allegories to a set of powerful, and eye-opening, ideas. These ideas, conveyed regularly, succinctly, and consistently well by Gladwell, provide a frame of reference on the world writ large that serve to answer the question, "how can little things make such a big difference?"
One of the powerful aspects of "The Tipping Point" is the voice of the author -- never proselytizing, Gladwell serves up the facts and the context for the review of the reader, and then builds a logical case as to why he believes what he does. I find Gladwell's logical voice to parallel that of Michael Pollen, especially Pollen's rhetorical approach used throughout The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
This is a smart, entertaining, revealing, and just plain fun book. I recommend this book to all curious readers.』
(If I have no other books to read in an airplane...) 『First, I bought this book because it's one of our supplemental reference book in class. Second, I was prompted to buy because of good review.
It illustrate: - how a small news can easily spread out (The British are coming) - how Hush Puppies shoes was revived in the market - how Sesame Street found its niche in television - how crime was reduced in NY by cleaning up graffiti and fixing broken windows
I consider it more like a history book. This book is quite okay. 50% of what I read are somewhat interesting but nothing in the book so far gave me a WOW.
』 『This celebrated New York Times bestsellernow poised to reach an even wider audience in paperbackis a book that is changing the way North Americans think about selling products and disseminating ideas. Gladwells new afterword to this edition describes how readers can constructively apply the tipping point principle in their own lives and work. Widely hailed as an important work that offers not only a road map to business success but also a profoundly encouraging approach to solving social problems.』 『"The best way to understand the dramatic transformation of unknown books into bestsellers, or the rise of teenage smoking, or the phenomena of word of mouth or any number of the other mysterious changes that mark everyday life," writes Malcolm Gladwell, "is to think of them as epidemics. Ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread just like viruses do." Although anyone familiar with the theory of memetics will recognize this concept, Gladwell'sThe Tipping Pointhas quite a few interesting twists on the subject.
For example, Paul Revere was able to galvanize the forces of resistance so effectively in part because he was what Gladwell calls a "Connector": he knew just about everybody, particularly the revolutionary leaders in each of the towns that he rode through. But Revere "wasn't just the man with the biggest Rolodex in colonial Boston," he was also a "Maven" who gathered extensive information about the British. He knew what was going on and he knew exactly whom to tell. The phenomenon continues to this day--think of how often you've received information in an e-mail message that had been forwarded at least half a dozen times before reaching you.
Gladwell develops these and other concepts (such as the "stickiness" of ideas or the effect of population size on information dispersal) through simple, clear explanations and entertainingly illustrative anecdotes, such as comparing the pedagogical methods ofSesame StreetandBlue's Clues, or explaining why it would be even easier to play Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon with the actor Rod Steiger. Although some readers may find the transitional passages between chapters hold their hands a little too tightly, and Gladwell's closing invocation of the possibilities of social engineering sketchy, even chilling,The Tipping Pointis one of the most effective books on science for a general audience in ages. It seems inevitable that "tipping point," like "future shock" or "chaos theory," will soon become one of those ideas that everybody knows--or at least knows by name.--Ron Hogan』
price：$9.54
Gallup Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Goof buy, good investment!) 『Great book! Definitely a must read for people wanting to change career or even their personal lifestyle!』
(Too generic, too vague) 『I got this book from a colleague, who really wanted me to take the online test. So I entered the code from the book and answered the 180 or so questions, only to find the results to be rather useless.
The questions are of the "strongly agree-disagree" type, which is fine as long as you have a real choice. But frequently the opposites were no true opposites at all; a lot of them were rewordings of the same answer, defeating their purpose.
After filling in the test I received a top-5 of my strengths, which lean heavily on the "Barnum-effect", i.e. most people with vastly differing backgrounds will still be able to recognize themselves in the statements. This is heightened by the extremely optimistic wording; who wouldn't like to be told they are smart, critical, hard-working or creative? In that it highly resembles other personality-assessment methods, such as Myers-Briggs or Enneagrams, which are similarly vague and unhelpful.
I read some of the other descriptions in the book and found that a lot of them fit me even better than the five I got. I especially wonder why "analytical" is not in my top-5, since I am well-known for my tendency to debunk arguments, always trying to find the truth behind statements--much as I am doing right now.
The worst part, of course, is that you have to cough up $550 to get the results of the other 29 strengths, which labels this whole operation as a scheme to lift your purse.
In short: don't waste your time and money.
』
(Strengthfinder is excellent) 『Over 120 people in our church have used this. It has been an eye opener for so many. Really really helpful for people to discover, name and work with their talents. Very simple to use.』
(Great for Self Awareness) 『This book is fantastic if you have been wondering about where to focus attention in your life. If you have ever wondered what your real strengths are, this will get you there and show you steps on how to improve and focus on those things.』
(Strengths Finder 2.0) 『The book was fine.........the problem was there was an access code needed to use the book. It was not included....not a very good way to do business.........Dan Smith 206 322-0617』 『
DO YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT YOU DO BEST EVERY DAY?
Chances are, you don't. All too often, our natural talents go untapped. From the cradle to the cubicle, we devote more time to fixing our shortcomings than to developing our strengths.
To help people uncover their talents, Gallup introduced the first version of its online assessment, StrengthsFinder, in the 2001 management book Now, Discover Your Strengths. The book spent more than five years on the bestseller lists and ignited a global conversation, while StrengthsFinder helped millions to discover their top five talents.
In its latest national bestseller, StrengthsFinder 2.0, Gallup unveils the new and improved version of its popular assessment, language of 34 themes, and much more (see below for details). While you can read this book in one sitting, you'll use it as a reference for decades.
Loaded with hundreds of strategies for applying your strengths, this new book and accompanying website will change the way you look at yourself -- and the world around you -- forever.
AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY IN THE NEW&UPGRADED EDITION OF STRENGTHSFINDER 2.0 (using the unique access code included with each book)
* A new and upgraded edition of the StrengthsFinder assessment
* A personalized Strengths Discovery and Action-Planning Guide for applying your strengths in the next week, month, and year
* A more customized version of your top five theme report
* 50 Ideas for Action (10 strategies for building on each of your top five themes)
* The more user-friendly StrengthsFinder 2.0 companion website, with a strengths community area, library of downloadable discussion guides and activities, a strengths screensaver, and a program for creating display cards of your top five themes--
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Corporate Copyrighting of the Great Western Tradition) 『The Oz Principle chronicles the journey from victimization to accountability, a journey which is desperately needed in the work world today. For this I applaud the authors in their successful endeavors to raise this issue and bring it to light. Self-awareness is the truest path to overcoming. I have been in management for 38 years, and I have seen the victim mentality in others as well as in myself. This slavish mentality is crippling and needs to be transcended.
However, I also have a BA in philosophy, which I received at the young age of 21, and I have continued to study it. The journey of which The Oz Principle speaks is nothing new. This journey inspired and was undertaken by most philosophical, religious, and historical traditions of the West, starting with Abraham when he heard his name called. The road from victimization to emancipation, whether traveled by Moses on the exodus to the Promised Land or by Martin Luther King Jr. on the marches to civil rights, has been one manifestation of this mythical and primordial task. The road from victimization at the hands of the British Crown to political freedom, as witnessed in the writings of Thomas Payne, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, is another. The list goes on: From the victimization of mere opinion to the freedom of knowledge as described by the Allegory of the Cave in Plato's Republic. From victimization to salvation as found in the Epistles of Saint Paul. From being trapped and ruled by hidden memories and fears inside the unconscious to the bright, open expanse of self-awareness uncovered by psychoanalysis, initially heralded by Sigmund Freud. The journey becomes even more crystalized in Aristotle's portrayal of the Magnanimous Man and in Nietzsche's Overman. The Oz Principle cannot hold a candle to these great historical and literary movements.
The best summary of this hero's journey, for it is a hero who makes the leap out of victimization, is Joseph Campbell's "Hero with a Thousand Faces." Campbell breaks down the leap from victimization to authenticity into several stages. Among them are the call to adventure, the refusal of the call, the crossing of the first threshold, the belly of the whale, the road of trials, the ultimate boon, the refusal of the return, the crossing of the return threshold, and the freedom to live.
The greatest difference, however, between The Oz Principle and these other lives and works is that none of these others attempted to copyright this universal experience. I don't recall Martin Luther King Jr. ever trying to copyright the expression "We shall overcome," or "I have a dream today." Yet The Oz Principle is embarrassingly filled with short italicized phrases with a copyright "c" after them. Examples are Steps to Accountability, Below the Line, Above the Line, See It, Own It, Solve It, Do It. It's a good thing they didn't put the word "just" in front of "do it," or Nike might be suing them.
Socrates, the greatest thinker of the West and a self proclaimed philosopher, spent inordinate time differentiating himself from the sophists, who were speakers and writers who sold their knowledge for money. The sophists claimed to have the secret to life for a fee. Socrates never took any money, but he liberated many more people, and not just in his own time either. He knew that this universal human journey did not belong to just one man. He never passed the basket around after his sermons.
Returning from my philosophical journey and re-opening my eyes within the shadows of my managerial career, I fully recognize that I live in the 21st Century where capitalism rules, and rules rightfully so. Corporations create efficiencies, and six and a half billion people could not live without those efficiencies. The authors of The Oz Principle have a right to earn a living. So I recommend that you buy the book, if you are in management. In fact, I recommend it even if you are a union worker who believes himself victimized by corporations. I also recommend you attend the authors' seminars. Just remember that their road is only a small part of the human journey, a human journey that shall one day transcend and overcome the 21st Century. If the human journey is an ocean, The Oz Principle rations it with an eye drop.
In his famous play, Shakespeare, through his character Hamlet, asks "whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" (victimization) "or to take arms against a sea of trouble and by opposing end them" (taking control of one's own life). Yet "Hamlet" is a tragedy, which shows what is really at stake in this human journey. Certainly Martin Luther King Jr. did not have a happy ending to his personal life, although his crusade continues to inspire generations. Socrates was put to death by the Athenian democracy who tired of his calling citizens to task and to responsibility. Acknowledging and consenting to one's own death is a necessary part of the hero's journey. This acknowledging and consenting is not possible for a corporation, because it is not flesh and blood. Of all the examples that exist in the history of the West, the authors of this book choose "The Wizard of Oz," a children's fantasy with a happy ending. Choosing fantasy over tragedy is not just a sign of this book. Perhaps it is a sign of our times, and points to our inability to overcome the 21st Century.
With its copyrighting and its seminars, the Oz Principle exemplifies the wizard, a sophist in his own right, more than it teaches us about Dorothy or any of her friends. The wizard plays a part but ultimately is a comical figure, trying to just hold on and find a place for himself, much like the rest of us. He refuses to confront his own death, and he refuses to deal with the scariest danger confronting his age and his dominion. He leaves it to those who take a deeper ownership of their lives, an ownership that is not possible through copyrighting.』
(Thoroughly enjoyed and found numerous items to employ...) 『As the VP of operations for a small software development company, I found the information in this book very useful. The concepts seemed especially applicable to those in the fast changing environment of software development. So often in the software business, there are an exponential number of factors that are beyond your control. The concept of staying "above the line" was especially useful and helped us be much more creative in terms of actual solutions to problems that would otherwise have a more significant impact. Also, the concept of silos couldn't be more critical for us as well because of the constant mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships that are constantly being developed in the software industry. We've removed numerous silos between our QA, Support, Engineering, and Product Management shops based on the themes in this book. A must have for anyone developing software or any line of business where work flow and process control are mission critical. I actually purchased several additional copies and made it required reading for folks on the team.』
(Great Book) 『This book gives clear direction and practical tools on how to help people and organizations become more accountable. The authors re-define accountability and put it in a positive light that makes it much more approachable. A good read, with great content!』
(The Oz Principle) 『I love reading business books and was referred to The Oz Principle by a friend. When I first started out reading it and it started talking about accountability, I thought I was in for a book that talked strictly about accountability and how to hold people's feet to the fire, boy was I wrong. The Oz Principle addressed accountability in an accessible and positive way. They weren't talking about holding people's feet to the fire, rather they were talking about helping teams come together and achieving results. Overall, I thought this was a refreshing book with good insights, and one that I would definitely refer to a friend. 』
(Great book!) 『The key take-aways I got out of this book was that accountability doesn't need to be something negative, rather it can be really positive. All of us go Below the Line on occasion and blame others for our problems, that is human nature, but what The Oz Principle teaches is that we don't need to, and can't afford to stay there. Rather we need to go Above the Line and become accountable asking the "What else can I do?" rather than, "Who's fault is this?"』 『How people can move beyond victimization to overcome obstacles, accept responsibility, and rise to new heights of achievement.
"I didn't have enough time." "It's not in my job description." Many people and organizations have recognized the need to move away from this type of "blame game" and toward greater personal accountability at work, but few have known how to foster or maintain it--until The Oz Principle.
Now in paperback, The Oz Principle explores how people in business suffer from the same feelings of anxiety and helplessness that beset the characters in The Wizard of Oz. Through a broad mix of examples and stories, this book examines how people use their victimization to justify inaction, excuse ineffectiveness, or rationalize poor performance. It shows how they can break through "above the line" with an attitude of accountability that empowers them to overcome problems, excuses and biases to achieve the results they want. Self-assessment charts and quizzes enable readers to chart their own path to personal empowerment and enhanced company performance. Working through this book is a true journey of discovery, the discovery that, just as in The Wizard of Oz, the real Wizard lives within each of us.』
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Four years ago, you were cool. You readFreakonomicswhen it first came out. You impressed family and friends and dazzled dates with the insights you gleaned. Now Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner return withSuperfreakonomics, afreakquel even bolder, funnier, and more surprising than the first.
