January Book Reviews
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
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An intriguing narrative that transported me into the world of 1960s Boston Gangster style, set against the backdrop of modern-day Silicon Valley. The storyline vividly portrayed how even the most brilliant minds and wealthy individuals can fall prey to scams, underscoring our shared vulnerability as humans, irrespective of wealth or status. It’s a thought-provoking reminder of our universal susceptibility to the allure of ambitious promises.
The book deftly highlights how persuasive a single person can be, orchestrating elaborate schemes without concrete evidence, siphoning billions, and assembling a team of intelligent individuals unaware of the scam’s scale. This revelation profoundly underscored the power of investigative journalism in today’s interconnected world, emphasizing the importance of uncovering such narratives to avert potential harm.
Carreyrou’s skillful storytelling seamlessly blends research-based emails and depositions, presenting a compelling and easily comprehensible narrative that captivates even the casual reader. His meticulous narration effortlessly drives the plot forward, maintaining a gripping pace throughout the book.
A definite recommendation, especially for those intrigued by corporate dramas presented in a documentary style. It was also interesting to put faces to names by watching the documentary on HBO The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley.
After hearing about the movie “Air,” I was intrigued to first dive into “Shoe Dog” by Phil Knight, the memoir detailing Nike’s early days. While insightful, the book feels slightly outdated for the 2020s. It’s hard to relate to Knight’s early business strategies of sourcing from overseas, which seem basic by today’s global standards.
Knight’s story appears to be filled with fortunate events more than strategic brilliance — from easily securing a deal in Japan without credentials, to consistent bank support, to athletes winning in his shoes. This narrative of luck, compared with today’s quick-to-saturate markets like Amazon, shows a different time in entrepreneurship.
However, the book’s emphasis on perseverance is timeless. Knight’s dedication and commitment to Nike offer valuable lessons in an era where quick gains are often sought after. His journey underscores the importance of persistence in achieving success.
I also recommend watching “Air” for a visual continuation of Nike’s story, starting just after the book ends. The movie effectively brings to life the characters and the company’s journey.
“Shoe Dog” offers a fascinating look into Nike’s beginnings, with enduring lessons on determination, despite feeling a bit dated and emphasizing luck over strategy.
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
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I’ve been a fan of Simon Sinek’s ideas on leadership and management, which he shares extensively on social media. His book, “Start with Why,” has been a remarkable read for me, offering a wealth of perspective. By applying Sinek’s approach, I’ve gained insights into my experiences across different jobs, recognizing when and why I felt aligned or misaligned with the workplace culture.
The book brilliantly outlines the importance of fostering a culture and a sense of ownership within teams. It emphasizes the need for leaders to not only discover their own ‘why’ but also to articulate and share it with their team members, ensuring everyone is motivated and aligned towards a common goal.
I consider “Start with Why” to be a book worth revisiting annually. It serves as a powerful reminder to consistently seek out the underlying purpose in our actions and to effectively communicate this purpose to those we lead. This practice is not just beneficial for personal reflection but is also crucial in cultivating a strong, purpose-driven team.
101 Essays that will Change the way You Think by Brianna Wiest
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Brianna Wiest’s ‘101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think’ is a compelling read filled with profound insights. However, the abundance of remarkable points can be overwhelming, making it challenging to remember and apply them all simultaneously. While some chapters cover what should be common sense — though, admittedly, common sense isn’t as common as it should be — it’s beneficial to revisit these sections as reminders of foundational wisdom.
I suggest a more focused approach to this book: select a single, manageable chapter and dedicate a week or even a month to truly absorb and implement its lessons. Attempting to tackle the entire book in one go may lead to information overload. Instead, engaging with it incrementally can enrich the reading experience and facilitate a deeper understanding and integration of Wiest’s valuable advice into daily life.
It’s Not Luck by Eliyahu M Goldratt
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Having been captivated by Eliyahu M. Goldratt's 'The Goal,' I found 'It's Not Luck' to be a fantastic sequel that continues the narrative while introducing fresh challenges and insightful solutions. Goldratt has a distinctive way of blending storytelling with education, presenting his lessons in a manner that is as engaging as it is informative.
This book not only maintains the smooth narrative flow established in 'The Goal' but also enhances it with nuanced insights that can be applied to real-life situations. Goldratt’s method of teaching—through a mix of storytelling, detailed strategies for complex problem-solving, and examining both successful and unsuccessful scenarios—offers a rich learning experience. His approach ensures that the reader not only understands the theoretical aspects but also sees the practical implications of these business lessons.
The Trial of Hedley’s Jacob Hoggard by Canadian True Crime Podcast (Episode 122–126)
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Although I wasn’t tuned into the story of Jacob Hoggard as it unfolded and was unfamiliar with his music — despite my interest in Canadian artists — the podcast presentation captivated me. The structure and delivery of information are exceptionally clear and compelling. While I’ve listened to other episodes of the Canadian True Crime podcast, this particular story was one of the few that truly gripped me and made me eager to keep listening.
It is disconcerting to realize that in 2024, there remains a significant legal chasm when it comes to the simplification of how sexual assault cases are managed and addressed in court. The podcast not only informed me about the specific case but also highlighted broader systemic issues that are still prevalent today.
Critical Chain by Eliyahu M Goldratt
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Eliyahu M. Goldratt’s ‘Critical Chain’ draws from the principles introduced in ‘The Goal,’ adapting them to a wider spectrum of industries rather than focusing solely on factory settings. It shares the clear storytelling and timely examples of ‘It’s Not Luck,’ making complex concepts easy to grasp.
Despite its strengths, ‘Critical Chain’ struck me as the least engaging of Goldratt’s series. Perhaps this was because I read it after his other books, and it felt more like a summary of previous ideas than an offering of new insights. Throughout the book, I was reminded of ‘Parkinson’s Law’ — the notion that work expands to fill the time allotted for it — though Goldratt does not explicitly name it. This concept seems to be a subtle undercurrent in the narrative, providing a familiar context to the challenges presented.
For those with limited time, I would recommend starting with ‘The Goal’ and then ‘It’s Not Luck’ before delving into ‘Critical Chain.’ This progression allows for a deeper appreciation of the foundational concepts before approaching this book, which builds upon them. If time permits, reading ‘Critical Chain’ can offer a consolidated review of Goldratt’s teachings.
Exposed The Ashley Madison Hack by Sophie Elmhirst, Maria Luisa Tucker
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As someone deeply interested in tech, I’m always on the lookout for major news like the Ashley Madison hacks or the latest updates on ChatGPT. This curiosity led me to ‘Exposed’ on Audible, anticipating a deep dive into the hack itself, the hackers, and their motives. However, the book primarily presents the perspectives of select individuals impacted by the hack, which was somewhat disappointing.
I was hoping for a more in-depth analysis of the leadership’s response, specifically insights into the strategies of the CEO and CTO, as business strategies in crisis intrigue me more than the stories of the affected individuals that were highlighted. While ‘Exposed’ offers an easy and quick listen, I felt it missed an opportunity to explore the more corporate and technological angles of the incident.
On a positive note, the segment about “Replica,” the AI companion, caught my interest. This concept, from a technological standpoint, seems fascinating and, in my opinion, could be the subject of its own book.
