All posts in Book Notes

First, Break All the Rules illustrates unconventional insights gleaned from extensive research on the best management practices. Effective managers help their employees become more of who they already are by capitalizing on their unique talents. Marcus and Curt explain that talent is a recurring pattern of thought, feeling, or behavior that can be productively applied.…

Algorithms to Live By demonstrates how to use computer algorithms to enhance human decision making. Surprisingly, this often involves clever simplification strategies. For example, to store new information when memory is full, computers use the Least Recently Used (LRU) algorithm to decide which data to discard. If you accumulate an “unsorted” pile of papers on…

The Gifts of Imperfection provides an introspective view of our fallibility and guides us to become more accepting of others and ourselves. This lack of acceptance breeds feeling of shame, where we believe our flaws make us unworthy of love, belonging, and connection. Brene explains that overcoming shame begins by disassociating an action (“I made…

Building a Second Brain explains an effective way to capture, organize, distill and express information for future use. Given the limitations of our memory, building a “second brain” involves creating a personalized digital archive of what resonates with each of us. Tiago emphasizes that the benefits also extend beyond mere archiving. Writing is an effective…

Magic Words provides an insightful explanation of how seemingly minor language choices can significantly impact message receptivity. This book introduces six types of “magic words” to: (1) activate identity and agency, (2) convey confidence, (3) ask the right questions, (4) leverage concreteness, (5) employ emotion, and (6) harness similarity (and difference). For example, to encourage…

The Lean Startup outlines an entrepreneurial methodology for transforming new ideas into successful business outcomes, and is applicable to companies of any size and in any industry. Business cases are built on two foundational assumptions: the value and growth hypotheses. The value hypothesis demonstrates how your product or service creates value for both the consumer…

Think Like a Monk provides valuable insights on how to stay focused and grounded on what truly matters. We are shaped by the people who surround us, so it’s important to find communities whose values align with who we want to become. Jay explains that ambition and passion can be interpreted as arrogant behavior, so…

Originals reveals the most successful methods and tactics for bringing new ideas to life. Adam explains that being original means standing for something well thought out and specific, not just against the status quo. To enhance your audience’s receptivity to new ideas, openly admit known flaws to disarm them. This will redirect their reaction from…

Influence provides an in-depth account of how people are persuaded and is a must-read for anyone working or interested in sales or marketing. Using seven fundamental psychological principles (reciprocation, liking, social proof, authority, scarcity, commitment/consistency, and unity), Robert shows us how to effectuate near automatic compliance with a given request. The findings are as insightful…

Difficult Conversations provides invaluable advice on expertly navigating conflict by breaking down the conversation into three distinct components. The “what happened” conversation focuses on understanding intent on both sides, not convincing anyone of your perceived truth. The “feelings” conversation reveals what you and others are feeling, if it is valid, and what’s being shared vs…