Book picks similar to
Inventing the Organizations of the 21st Century by Thomas W. Malone


economics-policy-political-science
management
must-read-1
network-science

Meet and Delete


Pauline Lawless - 2014
    All three are in their mid-thirties and have been unlucky in love. “Out of every ten replies I’ll probably get two perverts, two nerds, two frauds – usually married – and four genuine guys. Not a bad percentage really.” Claire is apprehensive about it and Megan downright sceptical but Viv, with her usual joie de vivre, takes to it with gusto. Many men and many dates later – from the boring to the bizarre – Viv thinks she has found her Mr Right. But does the course of true love ever run smooth? Meanwhile she coerces a doubtful Claire into joining the dating site too. Add to this mix Claire’s nasty sister Sarah who, bored with marriage, embraces online-dating with even more enthusiasm than Viv. Not to mention Megan’s thrice-married mother who’s looking for a toy boy not a husband . . . Is online dating the answer for all these women?

Building Trust: In Business, Politics, Relationships, and Life


Robert C. Solomon - 2001
    But what, precisely, is trust? How can it be achieved and sustained? And, most importantly, how can it be regained once it has been broken?In Building Trust, Robert C. Solomon and Fernando Flores offer compelling answers to these questions. They argue that trust is not something that simply exists from the beginning, something we can assume or take for granted; that it is not a static quality or social glue. Instead, they assert thattrust is an emotional skill, an active and dynamic part of our lives that we build and sustain with our promises and commitments, our emotions and integrity. In looking closely at the effects of mistrust, such as insidious office politics that can sabotage a company's efficiency, Solomon and Floresdemonstrate how to move from na�ve trust that is easily shattered to an authentic trust that is sophisticated, reflective, and possible to renew. As the global economy makes us more and more reliant on strangers, and as our political and personal interactions become more complex, Building Trust offers invaluable insight into a vital aspect of human relationships.

Big Brands, Big Trouble: Lessons Learned the Hard Way


Jack Trout - 2001
     It wasn't long ago that Levi-Strauss, Xerox, Crest, AT&T, Firestone, and Digital Equipment dominated their respective markets. What happened to undermine their standings and of those of other superbrands? Are their declines simply the inevitable consequence of change and the birth of new competition? In this important predecessor to the classic Differentiate or Die, "the king of positioning," Jack Trout answers that question with a resounding "No!" Writing in his signature, straight-from-the-hip style he reveals the disastrous marketing and strategy blunders that led to the dissolution of the most recognized superbrands. He clearly shows how those mistakes could have been avoided. With the help of in-depth case studies chronicling the events leading up to the falls from grace of Sears, Miller Brewing, Xerox, Crest, Burger King, and other past market leaders, he identifies the ten most common mistakes that big brands make, and he develops a set of expert guidelines for marketing managers and executives on how to build, protect, manage, and expand their companies' brands and avoid brand-killing blunders.

Gates of Thunder


Alex Kosh - 2014
    It's a place where magic spells, enchanted artifacts, steam-powered machines, firearms and mechanical golems are a part of everyday life.Gamer Andrew Falk begins his journey in a small village on the border of Orcish territory. The locals are the keepers of many secrets, but their behavior is too realistic for characters in a game; so realistic, in fact, that Andrew starts to treat them as if they were real people. Maybe because of the way he plays, or maybe just thanks to good luck, he becomes one of a mysterious class of people known as "sliders,” and Elenia, the goddess of fate, sends him on an epic quest. But he quickly comes to understand that it's not just his stats as a gamer that are at stake here, but his real life. The virtual goddess turns out to be capable of affecting the real world in order to force Andrew to complete her assignments within the game.Now Andrew's going to have to turn Arktania upside-down in his quest for five ancient swords. But the "Loner" curse means that he won't have anyone to rely on but himself.

Evergreen: Cultivate the Enduring Customer Loyalty That Keeps Your Business Thriving


Noah Fleming - 2015
    So why do so many companies act like adrenalin junkies, chasing after new customers at the expense of creating deeper, more profitable relationships with the ones they already have? Evergreen exposes the mad pursuit for what it is: a brief spike in metrics and an ongoing revenue drain, as one-time customers fail to return. A better solution is to shift resources from attracting new customers to engaging the base--the path to stable growth, season after season. The book's entertaining stories and action steps reveal how anyone can: * Cultivate the 3Cs of evergreen companies: character, community, and content * Build loyalty programs that turn satisfied customers into enthusiastic advocates * Nurture profitable customers while pruning those who sap time and money * Inject authenticity into social media communications * Invert the expectations gap that can drive customers away From Internet startups and mom-and-pop businesses to multinational giants, strong companies are rooted in customer retention. Evergreen helps anyone merge high-tech tools with the personal touch to forge lasting bonds and steady profits.

Microbrewer Alchemist


Jon Svenson - 2021
    After his parents died in a horrific car crash, he uses the inheritance money to start a brewery and gets married.Happiness doesn't last very long. The brewery is struggling, and his marriage is rocky. Still, he has his team at work supporting him. Until he doesn't.Microbrewer Alchemist is the story of a man who stumbles upon a secret that he is still trying to understand while turning his life around at the same time. There are no intimate scenes or harems, but there is a bit of swearing.

Moral Courage


Rushworth Kidder - 2005
    Enron, Arthur Andersen, the U.S. Olympic Committee, abusive priests, cheating students, domestic violence -- all these remind us that taking ethical stands should be a higher priority in our culture. Why, when people discern wrongdoing, are they sometimes unready, unable, or unwilling to act?In a book rich with examples, Rushworth Kidder reveals that moral courage is the bridge between talking ethics and doing ethics. Defining it as a readiness to endure danger for the sake of principle, he explains that the courage to act is found at the intersection of three elements: action based on core values, awareness of the risks, and a willingness to endure necessary hardship. By exploring how moral courage spurs us to strive for core values, he demonstrates the benefits of ethical action to the individual and to society -- and the severe consequences that can result from remaining morally dormant.Moral Courage puts indispensable concepts and tools into our hands, equipping us to respond to the increasingly complicated moral challenges we face at work, at home, and in our communities. It enables us to make clear, confident decisions by exploring some litmus-test questions:Is the benefit worth the risk?Am I motivated by my desire to uphold my beliefs or just to impose them on others?Will my actions create collateral damage among those with no stake in the outcome? While physical courage may no longer be a necessary survival skill or an essential rite of passage out of childhood, few would dispute the growing need for moral courage as the true gauge of maturity. Treating this subject not as an esoteric branch of philosophy but as a practical necessity for modern life, Kidder deftly leads us to a clear understanding of what moral courage is, what it does, and how to get it.

Veil Online - Book 1 A LitRPG MMORPG Adventure Series (Veil Online #1)


John Elijah Cressman - 2020
    By day he works on the most popular VR game in the world and by night, he slay dragons and saves damsels.Not any more.Today he woke up inside the game and there’s no way out. Worse, he’s not even his high level avatar. He’s a monster. And every time he dies, he jumps into another monster body.Something is wrong. Seriously wrong.Join Jace on a mind-blowing adventure as he desperately tries to unravel the mystery of what has happened to him and most importantly, is he even alive any more?Readers of Fantasy, GameLit and LitRPG like The Land and Hacked will enjoy this series by author John Cressman. And watch for Book 2 in October 2020!

The Ducks In The Bathroom Are Not Mine: A decade of procrastination 2007 - 2017


David Thorne - 2017
     Includes Overdue Account, Walter's Cargo Shorts, Simon's Piecharts, Missing Missy, Obviously a Foggot, Formal Complaints, Justin’s Floodlight, Matthew’s Party, Permission Slip and many more.

Hard Bargain


Alexa Hart - 2019
    Every woman’s wildest dream… richer than sin and built like a god. He may be gorgeous, but this is strictly business. There’s no way I could actually fall for Luke… right? I never thought in a million years that I would be seriously considering selling my v-card to a perfect stranger, but here I am… desperate. My brother’s life hangs in the balance and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to keep him alive. If that means doing Luke Inman… then so be it. I hear he never stays with a woman for longer than a month. And the payment for being his girl for that time is, well… let’s just say… I need that money. He can literally have any woman he wants. A virgin, young enough to be his daughter isn’t exactly on the top of his list. If I can get him accept my offer, I’ll do whatever it takes to please him. He can have all of me… For one month. I know what I’m doing is wrong, but I’m out of options. The worst part of all is the more time I spend with Luke, the more I find myself wishing for him to be my first. No cheating and a guaranteed HEA!

Truth Or Dare


Mia Moore - 2018
    Check your clothes at the door. What? Laurie and Dan bump into their new neighbors Ryan and Nicole at The Pink Martini Lounge. What happened on that winter’s night astonished them all. If only… — Nicole didn’t wear that provocative outfit Ryan bought for her… — She hadn't gotten so hammered on the liquid courage... If only… — Laurie and Dan didn’t have Friday night off… — She didn't drink so much wine. THEN — Nicole would have gone home with her panties — Laurie would still have her bra AND — Their husbands wouldn’t be plotting and scheming! When long buried secrets are revealed, nothing will ever be the same. If you’ve ever wondered ‘What if…?’ then you’ll love this best selling author’s thrilling, sensual tale of putting the bliss back into wedded. Get your copy now at the Special New Release Price!

Daily Routine Mastery: How to Create the Ultimate Daily Routine for More Energy, Productivity, and Success - Have Your Best Day Every Day


Dominic Mann - 2017
     From energizing morning routines, to insanely efficient work routines, to empowering evening rituals, the ultra-successful structure their days to utilize every last waking minute to its fullest potential. And in this book, you will learn how to do the same. How will you learn to create the ultimate daily routine? Inside the book: The secret to creating the ultimate morning routine so you can have your best day every day (Hint: It has 3 parts) How to get more done with an ultra-efficient work routine (plus the ultimate work routine for squeezing every last drop of potential out of your work hours) How to renew your energy throughout the day with an “energy ritual” for all-day energy and productivity (plus how to schedule tasks according to your energy levels) Why having cold showers every morning can leave you feeling more energized, happy, and productive The secret to waking up feeling energized (Hint: It has nothing to do with how long you sleep for) How to finish your day with a powerful evening routine so you can kick ass the next day (plus an example of a great evening ritual you can copy) And much more… To create a powerful daily routine and perform at the peak of your abilities day in and day out, scroll up to the top of this page and click BUY NOW.

The Neighbor Upstairs


Theo Baxter - 2022
    And the worst part is that he seems to be returning that interest.When Melissa suspects he’s returned to his cheating ways, she flees to her parents’ home, leaving Ben alone to uncover the true horror of the situation.In the end, the two won’t just be fighting for their marriage, but their survival.

A Princess and Her Billionaire Scoundrel at Sea


Stephanie Fowers - 2019
    Dubbed Billionaire Bachelor Cove because of the resident's single status and income portfolios, The Cove is the perfect place to hide away from the world. But, as the residents soon find out, they can't hide from love. A Princess and Her Billionaire Scoundrel at Sea Paris James is a high-seas playboy.  He throws lavish parties on his yacht to entertain clients for a multi-billion-dollar business that specializes in luxury water toys. He’s as free as a pirate … until he wins the royal Tyndarian bracelet in a game of chance—with that bracelet, comes a very special girl. Laney Moon is a first grade teacher who lives a fairly normal life--that is, until her cousin loses her heirloom bracelet in a rigged poker game. The grandmother who raised her will lose her house if Laney can't cash in on the bracelet. Desperate, Laney stows aboard Paris’s yacht, determined to take what’s hers from the scoundrel, and she is shocked to find a gentleman with stormy blue eyes and a mischievous grin. In one last outrageous wager, Paris agrees to return the bracelet if Laney can convince the other yacht guests that she is the princess who once owned it. Paris is in way over his head–he’d gladly return the bracelet if black market assassins weren’t after it, but now he must act like the uncaring pirate to keep her safe. As his feelings for Laney build, so do the threats against her. Paris must decide between rescuing Laney from her past or making her a part of his future. Because, princess or not, Laney Moon has already sailed away with his heart.

Leading Matters: Lessons from My Journey


John L. Hennessy - 2018
    Hennessy shares the core elements of leadership that helped him become a successful tech entrepreneur, esteemed academic, and venerated administrator.Hennessy's approach to leadership is laser-focused on the journey rather than the destination. Each chapter in Leading Matters looks at valuable elements that have shaped Hennessy's career in practice and philosophy. He discusses the pivotal role that humility, authenticity and trust, service, empathy, courage, collaboration, innovation, intellectual curiosity, storytelling, and legacy have all played in his prolific, interdisciplinary career.Hennessy takes these elements and applies them to instructive stories, such as his encounters with other Silicon Valley leaders including Jim Clark, founder of Netscape; Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State and Stanford provost; John Arrillaga, one of the most successful Silicon Valley commercial real estate developers; and Phil Knight, founder of Nike and philanthropist with whom Hennessy cofounded Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford University.Across government, education, commerce, and non-profits, the need for effective leadership could not be more pressing. This book is essential reading for those tasked with leading any complex enterprise in the academic, not-for-profit, or for-profit sector.