Freakonomics (Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner)
A fascinating look at Economics and a great read. This book looks at a range of unlikely associations relating cause and effect and comes up with arguments that are both compelling and normally very counter intuitive. Worth reading for perspective and easy to read because it grips (really!)
Rating: Excellent
Wikinomics (Don Tapscott & Anthony Williams)
An excellent insight into the power of open source movements and the increasing power of the collaboration enabled in a web connected world. Not for conservative heads of large organisations.
Rating: Excellent
The Wisdom of Crowds (James Surowiecki)
Another excellent book for those trying to understand the impact of web communication on “the way we do things right here” . The argument is that crowds make better decisions than experts (in many cases) and that leaving decisions to experts alone is dangerous. In light of the recent banking crisis, his argument may be well made.
Rating: Excellent
The Hacker Ethic (Pekka Himanen)
A brilliant and very readable book on the power and potential of information networks and the effect they are having, and are likely to have, on the way we work and communicate. Very unsettling for those who like the status quo, inspiration for those who don’t.
Rating: Excellent
The Long Tail (Chris Anderson)
A great book on the impact of the internet on business models and the concept of scale. It’s the driving force behind Amazon, eBay and others. You have to understand this – really.
Rating: Must Read
Black Swan (Nassim Nicholas Taleb)
I read this before it became the standard text of the banking collapse . It covers the impact of the highly improbable and it’s inevitability. This is a man with a brain the size of a medium-sized planet but it is highly readable. Just wish some of the government had taken a look.
Rating: Must Read
Capitalism as if the world matters (Jonathan Porritt)
The best book on environment and business I have ever read. Simply brilliant.
Rating: Must Read
Free (Chris Anderson)
Excellent treatise on the rise of new economic models, particularly the internet. By the same author as Wired.
Rating: Must Read
Predictably Irrational (Dan Arielly)
A great insight into the psychology of why we do irrational things.Key sections on psychology of ownership. price and one in particular that I like on “keeping doors open” – our tendency to flit between things rather than focus. Very thought provoking.
Rating: Must Read
The Mystery of Capital (Hernando de Soto)
Strong and well written on the relationship of capital, poverty and social structure. Excellent for anybody interested in the 3rd Sector.
Rating: Excellent
The Blue Sweater (Jacqueline Novogratz)
A compelling account of a charity workers journey. Almost guaranteed to make you feel inspired and inadequate.
Rating: Excellent
Collapse (Jared Diamond)
Same author as “Guns, Germs and Steel” and in my view equally provoking. Looks at how societies fail.
Rating: Excellent
