Elizabeth Anderson of the Telegraph, reports the top 10 business reads of 2015. The following books are destined to be both inspirational and a great resource for your business idea or already existing company.
1. How to Fly a Horse: The Secret History of Creation, Invention, and Discovery – Kevin Ashton (Release Date: January 20, 2015)
Kevin Ashton is the man who coined the term “the Internet of Things”. The Birmingham-born technologist runs the research lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His book will reveal surprising truths of humanity’s greatest creations. These include how DNA was discovered by a long-forgotten woman, and how the Wright brothers set out to “fly a horse” after being inspired by a bicycle shop in Ohio.
Kevin Ashton is the man who coined the term “the Internet of Things”. The Birmingham-born technologist runs the research lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His book will reveal surprising truths of humanity’s greatest creations. These include how DNA was discovered by a long-forgotten woman, and how the Wright brothers set out to “fly a horse” after being inspired by a bicycle shop in Ohio.
2. Bold: How to Go Big, Create Wealth and Impact the World – Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler (Release Date: February 3, 2015)
From the authors of bestseller Abundance, their second book, Bold, looks at how entrepreneurs are creating wealth and improving the world. The book examines the power of 3D printing, artificial intelligence, robotics, networks and sensors, and synthetic biology. Billionaire entrepreneurs Larry Page, Elon Musk, Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos share their insights in this intriguing follow-up.
From the authors of bestseller Abundance, their second book, Bold, looks at how entrepreneurs are creating wealth and improving the world. The book examines the power of 3D printing, artificial intelligence, robotics, networks and sensors, and synthetic biology. Billionaire entrepreneurs Larry Page, Elon Musk, Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos share their insights in this intriguing follow-up.
3. Coined: The Rich Life of Money and How Its History Has Shaped Us – Kabir Sehgal (Release Date: March 10, 2015)
If there’s one thing that connects everyone – the rich, the poor and everything in-between – it’s money. Coined, by investment banker Kabir Sehgal, looks at a broad range of topics connected to money. “Like it or not, money is a measure of status, well-being and our chances to survive and thrive,” Sehgal says. He explores the origin of exchange in the Galapagos Islands, searches for hoards of coins from an ancient civilization in Bangladesh, and learns about the art that appears on money from coin collectors in Vietnam.
If there’s one thing that connects everyone – the rich, the poor and everything in-between – it’s money. Coined, by investment banker Kabir Sehgal, looks at a broad range of topics connected to money. “Like it or not, money is a measure of status, well-being and our chances to survive and thrive,” Sehgal says. He explores the origin of exchange in the Galapagos Islands, searches for hoards of coins from an ancient civilization in Bangladesh, and learns about the art that appears on money from coin collectors in Vietnam.
4. The Second Curve: Thoughts On Reinventing Society – Charles Handy (Release Date: March 20, 2015)
Management thinker Charles Handy examines what challenges and opportunities lie ahead in the global economy. He asks whether capitalism is a sustainable system and explores the dangers of a society built on credit. This book will get you thinking.
Management thinker Charles Handy examines what challenges and opportunities lie ahead in the global economy. He asks whether capitalism is a sustainable system and explores the dangers of a society built on credit. This book will get you thinking.
5. Work Rules! Insights From Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live And Lead – Laszlo Bock (Release Date: April 7, 2015)
Google says it receives 1.5m job applications a year. Here, the tech giant’s head of “People Operations” explains why. Laszlo Bock reveals Google’s HR secrets to creating a happy workforce and attracting the world’s brightest candidates. Advice includes: don’t trust your gut – use data to predict and shape the future; and if you’re comfortable with the amount of freedom you’ve given your employees, you haven’t gone far enough.
Google says it receives 1.5m job applications a year. Here, the tech giant’s head of “People Operations” explains why. Laszlo Bock reveals Google’s HR secrets to creating a happy workforce and attracting the world’s brightest candidates. Advice includes: don’t trust your gut – use data to predict and shape the future; and if you’re comfortable with the amount of freedom you’ve given your employees, you haven’t gone far enough.
6. A Curious Mind: The Secret To A Bigger Life – Brian Grazer and Charles Fishman (Release Date: April 14, 2015)
Academy Award–winning producer Brian Grazer, best known for Apollo 13 and TV show 24, examines the power of curiosity and how to find inspiration. From scientists to spies, and adventurers to business leaders, Grazer has spent years meeting anyone who was willing to chat for a few hours. Business journalist and co-author Charles Fishman adds some outside management perspective.
Academy Award–winning producer Brian Grazer, best known for Apollo 13 and TV show 24, examines the power of curiosity and how to find inspiration. From scientists to spies, and adventurers to business leaders, Grazer has spent years meeting anyone who was willing to chat for a few hours. Business journalist and co-author Charles Fishman adds some outside management perspective.
7. Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World – General Stanley McChrystal (Release Date: May 12, 2015)
The former military commander, fired from the US Army by Barack Obama in 2010 following an infamous Rolling Stone article, is back with a new book. In Team of Teams, he uses his military experience to explain how business leaders should adapt to meet unpredictable opponents head on. “When we put talent and resources together, we can do amazing things,” he says.
The former military commander, fired from the US Army by Barack Obama in 2010 following an infamous Rolling Stone article, is back with a new book. In Team of Teams, he uses his military experience to explain how business leaders should adapt to meet unpredictable opponents head on. “When we put talent and resources together, we can do amazing things,” he says.
8. Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future – Ashlee Vance (Release Date: May 19, 2015)
Tech billionaire Elon Musk is one of the world’s most talked-about entrepreneurs. His SpaceX venture is currently making strides in space travel, while Tesla Motors is a pioneer in electric cars. Last year, he hit the headlines by publishing design studies for a solar-powered “Hyperloop” rapid transit system, capable of taking people from Birmingham to London in eight minutes. This book, by American journalist Ashlee Vance, captures the full drama of Musk’s life and work so far.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk is one of the world’s most talked-about entrepreneurs. His SpaceX venture is currently making strides in space travel, while Tesla Motors is a pioneer in electric cars. Last year, he hit the headlines by publishing design studies for a solar-powered “Hyperloop” rapid transit system, capable of taking people from Birmingham to London in eight minutes. This book, by American journalist Ashlee Vance, captures the full drama of Musk’s life and work so far.
9. I Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time – Laura Vanderkam (Release Date: June 25, 2015)
Self-proclaimed time management expert Laura Vanderkam looks at the balance between work and family life in this book. She shares timelogs from 1,001 days in the lives of women who make at least $100,000 a year, and yet still make time for family. She encourages readers to record what they are doing every half-hour if they want to become more mindful of how they are spending their day.
Self-proclaimed time management expert Laura Vanderkam looks at the balance between work and family life in this book. She shares timelogs from 1,001 days in the lives of women who make at least $100,000 a year, and yet still make time for family. She encourages readers to record what they are doing every half-hour if they want to become more mindful of how they are spending their day.
10. The Misfit Economy – Alexa Clay and Kyra Maya Phillips (Release Date: June 26, 2015)
What can we learn from pirates, slum dwellers, computer hackers and inner-city gang members? This book questions whether black market economies have something to teach the traditional economy about ingenuity, entrepreneurialism and human resilience. It promises to include some fascinating tales.
What can we learn from pirates, slum dwellers, computer hackers and inner-city gang members? This book questions whether black market economies have something to teach the traditional economy about ingenuity, entrepreneurialism and human resilience. It promises to include some fascinating tales.
Jason Todd