In the last month I have read two outstanding business books. Most business books are pamphlets with one decent chapter surrounded by 250 pages of drivel. These two books were consistently informative, with each chapter strong and filled with valuable information.
The first is Deep Smarts: How to Cultivate and Transfer Enduring Business Wisdom. The authors are Dorothy Leonard and Walter Swap. Their premise is a simple one, in order to insure a business continuation companies need to proactively transfer knowledge from one "generation" to the next. Using the dot.com meltdown as a backdrop, Leonard and Swap demonstrate that the shortage of business coaches and mentors (as well as the suspended belief in reality that "this time it's different"--it never is in business) played a major role in promising companies failing.
The second book is A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers Will Rule the Future, Daniel H. Pink. Pink, who also penned Free-Agent Nation, makes a compelling argument that we are in the early days of the Conceptual Age, and that the MFA, not the MBA, may be the degree of choice. Pink suggests cultivating "The Six Senses" (Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play and Meaning) and provides a useful portfolio at the end of each chapter to help you develop some of these right-brain skills.
The real kudo, though, goes to my friend and colleague Tony Hutti. Although he is a staunch Notre Dame fan, I forgive him that sin in thanks for his timely reading list suggestions. Tony recommended both of the above.
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