Top 10 Business Books: 2008.
Hooper, Brad (author).
FEATURE.
First published October 15, 2008 (Booklist).
It is the privilege and even the duty of the conscientious public librarian to make certain the business collection is as inclusive as possible and will appeal to as many readers as possible. Although management books are to be included, the collection should not consist entirely of management books. Below are 10 outstanding titles reviewed in Booklist over the past year that are worthy of inclusion in, and guaranteed to expand the range of, any public library business collection.
The Big Switch. By Nicholas Carr. Norton, $25.95 (9780393062281).
In examining the future of the Internet, Carr warns that the downside may mean further concentration of wealth for the few and the loss of jobs, privacy, and the depth of our culture.
Biography of the Dollar: How the Mighty Buck Conquered the World and Why It’s Under Siege. By Craig Karmin. Crown Business, $25.95 (0-307-33986-6).
A Wall Street Journal reporter traces the history of the almighty dollar from its beginnings in the early nineteenth century to the de facto powerhouse of world trade in the late twentieth century.
A Bull in China: Investing Profitably in the World’s Greatest Market. By Jim Rogers. Random, $26.95 (1-4000-6616-6).
As investor and media commentator Rogers discusses the promising and profitable business opportunities China has to offer, his enthusiasm for all things Chinese is contagious.
Commodore:The Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt
. By Edward J. Renehan. Basic, $27.50 (0-465-00255-2).
A biography of an American financier who amassed a fortune through railroad and shipping interests, this is an indispensable account of the man and the growth of Wall Street in the nineteenth century.
From Betamax to Blockbuster: Video Stores and the Invention of Movies on Video. By Joshua M. Greenberg. MIT, $24.95 (9780262072908).
Greenberg effectively re-creates the excitement that was in the air at the dawn of the video age.
The Game-Changer: How You Can Drive Revenue and Profit Growth with Innovation. By A. G. Lafley and Ram Charan. Crown Business, $27.50 (9780307381736).
The authors compellingly define, describe, draw examples of, and delineate how innovation becomes part of every successful organization.
How Toyota Became #1: Leadership Lessons from the World’s Greatest Car Company. By David Magee. Portfolio, $25.95 (9781591841791).
This newspaper columnist provides an excellent view of a shining business model that encompasses not only Toyota’s highly espoused lean production system but also its leadership values and corporate culture.
It’s Not about the Money: Unlock Your Money Type to Achieve Spiritual and Financial Abundance. By Brent Kessel. HarperOne, $24.95 (9780061234064).
This is a financial-planning guide unlike any other on the market, thanks mostly to Kessel’s skillful combination of yoga and wealth-management expertise.
The Middle-Class Millionaire: The Rise of the New Rich and How They Are Changing America. By Russ Alan Prince and Lewis Schiff. Doubleday/Currency, $23.95 (0-385-51927-3).
This is an excellent perspective on an important consumer market.
A Sense of Urgency. By John P. Kotter. Harvard Business, $22 (9781422179710).
An easy, quick read that provides good elucidation of what constitutes successful change in the workplace, written by a Harvard Business School professor.