Friends and colleagues are always recommending good reads so I thought I’d make a note of them here so I wouldn’t forget about them.
Reading….
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell Talks about the role our unconscious plays in our decision making and impressions about things and even though we traditionally trust decisions that are painstakingly thought through using as much information as possible, it’s often the decisions made based upon gut instinct that are correct. However because there isn’t a rational explanation behind these ‘instinct ‘arguements, it’s hard to build a case for them. Hope this means it’s ok to buy shoes when you just ‘feel’ you need them?
Written by an economist and journalist, this book turns conventional wisdom on its head, looks at things from another angle, and examines the links between events that might not seem immediately apparent. There’s a chapter about how we’re influenced by incentives – some obvious, like financial rewards and some less obvious ones like social perception.
Some of the conclusions that authors come to are quite shocking and difficult to accept, like the link between the introduction of abortion law in America and the subsequent drop in crime rates. As the book is based on data however, it’s difficult to argue against the patterns that are found.
They answer some imaginative questions and whilst not everyone will be interested in the specifics, there is usually some central truth that can be taken from the findings.
This is a classic book about how to manage money. I once read somewhere that money is easy to make, but the challenge is keeping it. This book is all about how to manage your money effectively. One of the key practises it suggests is saving a small amount on a regular basis – say 10% of your income each month, plus other ideas like saving for the future. Sound advice!
It reminded me of a post I read on Zen Habits (one of my favourite blogs) by a guest writer Ian Newby-Clark – called the Power of Gradual. In fact this principle relates to some many things in everyday life, like diet and exercise – little and often, especially when we are surrounded by pressures to get things done quickly.
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
A classic! This book makes you think about your qualities and how you can be better. The thing I like about this book is that it applies to every area of life, not just work. It’s valuable framework for helping to achieve goals, prioritise important people and events and generally get your life in order.
Would like to read …
