The Economic Naturalist - Robert H Frank

.. Why Economics explains almost everything.

For years, economist Robert Frank has been encouraging his students to use economics to explain the strange situations they encounter in everyday life. Examples are:

- Why is there a light in your fridge but not in your freezer?

- Why is milk sold in rectangular containers, while soft drinks are sold in cylindrical ones?

- Why do 24-hour shops bother having locks on their doors?

If you can't wait to read the book to find the answers, I have provided small excerpts (less than 10%) of the book content (including answers to above 3 questions) at: www.timetravelnotes.blogspot.com

The economic principles that answer them may reveal why many of the most puzzling parts of everyday life actually makes perfect (economic) sense.

The short answers in layman terms make this book easy-to-read and a page-turner. There are more than 120 intriguing questions in this informative book.

Dinner with a Perfect Stranger - David Gregory

.. An invitation worth considering. David Gregory relates the story of two men sharing a meal. The point of interest is knowing that one man believes he is Jesus. What will the other man think by the time the evening is through? Recommended, especially for free-thinkers with some knowledge of various religions and beliefs.

Change Your Questions, Change Your Life - Marilee Adams

.. 7 Powerful Tools for Life and Work. "Questioning" is a skill rarely taught in school, but doing it well - that is, asking the right questions of the right people - can radically transform attitudes, actions, and results. This book provides easy-to-learn tools that can make a significant and immediate difference in people's business and personal lives.

Servant As Leader - Robert K Greenleaf

The servant-leader is servant first..

It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first, then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. The servant-leader makes sure other people's highest priority needs are being served first.

The Answer to How is Yes - Peter Block

The author insists that we ask the wrong question about accomplishing the important things in our lives, particularly in our place of employment. We too often ask "How?" which focuses too closely on the practical way of getting something done and is actually a subconscious expression of society's emphasis on control of people, time, and cost. Instead, our concentration should be focused on "Why?" In other words, we need to pay attention to what really matters to us personally, from heart-felt commitments in our private lives to the creation of projects in the workplace.

Learned Optimism - Martin Seligman

.. How to Change Your Mind and Your Life ..

Optimism - reacting to setbacks from a presumption of power.
Pessimism - reacting to setbacks from a presumption of personal helplessness

Optimism can be learned.

Go Put Your Strengths to Work - Marcus Buckingham

The author offers a six-step plan for six weeks of reading and habit-forming action for discerning strengths, along with optional tools to enhance the process such as online questions for measuring strengths and downloaded films (two of which are free).

Now, Discover Your Strengths - Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton

This book focuses on enhancing people's strengths rather than eliminating their weaknesses. Each person's greatest room for growth is in the areas of his/her greatest strength.

First, Break All The Rules - Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman

.. What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently.. If you were a manager, how would you like to manage your staff? If not, you may like to get this book for your manager. :-) A must-read if you want to be not just a manager, but a great manager.

Cashflow Quadrant - Robert T Kiyosaki

This eye-opening book reveals the strategies necessary for moving beyond just job security to greater financial security by generating wealth from four selective financial quadrants - As an "E"mployee, "S"elf employment, own "B"usiness and through "I"nvestments.

First Things First - Stephen R Covey

This book taught me to focus on what is important, not merely what is urgent. It also taught me to find my "true north" and the important 4 Ls of life -- "to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy".

The World Is Flat - Thomas L Friedman

Thomas L. Friedman explains how the flattening of the world happened at the dawn of the twenty-first century; what it means to countries, companies, communities, and individuals; and how governments and societies can, and must, adapt. The World Is Flat is a timely and essential update on globalization, its successes and discontents.



How is this (above book) for a sequel (or update)? :-) To be fair, below is Friedman's official follow-up book to "The World is Flat".