Hola Todos!
On the first day of summer, we need to revisit an annual tradition – finding nuggetworthy ideas from some of the best books out there. This year’s list is a little shorter than previous years (see 2013, 2014, & 2015 book recommendation posts) but it still has some gems nonetheless.
These recommendations are in no particular order – go to Amazon or Google to find further detail on these books. If you have a more particular interest, drop me an email and we can go deeper into a more specific topic.
ENJOY!
Dr. Dan-o
Book Recommendations
Originals: How Non-Conformist Move the World by Adam Grant
Professor Grant is a rising star among academics and this book is further evidence he’s an out-of-the-box thinker. The Washington Post did an excellent interview and book preview you should check out. I bet you order the book before finishing the Post article.
GRIT: The Power of Passion AND Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
I first heard of Grit in an interview with Professor Duckworth on the TED Radio Hour podcast (Is Having Grit the Key to Success?). I’ve read Professor Duckworth’s academic articles and I’ve even used one of her Grit measure in a data collection effort. I can’t wait to read this one.
The Third Wave: An Entrepreneur’s Vision of the Future by Steve Case
Former co-founder and CEO of America Online, Steve Case is accustomed to taking a 500-foot view of trends many times throughout the years. For those of us who have heard my discussion of the Web 1.0 era vs. the Web 2.0 era, I am always on the lookout for the 3.0 era. In a ReCode Decode podcast interview, he made a compelling case we are in a new era. I’m going to read the book and decide for myself.
Digital Badges in Education: Trends, Issues, and Cases edited by Lin Muilenberg and Zane Berge
As the Director of the MBA Program of the Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University, I am always looking for new ideas. I hope this book will provide a few nuggets I can use in the MBA program.
Marketing Analytics: A Practical Guide to Real Marketing Science by Mike Grigsby
There is no question that marketing is becoming more “metric orientated” – “data driven” – “analytical” in nature. At the same time, finding a good guide for the non-PhDs is few and far in-between. I hope this book is one I can use on both the undergrad and grad levels.
Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics by Richard Thaler
I’m a big fan of Professor Thaler and his book Nudge is on my 2013 book recommendation list. I’m also a big fan of Audible and I’m listening to this book right now.
Curious: The Desire to Know and Why Your Future Depends On It by Ian Leslie
It’s too easy to see this book as a “parenting” book (and yes it’s an excellent book for nuggets on how to raise your kids) but I see this book as an “innovation” or “creativity” book. As we all know, I am a big fan of storytelling and this is also an excellent storytelling book. I’m currently reading this one right now.
The Moral Molecule: How Trust Works by Paul Zaks
This is the first book on the list I already competed. Professor Zaks’s nickname is the “Vampire Economist” and his research goal is to find the master switch to human behavior. The book is excellent and he’s very creative on how he sets up his studies (yes, they involve blood samples). Again, I am a big fan of storytelling books and this is also an excellent storytelling book. Anyone interested in ethics and ethics research would also enjoy this book. When you get a chance, check out his very interesting TED Talk.
