How many books do you read every year? How many of those books do you actually finish? Do you read strategically? Do you read at all? Books have a lot to teach you, but your time is precious so you want to make sure everything you read will have an impact and teach you things…
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What if there was a way to crack the funding out there? Let’s face it! Startup funding is a difficult topic and, as a general rule, the questions faced by Founders in need for cash are numerous.
Who do you need to talk to? What can you expect from investors and what should you seek to obtain from them? How do you need to talk to them? What do they need to hear, actually? Oh, but do you need a business plan? How do you prepare a compelling pitch? In ‘Crack the Funding Code’, Judy Robinett …
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Educated, by Tara Westover, was unquestionably one of my literary shocks this year. This book is not only well written and inspiring, but it is also deep, eye-opening and brutally mind-shaking. While there are tons of excuses out there not to change anything, Educated is a testimony that everyone should read. As long as they’re ready to be shaken, provoked, brutalized and put outside of their comfort zone, that is. Beware, however. You won’t come out unscathed of this book.
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Hedge, A Greater Safety Net for the Entrepreneurial Age by Nicolas Colin: what if our society models and approach to innovation and entrepreneurship were outdated? While at some point being a Tech entrepreneur was a trendy thing, nowadays our relationship to tech and innovative companies has shifted. Complexity, perplexity, the words aren’t difficult to find. The question is, how do we move forward? This book is interesting, well written and very well research. And you should read it if you are wondering how entrepreneurship is about to turn. Just saying!
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Climate change is a big topic these days, but what do we really know about the topic? Earth Masters, The Dawn of the Age of Climate Change is one of those books which contribute to the debate by explaining some of the side aspects very few people talk about.
In short? The topic here isn’t climate change per se, but rather the idea that geoengineering – or the ability to use technology to treat the symptoms – is seen as a potential solution. Except that the author is very skeptic about the idea and provides an analysis of the situation.
This book is interesting, well written and enlightening, especially if you are curious about the topic without knowing much about it. Want to find out more? Keep reading!
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This month, I’ve decided to make you think smart with a book on entrepreneurship and, more generally, innovation. This book is Start With Why, by Simon Sinek. A bestselling piece which you probably heard about many times. But have you read it? The book elaborates on what should be the core of a strategy. Whether you try to sell a book, a product, a service, or a dream, the WHY is the basis, the roots, the engine. Sinek explains this theory and provides some interesting and easily actionable takes. Does that pick your curiosity? Well, that page was written for you. Just keep reading!
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Ready to be a Thought Leader? How to Increase Your Influence, Impact and Success, by Denise Brosseau is one of those books I’ve put to the top of my must-read list, without the slightest doubt.
The book isn’t on Amazon’s hot list, and I haven’t heard many people talk about it, yet I think that it is a powerful tool if you are interested in building up your own leadership.
Denise Brosseau provides various concepts and very actionable tools here, which will help you get somewhere. At the end of the day, whilst leadership is a big topic, only a few people have a genuine opportunity to have a go for it. This book is different because it shows that, using what you have and building from your own expertise, you can make things work differently. Sounds promising, doesn’t it? Keep reading for more!
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Outsiders Changing the World by Jamie Bartlett: what if a little bit of radical thinking made you think smarter? Considering radicals as originals and marginals is easy, we all do it. But what if their way of thinking actually had an impact? What if their methods had things in common? Things we can learn from to understand whether, perhaps, their actions go somewhere? Radicals is an easy-to-read book which documents how extreme ideas and ways of action proliferate. There’s a lot of food for thought in there, and my take is that you won’t think about radicalism again… Just saying!
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Today, I am writing about Dale Carnegie’s book How to Develop Self-Confidence and Influence People by Public Speaking! Public speaking is an interesting topic, especially when it comes to building up your charisma, your professional profile, or if you are considering promoting something that matters to you. But here is the thing: public speaking is difficult. How do you that? Where do you start? What are the expectations? What are the common mistakes you should be avoiding? In this book, Carnegie provides tons of actionable topics on the issue of public speaking. He takes us by the hand and shares his experience. Great read!
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The Future of Power by Joseph Nye is one of those books that have the potential to make you think about the world you live in. In this case, and as the title suggests, the main topic is power, which the author analyses and explains in great length, but in a practical way. Soft power, hard power, smart power, military and economic power, Nye takes the reader by the hand and provides food for thought on what the heck is happening around us. If you are looking for an interesting and challenging read, this book will be worth your time!
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I thought writing a quick Homo Deus Review would make sense considering that I recently published my thoughts on Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari’s previous book. The good news is, like the previous one, this book is a page-turner. It reads like a story, but it gives you a lot of food for thought about mankind. The question is not to figure out where we come from, it is to guesstimate where we are going, technology helping (or not). If you are interested in tech & innovation discussions, this book is among the ones you need to read, that’s for sure.
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The bottom line of my Zero to One Summary? Easy. This book is one of the reference books out there for those interested in business development. Or perhaps should I say startup development, as a matter of fact. Peter Thiel (who is one of the Paypal founders) elaborates on how startups work and on the kind of mindset you need to become a successful startup founder. Thiel has a tone and goes straight to the point, which makes him challenge some of the ideas you tend to see all the time in the mainstream way of thinking. In short? A challenging book, totally worth your time if you need to boost your leadership skills.
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What if thinking about (and finding out) what really drives you made a big difference in your life? Productivity and success are big things these days. People want to do better and more because success and productivity are often associated with quantity. In The One Thing, Gary Keller and Jay Papasan say that success depends on the one thing that drives you, and they help you put your finger on it. This book has helped me more than I thought it would. The argumentation is fairly repetitive (as this is often the case with self-development books) but it has given me great food for thought. Totally worth reading!
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Book suggestion & review – The China Questions | What if asking the correct China questions made you smarter? China is hot stuff these days. People talk about it a lot but sadly China-bashing is often the focus. In reality, there’s much more to say. The China Questions (edited by Jennifer Rudolph and Michael Szonyi) is one must-read book if you want to learn what China is about. Totally worth adding to my society and politics books suggestion list…
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Hey there! There is a question I would like to ask you. How many valuable books have you read so far this year? No pressure, no judgment, just respond honestly, I’m just being curious. Five? Ten maybe? In this food for thought article, I am exploring our reading habits to help you figure out what could happen if you reconsidered your reading methods. And I’m sure you’ll learn a thing or two. So, where do you stand? How many books have you read this year? What type of books were these? I’ll make you think smart (and you’re gonna like it!)
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Leadership is a big thing we all want to explore, both for self-development or business reasons. But where should we start? Here is a book suggestion: in How to Win Friends and Influence People, leadership guru Dale Carnegie explains the basics of human intelligence and human skills. It’s very simple! These are the skills you need to master if you plan on moving forward and doing better with what you have! In short? A must-read business and self-development book, packed with value. What are you waiting for? Read my book review of Dale Carnegie’s book How to Win Friends and Influence People …
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Politics and society books | Politics is a nasty topic. Controversial, dirty, boring, you name it. But couldn’t you use some food for thought on why politics are so complex? In his book ‘Politics’ David Runciman does just that. The book explores what politics are about and overall Runciman explains why getting results is so complex. This book is worth your time if you want to try and think smarter! Interested by my book suggestion? Read my book review of Politics by David Runciman …
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Let me be blunt: Sapiens is one of those books you must absolutely read, and it’s not like you have a choice. I’m not just making a suggestion here, I’m telling you. Period! Sapiens, a Brief History of Mankind by Yuval Noah Harari is one of those books everybody has been talking about lately, and there’s a good reason for that. Sapiens talks about humanity and progress. The book explains what made us, how we shifted from apes to a social construct-dependant and technology-able species. Harari was commonly described as President Obama’s favourite essayist and my book review is going to tell you why…
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Wondering why there is so much fuss about capitalism at the moment? Time to get back to the basics. Don’t take risks, though. Go for a big name. Today, my economics and society book suggestion is ‘Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy’ by Joseph Schumpeter. First, Schumpeter is one of those names everyone’s heard of (without being able to say a thing about the guy). So, time to dig in and think smart. Second, ‘Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy’ is a challenging book which contains key ideas you should know about. Does creative destruction ring a bell? You have no excuse… Read my book review!
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Looking for insights and tips on business and creativity development? Here is a book suggestion: Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull (with Amy Wallace). Creativity, Inc. uses the story of Pixar as a practical case study. The book is very practical, in other words, and it explains to what extent creativity can become part of a company’s DNA. Creativity, Inc. is a little technical at times, but it is nonetheless an interesting and challenging read totally worth your time if the topic is of interest to you for one reason or another. Want to find out more? Read my book review of Creativity, Inc. now!
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I’m sure you’ve heard of the blockchain. But can you tell what the thing is about? Probably not, and that’s normal. So, here is a book suggestion: Blockchain Revolution by Don Tapscott and Alex Tapscott. The thing is, you can’t really afford to miss that book. The Blockchain is one of those trendy topics at the moment. People say it’ll be a revolution, that our lives are going to change… Still, only a few actually know about it. So, is there a Blockchain Revolution out there? Don & Alex Tapscott think so and they do a great job explaining why. Curious? Read my book review!
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What could the industries of the future be like? Is the world as we know it over? Is technology about to change everything? If you are interested in these questions, ‘The Industries of the Future’ by Alec Ross is a must-read book. Really! Let’s face it, people keep talking about technologies. Robots are replacing humans, the blockchain this, cyber-security that… Don’t just let people let you what to think! Read smart, think smarter, and make up your own mind! The Industries of the Future by Alec Ross is a fascinating and eye-opening book. Read my book review and find out why!
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Here is another interesting book on creativity and business leadership. If you are in business, chances are that you keep asking yourself how to beat the competition, right? Well, as usual, here is a book suggestion: Rules for Revolutionaries by Guy Kawasaki. So what’s special about that book? In Rules for Revolutionaries, Kawasaki gives you the basics of product-building. Because there are basic rules! Where do you get your ideas? when do you launch a product? How do you test your ideas? How do you keep improving?Kawasaki’s Rules for Revolutionaries are precisely about that. Read my book review and see for yourself! Think SMART!
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Politics, Economics, Business, Creativity or Leadership. Schumpeter, Harari, Grant, Carnegie… What if you could get a hint of what great authors have to say, in 20 minutes? I am a 30-something PhD and I’ll Make You Think Smart, one book at a time. Join the club!
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There are tons of books out there on leadership and creativity, but Originals by Adam Grant is definitely in top position on my book suggestions list. In ‘Originals, How Non-Conformists Move the World’, Grant provides tons of food for thought on how to be better at creativity and leadership… differently. Are you interested in finding ways to think smart and outside the box? Are you thinking about changing the rules? Trying to write your own rules, maybe? Well, This book is a book you must read, it’s as simple as that. Read smart, check my book review of Originals to find out more!
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“Originals” by Adam Grant is a must-read book for those interested in finding ways to do something more, something different, something to somehow reshuffle the cards and offer a new direction. This is my book review, read on!
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Today is Sunday, and today felt like doing nothing. All right, let me rephrase that. Today felt like lightning a bergamot candle, laying on a couch, crossing my feet and sipping some tea while reading something. So I did just that!
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Many people dream of building their own business or side hustle, but where to start? Chris Guillebeau’s Side Hustle advice can help! ‘Side Hustle, From Idea to income in 27 Days’ is a book about starting a business of your own, from a passion, simply. The book draws on the success of Guillebeau’s book The $100 Startup, really. But this one is more like an action plan. Very relevant (and fun to read) if you are into project-building, business books, and self-development books! Don’t miss my book review!
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What is Chris Guillebeau’s book ‘Side Hustle – From Idea to Income in 27 Days’ about? Read the GreatBooks&Coffee book review and summary of Guillebeau’s book ‘Side Hustle’! Welcome on GreatBooks&Coffee. I’m a 30-something PhD and this is my book reviews blog. Happy reading! Book Review & Summary: ‘Side Hustle –…
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Here’s the thing. Despite what everybody says, building a startup isn’t just about raising funds. Building a startup is about asking the right questions and getting stuff done. And ‘The $100 Startup’ by Chris Guillebeau can help you do that. The $100 Startup is an interesting and easy-to-read book for those interested in building a business with very little. What you read in there not only makes sense, it is inspiring, and it will give you food for thought on how you could build-up something differently. Want to find out more? Read my book review of The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau!
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‘The $100 startup’ is a must-read book for those interested in business creation! Guillebeau made a survey of a thousand small business creators who… never thought about becoming entrepreneurs. And the book explains the various conclusions he came too. This is my book review, read on!
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The U.S. Presidential elections of 2016 were messy, dirty even. So what happened to Hillary Clinton? The book explains the elections. It elaborates on Hillary’s mindset throughout the campaign (and after). The book tells her side of the drama and will be of interest to those who wonder why things didn’t work. This book is quite an interesting read overall, especially if you want to know how politicians think. But I must say that selective-reading helped me get through the book. There’s a lot of food for thought in there, read my review of What Happened and find out more about the book!
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‘What Happened’ is a big book written to tell the world about Hillary Rodham Clinton’s perception of the U.S. presidential election of 2016. The book is accessible, easy to read and instructive on various counts. I’d say that it is particularly relevant to those who want Hillary Clinton’s views on what happened (quite obviously) and to those interested in understanding a little more about American politics.
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Are you having difficulty running your business? Are you trying to build a startup in a smart way? The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber explains why many business owners struggle to keep their head above the water and what they do wrong. For this, the book is an excellent reading suggestion. Let’s face it, entrepreneurship is tough, so why take chances? The E-Myth Revisited is packed with easily actionable advice, and the way the story is written makes it fun to read. In short, this is a must-read business & startups book. Read my book review of The E-myth Revisited to find out why!
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What is Michael Gerber’s book ‘The E-Myth Revisited – Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It’ about? Read the book review and summary of Gerber’s book ‘The E-Myth Revisited’ on GreatBooks&Coffee! Welcome on GreatBooks&Coffee. I’m a 30-something PhD and this is my book reviews blog. Happy reading! Book Review…
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I Will Make You Think Smart 