Book Reviews
If you would like to join BWA Port Elizabeth Business Book Club, please contact
Caroline Morgan 082 553 6185.
THE LAST LECTURE
Review by: VANESSA VAN HALL
Author: RANDY PAUSCH
Summary/description of book:
The book is a journal of memories of a man who has been diagnosed with cancer and had to give the last lecture. He was a professor at Carnegie Mellon and he really was giving his last lecture but instead of been sad and miserable he spoke about “really achieving your childhood dreams.” His lecture can be viewed on YouTube.
He died on the 25th July 2008.
This is a book for the soul and it does make you think about your life and what is important.
Most important thing I learnt from reading this book:
Life is made up of memories with loved ones, friends and not material possessions.
Book rating out of 5, and why:
5
I am looking at life differently and realize what is important in my life.
Screw It Let’s do Lunch
Review by: Vanessa van Hall
Author: David Bullard
Summary/description of book:
While reading this book I laughed and thought about the stuff that he was writing and at the end I realised that a lot of it was true and quite frankly a lot of us ( if we were honest) would agree with it. So how come we never ever stand up for what we believe….maybe it is much easier to go with the flow…
Most important thing I learnt from reading this book:
What will make us stand up for what we believe?
Book rating out of 5, and why:
4; A book that makes you think about what you will stand up for instead of sitting on the side line and blaming when things go wrong.
Fun is Good
Review by: Vanessa van Hall
Author: Mike Veeck & Pete Williams
Summary/description of book:
This book has been mind blowing and is an easy read. Now I do not know of many workplaces especially some that I have worked in that have fun at work. I am paid to do a job and have better get on with it. That has been my work career and I know that is what I expected from our staff. So to read a book that says you can have fun at work that is something new.
I have enjoyed this book and have started to speak to our staff and have come up with some fun ideas at work. Yes we have to work but I would rather work in an environment where you can have fun instead of a stiff clock in and clock out work environment.
So I will definitely read this book again and look forward to having more fun with our staff and visa versa. A must buy for all who would like to know “How to create Joy & Passion in your workplace & Career”.
Most important thing I learnt from reading this book:
The workplace can be a placed where everybody loves to be.
Still trying to get to that place … But there is always hope
Book rating out of 5, and why:
5
This book changed how I should view staff and what can happen when we have fun at work. In any case work should be a place where we have fun and where we are happy cause we are there for most of our lives.
It's all too much
Review by: Jean Taunton
Author: Peter Walsh
Summary/description of book:
It’s all too much….STUFF. Peter Walsh addresses the apparently growing feeling people have that they are drowning in their possessions. He shares anecdotes from families he has helped and shows how life-changing it can be to de-clutter. The chapters following the introduction outline a structured approach for tackling each room in the house, defining and agreeing with your family your ideal use for the room, and removing anything that does not support that vision. Although filled with practical hints and tips, the author is cognizant of the emotional rollercoaster that losing your treasures can take you on, and his style is warm, humorous and encouraging.
Most important thing I learnt from reading this book:
Hoarding stuff is not just a sign of laziness or untidiness. It more often than not reflects a treasured memory or lost love, an unfulfilled dream or a paralyzing fear – tackling the clutter does not just tidy a home/office, but forces you to deal with the emotional issues underlying the collection of stuff. It taught me to be sensitive to my folks as we approach discussions about moving into a smaller and “more manageable” home, and to review my own clutter with a new optimism.
Book rating out of 5, and why:
4/5 – I really enjoyed this book. It becomes a little repetitive if you are not seriously working through it, but because of the easy writing style it remains a lively read.
Capitalist Nigger
Review by Denise Kemp, Eastern Sun Promotions
Author: Chika Onyeani
Summary / description of book:
This was written by Chika who had come from Africa but lives in the USA.
He basically documented examples of blacks not taking the lead and being content to enrich other countries by buying their goods rather than getting down and manufacturing the goods themselves. He focused on what he called the mind set of blacks world wide and I think sent out a challenge to them to change from a nation of consumers to a nation of entrepreneurs
Most important thing I learnt from this book:
I think I learnt that there is more to their culture in this respect than I had realized and I intend reading more on the subject so that I can understand better why there are sometimes differences between us in our attitudes to business.
Book rating out of 5 and why:
5 - It was very thought provoking.
Leadership
Review by Jean Taunton, Dimension Data
Author: Tony Manning
Theme
This is a concise, well-written book on leadership, addressing the topic from four main perspectives:
- What is leadership - a bit of the usual guff, with an honest exploration of why it sounds so easy in concept, but is not as easy to do;
- The person - What makes a leader a leader ? not so much the usual guff, and more a pointed question: If this is it, do you have it in you, and do you want to grow it?
- The work - What do your followers expect you to do? - How to apply the concepts described practically ? some really simple practical do?s and don?ts.
- Being effective ? some additional pointers highlighting how to not let you vision lapse
Most important thing I learnt from this book:
If you want to be a leader, you must LEAD - don't expect to be able to gently guide - it just confuses.
Book rating out of 5 and why:
5 out of 5 - I found the book to be a good mix of concept and application, inspiring but insightful ? there was no dodging the tougher issues. The book is easy to read, but to the point.
Die Broke
Review by Belita von Steiger, Dimension Data
Author: Stephen Pollan
Theme
With this unusual title - one would not expect a money management book ? but this is one! The author takes 4 generally accepted concepts and turns them on their head:
- Quit now - questions employee loyalty to corporates;
- Pay cash - the debt trap avoided;
- Don't retire - the fallacy of retirement exploded; and
- Die broke - the non-sense of skimping to provide inheritances.
Most important thing I learnt from this book:
Some of the concepts like "avoid debt" are not new - but the others are novel - and makes for re-evaluation of continuity of employment in the corporate world as well as a review of basic assumptions of financial planning.
Book rating out of 5 and why:
3
Although a must read. The negative is that the book is American and the second section of the book goes into details of the application of these principles and many of these are not applicable in the South African context.
The Joy Diet
Review by Caroline Morgan, Computer programming
Author: Martha Beck
Theme
No?it?s not a diet book. It?s not really a business book either, strictly speaking, but one of the BWA members snuck this one and I am glad she did! It?s about finding fulfilment, enjoying life, being creative - in essence a 10-step program.
What makes it such fun is Martha Beck's writing style - she has a wacky sense of humour, calls a spade a spade, and includes real-life anecdotes from her counselling work. There were so many times that I wanted to read passages of it to friends, I think they were all glad when I finished reading it.
It is, of course, applicable to business life too - after all, where is it written that we shouldn?t ENJOY working life?
Most important thing I learnt from this book:
?The truth shall set you free? (on many levels, though it won?t make you popular with some) & ?Have at least 3 feasts a day? (and she doesn?t mean food)
Book rating out of 5 and why:
5
It?s now on my top ten book list that I have ever read. And the rest of Martha Beck?s books are on my to-be-read-soon list.
COMPLETE MBA FOR DUMMIES
Review by Jean Leicher, Dimension Data (Pty)ltd
Author: Dr Kathleen Allen
Theme
This is effectively a text book, but written in an easily readable style with a good smattering of humour. The text covers all the major aspects of managing businesses, from strategic planning, financial, marketing and resource management, to the use of technology in production, information technology and the opportunities of doing business globally. While dealing with the theoretical concepts, it offers practical tips, warnings and reminders that provide the valuable insights of on-the-ground experience.
Most important thing I learnt from this book:
There?s a world of opportunity out there and a dozen ways to approach each problem.
Book rating out of 5 and why:
3
This is a book that is a chewy read when read from cover to cover, but it doesn?t build from beginning to end, so most of the chapters can be read in isolation. This makes it a good text to dip into when exploring a particular aspect of business. Being American, the financial section covers some issues and tools not relevant to RSA, and similarly a South African ?Where to get Help? section would have been valuable.
MIND OVER MONEY
Review by Caroline Morgan
Author: Graeme Codrington
Theme
This book was given to those who attended the author?s talk in PE, organised by Nedbank & BWA last year. I thought ?free handout? book about finances? unlikely to be interesting?. Boy was I wrong! After hearing Graeme speak, I knew it would be a great book and it was. In fact, it was un-put-downable.
It discusses why people of different generations behave differently when it comes to finances, careers, and lifestyle. I read it cover to cover, although one could also read just the bits that are relevant to one?s own age group. But reading it all gave me an understanding of why the previous generation are ultra-conservative, and why the generation-Xers are so hard to pin down.
I also came away with a clearer idea of how I should be investing / spending at this stage of my life. I have made some changes to my personal financial planning, based on what I learnt.
Most important thing I learnt from this book:
Why my mother-in-law behaves so oddly about money and why the youngster I planned to hire unashamedly told me that she?d be working only until she had saved enough money to leave for London.
Book rating out of 5 and why:
5
Totally readable, down to earth, and filled with practical advice.