Category Archives: Books

A cottage industry about Groupon

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Bloggers blog about it. Generating page views – to sell their ads and click streams. 

Financial pundits opine about it.Some to sell their newsletters. And opinions. 

A network will do a sitcom with Groupon in it. To generate ratings. 

And now a book about Groupon. For a nice advance I am sure. Wonder if there will be a Groupon selling the book? Half off the cover price? Click here for details. 

I still feel we are in a quiet period – but no one else does; that is for sure. 

Groupon. What is next – a movie? Been there – done that – anyone remember- “You’ve Got Mail?”

 

 

“That Used To Be Us”

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Gulp.

What a book. What a great expose of what ails us with some fantastic prescriptions for remedies.

Thomas Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum have nailed it. This is a powerful and important book. I hope every politician in DC reads this book; feels shame; toughens up; and acts with a higher calling to get us back on our feet and moving in the right direction.

I am halfway through this book and I am thrilled with it. I am also scared to death at what has happened to our competitiveness which is outlined in such a rationale way in this book.

Also note that the call for a bolt out of the blue for a new political party is ripe in these pages. Amazing. This may be the most important book published this year regarding the mash up of geo politics and business.

The Two Second Advantage

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A great book – a fast read. I read it back and forth from DC to Dallas yesterday. I recommend it to you all.

The book is about real time decision making; algorithms; speed to market.

Technology. Business. Fast firing brain cells.

Just get that info faster than the other guy.

Kevin Maney is a friend. He co-authored the book; it is so well done. Get it now before someone else reads it and beats you to the punch. Here is a link from Amazon.com. Thank you.

I read it and am already advantaged.

Economics of Happiness

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As I have noted in my book; happiness matters – and may be the most important currency that we own and can trade.

Read this story in Business Insider- on Bhutan, their GNP and Happiness Index.

Maybe if you would like, order and read my book as well as it shares the same principles; Business Of Happiness – click here to order and thank you.

Comics

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Still relevant as ever.

Still embedding images into young men’s minds.

Check out Comics Alliance here and see the great film about Alan Moore. Who is he?  He will blow your mind!

A very interesting case history on a true artist. Very popular and very influential in the comic book landscape. It might not be sharks but it is compelling theatre.

Summer Reading List

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Books I have started to read. Here is my list:

“Onward”, How Starbucks fought for its life without losing its soul by Howard Schultz;

“Tell to Win”, The hidden power of story, by Peter Guber;

“The Next Wave”, Using digital technology to further social and political innovation, by Darrell West.

No television viewing for me. Just documentaries and geeky books. Enjoy. Thanks.

“Give Smart”

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What a wonderful book written by Thomas J. Tierney and Joel L. Fleishman.

The book discusses how to be a productive supporter of charities; how to smartly give back; and how to hold charities accountable. Read this one if you are so inclined.

It was quite thought-provoking to me personally as I take a deep dive into how my charitable giving has worked out over the last decade.

A fast and good read. Well researched and cogent facts presented. A quick and productive read. Thanks for caring.

Guilty Pleasure

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I finished reading Does The Noise in My Head Bother You?, an autobiography by Steven Tyler. I think he writes like he talks and thinks with streams of tweets and scat melodies. He is funny. He has a pretty good memory for a self-professed drug abuser. The book was a fun read. There were a few wonderfully funny moments and quotes within the book. I bought the book for 30% off at Barnes and Noble in a remainder bin here in Tysons. I am sad to say that my book The Business of Happiness was also at 30% off and was in the same remainder bin! I am serious.

When I lived in Boston right out of college I would go see Aerosmith in concert. They were a hard working band and played college campuses, bar halls, clubs and arenas. I have to admit it was hard to take your eyes off of Steven Tyler and Joe Perry back then. They were a uniquely derivative band that are survivors and have had three distinct careers.

Here is the summary of the book. :-)

He was born in the 1940′s.

He was born into a musical family.

He loved his parents.

He played in cover bands.

He can do a cockney accent and people thought he was Mick Jagger. This talent was used wisely. He admired Janis Joplin. He went to Woodstock as a fan. He loved Jimmy Hendrix, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones. Girls love him back.

He sings and writes songs. Here are the lyrics. He includes lyrics to his songs because he thinks fans can’t hear him sing because Joe Perry plays his guitar too loud.

He met Joe Perry. They formed a band. He loves Joe Perry – he hates Joe Perry. Lake Sunapee is a fun place in New Hampshire. He now lives in LA. He also lived in NYC and Boston. But mostly he is on a bus or plane touring.

Aerosmith is an American band with fashion style. Let us tour. Let us sell records. Let us debauch.

We formed a band. It was loud.

The band got big.

I sang a lot. My feet hurt. I go to rehab a lot.

I met a lot of girls; and then woman. I mean a lot of girls and woman. A lot. No – I mean a lot.

I did a lot of drugs. I mean a lot of drugs. Even more drugs than woman.

I had many children. I love them.

I ache – my vocal chords; my back; and my feet.

Rock star work is hard work.

It is physical labor.

My band mates and I fight a lot. We have LSD – lead singer dysfunction.

I took too many prescription drugs.

I go to rehab. Again. And again. We all go to rehab.

I am now a judge on American Idol.

I have survived.

Dream On. Walk This Way.

Thank you.