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Copyright © 2022 Pepijn van der Laan.
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From Anime to the Karaoke machine and the Gameboy, Japanese design has had an outsized influence on pop culture

From Anime to the Karaoke machine and the Gameboy, Japanese design has had an outsized influence on pop culture

Matt Alt – Pure invention

Highly entertaining book, providing entertaining facts and refreshing perspectives.

The US postal service is a success story of the benefits of public funding

The US postal service is a success story of the benefits of public funding

Winifred Gallagher – How the post office created America

In theory a fascinating topic, but in practice a boring read; as I should have expected because the Post leveraged rather than drove innovation.

To solve the problems facing our planet today, we need to think ahead seven generations

To solve the problems facing our planet today, we need to think ahead seven generations

Roman Krznaric – The good ancestor

Hard-felt plea for including future generations into political decision making.

Today’s dominant ideology is the acceptance of ‘how the world really is’ and that any attempt to change that will lead to ruin

Today’s dominant ideology is the acceptance of ‘how the world really is’ and that any attempt to change that will lead to ruin

Slavoj Zizek – Like a thief in broad daylight

Mix of interesting Marxist perspectives on contemporary politics and confusing rants about old movies.

A hero is someone directing their rage towards achieving an unattainable goal and, if successful, ending up a star

A hero is someone directing their rage towards achieving an unattainable goal and, if successful, ending up a star

Stephen Fry – Heros

Fresh and highly entertaining retelling of classic tales.

Like in other instances of decolonization, forming the USA has been a murky affair largely dependent on chance

Like in other instances of decolonization, forming the USA has been a murky affair largely dependent on chance

Colin Woodard – American nations

The book is more about political realities than about cultures, with little attention given to the role of black people (apart from them being enslaved).

For more impact: write your own rules, commit to redistributing power, and fight for fairness

For more impact: write your own rules, commit to redistributing power, and fight for fairness

Sam Conniff Allende – Be more Pirate

Entertaining and motivating.

Kill Powerpoint, have to 2-pizza teams, and get your core values straight

Kill Powerpoint, have to 2-pizza teams, and get your core values straight

Colin Brayer and Bill Carr – Working backwards

Somehow, there is no mention of pee bottles or other excesses concerning operational staff in the book.

Master the Three Ways: flow, feedback, and continuous learning

Master the Three Ways: flow, feedback, and continuous learning

Gene Kim et. al. – The DevOps Handbook

Surprisingly valuable, considering the conceptual natureof the material covered.

Back in the day, the Mayas may have captured some Vikings

Back in the day, the Mayas may have captured some Vikings

The year 1000 – Valerie Hansen

Most intriguing where the described ‘globalization’ takes the for of trade – rather than old-fashioned conquest

Considering the extent of travel and trade by sea, Medieval Europe was not so dark at all

Considering the extent of travel and trade by sea, Medieval Europe was not so dark at all

Michael Pye – the edge of the world

A collection of juicy stories backed by interesting historical facts grounded in documented history and archeological finds.

The connection between East and West has shaped the world to a larger extent than generally acknowledged

The connection between East and West has shaped the world to a larger extent than generally acknowledged

Peter Frankopan – The Silk Roads

Due to the breadth of the topic, the compelling perspective disintegrates and it ends up as a long parade of interesting facts.

Over the past 170 years Japan’s perception of itself has changed radically – multiple times

Over the past 170 years Japan’s perception of itself has changed radically – multiple times

Christopher Harding – Japan Story

The author provides a richness of perspectives that guide the reader beyond clichés.

To unlock creativity, make sure you get the culture right

To unlock creativity, make sure you get the culture right

Ed Catmull – Creativity, Inc.

The best quote is not from the author: “Quality is the best business plan” (John Lasseter, director of Toy Story).

Run your IT department like it is a factory

Run your IT department like it is a factory

Gene Kim et. al. – The Phoenix project

The well-established template of ‘The Goal‘ applied to IT.

It requires concentration to complete complex, intelligent tasks

It requires concentration to complete complex, intelligent tasks

Cal Newport – Deep work

The need for concentration for though-intensive tasks is not disputed, but somehow the author (a university professor himself) structurally over-values academic work versus non-academic endeavours.

Even at tech companies where intentions are good, women fight an uphill battle

Even at tech companies where intentions are good, women fight an uphill battle

Emily Chang – Brotopia

The book fits neatly in the trend to call out gender inequality, but unfortunately it has limited practical solutions to offer.

Attract the right team, set a market-driven strategy, prioritize wisely in execution and… don’t run out of cash

Attract the right team, set a market-driven strategy, prioritize wisely in execution and… don’t run out of cash

Verne Harnish – Scaling up

Densely written ‘how-to guide’ for executives who want to build a sustainable growth company.

High-ranked mafia killer flips, citing his uncle’s ruthlessness as justification

High-ranked mafia killer flips, citing his uncle’s ruthlessness as justification

Philip Leonetti – Mafia prince

At some point, The Godfather has evolved from a document of the mafia life style to a style guide for mob leaders.

Take full responsibility, keep it simple, ensure the team believes in the mission, and act decisively

Take full responsibility, keep it simple, ensure the team believes in the mission, and act decisively

Extreme ownership – Leif Babin and Jocko Willink

A no-nonsense approach to leadership, accompanied by an overdose of war stories.

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Copyright © 2022 Pepijn van der Laan.
All rights reserved.