“Around you there are many examples of ways to solve your own problems and create compelling opportunities. Learn to look outside.”
David Mansfield
Revolution Reading
Business books and articles are an excellent source of new ideas and different perspectives. Each selection will be summarised, highlighting the lessons to be learned and an actionable idea that David recommends you apply to your business. A new Revolution Reading will be added every month.
The Big Short
By Michael Lewis
What's it about?
‘The Big Short’ tells a story of spectacular, epic folly. Michael Lewis goes back decades to trace the origins of the 2008 financial crisis. He meets the people who saw it coming, the people who were asleep at the wheel and the people who were actively driving us all off the cliff.
This book shaped and changed the tone of financial journalism as we know it.
What's in it for me?
If you want to know about the origins of the credit crunch, and the extraordinary cast of misfits, visionaries and chancers who made money from the crash, there’s no more readable account.
What can I learn?
Through the captivating stories, you can learn how the market developed, how the systemic problems plagued the sector and how the downfall happened.
Start on Monday:
If it looks too good to be true it almost certainly will be. Does your business depend on everything continuing as before? A risk assessment based on extreme changes may feel unnecessary but that’s what Lehman’s Goldman Sachs and many others thought too.
The Black Swan, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
What's in it for me?
Maverick thinker Nassim Nicholas Taleb had an illustrious career on Wall Street before turning his focus to his Black Swan theory, the random events that underlie our lives, from triumphs to world disasters. Their impact is huge; they’re impossible to predict; yet after they happen we always try to rationalise them.
Alchemy, by Rory Sutherland
What's in it for me?
Sutherland helps us rediscover the profound wisdom behind everyday human reasoning. He invites us to explore the magic that happens when we trust a little bit less in our focus groups and optimisation models and trust a bit more in our creative eccentricity.
Learned Optimism, by Martin E P Seligman
What's in it for me?
Anyone with a genuine interest in improving their own self-messaging and choosing to create a more positive and optimistic outlook will love it.
Never Split The Difference, by Chris Voss
What's in it for me?
Books on negotiation offer the best returns on any book purchase. Simply using these field-tested tips in your next sales negotiation could pay for this book many times over.
The Money Train, by David Pattison
What's in it for me?
This is a really practical guide to the investment market for new business founders looking to raise money at the right time, at the right price.
Drive, by Daniel H. Pink
What's in it for me?
This is a great read for anyone who wants to explore and understand what motivates their team and how this could lead to a happier, more satisfied workforce and increased productivity.
David & Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants, by Malcolm Gladwell
What's in it for me?
Instead of taking the usual route of comparing yourself to others Gladwell inspires you to think about your own unique qualities and experiences, and how you might use these to succeed and overcome life’s adversities.
Time to Think, by Nancy Kline
What's in it for me?
This book will teach you that with the right discipline and concentration, just how powerful listening can be.
Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman
What's in it for me?
This will be a fascinating read for anyone who is interested in behavioural psychology. By getting to grips with these two systems, you’ll pick up tips on how to make better decisions in both your personal and professional life.
The Serendipity Mindset, by Christian Busch
What's in it for me?
1. The importance of a perceptive and observant attitude
2. Why sharing new ideas in the workplace leads to more serendipity
3. Ways to increase the chances of more serendipity in your life and in business
4. How to connect the dots and find the links
5. How ingrained biases stand in the way of serendipity
The 4-Hour Workweek, by Tim Ferriss
What's in it for me?
There are some themes around remote and flexible working and the importance of shifting priorities, that may be of interest.
The Art of War, by Sun Tzu
What's in it for me?
Tzu’s teachings show you the benefits of strategic agility in order to overcome challenges, gain competitive advantage and market share.
The One Thing, by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
What's in it for me?
You’ll learn how to prioritise the things that matter most to you and how to adopt the discipline of habit-forming to achieve your goals.
Bad Blood, by John Carreyou
What's in it for me?
Bad Blood will show you the pitfalls of confirmation bias in business and just how powerful it can be – when you really want to believe something, you will.
What they don’t teach you at Harvard Business School, by By Mark H McCormack
What's in it for me?
This book is suited to middle management roles and entrepreneurs looking to gain some practical advice on topics such as sales, negotiation, running a business, reading others and time management.
Talking to Strangers, by Malcolm Gladwell
What's in it for me?
It will help you to explore your own behaviour in dealing with strangers and guide you in building stronger relationships.
Shoe Dog, by Phil Knight
What's in it for me?
This is not your typical checklist and tips business book. It is an honest account of the often tumultuous road to success, which will energise and inspire the most determined entrepreneurs.
Atomic Habits, by James Clear
What's in it for me?
You will find out how habits are formed, how to make them stick and how embracing habits is a great way to take control of your life and achieve more.
Only the Paranoid Survive, by Andrew S. Grove
What's in it for me?
Learn how one of the most successful companies in the world survived moments of crisis. Gove gives advice on how to identify ‘strategic inflection points’ and lead teams through them.
