The Myth of Religious Superiority- Paul Knitter
This book largely contributes to my understanding of culture in regards to religion. Religion is a major aspect of culture. While discourse on religion may not be especially present in corporate America, it is a large part of our at home values which can be subconsciously brought to work. The book provides an excellent discussion on how to view religious traditions fairly and how to engage in civil interreligious discourse.
Work Rules! – Laszlo Bock
This book explores the innovative management styles are performed at Google’s headquarters. It describes the creative ways that you can best set up your organization to ensure success. Ideas from the book include limiting the use of official titles so that everyone is empowered in their work, letting workers have side projects that inspire their work related projects, and only hiring individuals that are better than you. His books help leaders develop high performing teams that maintain creativity and effectiveness.
Long Walk to Freedom – Nelson Mandela
I read this Nelson Mandela’s prior to interning in South Africa. Nelson Mandela is viewed as one of the most highly regarded and influential leaders. His biography is a terrific account of leading through adversity and leading to unify. This book is particularly relevant in the United States current racial climate. His story provides a lesson on how to conduct yourself towards people who may be oppressive. He provides endless wisdom and every leader should read this book.
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
Confidence and creativity are both necessary for leaders. This book provides tools on how to develop creative thought and creative confidence. Creativity is necessary for business leaders in problem solving, product development, and team building. This book provides perspective on how to become your most creatively confident self.
Value Proposition Design- Alexander Osterwalder
Value Proposition Design is a wonderful book for developing products or a business. It walks through the steps for how to enact a product that is made through human-centered design. It walks through the canvas stage, design, testing, and evolving your product. While business leadership is mostly focused on how to lead people, this book helps center on the strategy for creating the product or service that your company is centered around.
Feminist Fight Club: An Office Survival Manual for a Sexist Workplace- Jessica Bennett
Feminist Fight Club si a guide for how to combat sexism in the corporate workplace. It is relevant even beyond women and can pertain to other minority groups. It walks through how we can combat the external challenges like a challenging boss and internal challenges like self-doubt. It will be especially beneficial when going into Business Leadership as I will better know how to empower the women that I work with.
Strategic Management: Text & Cases – Gregory Dess, Gerry McNamara, Alan Eisner, & Seung-Hyun Lee
This book was used in my Management Policy and Strategy course. It provides a thorough understanding of how to develop a company for success in all ways. It walks through value proposition and developing value in your product or service and how to compare to your competitors. The books walks through how to set up a company in relation to the external environment, evaluating the company to see how it can best avoid threats and take advantage of opportunities. The book also does a great job of discussing how to establish a healthy internal company culture in which integrity and compliance are intrenched in the minds of the workers.
“At the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima”- Mark Sagoff
This article helps to articulate why cost-benefit analysis must not be used in every situation and how we must consider ethics before making all of our decisions. It is easy for humans to make decisions because the option is the least expensive. However, not all things should have a price tag. We must think about the public values as opposed to personal values when making business decisions. The article is focuses primarily on why cost-benefit analysis should not be considered in relation to the environment, which is especially pertinent during times of climate change.