New Learning from The 100 Best Business Books of All Time
Given the number of business books that publish in any given year (well, before the economy hit the skids, at least), it can get very overwhelming for anyone trying to keep up and perhaps stay on top of new perspectives. But, there’s something you can’t get from an online bookstore or from paging through a few physical pages at the local book retailer: the knowledge nuggets and personal perspective that might help you decide if a particular book fits the bill for your current needs… and all in one resource.
That’s why the way Jack Covert and Todd Sattersten (of 800ceoread fame) organized and wrote their new book, The 100 Best Business Books of All Time (Portfolio) is so fresh. Not ones to go the traditional route, their experienced business book reading minds came up with something completely different. They developed a sort of hip, travel-style guide to all the great business wisdom out there – from Drucker to Gladwell.
You can read all about the specifics on the book’s site, but here are a few reasons I loved it:
- The essay format. Todd and Jack did not write mini-reviews or outlines of these books, as such, but quickly got to the essence of what made each book worth reading (and these guys know business books better than anyone else you may ever meet). If there are six keys to this, or ten guidelines to that, those are surely included, but the substance of each essay is personal and powerful in its own right.
- The sidebars and design elements (guided by Stauber Design Studio). Like the book overall, these are not garden variety. Instead, the chapter breaks span suggestions for learning more about global business practices to fiction titles that include some serious business lessons. Also, worth noting – at the end of each essay is a “What’s Next?” menu to guide you toward complementary reviews within and/or to suggest books outside of the 100 Best. The less linear-minded reader will find it a rich alternative to reading in sequence.
- Broad topic categories, They include “You” (my favorite, FLOW, is there) and “Narratives” as well as the more usual suspects of “Leadership,” “Strategy,” and “Entrepreneurship.” The 100 Best very much delivers a one-stop survey of all the best business ideas out there, and may well offer a way for the one topic only business book addict to try a new drug.
As Jack puts it in one of his reviews: “There are books that break new ground and then there are books that show you a new way to think about the basics.” Jack and Todd’s book does both (and inspires you to keep on reading…)
Worth noting: Jack, Todd and the 800ceoread team also know how to throw a great book launch party. Much fun was had and great contacts were made by all who attended the event in NYC last Monday night.
