Freakonomics : Steven D Levitt & Stephen J Dubner

This book is certainly very different in many ways. Just as it promises, it has no unifying theme or "Big Idea". But what Levitt has managed to do, is to direct you to think a little differently. Look at everything from a different perspective.

One thing thats available in plenty today is information. In fact we are overloaded with information that we just cannot assimilate. But ofcourse, we do have experts who can digest this information and present their viewpoint, saving us the trouble of having to process that information.

We have as a result, experts in every field, who control and define what comes to be known as "conventional wisdom" in any field.
And conventional wisdom is usually simple, convenient and comforting, because it makes sense for it to be so. Probably because it makes more sense for the experts.


By asking simple questions like how are school teachers similar to sumo wrestlers? or What is the link between Ku Klux Clan and real estate agents? or why drug dealers live with their mom?, and analyzing them using available data to arrive at simple conclusions, it will certainly set you thinking.
The book beautifully reverse engineers these questions to arrive at answers that will then seem obvious.

The book will certainly not make you an expert on the ku klux clan or sumo wrestlers or real estate agents.
But you will certainly be a lot more circumspect about "conventional wisdom" and probably start looking behind the scenes to catch what does not otherwise meet the eye.

And lots of little trivia too, like the Yakuza - the japanese mafia, the makuchchi and juryo divisions of Sumo, Mr Ayak and Akai, how crack cocaine is made :) , how Du Pont introduced Nylon stockings to list a few...

Love is the Killer App : Tim Sanders

In what turned out to be a wonderful book, Tim Sanders introduces the concept of "Business Love" and the lovecat way of life.

Its a simple, practical book that will help you conciously practice what you may already know.

We are no longer in a world where information is best used when kept to yourself. He introduces you to the lovecat who shares his knowledge, shows compassion and builds his network to stay ahead in life. He defines love as the selfless promotion of the growth of others.

While we may all know or be aware of many of these things, the book also tells you how you can practice it.

So what are the benefits of a Lovecat's way of life?

a) You build a brand for yourself : In a world where you are respected, valued and rewarded for your knowledge and not by the years of experience you hold, building a brand for yourself is very important.

You can do this by building on your DREAM :
D - Differentiate : be different in a positive and productive manner and offer your intangibles..
R - Relevant : Be relevant to people in their daily life
E - Esteem : offer everything you have expecting nothing in return.
A - Awareness : Create an awareness of a brand called U. Good news always travels fast.
M : Mind's eye : have a distinctive brand in the minds eye of our bizmates


b) Create an experience : We are moving from a service economy to the experience economy and that applies to us as a brand too.
c)Access to peoples attention
d) Harness the power of positive presumption

Its a must read for any of you who wish to take a step forward from wherever you are. An inspiring and refreshing read.