Book reviews
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Yuval Noah Harari: 21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Overview In “21 Lessons for the 21st Century,” Yuval Noah Harari presents a compelling mosaic of the human condition, as viewed through the lens of today’s most pressing challenges. This book is not merely a read; it is an intellectual journey that offers a panoramic view of our contemporary world. Harari’s work stands as an… Read more
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Peter F. Drucker – The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done
Overview “The Effective Executive” by Peter F. Drucker is a seminal book that delves into the art of being effective in the management realm. It’s a compact guide that has been sitting on my shelf, and I finally got to dive into its pages over a quiet Easter break. Synopsis “The Effective Executive,” first published… Read more
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Thomas Beaufils: Histoire des Pays-Bas des origines à nos jours
Thomas Beaufils, maître de conférences en civilisation des pays néerlandophones à l’université de Lille, nous offre une synthèse remarquable sur l’histoire des Pays-Bas, de leurs origines germaniques à nos jours. Il retrace les grandes étapes et les spécificités de cette nation unique, qui a su faire preuve d’un esprit d’ouverture, d’indépendance et d’ingéniosité, malgré les… Read more
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Jennifer Aaker, Naomi Bagdonas: Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And how anyone can harness it. Even you.)
Humor is a powerful tool that can enhance our work and life, but it is often overlooked or misunderstood. That’s why I was intrigued by this book by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas. The book promises to show us how humor can boost our performance, relationships, and well-being, and how we can develop and use… Read more
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Danielle Marchant – Pause: How to press pause before life does it for you
This book by Danielle Marchant aims to help readers find balance and happiness in their lives by learning to slow down and reconnect with themselves. The book is inspired by the author’s own experience of suffering a burn-out and recovering through mindfulness and self-care practices. The book starts with a compelling premise: that we live… Read more
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Erica Dhawan: Digital Body Language – How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance
Communication is one of the most essential skills in the modern world, especially in the era of remote work and digital collaboration. But how do we communicate effectively when we can’t see each other’s body language, facial expressions, tone of voice, and other nonverbal cues? How do we avoid misunderstandings, confusion, and conflict in our… Read more
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Thomas Frinault, Érik Neveu, Pierre Karila-Cohen: Qu’est-ce que l’opinion publique ?
L’opinion publique est-elle une réalité ou une illusion? Comment se forme-t-elle, comment s’exprime-t-elle, comment évolue-t-elle au fil du temps et des contextes? Quel est son rôle et son influence dans la vie politique et sociale? Quels sont les acteurs, les outils, les enjeux de la scène publique? Autant de questions passionnantes et complexes que les… Read more
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Robert T. Kiyosaki: Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
The book Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki is really dangerous and absolutely badly written. It is claimed to be the number one book for personal financial education. The catchy title suggests an interesting concept and a truly important topic: the financial education of our children and the proper understanding of how money… Read more
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Alberto Cairo: How Charts Lie – Getting Smarter about Visual Information
This book aims to educate readers on how to interpret and use charts effectively. Cairo, a data visualization expert and professor at the University of Miami, argues that charts are powerful tools for communication, but they can also mislead, confuse, or manipulate us if we are not careful. He shows us how to avoid common… Read more
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Susan Fowler: Why Motivating People Doesn’t Work… And What Does. The New Science of Leading, Energizing and Engaging
This book by Susan Fowler challenges the conventional wisdom of using rewards and punishments to motivate people. Fowler argues that these methods are ineffective, frustrating, and even harmful for both leaders and employees. Instead, she proposes a new approach based on the latest scientific research on human motivation, which shows that people are inherently motivated… Read more