New Books in the TMTC Library April – July 2021 Upstream Dan Heath So often in life, we get stuck in a cycle of response. We put out fires. We deal with emergencies. We stay downstream, handling one problem after another, but we never make our way upstream to fix the systems that caused the problems ... [This book] probes the psychological forces that push us downstream--including 'problem blindness,' which can leave us oblivious to serious problems in our midst. Source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48549702-upstream The Power of Geography: Ten Maps That Reveal the Future of Our World by Tim Marshall Tim Marshall The prequel to this book, Prisoners of Geography, was a bestseller thanks to the way that it so clearly identified the huge (and often undervalued) significance of those geographic staples (mountains, rivers, deserts, seas) in forming nations and alliances, and governing politics. Here, Tim Marshall returns with The Power of Geography, offering ten new case studies – Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Greece, Turkey, the Sahel, Ethiopia, Spain and space. Once again, he demonstrates how his chosen states have been, and always will be, influenced by geography, although this time with a closer eye on the future. The nine countries (plus space) that make up the book have been chosen for their potential as geopolitical hotspots. These are places where we can expect things to happen, and soon. The big issues are all relevant here; these are places grappling with climate change, religion and struggles over resources, and are, above all, figuring out their place in the new world order. All of them operate in certain ways because of geography. Just as Britain will always be influenced by the fact that it is a small island, so the mountains and coastlines of Greece will always shape its role in the Mediterranean, while Australia’s location will ensure it keeps one eye on China and another on the USA. Marshall Books are excellent for anyone who takes satisfaction in understanding the world and who 1 | P a g e April – July 2021 harbours a fascination for the shifting alliances, not just within their own country, but in others, too. Each segment of The Power of Geography is accessible, although by no means simple. Marshall covers much ground, moving smoothly through each nation’s background, current struggles, and options for the future. He considers the UK’s struggles to identify what being a foreign power means post-empire, Saudi Arabia’s relations with the USA in an age where solar panels will replace oil, Iran’s catch-22 (to liberalise and undermine its religious foundation, or double down and risk protests from a dissatisfied youth) and more. A sharp and concise evaluation of today’s geopolitics. Source: https://geographical.co.uk The Code Breaker Walter Isaacson The bestselling author of Leonardo da Vinci and Steve Jobs returns with a gripping account of how Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna and her colleagues launched a revolution that will allow us to cure diseases, fend off viruses, and have healthier babies. When Jennifer Doudna was in sixth grade, she came home one day to find that her dad had left a paperback titled The Double Helix on her bed. She put it aside, thinking it was one of those detective tales she loved. When she read it on a rainy Saturday, she discovered she was right, in a way. As she sped through the pages, she became enthralled by the intense drama behind the competition to discover the code of life. Even though her high school counsellor told her girls did not become scientists, she decided she would. Driven by a passion to understand how nature works and to turn discoveries into inventions, she would help to make what the book’s author, James Watson, told her was the most important biological advance since his co-discovery of the structure of DNA. She and her collaborators turned a curiosity of nature into an invention that will transform humanity: an easy-to-use tool that can edit DNA. Known as CRISPR, it opened a brave new world of medical miracles and moral questions. The development of CRISPR and the race to create vaccines for coronavirus will hasten our transition to the next great innovation revolution. The past half-century has been a digital age, based on the microchip, computer, and internet. Now we are entering a life-science revolution. Children who study digital coding will be joined by those who study genetic code. Should we use our new evolution-hacking powers to make us less susceptible to viruses? What a wonderful boon that would be! And what about preventing depression? Hmmm . Should we allow parents, if they can afford it, to enhance the height or muscles or IQ of their kids? After helping to discover CRISPR, Doudna became a leader in wrestling with these moral issues and, with her collaborator Emmanuelle Charpentier, won the Nobel Prize in 2020. Her story is a thrilling detective tale that involves the most profound wonders of nature, from the origins of life to the future of our species. Source: https://www.harvard.com/book/the_code_breaker 2 | P a g e April – July 2021 The Ministry of Common Sense Martin Lindstrom A humorous yet practical five-step guide to ridding ourselves-and our companies-of the bureaucratic bottlenecks and red tape that plague every office How often in your life do you spend time following a rule or a procedure that makes no sense, offers little or no advantage, and slows you down in the process? In a world of work governed by a system of well-intentioned rules, that is something that happens all too often. In this book Martin Lindstrom - a global leader in branding and expert in organisational culture - takes you behind the scenes at companies which are paralyzed and demoralised by a breakdown in common sense. Lindstrom shares a five-step process for identifying and repairing these lapses, showing that restoring common sense always cuts costs, boosts engagement, and increases customer retention. The stories in THE MINISTRY OF COMMON SENSE are entertaining, troubling, eye-opening, and recognisable to anyone who works in or leads an organisation of any size. It is easy to get blinded to problems right in front of you - but setting up your own Ministry of Common Sense will mean less time wasted on unnecessary things, less mistakes and misunderstandings, and a better way of working for all. Source: https://www.hachette.com.au/martin-lindstrom/the-ministry-of-common-sense-how-to- eliminate-bureaucratic-red-tape-bad-excuses-and-corporate-bullshit The Conscientious Manager Phani Medicharla At the core of innovation and growth in any organization lies a driven and motivated team player who needs to be constantly nurtured and ennobled with a great value system and workplace ethics. The Conscientious Manager brings out several dimensions of workplace dynamics through powerful storytelling to help promote a sense of belongingness and synergy in the workplace. The themes portrayed in the book are based on diversity, facing 3 | P a g e April – July 2021 disruptions, ownership and accountability, importance of genuine feedback, learning from experts, mentoring, professional gratitude, and others. By offering the readers a holistic learning experience of workplace morals and dilemmas such as personal, interpersonal, cultural and leadership, the book prepares them to face the workplace with empathy, respect, commitment, and confidence. Source: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-conscientious-manager-bala-phani-chand- medicharla/1139755648 HBR: Guide to Beating Burnout Harvard Business Review The always-on workplace and increasing pressures are work leading to a high rate of burnout. Unmanaged, chronic work stress does not just lead to lower productivity and negative emotions—it can have dire personal and professional consequences. Are you and your team at risk? The HBR Guide to Beating Burnout provides practical tips and advice to help you, your team, and your organization navigate the perils of burnout and rediscover healthy engagement at work. You will learn how to: • Understand the difference between normal stress and burnout. • Keep your passion for work from leading to burnout! • Avoid working from home burnout. • Protect your high performers from burnout. • Help prevent burnout on your team—even if you are burned out. • Bounce back and regain your productivity and effectiveness. Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, with the most trusted brand in business. Packed with how-to essentials from leading experts, the HBR Guides provide smart answers to your most pressing work challenges. Source:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hbr-guide-to-beating-burnout-harvard-business- review/1136107688 4 | P a g e April – July 2021 .