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Chip Heath, Dan Heath

Business & Economics

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#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD! The ultimate guide to making changes and following through, from the authors of Made to Stick and Decisive—hailed as “witty and instructive” (The Wall Street Journal), “packed with examples and hands-on tools that will get you moving right away” (BusinessWeek) Why is it so hard to make lasting changes in our companies, in our communities, and in our own lives? The primary obstacle is a conflict that's built into our brains, say Chip and Dan Heath. Psychologists have discovered that our minds are ruled by two different systems—the rational mind and the emotional mind—that compete for control. The rational mind wants a great beach body; the emotional mind wants that Oreo cookie. The rational mind wants to change something at work; the emotional mind loves the comfort of the existing routine. This tension can doom a change effort—but if it is overcome, change can come quickly. In Switch, the Heaths show how everyday people—employees and managers, parents and nurses—have united both minds and, as a result, achieved dramatic results: • the lowly medical interns who managed to defeat an entrenched, decades-old medical practice that was endangering patients • the home-organizing guru who developed a simple technique for overcoming the dread of housekeeping • the manager who transformed a lackadaisical customer-support team into service zealots by removing a standard tool of customer service In a compelling, story-driven narrative, the Heaths bring together decades of counterintuitive research in psychology, sociology, and other fields to shed new light on how we can effect transformative change. Switch shows that successful changes follow a pattern, a pattern you can use to make the changes that matter to you.

The Prince cover

The Prince

4.4

Niccolò Machiavelli

Philosophy

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Based upon Machiavelli's first-hand experience as an emissary of the Florentine Republic to the courts of Europe, The Prince analyses the usually violent means by which men seize, retain, and lose political power. This fluent new translation is accompanied by comprehensive notes and an introduction that dispels some of the myths associated with Machiavelli, and considers the true purpose of The Prince. - ;'A prince must not have any other object nor any other thought...but war, its institutions, and its discipline; because that is the only art befitting one who commands.' When Machiavelli's brief treatise on Renaissance statecraft and princely power was posthumously published in 1532, it generated a debate that has raged unabated until the present day. Based upon Machiavelli's first-hand experience as an emissary of the Florentine Republic to the courts of Europe, The Prince analyses the usually violent means by which men seize, retain, and lose political power. Machiavelli added a dimension of incisive realism to one of the major philosophical and political issues of his time, especially the relationship between public deeds and private morality. His book provides a remarkably uncompromising picture of the true nature of power, no matter in what era or by whom it is exercised. This fluent new translation is accompanied by comprehensive notes and an introduction that considers the true purpose of The Prince and dispels some of the myths associated with it. - ;Literary scholar Peter Bondanella rightly seeks the cold elegance and readability of the original. Serious English readers will want both translations. - Lauro Martines, TLS

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Surrounded by Geniuses

4.4

Alan Gregerman

Business & Economics

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Winner of the Axiom Award for best leadership book How many times have you arrived at work, exchanged greetings with your colleagues, attended a meeting or two, and then sat down at your desk overcome by the incredible feeling that you were surrounded by geniuses? If you're like most people, caught up in the stress of work and everyday life, the answer is a resounding "never!" But that's all about to change. In Surrounded by Geniuses, Alan Gregerman presents a revolutionary guide to personal, professional, and organizational success based on two powerfully simple ideas: First, that there is genius hidden in all of us. And, second, that we are surrounded by a world filled with genius that can be used to transform any team, company, or organization in order to deliver compelling customer value. So grab your curiosity and your most comfortable shoes. It's time for a remarkable trip to your future success! Praise for Dr. Alan S. Gregerman and Surrounded by Geniuses "No one needs a 'me-too' anything-great companies learn to transform customers into fans. Surrounded by Geniuses can help you begin your quest for the next great idea. It is an important and enjoyable read."--Vernon H. Hill, Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Commerce Bank "Dr. Gregerman has made an important contribution to our understanding of the power of each of us and our organizations to innovate, create, and do so much more. His ideas are clear, concrete, and surprising in their originality. Surrounded by Geniuses is a book for anyone struggling to get beyond incremental thinking." --Dan Scheinman, General Manager, Cisco Media Solutions Group, Cisco Systems Visit the Surrounded by Geniuses blog for more ideas and insight on unlocking brilliance in yourself, your colleagues, and your organization. www.alangregerman.typepad.com

The House of Saud in Commerce cover

The House of Saud in Commerce

4.4

Sharaf Sabri

Business & Economics

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In the evolutionary process of Saudi Arabia, the period beginning with the seventies marked by the 'oil revolution' can be described as the turning point. With this began a phase of consolidation and institutionalisation of the royal government. One important development having bearing on its nation building project has been the participation of the Royal Family members in economic activities of the country. Since the seventies, over the last three decades, it is clearly visible that the engagement of the Saudi Royal Family in economy and business has grown not only in volume but in form also. This study has attemped to look at the sprawling business activities of the Royal Family members, not merely as a profile but relate it to the evolutionary context. The first major study that examines the gradual process of emerging entrepreneurship in the Saudi Royal Family. It highlights the role of the royal entrepreneurs in the development of the Saudi private sector. The study shows that their investments have created a positive climate for the growth of entrepreneurship, especially productive entrepreneurship, on the Saudi business scene. An indispensable store-house of detailed account of the investments made by more that 600 royal members, including princesses in 1050 Saudi companies. Supported with 28 pages of index and 14 tables, this data-packed book is a bonanza for businessmen, diplomats, laymen, and all those interested in Saudi Arabia and its Royal Family. A must-have book that contains biographical and kinship details of the Aal Saud. The book is one of its kind and is fully based on firsthand local sources. Apart from numerous published sources in Arabic, the official gazette of the government of Saudi Arabis, Umm Al-Qura, has been extensively consulted.

The Philosophy of Science Fiction Film cover

The Philosophy of Science Fiction Film

4

Steven Sanders

Performing Arts

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The science fiction genre maintains a remarkable hold on the imagination and enthusiasm of the filmgoing public, captivating large audiences worldwide and garnering ever-larger profits. Science fiction films entertain the possibility of time travel and extraterrestrial visitation and imaginatively transport us to worlds transformed by modern science and technology. They also provide a medium through which questions about personal identity, moral agency, artificial consciousness, and other categories of experience can be addressed. In The Philosophy of Science Fiction Film, distinguished authors explore the storylines, conflicts, and themes of fifteen science fiction film classics, from Metropolis to The Matrix. Editor Steven M. Sanders and a group of outstanding scholars in philosophy, film studies, and other fields raise science fiction film criticism to a new level by penetrating the surface of the films to expose the underlying philosophical arguments, ethical perspectives, and metaphysical views. Sanders's introduction presents an overview and evaluation of each essay and poses questions for readers to consider as they think about the films under discussion.The first section, "Enigmas of Identity and Agency," deals with the nature of humanity as it is portrayed in Blade Runner, Dark City, Frankenstein, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and Total Recall. In the second section, "Extraterrestrial Visitation, Time Travel, and Artificial Intelligence," contributors discuss 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Terminator, 12 Monkeys, and The Day the Earth Stood Still and analyze the challenges of artificial intelligence, the paradoxes of time travel, and the ethics of war. The final section, "Brave Newer World: Science Fiction Futurism," looks at visions of the future in Metropolis, The Matrix, Alphaville, and screen adaptations of George Orwell's 1984.