The Best Business Books of 2010
Selections from Library Journal’s list of the Best Business Books of 2010, with annotations edited by Meg Trauner, Ford Library Director. You can also download the full listing as an annotated PDF here.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY/BIOGRAPHY
Bennis, Warren with Patricia Ward Biederman. Still Surprised: A Memoir of a Life in Leadership.
Recounts Bennis’s early experiences as a World War II soldier and Antioch College student, as well as stories from his academic career with notable colleagues including Doug McGregor, Erik Erikson, Werner Erhard, and Tom Peters.
BUSINESS/CORPORATE HISTORY
Carey, David & John E. Morris. King of Capital: The Remarkable Rise, Fall, and Rise Again of Steve Schwarzman and Blackstone.
Presents the world of private equity and buyouts by focusing on the Blackstone firm and its principal, Steve Schwarzman. Also available as an audiobook.
ECONOMICS/U.S. ECONOMY
Gwartney, James D. & others. Common Sense Economics: What Everyone Should Know About Wealth and Prosperity.
Explains basic economic ideas and theories, and discusses the interplay of politics and economics, while making suggestions for practicing personal financial responsibility.
2007–08 FINANCIAL CRISIS
Johnson, Simon & James Kwak. 13 Bankers: The Wall Street Takeover and the Next Financial Meltdown.
Explores the historical background in the Founding Fathers’ debate on banking and financial institutions and assert that the bailouts of America’s largest banks have made them bigger, more powerful, and more dangerous. Read our full review here.
GLOBALIZATION
Weiner, Eric J. The Shadow Market: How a Group of Wealthy Nations and Powerful Investors Secretly Dominate the World.
Examines how international wealth funds and private and institutional investors are buying up large amounts of assets worldwide with little oversight or public knowledge of their existence.
INVESTING/PERSONAL FINANCE
Hirshman, Susan L. Does This Make My Assets Look Fat?: A Woman’s Guide to Finding Financial Empowerment and Success.
Shows how to assess personal financial fitness and suggests various investment strategies.
MANAGEMENT/LEADERSHIP
Davis, Richard A. The Intangibles of Leadership: The 10 Qualities of Superior Executive Performance.
Describes the characteristics of leaders, including wisdom, will, self-insight, and fallibility.
MARKETING
Jantsch, John. The Referral Engine: Teaching Your Business To Market Itself.
Argues that typical methods of advertising and marketing are not as effective as fostering word of mouth and referral buzz for business; also suggests ways to encourage referrals, such as using social media and treating employees as courteously as they are expected to treat customers.
ORGANIZATIONAL DYNAMICS
Gansky, Lisa. The Mesh: Why the Future of Business Is Sharing.
Mesh businesses are those which help individuals gain access to goods and services (rather than owning such goods). This book describes how to gain participants’ trust and to use technology to help others find your service. Also available as an audiobook.
SUCCESS/PERSONAL FINANCE
Kotter, John P. & Lorne A. Whitehead. Buy-In: Saving Your Good Idea from Getting Shot Down.
Posits that good ideas fail due to insufficient “buy-in” for them and discusses how individuals can gain acceptance for their ideas. Also available as an audiobook.
Download the full list as an annotated PDF.
© Library Journal & Reviewer: Meg Trauner & Ford Library – Fuqua School of Business.
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