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A reading list for aspiring knowledge workers

This past weekend I gave a seminar at DePaul University on the topic of “Knowledge worker effectiveness in organizations” as part of the Master’s Program in Applied Technology (MAAT). As I was heading out of the house Saturday morning, I decided to grab some of the key books that I thought were important if you [...]

50 book challenge results for 2004

I did manage to read just over 50 books during 2004. If I were feeling exceptionally compulsive, I could go back and complete reviews of all of them, but the value for that isn’t clear.
I expect to manage a comparable reading load in 2005. In the interests of making this blog a better [...]

Cussler’s Black Wind - 50 Book Challenge

Black Wind
Cussler, Clive
If you are a Dirk Pitt fan (I am), this newest book in the line is a pleasure and a reassurance. Classic Cussler with all sorts of bad guys and good guys (of both sexes). Dirk has moved up to management and his son and daughter are taking on the reins of most [...]

Lakoff’s Don’t Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate–The Essential Guide for Progressives - 50 Book Challenge

Don’t Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate–The Essential Guide for Progressives
Lakoff, George
This slim book was Lakoff’s effort to demonstrate the importance (and ultimate success) of efforts by “conservatives” to frame important policy debates in language and thought favorable to their goals. Lakoff’s point essentially is that the “facts” never speak [...]

Caldwell’s The Rule of Four - 50 Book Challenge

The Rule of Four
Caldwell, Ian
This is one of those Dan Brown kinds of books mixing borderline plausible action with mysterious and arcane knowledge into a fun page-turner. It’s set almost entirely on and around the campus of Princeton University, which added to the fun for me. Perhaps not quite as polished as Dan Brown’s stuff, [...]

Kelly’s Cool Tools - 50 Book Challenge

Cool Tools
Kelly, Kevin
Kevin Kelly delivers another in the line of Whole Earth Catalog type compendia of recommendations for tools, resources, books, etc for coping with the modern world. I have been and will continue to be a sucker for these kinds of things. Kelly also maintains a blog called Cool Tools which also tends to [...]

Cadenhead’s Radio UserLand Kick Start - 50 Book Challenge

Radio UserLand Kick Start
Cadenhead, Rogers
A must-have book if you use Userland’s Radio weblogging tool. It extends and supplements the sometimes sparse documentation. It is also a nice introduction to how you can go about extending and improving your weblogging toolkit.

A status update on my 50 book challenge.

I’ve been working on the reading side of the 50 book challenge fairly steadily. I’ve been less than diligent about posting mini-reviews as I go along. For my own purposes I wanted to take stock of what I have posted, what I’ve finished reading, and where I stand with the overall objective. Here’s a list [...]

Overachievement

Another great post from Evelyn at Crossroads with a recommendation for another book that looks worth reading, Overachievement by John Eliot. I’ve got a copy on order based on her recommendation.
The Last Taboo. [Michael Dell at eighteen] decided not to divulge that dream to anyone “because they probably would have thought I was crazy. But, [...]

Reading habits and The Creative Habit

I’ve been doing the 50-book challenge this year. Although I’m way behind on writing up what I’ve been reading, I think I have enough in the queue to hit the goal by year’s end. A quick count says I’ve posted 27 short reviews, I have another 6 books finished that I need to write up, [...]