what auren is reading...

publications

daily: Wall Street Journal, VentureWire
weekly: Economist, Time Magazine, U.S. News and World Report, San Francisco Chronicle, New York Times (sunday), Drudge Report, AndrewSullivan.com, r21online.com
Bi-Weekly: Business 2.0, Forbes, Staffing Industry Report
Monthly: Atlantic Monthly, Fast Company
Bi-Monthly: Foreign Affairs, Hoover Digest

books
(in chronological order -- most recent first)
Books in bold (or with pictures) are highly recommended

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
by Robert B. Cialdini Phd
This is one of the best books I have read this year and would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in how people tick. This is very important for marketers, psychologists, or anyone else who needs to understand and persuade people (pretty much everyone). The book details why humans act the way we do and how we make seemingly irrational decisions all the time based on the context of the decision. The book is full of interesting examples and studies and is also written in a tight, informal, and humorous manner. I highly suggest reading this book.

Catch Me if You Can: The Amazing True Story of the Youngest and Most Daring Con Man in the History of Fun and Profit
by Frank W. Abagnale, with Stan Redding
I get an email, out of the blue, from my friend Eileen Tso who made it known that I should read this book. Sure, I heard of the movie but never knew much about it. Generally, this isn't a book I'd read but I was persuaded to listen to it on CD in my car and I was surprised to find that I was thoroughly entertained by the mischievous and charismatic Mr. Abagnale. If you are looking for a fun book, let me suggest this one.

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson
by Mitch Albom
While in Park City, Utah ... while recovering from skiing and watching movies at Sundance ... my friend Jon Staenberg of Staenberg Venture Partners whirled around and said to me: "you must read tuesdays with Morrie." Of course, I'd heard of the book ... I knew it had something about self-reflection ... but who has time to self-reflect, right? Well a few months later I'm in some random airport, ten minutes until boarding, in need of a book (I had exhausted my supply). I see, there on the shelf, the nice small book ... barely bigger than my PDA ... and I buy. Then I read. Then I read more. On the flight to San Francisco, I almost finish the entire book. This book really makes you think about life ... and about death. It is sad yet amazingly uplifting. Very recommended.

The American Soul
Rediscovering the Wisdom of the Founders
by Jacob Needleman
The book of tape was sent to me by George Bischof at Focus Ventures. It is an interesting look at the philosophy, soul, and vision of America. I personally couldn't get into the book and found if I was looking for something, I should focus on tuesdays with Morrie (see above).

From Beirut to Jerusalem
by Thomas Friedman
Listened to this book on tape given to me by George Bischof of Focus Ventures. The book, though dated, goes over life in Lebanon and Israel in the 1980s and has some extremely interesting observations of the two cultures. Some of the stories are completely shocking -- especially because Friedman recounts how little shocked him after becoming numb to the violence of war-torn Lebanon. The audio version is ideal because you can listen to Friedman's very entertaining voice.

Nickled and Dimed
On (Not) Getting By in America
by Barbara Ehrenreich
This is a fascinating first-person book about a reporter who decides to live the life of the subsistence American -- going from one tough job to the next -- to see if it is possible to be done. The book was given to me by George Shenk who implored me to read it after finding out that I am a Republican. After reading the book, I'm still a Republican ... but George did open my eyes to many problems I had not thought about. Recommendation: read this book.

the twenty-first century city
Resurrecting Urban America
by Mayor Stephen Goldsmith
This book was recommended to me by Gavin Newsom who is a Supervisor for the City of San Francisco. Goldsmith was the Mayor of Indianapolis and did a fantastic job remaking that city. The book covers privatization, comstat, social programs, education, bidding for contracts, and more. If you are at all involved in urban planning, read this book -- it is a how-to manual on getting things done in a metropolitan area.

Against the Gods
The Remarkable Story of Risk
by Peter L. Bernstein
In January (2003) I was in NYC with a few minutes to kill and I wandered into the Barnes & Noble on 68th and Broadway. This store is incredible (and huge!). While there I saw the Against the Gods book and I remembered that my friend Doug Kilponen recommended it to me. Doug also recommended Generations (see below), one of my all-time favorites, so I figured I couldn't go wrong. This book is a real gem. It goes over the history of probability and mathematical decision-making and how these quantitative devices are the bedrock of a complex economy that relies on futures, insurance, options, and statistics. I HIGHLY recommend you read this book.

Friends in High Places
The Rise and Fall of Clark Clifford by Douglas Frantz & David McKean
Clark Clifford was a complex man. He was a dedicated public servant: Truman's Karl Rove and personal lawyer to President Kennedy. He was Johnson's key advisor and later served as Secretary of Defense (and came out strongly against Vietnam). He was also the ultimate Washington insider who, as one of the most powerful lawyers in DC, profited from getting tax loopholes from large special interests. But he gambled his entire reputation (and ultimately lost the gamble) at an old age by becoming actively involved with BCCI and providing the cover to give an illegitimate organization some temporary legitimacy. Clifford did ultimately put his country first and he'll be remembered with mixed reviews.

Accidental Playboy
by Leif Ueland
I listened to the unabridged book on tape read by the author. The book details the life of the author who randomly gets a "dream" assignment to write for Playboy. Ueland details his life and his maturation through his often hilarious adventures. Overall, I wouldn't recommend reading the book but it might be definitely worthwhile to listen to if you have a long commute.

Bush at War
by Bob Woodward
I listened to this book on tape and found the behind-the-scenes dialog extremely interesting. President Bush comes off extremely well as a decisive Commander-in-Chief who marshals his key advisors together on a common objective. The book is called "Bush at War" but it could also be called "Bush the CEO."

Generations
The History of America's Future, 1584 to 2069
by William Strauss & Neil Howe
Every so often, I read a book that really affects the way I think about things. In 2002, I read three such books: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, The Prize by Daniel Yergin, and Generations.

About six months ago I got an email from Doug Kilponen at Digital Impact telling me that I needed to read Generations. He said the 1991 book (and the subsequent follow-on books written by the same authors) changed his life.

I'm not sure that the book "changed my life," but it did massively change my perspective on history. But Doug had it right, and it was definitely worth the read.

Generations studies the history of American generations from 1584 to 2069. That's right, 2069! -- the book attempts to predict the future. The book discusses how at any given time in history, there are four relevant Generations (given that the average generation spans 21 years, four generations would span up to 84 years and cover most of the population). Given that, Strauss and Howe believe that each of the four generation has a specific characteristic and that these traits repeat themselves in sets of four.

The four types of generations are:
(a) Idealist
(b) Reactive
(c) Civic
(d) Adaptive

Right now in history, the authors suggest that the Boomers are Idealist, Generation Xers are Reactive, and the Millenniums (born after 1981) are Civic. From these patterns, Strauss and Howe believe that history can be better explained and that the future can be better predicted as they believe most major historical awakenings and crises stem from clashes between the generations.

This way of looking at history is very controversial and I do not agree with many of the assertions, but the book itself is a masterpiece and I highly recommend it.

Public & Private
Twenty Years Photographing the Presidency
by Diana Walker
My friend Lesley King at Travel Nurse International sent me this book for the holidays. I highly recommend it. Rarely does one get see to see all the award-winning behind-the-scenes photos of presidents from the famous Diana Walker (the former White House photographer for Time). She covered Ford, Reagan, Bush 41, and Clinton and the book contains commentary from all these presidents, their first ladies, and many others.

Into Thin Air
by Jon Krakauer
My friend Rich Voon at Farallon Capital sent me this book on tape and wow, I was hooked. I found myself actually wanted to get into my car and drive just so I could listen to the captivating story. It is the story about an ill-fated attempt at climbing Mount Everest in 1996. The last two tapes will literally make you cry.

Nine Stories
by J.D. Salinger
So once or twice a year, I treat myself to some fiction. And this book by the author of The Catcher in the Rye is terrific. The nine short stories are entertaining, enlightening, and even sometimes depressing. But they are all very well worth reading. And, of course, the great thing about short stories is that they are short (most are under 30 pages) - so you can read the story in one sitting.

GERMS
Biological Weapons and America's Secret War
by Judith Miller, Stephen Engelberg, and William Broad
This was a great book on tape (a 5 CD set) that went into depth about biological weapons and their recent history. It is a very good book packed with information about a very scary topic. This book was given to me by George Bischof of Focus Ventures.

A Good Life
by Ben Bradlee
This an interesting book on tape by the former Editor of the Washington Post who became famous through his friendship with Jack Kennedy and his stewardship of the Watergate investigation. It is a pretty interesting autobiography -- and though it is self-congratulatory, it is also self-exploring (Bradlee even talks about his numerous marital affairs).

American Steel
by Richard Preston
I checked this book on tape out of the library looking forward to learning more about the steel business and the history of steel. After reading The Prize earlier this year and learning all about oil, I had thought American Steel would be similar. Instead the book really only focuses on Nucor -- the company the defined the lightning-quick mini-mills that have made end-runs around big steel. American Steel is a great story which lots of telling anecdotes about drinking, working hard, and liquid steel. The narrator, George Wilson, is very talented and does ever characters accent marvelously. But with even all that, this book is a time piece (written in 1991) and I could only get through 6 of the 10 cassettes.

Barbara Bush, A Memoir
by Barbara Bush
I listened to the book on tape read by the author. It is always nice to hear autobiographies actually spoken to you from the person that wrote it. Mrs. Bush tells some great stories and gives her glimpse into the history she witnessed. This 4.5 hour book on tape will certainly brighten your daily commute.

Metal Men
How Marc Rich Defrauded the Country, Evaded the Law, and Became the World's Most Sought-After Corporate Criminal
by A. Craig Copetas
This is an interesting and revealing look into metal and oil traders from the 1970's and early 1980's. It describes a world of debauchery, poor ethics, and bad people. Marc Rich typified this behavior.

A Reporter's Life
by Walter Cronkite
Listened to the book on tape of Cronkite giving his fascinating life story. Though it was only 4 tapes, i thought it was well done and worth listening to.

Inside the Cult of Kibu
And Other Tales of the Millennial Gold Rush
by Lori Gottlieb and Jesse Jacobs

If you lived the dot-com days and forgot to keep a dairy, this book will bring it all back.

The review in Wired (see http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,54181,00.html) on this booked summed it up best:

"The book is full of first-person stories of the heady days of the dot-coms from nearly 100 individuals who helped shape the digital decade. Inside.com's Kurt Anderson; Auren Hoffman, founder of Kyber Systems; Steven Overman, executive assistant to Wired magazine co-founders Louis Rossetto and Jane Metcalfe; and DEN's David Neuman are among the movers and shakers sharing memories."

And yes, I am shamelessly promoting this book because I am in it. But it is a really fun and interesting book -- very gossipy, especially juicy, and quite revealing. This is not a business book -- it is a lifestyle book -- a very good one.

The Deal Maker
How William C. Durant Made General Motors
by Axel Madsen
I listened to this book on tape and I highly recommend it. It gives a great history of not only Durant (the founder of GM) but also of all the other auto pioneers like Ford, Chrysler, Chevrolet, Buick, duPont, Sloan, and more. It also goes into good detail about the 1920s and the auto phenomena (and the stock market mania) that defined the decade. What the Internet was to the 1990s, the car was to the 1920s. Durant was a complex man who became one of the richest men in America and then promptly lost it all. He got pushed out of General Motors and then came back and took it over -- only to get pushed out again. But his life is fascinating and his eternal optimism was contagious.

David Brinkley
A Memoir
Written and Spoken by David Brinkley
I listened to the audio version of the book -- which is great because you get to here Brinkley's great voice and hear his terrific wit. But it is only one tape -- so you just get a small insight into the life of a giant. However, the 90 minutes I spent listening to this tape is well worth the price (you can buy it on Amazon for less than $2).

Ataturk
by Andrew Mango

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was the undisputed ruler of Turkey from the 1920's until his death in 1938. He was the first president of the new Turkish republican -- leading his national movement from the end of World War I until 1923 when he consolidated power.

I first came to hear about Attaturk when Time Magazine put together it's list of the most influential people in the Twentieth Century. Ataturk was on the list -- moreover, he won the popular vote online (beating FDR, Churchill, Einstein, MLK, and many others). Attaturk was one of the few true enlightened despots and a man who essentially built Turkey into what it is today.

This book gave me a real perspective on Turkey -- a country of tremendous strategic importance -- and an understanding of European geopolitics in the early twentieth century.

Crypto
by Steven Levy
I highly recommend this book on the cryptography revolution that has taken place over the past 30 years. This is a very readable book that goes over personalities and histories of people, companies, and institutions like Whit Diffie, Phil Zimmerman, RSA, NSA, and more.

A Different Drummer
My Thirty Years with Ronald Reagan
by Michael Deaver
I listened to the book on tape rather than reading it -- and I'm glad I did. The book on tape is unabridged and you get to hear Deaver's soothing voice tell a fascinating story. Deaver gives the listener insight into one of our greatest presidents.

All's Fair
Love, War, and Running for President
by Mary Matalin and James Carville
This was an interesting book on tape (abridge) -- the nice thing about the tape is you get to actually hear Matalin and Carville duke it out. This is a light story full with wonderful anecdotes and the stories of two political hacks from opposite camps that fell in love.

Jack
What I've Learned Leading a Great Company and Great People
by Jack Welch (with John A. Byrne)
Jack Welch's autobiography is interesting, but it missed the mark. Though Welch was undoubtedly one of the best CEOs in the last 20 years, I learned from this book that he's not the best story-teller or teacher. That said, the book was a relatively quick read and has some very useful nuggets.

Her Little Majesty
The Life of Queen Victoria
by Carolly Erickson
This book-on-tape is an interesting view of the life of Queen Victoria -- the woman behind the Victorian Age. This audio-book gives a very good detail of what life was like in Britain in the 1800's -- but it is slow and sometimes difficult to listen to.

Winning Ugly
Mental Warfare in Tennis -- Lesson from a Master
by Brad Gilbert and Steve Jamison
For tennis enthusiasts, this is a quick read that will undoubtedly change your outlook on the game of tennis. My friend and tennis partner, Kevin Hartz, gave me this book for my birthday. And though Kevin routinely kicks my butt, I think some of Gilbert's tips will help me much improve my physical and mental game (unfortunately, Kevin also read the book).

10 Days to a Sharper Memory
by Russell Roberts and the Princeton Language Institute
Do you have a difficult time remembering things? This quick book-on-tape was very helpful in giving me quick memory tips. Though the tips themselves are difficult to remember, I recommend listening to this audiobook.

The Tipping Point
How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
by Malcolm Gladwell
This little book looks at a range of epidemics -- from AIDS to Hush Puppies to crime to smoking to Sketchers. Ever wonder why a fad catches on? Ever wonder why some restaurants become all the buzz while others whither to obscurity? This is a great book to understand socials trends.

Ogilvy on Advertising
by David Ogilvy
This is a an older book (published in 1983) but it is a timeless classic. David Ogilvy was one of the most successful advertising men in the 20th Century and ranks right up there with the giants like Leo Burnett and Raymond Rubicam. The book gives an overview of Ogilvy's thoughts on print, radio, TV, direct mail, and more. It is a classic full of illustrations, print ads, and story boards. I highly recommend this quick book.

The Very Best Men
Four Who Dared: The Early Years of the CIA
by Evan Thomas
Evan Thomas is a terrific writer (see my review of the Wise Men below) as he tells the story of four men influential men who ran much of the CIA's early operations. He details the lives (much of it very tragic) of Frank Wisner, Richard Bissell, Tracy Barnes, and Desmond Fitzgerald -- aristocrats who had much daring (and often much stupidity) as they attempted to fight the Cold War. This is a very interesting read though it covers much of the same items as the book Gentleman Spy (about Allen Dulles) below.

Lincoln at Gettysburg -- The Words that Remade America
by Garry Wills
This is an extremely interesting essay on Lincoln, slavery, the 1800s in America, the Civil War, and all the influencers at that time. It is incredibly rich and full of new items for me. I listened to the unabridged booms on tape that was read by the author. Wills has a great storytelling voice that resonates well -- I'm sure he is a terrific lecturer.

Band of Brothers:
E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest
by Stephen Ambrose. Read by Cotter Smith
This is a terrific book on tape about E Company -- one of the most daring companies in World War II. The four tapes give an incredible story about the company's successes and failures -- and the many many deaths of its soldiers. I highly recommend this story.

How to Hack a Party Line : The Democrats and Silicon Valley
by Sara Miles
This is a very good book that outlines the Democrats' successful organizing of Silicon Valley. The book follows Wade Randlett, Simon Rosenberg, John Doerr, and others in their journey to make Silicon Valley a staunchly Democratic bastion. The book outlines the formation and maturation of the Technology Network, the New Democrat Network, and Gore-techs. For those of us non-Democrats in the Bay Area, the book is a very instructive tool.

The Prize
The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power
by Daniel Yergin
If you are going to read one book to get an overview of world geopolitics in the last 100+ years, read this book. From the Rockefellers to the Rothschilds to Nasser to Churchill to Saddam -- this book goes into how all their lives intersected with oil. This book is more than just interesting, it is an education.

The History of Ancient Rome, Part III
by Professor Garrett G. Fagan, Pennsylvania State University
This is a great books on tape overview of the history of the Roman empire from the closing years of the Republic through the Third-Century AD. This is a great course on Caesar -- detailing his rise and fall. It is goes into very good detail on Octavian's (Augustus) rise and his battles with Marc Anthony. This is a terrific 12-part lecture. This course is provided by the Teaching Company and I highly recommend this and other lectures (see review of the History of Ancient Rome, Part I and II below).

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, An American Slave
I listened to this books on tape which was read by Raphael Nash Thompson and abridged by John McElroy. This is two long cassettes which give you a glimpse into slavery in the South and one man's quest for freedom. This short narrative is incredible and I recommend it to every American -- slavery is a horrible part of our past which we must never forgot. Douglas describes his growing up in full detail and often reports on ongoings like he was an uninterested observer.

The ONION presents:
Our Dumb Century
This is one of the funniest books I have ever read -- it recounts hilarious (and fictional) newspaper stories from the 20th Century. Some example of ONION headlines include: "McKinley Ushers in Bold New 'Coal Age.' Nation's Skies Filled with Beautiful Black Smoke" from 1900, "Earthquake Marks Least Gay Day in San Francisco History" from 1906, "Gangsters Pass 18th Amendment. Lucky Luciano Casts Deciding Vote to Make Alcohol Illegal" from 1919, "Kennedy, Giancana Sign Historic Bimbo-Sharing Accord" in 1963, "Sadat, Begin Celebrate Peace Treaty with All-Night Coke Orgy at Studio 54" in 1979, "Oprah Secedes From U.S., Forms Independent Nation of Cheesecake-Eating Housewives" in 1996.

Summation: Read this book if you want pure enjoyment, cackling laughter, and even a bit of intellectual stimulation.

The History of Ancient Rome, Part II
by Professor Garrett G. Fagan, Pennsylvania State University
This is a great books on tape overview of the history of the Roman empire from the Second Punic War to the closing years of the Republic (leaves off right before Caesar's rise. It goes into detail about some of the most interesting people of the time including the Gracchi Brothers, Marius, and Sulla. This is a terrific 12-part lecture. This course is provided by the Teaching Company and I highly recommend this and other lectures (see review of the History of Ancient Rome, Part I below).

Solution Selling
Creating Buyers in Difficult Selling Markets
by Michael T. Bosworth
This book is one of the most famous selling books -- and for good reason. It gives a very good account of how to sell, who to sell to, how to close, and how to show value. I highly recommend this book for anyone that sells or wants to sell.

Guns, Germs, and Steel
The Fates of Human Societies
by Jared Diamond
This was one of the most interesting books I have read in a long time. Diamond attempts to answer the question of why did Europe conquer Africa, the Americas, and some of Asia and not the other way around? Why did China become a strong and unified giant nation while Europe split up into many nations? How did Pizarro kill so many people with so few men? Guns, Germs, and Steel takes you through a journey of the history of man and is a must read for anyone that wants to attempt to understand the world we live in and how it got there.

Leaders
Strategies for Taking Charge
by Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus
This is a good book on leadership -- another Bennis classic. A good airplane book, it is a quick read and worth the time. However, if you have to read one Bennis book, I suggest reading Organizing Genius (see review below).

The History of Ancient Rome, Part 1
by Professor Garrett G. Fagan, Pennsylvania State University
This is a great books on tape overview of the early part of the Roman empire. It goes over the formation of Rome, the make-up of the Roman Republican, through the first Punic War. For someone like myself that did not know a lot about ancient civilizations, this is a really eye-opening 12-part lecture. This course is provided by the Teaching Company and I highly recommend this and other lectures.

Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr.
by Clayborne Carson (Editor), Martin Luther, Jr. King
I listened to the books-on-tape version -- definitely the way to go (so you can hear King's powerful voice). The biography strung together MLK's greatest speeches -- many of which are still relevant today. For anyone that spends time in a car, I highly recommend this audiotape. King's speeches are so moving, so powerful, so eloquent (unlike many leaders, MLK wrote his own speeches) that you might just have to occasionally pull over to the side of the road and catch your breath.

Maestro: Greenspan's Fed and the American Boom
by Bob Woodward
This is a good biography on Alan Greenspan -- arguably the world's most influential economic figure of the last 15 years. Woodward does his usual behind-the-scenes-don't-know-who-the-source-is writing which makes the book interesting because of the insights into the psyche of the people involved. However, I wish the book went into more detail on the rise of Greenspan (very little of the book takes place before Greenspan is made Fed). Therefore, it is less of a biography a more of an insight into some incredible events (the crash of 1987, the interest rates fights, the Asian currency crises, the fall of LTCM, etc.). Overall, good book and quick read.

The Operator
David Geffen builds, buys, and sells the new Hollywood
by Tom King
This extensive biography of David Geffen explores the life of a Machiavellian man who sought to be rich at all costs. Whether King depicts the real Geffen or a made-up one, I do not know -- but the story is riveting and very personal. I will never understand the life of Hollywood and the entertainment industry where even the executives are prima donnas. If you want a glimpse into the players (past and present) of the entertainment business, this book is a good read.

Portfolio of cartoons.com
from the Wall Street Journal
edited by Charles Preston
Delightful book of dot-com related cartoons from the past few years. A very quick entertaining read.

Racial Equations
Math Literacy and Civil Rights
by Robert P. Moses and Charles E. Cobb, Jr.
This is a very good book on how math literacy is the next civil right. The book discusses the Algebra Project, an organization founded by 1960’s civil rights leader Bob Moses, to teach algebra to kids in inner-cities and rural communities.

The beginning of the book reads like Moses’ autobiography about his years organizing in Mississippi. He then discusses how groups like the Jews, Koreans, and Chinese relied on math as the basis for their upward mobility. Moses’ theory is that as the world becomes more and more focused on technology and innovation, math will have an even greater importance.

Summation: Read this book –- it is very eye-opening.

Truman
by David McCullough
This is a terrific biography of an amazing man. Harry Truman failed at almost everything he did for the first 40 years of his life. But his perseverance and determined nature is truly inspirational. After reading this book you wonder if there are thousands of people like Truman out there who are extremely honest and capable but who never got the lucky break that was bestowed on Truman. Summation: buy this book -- one of the best biographies I have read in a long time.

Memos from the Chairman
by Ace Greenberg
Ace Greenberg, the famous Chairman of Bear Stearns, shares with us two decades of internal memos he has written to his employees. The memos, always humorous and always topical, discuss saving money, customer service, and the latest management fad of the month. Throughout the book, Greenberg takes advice from his fictitious advisor Haimchinkel Malintz Anaynikal. This book is a little bit wacky, but it has some really valuable insights to a CEO or a CEO-in-training. I highly recommend this book.

Don't Get a Job, Get a Life!
FlexLife -- The New Way to Work and Live
by Erik Vonk
I was given this book by Erik Vonk, the author. The book details what the future could be (and possibly should be) in temporary staffing. Erik, the former CEO of Randstad North America, has been practicing FlexLife for a few years with a lot of success. Erik's book is ahead of its time and I suggest anyone seriously concerned about the future of labor or the future of staffing give it a read.

Profit from the Core
Growth Strategy in the Era of Turbulence
by Chris Zook with James Allen
Good book highlighting growth strategies mainly for more mature companies. Many growth strategies fail to deliver value and the book outlines these examples as not-to-dos. It then focuses in on what works. Zook is the head of the Worldwide Strategy Practice for Bain and frequently uses Bain examples throughout the book to illustrate his message.

Crossing the Chasm
by Geoffrey Moore
Adrian Blakey, BridgePath's VP of Engineering, gave me this very impressive book about what to do when your company gets buy-in from the early adapters but then you hit a sales wall (the chasm). This book is frequently mis-used as a guide for really early stage products that are just launching. Instead, the book should be used as the marketing analysis bible to take your sales from $5-$10 million to $200 million. Overall, I highly recommend Crossing the Chasm.

Organizing Genius
The Secrets of Collective Collaboration
by Patricia Ward Biederman and Warren G. Bennis
Hands down the best Organizational Behavior book I've read (OB used to be a hobby of mine in college). This book delves into some of the greatest organizations in our history and tries to figure out why they were successful. I highly recommend this book -- especially to anyone who runs a start-up. Tom Peters raves about this book (his raving convinced me to buy it. The book details great groups like Skunk Works, Disney animation teams, Clinton/Gore 1992 campaign, Macintosh team, Manhattan Project, Xerox PARC, and more. I give this book my highest recommendation.

Gang of Five
Leaders at the Center of the Conservative Crusade
by Nina Easton
I could not put this book down! This book was very thoughtful, extremely well written, and told a very interesting story. The book details the lives of five conservative activists (Bill Kristol, Ralph Reed, Clint Bolick, Grover Norquist, and David McIntosh) who shaped conservative thought and activism in the 1980s and 1990s. Though I disagree with the positions of many of these conservative activists, their lives are fascinating. Some are true romantics and others are completely Machiavellian. All in all -- a great book for anyone who considers themselves (or aspires to be) an activist, a revolutionary, or someone that has a fire to make change.

Gentleman Spy
The Life of Allen Dulles
by Peter Grosse
What a great book! If you are a history buff like me, you'll love this book. Allen Dulles, former lawyer, former diplomat, former OSS Operative, former President of the Council on Foreign Relations, for Director of the CIA (under Eisenhower and Kennedy), and brother of the Secretary of State (John Foster Dulles who the airport is named after), and member of the establishment -- this book is quite a treat. It takes us through the post-WWI years and then through WWII where Dulles was stationed for OSS in Bern. It then details the formation and escalation of the Cold War. Grosse does a terrific job detailing Dulles's public and personal lives. Highly recommended.

The Agency
William Morris and the Hidden History of Show Business
by Frank Rose
This is a fascinating book on the lives of the men and women of the venerable William Morris talent agency -- the agency that has defined Hollywood and television since both came into being.

Real Power
Business Lessons from the Tao Te Ching
by James A. Autry & Stephen Mitchel
Jon Slavet, the CEO of Guru.com, gave me this book. Though the book was interesting and spiritual, I did not find it particularly appealing. Even though the book is quite short, I could not finish it. This book is good for people who like books that accent the work/life balance (of which, I admit, that I have none).

Co-opetition
by Adam Brandenburger and Barry Nalebuff
This book discusses co-opetition, the act of competitors working collaboratively together to increase the pie overall. Co-opetition is a hot topic right now with new competitor-to-competitor exchanges (like BridgePath). This book gives a good background on co-opetition and on game theory and business strategies. The book starts off dry – but it starts getting really good after the first 30 pages. I later had a chance to meet with Adam Brandenburger and he is an amazingly smart man.

Angela’s Ashes
by Frank McCourt
I picked this book up in the airport. I really needed the book and I was in Kennedy and ran to the bookstore a few moments before the plane gate closed. The only thing I could find that looked even remotely interesting was Angela’s Ashes. Boy am I glad I got this book – it is a real treasure. This book tells a great story and is really interesting (though also very depressing). Highly recommended.

Blown to Bits : How the New Economics of Information Transforms Strategy
by Philip Evans, Thomas Wurster
I spoke at the Staffing Industry Executive Forum with Philip Evans. Since we were both main speakers on the same day, I though I should familiarize myself with his book. The book has lots of good knowledge and case studies, but nothing that has not been told 500 times. I thought the last 10-15 pages of the book were really helpful – but the first 4/5’s of the book was standard repetition.

The Catcher in the Rye
by J.D. Salinger
I decided to reread this book. This may be the first book in 15 years that I decided to reread – but I thought it was worth it (and it only takes a few hours to read). The Catcher in the Rye is fantastic and inspiring book. I recently ran into a few people who never read the book. My question: why? Get the book right now and read.

Corelli's Mandolin
by Louis De Bernieres
This book was a birthday present given to me by Andrew Boer. It is a wonderful fictional tale of a father and daughter in Greece during the WWII error and afterwards. The historical fiction weaves interesting romance with a somber tale of destruction and then rebuilding of a beautiful Greek island. The book reminds me a little of The English Patient and I highly recommend it. I gave the book to my grandmother who read it in only a few days because it was so captivating.

The New New Thing
by Michael Lewis
An interesting look at Jim Clark, another complex Silicon Valley character. The book was well-written and enjoyable, though I wish it was more insightful. The nice thing is that it is a very quick read and I would recommend it.

The Dragons of Eden
by Carl Sagan
I heard this book was thought provoking and it certainly lived up to expectations. However, it is very difficult to read and takes a long time to consider each page. Because of that, I have not yet finished the book – though I do plan to one day.

Trudeau and Our Times. Volume 1: The Magnificent Obsession
by Stephen Clarkson & Christina McCall
This book was given to me as a gift by Mel Ochoa. The book details the very interesting life of Trudeau -- Canadian prime minister for most of the 1970's and with stints in other eras. Trudeau is a very interesting and complex character -- and so is his family. But with all the interesting things about Trudeau, the book was not captivating.

The Professor and the Madman
by Simon Winchester
This book was recommended to me by Joey Chandler. Though he loved the book and it is highly renowned, I could not get through it and stopped midway through.

The Highwaymen
by Ken Auletta
This is an interesting series of past news features on the media business. The book chronicles some of the most fascinating media personalities from Rupert Murdoch to Herb Allen to Barry Diller to John Malone to Edgar Bronfman Jr. to Bill Gates. This is a fascinating book by a guy who was given incredible access by a large number of media executives. Highly recommended.

Dolphins
by Chris Catton
If you are a dolphin lover like me, this is a great book. The book tells you the history of dolphins, their lifestyle, how they evolved, and how they live. The book is full of wonderful pictures of my favorite animal. I gave this book away to my VP of Biz Dev and he loved it too.

Notes from a Small Island
by Bill Bryson
Humorous book about England written by an American who has lived there for over 20 years recommended to me by Simona Langmaier. The book has interesting revelations on a culture which is and is not similar to our own. Very well written and great laughs. However, got bored about half way through he book and put it down (which is ok because the book is just a series of stories woven together).

Underboss: Sammy the Bull Gravano's Story of Life in the Mafia
by Peter Maas
This was recommended to me by Jonathan Hoffman, my younger brother. Interesting and fast-moving account of Sammy Gravano -- underboss to John Gotti and later star government witness. This book is great plane reading and is very interesting. Highly suggested.

Huey Long
by T. Harry Williams
Biography on one of the most famous Louisiana politicians. Interesting book about a very colorful character. The author was actually very positive about Long -- I did not think that was possible.

Leadership is an Art
by Max DePree
Book recommended to me by Adam Pollock. Interesting book on the philosophy and practicality of leadership. DePree builds on some of the thoughts brought up by Peter Drucker (see below). It is a really quick read but if you are looking for a really good book on leadership, go with Drucker.

The Life of Elizabeth I
by Alison Weir
Book recommended by Samantha Antone. Biography on Queen Elizabeth. I found the bio to focus too much on Elizabeth's love life (and lack thereof) and not enough on her particular political genius (which I was more interested in finding out more about). I did not finish the book.

Turn of the Century
by Kurt Andersen
Really great book. This book has many fun, great observations about our times. Set in the year 2000 (6-18 months from the time I read the book), it is really in the present but set in the near future. The book is about a married couple -- the wife is a CEO of an Internet company and the husband is a television producer and former journalist. Book is a must read -- one of the best fiction books I have read in a long long time.

Virgin King: Inside Richard Branson's Business Empire
by Tim Jackson
A good book detailing the rise and riches of Richard Branson. A truly good book for entrepreneurs.

A Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order
by Samuel P. Huntington
Book recommended to me by Philippe Suchet. Hungtington's premise is that world alliances and conflicts will mostly develop and arise out of culture blocks. Countries will likely support other countries not on the basis of strategic importance but on the basis of shared history, culture, and religion. He divides the world into nine distinct blocks: Western, Orthodox, South American, African, Islamic, Sinic, Buddhist, Hindu, and Japanese.

A Brief History of Time
by Stephen Hawkings
My brother, Jonathan Hoffman, bought this book for me and I am glad he did. This is a very thought provoking book and is not a page-turner. After reading one page you will be forced to think about the concepts within for 3-4 minutes before making your way to the next page. It will make you think about things that you don't want to think about and the book discusses topics that are extremely interesting.

Fermat's Enigma
by Simon Singh
Really interesting story of the centuries of work behind the proof of Fermat's Last Theorum. This is an interesting book because it discusses mathematical history and mind-expanding concepts. I highly recommend it.

All Too Human
by George Stephanopoulos
A memoir from one of Clinton's top political operatives. Very interesting, well-written, and candid.

The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made
by Walter Isaacson & Evan Thomas
This is about six people that were some of the biggest policy makers in U.S. foreign policy from the 1930's through the 1970's. I read a book about one of the six, John McCloy (see below), a few years ago. Besides McCloy, the book visits Averell Harriman, Secretary of State Dean Acheson, George Kenan, Secretary of Defense Robert Lovett, and Ambassador to the Soviet Union Charles Bohlen.

Net Profit
by John Hagel III and Marc Singer
Hagel is the guy who wrote Net Gain. Net Profit is subtitled "Shaping Markets When Customers Make the Rules." This is a good book that all e-commerce executives should read -- the first chapter is entitled "sellers beware." I was sent this book by Marc Singer after he wrote it.

The Libertarian Reader
by David Boaz
Book was given to me by Lynn McPhee. This is a good intellectual book that covers writings from past and present thinkers like John Locke, Thomas Paine, and Milton Friedman. This is not a fast read -- but the good thing is that you can pick and choose what chapters to read. This is the ideal plane book for someone that wants to expand the mind.

Rules for Revolutionaries
by Guy Kawasaki
This book is subtitled the "Capitalist Manifesto for Creating and Marketing New Products and Services." The name says it all. This short book is a good quick read and I quickly devoured it after Guy sent me the book for Christmas.

A Man in Full
by Tom Wolfe
A great novel. Very interesting book from a great author. Not only will you get a good story but you will learn a lot about the state of Georgia. This is one of the better novels I have read. It is sure to be big movie material. Though this is a fat book (about 750 pages), it is a quick read (took me two weeks) and is a real page turner.

Start-Up
by Jerry Kapan
I bought this book for Scott Bonds, my former partner at Kyber Systems, and then he gave it back to me to read after he was done. Excellent book on the highs and lows of start-up life by the man who is now the founder and CEO of On-Sale. Very well written (which was quite surprising given it was written by an engineer).

Means to Ascent: Biography on Lyndon Johnson
by Robert A. Caro
Part Two of the famous Caro trilogy on Johnson. This book is just as fascinating as Path to Power (see below).

Libertarianism: A Primer
by David Boaz
A very good, intellectually stimulating book on modern Libertarianism. This is a short but packed book that is a must read regardless of your political beliefs. It is certainly guaranteed to make you think.

Marcus Alonzo Hanna
by Albert D. Croly
Biography written in 1909 about one of United States most interesting business and political figures. Mark Hanna was an successful industrialist, a U.S. Senator, campaign manager for President McKinley, most powerful political figure in Cleveland, and more. All throughout, Hanna led an amazing life. This was one of the more difficult books I have ever acquired -- finally got it through Amazon -- it has been out of print for many many years.

The Effective Executive
by Peter F. Drucker
Hands down the best management book I have ever read. This classic book (written in 1967) is still true today (interesting how some things don't change). Drucker has a great writing style and makes things clear and easy to understand. This is a short book but packed with helpful information for any knowledge worker.

Snow Crash
by Neal Stephenson
Recommended by Zack Stein. This is an awesome, sci-fi, thriller which is more about today than the future.  The hero (his name is Hiro) is a lively character as is everyone else in this book.  I don't usually enjoy science fiction but this book was a big exception and came highly recommended to me by many friends.  I am sure this will be made into a major movie.

Path to Power: Early Life of Lyndon Johnson
by Robert A. Caro
An interesting and enlightening study of the early life of a man who defines dirty politics, dirty tricks, and dirty money.  This biography brings all the great depression-era politicians to life and I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys history. After reading this though, it will smash any favorable impression you had of Lyndon Johnson.

The Torah
One of the most widely read book in our culture's history is still a best-seller today (with good reason). The Bible is absolutely fascinating and enlightening. If you have not read the Bible for a while (or if you have never read a copy), read it today.

Churchill: A life
by Martin Gilbert
This book is widely entertaining, fun, and interesting. Winston Churchill had an amazing life that spanned much of the 20th Century. This is the abridged (only 950 pages) version of Gilbert's multi-volume work. But though it is many pages, it is a quick read and a must read for biography lovers like myself. This is probably my favorite biography after Hamilton's (see below).

Bad Boy: The Life and Politics of Lee Atwater
by John Brady
Book was given to me by Mel Ochoa. Lee Atwater, Bush's 1988 campaign manager who died at the height of his power at 41, was really INTENSE. That's the best word to describe him. He was also a real bad boy and not someone to be admired. He did not care about family, political issues, people, ideas. He only cared about winning and conquest. This is a very revealing biography on the baddest boy in Washington.

Generation X
by Douglas Coupland
Interesting book about slackers and dreamers. Not as good as MicroSerfs though (see below).

Ben Franklin
by Ronald W. Clark
This is a fascinating book about a fascinating man. Quite impressive put together with a multitude of great primary sources and vision. Here's the skinny: Franklin was a stud -- so read this book.

Ben-Gurion
by Michael Bar-Zohar
Here is a man who lived a long time and experienced many traumas and victories. The leader and first prime minister of Israel, Ben-Gurion was an international legend.

A Piece of the Action
How the Middle Class Became the Money
by Joseph Nocera
Book was given to me by Richard Voon -- one of my friends from college (he picked it up when he worked for McKinsey). A great book about "how the middle class became the money class." Talks about great pioneers like Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, Charles Schwab, Fidelity, Visa, and many others. If you are finance buff or want to learn more -- read this book.

Brave New World
by A. Huxley
A great book. It will scare you -- read it now. And then read my Brave Nerf World.

William Casey
by Joseph E. Persico
Casey was a very complex character. He was always on the edge -- always straddling that ethical line (and frequently crossing it). The book is fair and it gives a good overview of the former chief of two much feared agencies: the SEC and the CIA.

Exodus
by Leon Uris
Book given to me by Kevin Zwick. This is a very entertaining book about Israeli independence. A good book and love story. I also hear it is a really good movie -- so check this out.

Competitive Intelligence
by Larry Kahaner
This is a good analysis of Competitive Intelligence. It is a short read (1 round-trip plane ride) but it is full of useful information. Kahaner shows businesses how to take precautions in this dangerous world.

MicroSerfs
by Douglas Coupland
This is a book for people who like fiction, randomly talk about Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, work for a high-tech start-up, and ever been to Silicon Valley. Of course, I am such a person. This is an amazing book -- the best I've ever read from Coupland and one of my favorite all-time fiction books. The dialog is really amazing. This would make a great movie too.

John J. McCloy: Chairman of the Establishment
by Kai Bird
Ever wonder who was the chair of the "establishment" for a good part of the 20th Century. It was clearly John McCloy. Here's a short bio: grew up poor; graduated from Harvard Law School; became a partner at Cravath (super-powerful Wall Street firm); was Under-Secretary of Defense (under Stimson) in for FDR -- basically the number two guy (and the go-to-guy) in the War Department in WWII; was behind many good and bad decisions like internment of the Japanese (supported) and dropping of the atom bomb (opposed); became the allied ruler of Germany after the war (and was responsible for the democratization of the country); Chairman of the World Bank; Chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations; Chairman and CEO of Chase; Chair of President's Disarmament Committee; helped negotiate the Cuban Missile Crisis; served on the Warren Commission; knew every President personally from FDR to Bush. He is a complicated person who made many good and bad decisions -- Read this book.

The Dilbert Principal
by Scott Adams
This is a hilarious book that every should read. It won't take you more than a quick place ride to finish the book, but it is well worth it. Still he best of all the Dilbert books.

Primary Colors
by Anonymous
Entertaining and lively. This is a very fictional account of a Clinton-like presidential candidate that does everything wrong, commits every ethical blunder, but still manages to maintain a good heart and continues to win. This will make a great movie (due out soon). It is a very good and quick read.

Out of the Crisis
by W. Edwards Demming
As an Industrial Engineer, I truly appreciate this book. It is certainly one of the great business books with lasting impact. His basic theory: it is cheaper to make quality products in the end.

American Hunger
by Richard Wright
A very interesting book about the story of a young black professional (Richard Wright) growing up in early 20^th Century America. Discusses his life, his career path, his flirtation with the Communist party, and more.

Hard Ball
by Chris Matthews
A delightful book about inside the Washington power game. Fascinating -- Matthews is a great writer.

The Choice
by Bob Woodward
An interesting look at the scene behind the primaries of the 1996 presidential election.

Warren Buffet: The Good Guy of Wall Street
by Andrew Kirkpatrick
Buffet is one of the most fascinating men in business.

Accidental Empires
by Robert X. Cringley
This is a truly fascinating and funny book written in a great style. This is the story of the early 1980's computing and software days. Live the lives of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and many others who are not so famous today.

Alexander Hamilton: A Biography
by Forrest McDonald
This is my most favorite biography. McDonald is a delightful historian who has some real insights into the past. I have read many of his essays and they are all very mind expanding. This book is absolutely outstanding -- a must read for any student of history. Alexander Hamilton is a complex, honest, and guiding founding father. His romantic views are very inspiring. Read this book

Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive
by Harvey Mackey
Book the reiterates all the things you've always known about business but don't always implement. Given to me by Julia Schwartzman, this is one of the books that showed me the power of personal networking.

The Prince
by Niccolo Machiavelli
One those must-read books that unfortunately defines a good deal of our history.

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