Business and Personal Development

Drop Dead Brilliant, Lesley Everett

2008-07-14T13:15:00.003+01:00

Published by McGraw-Hill

So, how’s your brand looking?

“I never really found what I truly wanted to do and what I’m good at until I was 30!” Well, thank goodness that Ms Everett did not stick with the law or software development, two of her earlier careers, because then we would have been deprived of her significant input into the topic of personal branding.

Keynote speaker, media personality and branding coach, Lesley is an international businesswoman who distils the essence of her considerable knowledge into her latest book.

As Lesley says, “You have a brand whether you are aware of it or not.” The job of this book is to help you make the most of that brand.

Nothing is overlooked; from style tips to nasal hair to casual ‘power’ by way of body talk, real talk and self-selling, Lesley leaves no pin ungilded, no shirt unpressed, no shoe unpolished, no stone unturned.

With plenty to think about for both sexes (despite the cover picture this book is for women too), you will learn what to wear and how to wear it for every occasion and how to create, or recreate, your personal ‘package’. You’ll learn about interviews and presentations, including those dreaded TV and videoconference sessions and you’ll pick up some tips on vocal quality as well. There is even advice for dealing with other cultures.

By the end of these 200 pages you will be ready to create a new image, perhaps a new you – you will certainly have all the tools necessary. (Me, forget the business world - I’m really looking forward to not hearing my wife say, “You’re not thinking of going out looking like that, are you?” ever again!)

The Times of London

2008-07-08T14:56:00.006+01:00

Tuesday, July 8 2008, page 11.

"The 2:1 degree is losing its shine as the gold standard for getting a job as employers increasingly value leadership and COMMUNICATION SKILLS over academic achievement" (my capitals)

If you doubt your abilities in the communication arena - or if you would 'sooner die than make a presentation' - you should click on the title of this piece.

How to manage People. Michael Armstrong

2008-07-07T09:13:00.003+01:00

Published by Kogan Page

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

Latest from the Sunday Times ‘Creating Success’ series

Michael Armstrong, management consultant and author of a number of management books, here offers practical advice for managers, supervisors and team leaders on how to get the best results from their teams.

Acknowledging that managers rely on their teams as much as teams rely on their managers, he covers all the main aspects of leadership, motivation, delegation and organisation succinctly and clearly.

This book will be especially valuable for those in managerial positions who do not have the luxury of formal HR support thanks to sections on selection, performance management and rewards.

Though concise (just 150 or so pages) it is comprehensive and the author manages to include ideas on helping individuals develop as well as providing useful advice on dealing with problem behaviour, absenteeism and underperformance.

A useful book for the manager pressed for time – so that would be pretty well all of them.

How Full is your Bucket? Tom Rath & Donald O Clifton PhD

2008-06-30T22:29:00.004+01:00

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

Published by Gallup Press

Positive reinforcement for a better life

Although this book is over four years old, I’ve only just come across it. And it is such an important work I simply had to publicise it.

This book shows just how the briefest of interactions can affect your work, relationships, health and even how long you will live.

Basing their arguments on solid research and using real-life examples, the authors set out to show how negativity can actually kill and how positive interaction can benefit everyone.

They use the metaphor of a bucket and ‘dipper’ (in the UK, read ‘ladle’) where everyone has an invisible bucket that others can fill by ladling in positivity – or empty by ladling out (being negative). We, of course, do the same to other people.

In a business context, filling someone’s bucket equates to recognising them for their achievements, their efforts or sometimes just for being around. The research has shown that those who receive regular recognition or praise demonstrate increased productivity, score higher with customers, stay with the firm longer – and more.

When it comes to personal relationships, focusing on the positive perhaps unsurprisingly leads to better relationships and, in the case of children, better school records. I said ‘unsurprisingly’ because you no doubt were thinking I was stating the obvious. Yet, sadly, the research shows we all tend to focus on negatives!

There is much more that is worthwhile in this book – including the ‘Five Strategies for Increasing Positive Emotions’ and even templates for your own ‘bucket-filling’ notes.

This is a truly life-enhancing book and I urge you to buy it, read it and put its ideas into practice.

Never Hit a Jellyfish with a Spade, Guy Browning

2008-06-18T15:56:00.004+01:00

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

I laughed 'til I wet myself

Not a business book maybe, but I had to put this in - it's hilarious! First published in the UK in 2004, I picked up a US version earlier this year and could not put it down. Luckily for us all it is still in print.

Guy Browning writes a column called 'How to ...' in the weekend Guardian magazine; this book contains 278 pages of his stuff beginning with how to exercise and ending with how to control the duvet dispensing a thousand belly laughs in between.

It is a difficult book to describe and quotes out of context are never really funny, but ...

"There is a phrase which says that when you're tired of London you're tired of life. This explains why people on the Underground generally look suicidal. ... They also say 'early to bed, early to rise, makes you healthy, wealthy and wise' - hence the national glut of rich philosopher-milkmen."

and ... (the italicised bit is my interjection)

"Very occasionally, the great British public get (surely, 'gets', or am I being pedantic?) so annoyed about something they decide to demonstrate. This generally involves descending on London en masse, discovering how few public toilets there are, and then returning home with lots of shopping."

If those extracts do not intrigue, let me just say I seldom laugh out loud and this book had me doing so pretty regularly. I urge you to buy it and if it doesn't reduce you to tears of laughter, send it to me and I'll give you your money back. Can't say fairer than that, can I?

Branding Your Business, James Hammond

2008-06-17T10:58:00.002+01:00

Published by Kogan Page

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

Better brand building

Effective branding is critical; you do have a brand, whether you are aware of it or not – the question is, does your brand enhance your business?

James Hammond is a practical man who has produced a practical book on branding that will actually help the smaller business with little or no budget for something as esoteric as ‘brand building’.

How does he do it? He begins by examining in some depth what a brand really is. This is the beginning of a step-by-step process in which the reader gets to examine his/her current brand and (re)create it to better effect.

Mr Hammond applies his quarter century plus of brand management experience to the task of educating us in the concepts, the language and the practicalities of building a successful brand and communicating it to the client. Frequent references to human psychology and numerous real-world examples make this an interesting as well as informative volume.

Probably the most important idea in the book is the ‘Brand Halo’ – in itself a superb example of branding. Adopting the premise that you don’t have to get everything right all of the time, the author leads us through the creation of the ‘Brand Storybook’, ‘Brand Reflections’, ‘BrandEmotions’ and a few other trademarked expressions culminating in the ‘BrandBite’, a kind of sophisticated elevator pitch.

Persuasively written, well argued and very readable, this is probably the most useful book on the topic I have come across.

The Science of Getting Rich, Wallace D Wattles

2008-06-05T08:19:00.020+01:00

Buy it now for $1!

Long before Rhonda Byrne (The Secret) was even a twinkle in anyone's eye, Wallace Wattles (you couldn't make up a name like that, could you?) was busy scribbling away at what would become his most popular work.

Born in Illinois shortly before the outbreak of the American Civil War, Wattles lived much of his life in poverty, yet mysteriously he died a wealthy man. He attributed his riches to his discovery of the principles outlined in this book.

So is this simply another self-delusional piece of new age fluff aimed at the lazy and the greedy? Maybe not! Certainly, when you boil down Wattles' recipe it seems to be simple enough; decide exactly what you want, keep it in the forefront of your mind at all times, believe you will achieve it. Plus one other vital ingredient - do something about it! The twist from Wattles is that he claims his methods guarantee success, and he himself is the proof.

Published a year before his death in 1911, Wattles' book long predates other self-help gurus such as Napoleon Hill, W Clement Stone, Norman Vincent Peale and, of course, Rhonda Byrne.

The outstanding merit of Wattles' work is its brevity. He says much that the other say (have copied from him?) but has his own endearing style.

Worth a look - even if only from curiosity to see what an original has to say.

Discover the Simple way to Success in business, Richard Walters

2008-05-27T11:15:00.001+01:00

Published by Harris Walters

Great tips for business owners

The eagle-eyed will have spotted the absence of an ISBN number above. I have a rule only to review books that have some kind of distribution, however feeble, and that generally rules out anything without an ISBN. However I am making an exception in this case because I believe this to be a very useful piece of work.

Harris Walters is a firm of accountants and, according to his biographical notes, partner Richard Walters has written a number of books for the business market.

Why do I like this book so much? Because it keeps the promise of the title – it is SIMPLE. Simple to understand, simple to read and simply covers the basics.

Mr Walters begins by getting the reader to consider what he or she really wants by asking “what is the most important thing to you about being in business?” Being different, asking the right questions, taking one step at a time and13 other vital steps are covered in the first few pages. I fact, in a total of less than 110 pages we cover sales and marketing, business management, people skills and vision and innovation. And it is done succinctly and SIMPLY.

Small enough to slip in your pocket, this book will repay its reading many times over. Not available on Amazon or even, so far as I can find out, from good booksellers, you will have to contact Harris Walters direct and part with about a tenner ($20) for your copy.

Well worth the trouble – http://www.harriswalters.co.uk/

Persuasion, James Borg

2008-05-16T13:22:00.002+01:00

Published by Pearson

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

The world’s best-selling book on persuasion

That’s what it says on the cover of the second edition – and I’m baffled. Okay, it’s not a bad book, but it’s not a great book.

For a start, there are some really irritating bits. He quotes the tired old Albert Mehrabian stuff about the relative importance of visual, vocal and verbal information. But he has clearly not read the research, or has not understood it. This then brings into question his interpretations of other research and indeed his assertions throughout the book.

He also attempts to cover body language and memory, but does so superficially. To be fair, each requires a book of its own so I felt he would have been better giving less information and recommending further research; there is no bibliography which would have been a great help.

So, having dealt with my reservations, what is there to recommend?

I found the discussions of empathy, sincerity and listening/attention interesting and useful.

Psycholinguistics (saying the right thing at the right time is Borg’s simplification of this daunting word), difficult people and the personality spectrum are also sections that reward the reader.

On balance, probably a long-haul read that may repay you with a couple of useful ideas, if the airport bookstall has nothing more stimulating to offer.

Simply Success, Jack Miller

2008-05-09T16:31:00.004+01:00

Published by Wiley

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

Sound advice for entrepreneurs

Jack Miller founded Quill Corporation in 1956 with the help of a $2,000 loan from his father-in-law and a phone line in his father’s poultry store. In 1998 he sold out to Staples for a little under $700,000,000.

Not bad for a man who rates himself as only averagely intelligent!

Mr Miller is an old-fashioned businessman who believes in hard work and putting the customer first. Not in the glib “our customers are paramount” lip service that is almost universal today, but simply by treating customers as he would family, neighbours and friends (my interpretation, not his).

In this delightful to read book he expounds his philosophy and tells the story of Quill. He talks about the importance of having a vision, of strategic planning, of budgeting and all the other things you would expect. But he talks with his own voice, not the platitudes of the business school and is twice as readable as a result.

He talks about what it takes to be an entrepreneur, to build a healthy corporate culture and to grow into leadership. Above all he is passionate about what made his business different – its unfailing concern to provide a better customer experience than any of its rivals.

He is frank about the mistakes he has made and about the things he wishes he had done differently; but this is at heart a success story; success founded on old-fashioned values that are as relevant this century as they were when Jack and his brothers were building what became the Quill Corporation.

Keep up to date!

2008-05-02T11:16:00.002+01:00

Are you just too busy to keep up with all the news that floods your life?

Or are you like me and can't be bothered to read interminable newspaper stories or listen to the endless loop that is 24-hour news?

Then here's an idea - subscribe to a magazine called 'The Week'

Mainly of interest if you are a UK resident or ex-pat, it is a weekly digest of British & foreign media. I find it keeps me up to date on the world in about 30 minutes of reading time - and it has a killer crossword if you find that you have saved enough time to relax for a while!

Visit www.The.Week.Magazine.co.uk . the current promotion offers six free issues plus a cancellation get out. So if you try it and think I'm off my head, it needn't cost you anything.

A new book review next week, I promise

YES! Noah J Goldstein PhD, Steve J Martin, Robert B Cialdini PhD

2008-04-20T15:12:00.003+01:00

Published by Profile Books

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

Getting your own way – but with subtlety!

I have long been a fan of Cialdini’s theories ( he is the academic who found a great way to jump the queue at the photocopier; see ‘Influence’ and its sequels) so I was delighted to come across this gem of a book though I have not previously heard of his co-authors.

Subtitled ’50 secrets from the science of persuasion’ it is exactly that – a bunch of tips for getting your own way. Each short chapter outlines an actual event involving (sometimes accidental) persuasion techniques; it goes on to look at relevant research and propose practical applications.

Persuasion, the authors claim, is a science and not an art. Fair enough, even though the theories have been developed by psychologists and psychology is widely regarded as a non-science. The important thing is that all the techniques discussed in this book have been shown to work more effectively than begging, threats or chance. So, if you are in the persuasion business (and who isn’t?) this will prove a useful handbook for you.

From persuading hotel guests to re-use their towels more often (and then more often still!) to showing which common office item can make your influence stick (clue!) the authors provide fascinating tales and practical ideas. They rely not on anecdote but on solid research to illuminate the influence strategies that will ease your passage through your business, consumer and home lives.

There is no room here to discuss all of the tips, but among my favourites are the three-word change that shattered a twenty-year-old sales record, the aforementioned sticky influencer and how similarities can make a big difference.

Buy this book for fun, out of curiosity or as a business investment – but buy it!

I'm on holiday

2008-04-01T16:08:00.007+01:00

I'll be back around April 22 and hope to post a few new reviews shortly thereafter.

Meantime, if you're desperate for something to read, I recommend:

How to get Rich, Felix Dennis - laugh a minute and good ideas too!

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

The Billionaire Who Wasn't, Conor O'Cleary - read and wonder.

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

My Big Idea, Rachel Bridge - success stories.

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

The Lazy Man's Way to Riches, Joe Karbo - strange guy, but interesting - wrote the original; now updated apparently by Richard G Nixon (no relation).

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

Naked Finance, David Meckin

2008-03-29T18:11:00.001Z

Published by Nicholas Brealey

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

Business finance pure and simple

David Meckin is a Member of the Chartered Management Institute, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and his clients include FTSE-100 companies and international household names.

Despite this he manages to make finance interesting, simple and very nearly enjoyable.

Aimed mainly at non-financial managers – those are the ones expected to have a grasp of budget preparation, be able to understand financial reports and handle cash flow issues with absolutely no training - the book presents complex concepts in plain, almost jargon-free English. To his credit (non-financial) David explains the jargon when he has to use it.

Using simple illustrations of his arguments, he teaches us the skills necessary to manage sales and costs, to make sure cash is there when needed and to manage long term projects. Along the way he also reveals how you measure financial success, how to make real profits and which of the many figures you need to pay proper attention to.

The book is written in a straightforward style that makes it easy to read while still providing a thorough and practical guide to the essentials of business finance.

A worthwhile introduction to the topic that should be on pretty well every manager’s bookshelf.

Sales Promotion, Roddy Mullin & Julian Cummins

2008-03-24T11:21:00.004Z

Published by Kogan Page

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

How to create campaigns that work

This is the 4th edition of the late Julian Cummins’ comprehensive work, the latest two editions having been revised by Roddy Mullin.

This book is regarded as essential reading both for students of the subject and experienced practitioners wanting to stay abreast of developments in sales promotion issues and techniques.

Sales promotion is probably used more than any other type of marketing effort and when one reads the numerous case studies in this volume it becomes easy to understand why – properly implemented, sales promotion ‘just works’.

The first nine chapters deal with the issues – among them marketing purpose, what the discipline can achieve, how to create and apply promotions and the legal considerations.

The second half of the book consists of a further six chapters on the various techniques available. The more exciting chapters, they deal with off-the-shelf offers and joint-, price-, premium- and prize-promotions respectively. The final chapter is saved for an examination of international promotions.

Complete with a plethora of case studies – 50 in total - plus self study notes and questions, this is about as comprehensive an introduction to the subject and text book as can be imagined. Little wonder it is a core text of the Institute of Sales Promotion’s diploma course.

50 Prosperity Classics, Tom Butler-Bowdon

2008-03-18T14:39:00.004Z

Published by Nicholas Brealey

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

How to attract, create, manage and share prosperity

Well, he’s done it again! How he manages to read so many books is a mystery. This is the fifth of his ‘Classics’ books which means 250 leading examples of self-help, success, spirituality, psychology and now prosperity manuals neatly summarised for us.

How many books must Tom have read to distil these collections? Thousands is the answer; and we should be truly glad that he has because this series represents an invaluable short–cut for the seeker of enlightenment.

With regard to the latest entrant, it is a cornucopia of wisdom expertly appraised and delivered in a digestible format. From world famous classics of the genre to obscure ‘worst sellers'; from Carnegie and Hill to Branson and Trump, Tom Butler-Bowdon has scoured them all to bring us this invaluable reference work.

Treat it with respect. It will point you to those authors who speak your language; those writings that could spark off your own innate ability to create for yourself a prosperous life in all senses.

I really can’t put it better than John Randolph Price (one of whose books features so maybe he has an axe to grind), “A treasure chest of golden nuggets to use in realising a life more abundant.”

Tales of Talent, Guy Ellis

2008-03-15T10:44:00.004Z

Published by Bookshaker

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

Talent management from a different perspective.

High profile HR consultant Guy Ellis takes a break from his global client list and turns his hand to writing a fairy story for grown ups. Or, more accurately, a series of short tales designed to help managers understand their role better.

Regular readers will know that stories are not my favourite method for getting messages across; I could tell you what to do with your cheese and your fish! However, Guy’s style has a certain charm and the messages he brings are certainly worthy of consideration.

The story element concerns an ambitious young boy, Janus, who is desperate to become wise. Encouraged by his queen, Janus visits various members of the royal household and each imparts a share of the knowledge he seeks.

Stripping away the layers, this book is all about the importance of people to every organisation; something to which we all pay lip service and yet few take the appropriate actions. Stressing teamwork, planning, motivation, appropriately benign management and, above all, a proper sense of humility, Mr Ellis admirably supports his case that

“Organisations are simply a group of people with shared interests or purpose.”

A useful addition to the manager’s bookshelf – and an easy read to boot!

Working for yourself

2008-02-19T19:14:00.005Z

Working for yourself, Mike Pywell and Bill Hilton – Published by Which

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

Working for yourself, Jonathan Reuvid – Published by Kogan Page

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

Two books – one title!

Both have much to recommend them; comprehensive and well organised, they cover all the topics one would expect, from first considerations (why do it?) through getting the basics right to planning the long-term growth of your enterprise.

Jonathan Reuvid includes the more comprehensive set of contents – useful if you are scanning for topics. He also puts handy checklists at the end of each chapter. Pywell and Hilton scatter ‘jargon-buster’ explanations throughout and include a glossary of terms.

While both give a list of useful addresses I rather liked Reuvid’s inclusion of ‘sector information for low investment, part-time and freelance opportunities’ which is basically a list of trade associations from The British Acupuncture Council to the Wine and Spirit Educational Trust with the addition of Kogan Page book titles where relevant works are available.

I was also impressed by the Which volume’s ideas on press releases, a much abused form of publicity explained with refreshing simplicity.

All in all it is difficult to separate these two; each has minor goodies the other lacks but either will provide all the essential information you need to strike out on your own. I can only suggest you nip down to Blackwell’s and thumb through both before deciding which is the guide for you.

And if you are a budding entrpreneur who hasn't found your 'niche' yet - here are some ideas:

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PLEASE NOTE: I am not recommending these products! The decision (and responsibility) is yours. But whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck!

The 80/20 Principle, Richard Koch

2008-02-09T11:07:00.001Z

Published by Nicholas Brealey

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

A classic returns!

Just in case you have been in a coma since the first edition in 1997 let me explain that The 80/20 Principle asserts that approximately 80 percent of positive results come from 20 percent of the effort input. First posited in the nineteenth century by a mathematician named Vilfredo Pareto, the principle seems to hold good in all areas and led to Richard Koch writing his original best-selling and highly influential treatise on the topic. Now he has produced an updated edition for the twenty-first century.

Littered with examples showing that this counter-intuitive theory does indeed produce results, The 80/20 Principle confirms Richard Koch’s status as one of the great theorists of the last century.

In the ten years since it was first published many thousands of people have confirmed the premise that most of what we do is a waste of time and effort.

A successful business consultant and author of a dozen other books, Mr Koch expounds his theories in a down-to earth manner and leads the reader (student?) through why their current strategy is wrong, how they can always get what they want and ways to become a ‘lazy entrepreneur’.

The book is divided into four sections; introductory, explaining the principle in broad terms; business; personal; and finally an examination of some of the responses received during the ten years since the first edition – including some serious criticisms of the principle which Mr Koch in no way tries to avoid or minimise.

If you have not read the original I recommend you invest now – it could save you time and effort and increase both your wealth and leisure time.

And if the book inspires you to start a new business, you might want to take a look at

The Ultimate Business toolbox!

Meeting Magic, Katherine Woods & Ingrid Uden

2008-02-02T11:54:00.000Z

Published by Writers World

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

What to do when it all goes wrong

Graphic facilitators Katherine Woods and Ingrid Ugden have trained hundreds of business managers, facilitated thousands of meetings and have a client list littered with major international names like Microsoft and Coca-Cola.

Now they have distilled their experience into 138 densely packed pages explaining how and why meetings ‘go wrong’ and what you can do about it when you are doomed to lead or facilitate.

Apart from the introduction, which sets the scene, each chapter concentrates on a particular issue, introduced in the form of a question from a frustrated facilitator. The issue is then examined for possible causes and practical solutions are suggested.

As the authors point out, the common problems crop up again and again. So chapter titles such as ‘Talks too much’, Unclear outcomes’ and ‘I feel like a spare part’ will no doubt strike a chord with the multi-meeting attendees this book is aimed at.

The authors admit in the introduction that they have not attempted to provide all the research that has led to their proposed solutions though there is a comprehensive bibliography for anyone wanting to delve. Instead they have concentrated on offering practical help.

Not, perhaps, a book to be read through from start to finish, rather a manual to be consulted when you know the type of problem that will arise at that next meeting. And each chapter concludes, as all books of this type should though sadly not many do, with a summary of tips so you can quickly refresh your understanding.

How to get clients to come to you, Nigel Temple

2008-02-01T11:49:00.000Z

Published by Words at Work

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

‘Temple’ supported by seven pillars

Marketing consultant and author Nigel Temple goes back to basic principles for this well-balanced work. To the very experienced there will be little that is new but Mr Temple puts the basics across clearly and even for the ‘old war horses’ there will be some very useful reminders of what they should be doing.

This book is aimed at you if you have ever wondered just who your customers are (or should be), what really is your ‘USP’ or how to get your message across.

Borrowing from the field of sports psychology, he begins by urging the reader to develop his or her ‘inner marketer’, developing a vision and the confidence to reach for it.

Subsequent chapters deal with such things as creating your marketing plan and what Mr Temple calls client attraction laws. Among these is a fascinating piece on reciprocity – giving potential clients something really useful such as relevant information instead of the usual self-promoting leaflets. This is on the grounds that they are then more likely to ‘reciprocate’ by giving you something useful – their business.

Internet marketing is covered, of course, and we also get some useful advice on low-cost promotional techniques; writing effective copy and the one everyone seems to forget – taking action!

There is also a useful appendix on analysing your competition; again something that seems not to occur to many businesses.

Altogether a useful short introduction to marketing from a man who has trained thousands in the subject and has a client list of over a thousand companies in Europe and Asia.

Your Money and Your Brain, Jason Zweig

2008-01-28T09:04:00.000Z

Published by Souvenir Press

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

Subconscious triggers that control investment behaviour

Who’d have thought it – neuroscience can make you a more successful investor!

This fascinating, though not always easy, book attempts to explain the weirdness of the stock market and those who invest in it from the standpoint of evolutionary biology and psychology.

Apparently, our human proclivity for finding patterns even when none exist causes us awful problems as we try to predict what is coming next for our stocks. Equally, rationality and emotion, wrongly mixed, can be disastrous.

With the help of brain scans and interviews with scientists at the forefront of neurological research, Mr Zweig shows why we over-estimate gains and minimise possible losses as we decide how to build our portfolios. )At the same time I found he opens up some interesting possibilities that have nothing at all to do with investing.)

So if you want to know why you keep taking profits too early and hang on to crashing stocks too long or you’d like to learn how being happy can make you richer I suggest invest (geddit?) in a copy soon. Your bank balance may appreciate (sorry!) as you “become a smarter more successful investor the neuroscience way.”

How to Get Rich, Felix Dennis

2008-01-25T16:09:00.000Z

Published by Ebury Press

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

Someone's having a laugh!

I’m not sure that hippy-turned-tycoon-turned-poet Felix Dennis’s book will help you get rich; in fact it may well put you off the whole idea!

But this roistering, rambunctious tour de force will certainly entertain and enlighten you. And I suspect that, taken to heart, his ideas could well pay off for the determined wealth seeker.

However, Mr Dennis does not come from the rose-tinted dream worlds of positive thinking or do-as-I-did formulae. He is brutally honest about the downside of riches; in fact he begins his book offering solid reasons not to seek wealth. That takes just 17 pages – the next 300 cover getting started, getting rich and what to do when you have made it big.

Liberally laced with anecdotes and asides, warnings and wit, poetry and polemic, this is a compulsive read; more fun and containing more wisdom than the last ten ‘get rich’ books I have read combined.

I can find little fault with this vastly entertaining volume; perhaps on occasion the author overdoes the rambling and musing but he is never less than fascinating as he bitches and blusters his way to his final piece of advice – “Remember to duck!”

Highly recommended for fun or profit, whichever is your fancy. My final piece of advice – don’t lend it to anyone; you will never see it again.

Being Positive and Staying Positive, Pauline Rowson

2008-01-25T16:03:00.000Z

Published by Rowmark

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

Self-confidence primer

The prolific Ms Rowson adds another volume to the ‘Easy Step by Step’ series with this practical guide to being positive even when the going gets tough.

The book promises you ways to increase self-confidence, to stop being frustrated with life and to finding inner contentment.

Realising that we all feel ‘down’ on occasion; whether because of health problems, family or professional setbacks or simply the baffling pace of modern life, the author tackles the subject with directness and vigour.

As usual with these guides, there are plenty of bullet points to help you take in the messages quickly and easily and the end-of-chapter summaries provide handy reminders.

Covering negativity, stress and self-esteem, the author shows how you can improve your self-confidence by appearing confident, by your body language and how you communicate; and even by the way you think.

Adding self-knowledge and assertiveness plus tips on dealing with less than positive contributions from others makes this a pretty comprehensive survey of the subject.

If you have ever felt that you are not realising your full potential, this book can help you start living a fuller life.

KNOCKOFF – the deadly trade in counterfeit goods, Tim Phillips

2008-01-25T15:56:00.000Z

Published by Kogan Page

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

The deadly trade

So you thought that ‘Rolex’ you picked up in Beijing for a fiver wasn’t really doing anyone any harm? This book will make you think again.

Counterfeiting is apparently one of the fastest growing industries in the world ($500 billion or more). Far from being a ‘victimless’ crime that irritates the rich companies who are targeted, this illegal global industry spews corruption, violence and the deaths of thousands of people every year.

Tim Phillips has researched an incredible amount of information for this highly readable and informative volume that spans the globe as it exposes this vast industry.

Pretty well anything can be and is counterfeited. From handbags and watches to medicines and aeroplane spares, the fakers make killings (sometimes literally) day after day.

So who cares if Gucci loses a few quid because you buy a fake? Probably no-one, especially since you probably wouldn’t have bought the real thing anyway, so it’s Marks & Spencer who lost a sale really. But what about those drugs you got on prescription last week? Fake drugs can be very dangerous. As can fake booze made with methyl alcohol; yes, it has turned up in the UK!

From CDs to software, medicines to machine parts, the counterfeiters are operating and making big profits. And if you are the victim whose replacement windscreen isn’t properly tempered or whose brake pads are made from compressed grass or sawdust, well – the warranty won’t stand up even if you do survive the impact.

This is an entertaining read that will leave you better informed. More – it is an important book that should make you think hard next time you are offered a fake. Let me leave you with Tim Phillips’ final sentences; ‘Fakes destroy honest companies and kill innocent people. When you buy them, you’re helping it to happen.’