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What's the overlooked gem, the book I haven't read that I must?
Every reader has at least one, that book that never caught on, or is out of print, but that resonates so much with people that they can't forget it. I still remember reading "The Republic of Tea" on the Sunday it came out years ago. And of course, Steve Pressfield's "The War of Art" which I've purchased and handed out a dozen times so far...
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June Cohen 500+
"Leadership is an Art" by Max DePree.
By far the best book on leadership I've ever read. Written by the former CEO of Herman Miller (the iconic furniture company that launched Charles Eames), it's an eloquent, soulful, unpretentious book about service leadership; about the creativity and morality and grace that a true leader can bring to their company and its employees. It explains in the most useful and truthful way the things we all need to thrive in a work environment. You can read the whole thing in an hour, but I find myself coming back to it over and over through the years.
"Principles of Uncertainty" By Maira Kalman
Is it poetry or prose? Humor or philosophy? Graphic novel, travel journal or memoir? This book is impossible to categorize, and that's it's great appeal. Like Maira herself, this book is whimsical, but also deeply wise. In her TED Talk, Maira said "I'm trying to understand two things: How to live and how to die." And her reflections her on life, death and everything in between are, in my opinion, nothing short of profound.
"The Atlas of Experience" By Louise Van Swaiij
Maps have such a hold on the human imagination, and this beautiful book explores the outer reaches of both, mapping in physical terms our common human experiences, from the Sea of Possibility to the Stormy Coast of Hypochondria to the tiny towns on the Isle of Forgetfulness called "Erm..." and "Hmm..." Charming.
"City of Thieves" By David Benioff
Pacy, edgy, heart-breaking, and as funny as the siege of Leningrad could possibly be. It's everything you might want in a book... Historical fiction. Buddy story. Coming of age novel. Screenplay in the making. But mostly, it's just a really, really good story
Arpad Budahazy 500+
If you like visualisation and management you will love "The Business World Atlas: Navigation for Innovative Organisations" by Stuart Crainer and Des Dearlove.
This book is ot like any other business books. After all how could you make a jurney through such a complex landscape without a map? Here is business portrayed not just in text, but in maps. It is very nice to see on a map the connection between the Boston Matrix Tidal Zone, the Porter Generic Strategy Counter-Intelligence Unit and eg. the Art of War City.