BOOK PEEK

Quick look at a few books

February 21, 2013

Book Peek

Contents of Book Peek dated February 21, 2013

Reviews
Leading without Licence: Leadership the Anna Hazare Way by Satheesh Namasivayam and Sivaram Bandhakavi Landmark I have a Dream: The inspiring stories of 20 social entrepreneurs who found new ways to solve old problems by Rashmi Bansal A Bank for the Buck: The new bank movement and the untold story of the making of Indias most valued bank by Tamal Bandyopadhyay Insanely Simple: The obsession that drives Apples success by Ken Segall Nike: The vision behind the victory by Tracy Carbasho Digital Wars: Apple, Google, Microsoft & the battle for the Internet by Charles Arthur

New arrivals From Sage, Jaico, Harper Short snatches

Management Tips: From Harvard Business Review Landmark Bonsai Kitten by Lakshmi Narayan Digital Companies that Changed the World by David Lester Great by Choice by Jim Collins and Morten T. Hansen What Matters Now by Gary Hamel The Yellow World: Trust your dreams and theyll come true by Albert Espinosa

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February 21, 2013

Book Peek

Appoint yourself
If you are leading on the problem of corruption, it is not enough to stop with what you are against, you have to also wrestle with what you are for, the alternative set of values and behaviours, say Satheesh Namasivayam and Sivaram Bandhakavi in Leading without Licence: Leadership the Anna Hazare Way (Landmark). For example, Gandhi did not stop with what we should avoid himsa, violence; he also articulated what we should aspire for ahimsa, non-violence, they explain. A chapter titled What does leading mean? instructs that, to lead, you have to perform both procedural and evolutionary work, both of which require you to mobilise other people. Emphasising that galvanising people for collective action is a fundamental requirement of leading, the authors note that, if you know how to mobilise, as Anna has done, you are already taking a leap forward in your leadership work. The evolutionary component of your leadership work, because of its comprehensiveness, could take a very long time to happen. Change in behaviours may, sometimes, take multiple generations of work

February 21, 2013

Book Peek

The foremost lesson that the authors see in the Anna Movement is to forget licence. Posing the question, How did Anna Hazare holding no formal position in the government or a political party and with apparently few resources at his disposal succeed in mobilising people for a nation-wide campaign? they aver that Annas success exposes the misconception that we cannot lead without holding an office or title. In fact, contrary to what many think, holding a position, a title or an office a formal licence does not always make it easy to lead. While one of the constraints when you hold an office is to maintain stability and preserve order in your group, a freedom resulting from not holding a formal office is the leeway for extreme actions, especially for societal problems, one learns. When you are leading without licence, attention is what you lack the most the attention of your target groups and of the authorities whom you would like to influence. People may call it blackmailing, but without extreme action, you would perhaps not get the attention you need to make progress. Adding that social and biological systems rarely evolve without disruptions, the authors advise that if the current order is not working you have to go through chaos to mutate to another state of order. Urges you to appoint yourself as leader!

February 21, 2013

Book Peek

Social entrepreneurs
Rainmakers, change-makers, and the spiritual capitalist you can find them all in I have a Dream: The inspiring stories of 20 social entrepreneurs who found new ways to solve old problems by Rashmi Bansal. In the first category are social entrepreneurs who generate revenues though the primary objective is not profit. This is a new breed of entrepreneurs, a new model of doing good and not mere charity, writes Bansal. Examples are Bindeshwar Pathak (Sulabh International), Anita Ahuja (Conserve India), Vineet Rai (Aavishkaar Social Venture Fund), Sumita Ghose (Rangsutra), Saloni Malhotra (DesiCrew), Ishita Khanna (Spiti Ecosphere), Harish Hande (SELCO), Santosh Parulekar (Pipal Tree), Dinabandhu Sahoo (Project Chilika), Anand Kumar (Super 30), and Dhruv Lakra (Mirakle Couriers). The change-maker is a single person who starts a movement, even while the world laments what is. Examples include Madhav Chavan (Pratham), Anshu Gupta (Goonj), Trilochan Sastry (Association for Democratic Reforms), Shaheen Mistri (Akanksha), Arvind Kejriwal (Parivartan), and Bhushan Punani (Blind Persons Association).

February 21, 2013

Book Peek

As for the spiritual capitalist, the author notes that though the ideal of service may be old-fashioned, there are individuals who still choose to live by it, because they believe purity of purpose and selflessness of spirit can transcend every limitation. She includes in this category Madhu Pandit Dasa (Akshaya Patra), Vinayak Lohani (Parivaar Ashram), and Shreesh Jadhav (Belur Math). A valuable takeaway is advice to young entrepreneurs at the end of each chapter in the book. For instance, Bindeshwar Pathak of Sulabh underlines the importance of creating your own identity, leaving your own stamp on whatever you choose to take up. Saloni Malhotra of DesiCrew counsels entrepreneurs to remain dedicated. You just have to hang in there. If you are really passionate about it, just hang on, and do whatever it takes. You cant do it half-heartedly as it wont take you anywhere. So dont put in half-hearted attempts. Madhav Chavan of Pratham confesses that he likes to revisit his what and why every now and then. It is the how of things that tests whether you have been honest to yourself in deciding the what and the why, he reasons. Ignore superficial praise and superficial criticism. Both are harmful, if taken seriously. I feel good within when I have done something good and right. If do not feel good, I must do better. Imperative read.

February 21, 2013

Book Peek

New arrivals

Leadership Wisdom: The 8 rituals of visionary leaders by Robin Sharma Voices from Chernobyl by Ingrid Storholmen Harper

Address for sending review copies of new books

February 21, 2013

Book Peek

New arrival: Organisational Schizophrenia

Organisational Schizophrenia: Impact on customer service quality by Gopal K. Gureja Sage

February 21, 2013 8 Book Peek

Published by: Shrinikethan, Chennai http://bit.ly/ShriMap Edited by: D. Murali http://bit.ly/dMurali http://bit.ly/TopTalk February 21, 2013 February 21, 2013 9 Book Peek