The Business Shelf

The Soul of the Deal
Marc H. Morgenstern
Rodin Books
https://www.rodinbooks.com
9781957588087, $28.99, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Deal-Creative-Frameworks-Investing/dp/195758808=
X

Synopsis: His music-fueled philosophy that people (not spreadsheets) are th=
e epicenter of every business interaction took Marc Morgenstern from Silico=
n Valley to Shanghai as principal, advisor, or counsel, as well as to the B= oard of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Tangible takeaways (presented as "Morgenstern's Maxims") punctuate every ch= apter of "The Soul of the Deal: Creative Frameworks for Buying, Selling, an=
d Investing in any Business" and are woven into vivid stories that make thi=
s as much thriller as it is a business book.

"The Soul of the Deal" is an entertaining and accessible book that addresse=
s the unchanging human, emotional, and tactical aspects of negotiating; str= essing humor, real-time spontaneity and flexibility, empathy, and engaged l= istening as pathways to expanded negotiating and operating success.

Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Soul of=
the Deal: Creative Frameworks for Buying, Selling, and Investing in any Bu= siness" is an inherently interesting, 'real world' insightful, thoughtful a=
nd thought provoking read from cover to cover. While unreservedly recommend=
ed for personal, professional, community, corporate, and academic library V= enture Capital, Business Negotiation, Sales/Selling, Business Management co= llections, it should be noted for MBA students, academia, corporate executi= ves, entrepreneurs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in = the subject that "The Sould of the Deal" is also available in a digital boo=
k format (Kindle, $11.99).

Editorial Note: Marc H. Morgenstern (https://www.bluemesapartners.com/bio) = has taught Street Smart Startups at UC Berkeley. He's a veteran dealmaker a=
nd entrepreneur with billions of dollars of buying, selling, and financing = innovative and disruptive businesses from Day One of OfficeMax to Co-Foundi=
ng digital healthcare software company Within3. Marc is the Managing Partne=
r and Founder of early-stage investor Blue Mesa Partners, as well as Mentor= -at-Large for The House Fund at UC Berkeley and its portfolio companies.

Clusters of Innovation in the Age of Disruption
Jerome S. Engel, editor
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781800885158, $200.00, HC, 480pp

https://www.amazon.com/Clusters-Innovation-Disruption-Jerome-Engel/dp/18008= 85156

Synopsis: "Clusters of Innovation in the Age of Disruption" is about corpor= ate and economic innovation ecosystems, Clusters of Innovation (COI) and th=
e Global Networks of Clusters of Innovation (GNCOI) they naturally form. Wh=
at is innovation and why is it important to us? Innovation is nothing less = than the ability for constructive response and adaptation to change. The ca= use and catalyst for that change is frequently identified as technology and=
its unceasing pressure to improve on existing solutions and address unmet = needs. The last decade has painfully demonstrated that exogenous environmen= tal shocks are also sources of change that call for innovative responses, r= anging from the obvious challenges such as global warming and Covid-19 to t=
he more subtle social and political perturbations of our time.

Entrepreneurs, in collaboration with venture investors and major corporatio=
ns can create a flywheel of constructive engagement, a cluster of Innovatio=
n, that helps build the resiliency of our communities to adsorb and rebound=
from these shocks. The process is enhanced when actively supported by gove= rnment, universities, and other elements of the ecosystem. "Clusters of Inn= ovation in the Age of Disruption" provides the tools for understanding this=
value creation process and the means to enhance it, in both emerging and m= ature innovation ecosystems.

"Clusters of Innovation in the Age of Disruption" provides a framework for = understanding innovation in mature and emerging innovation ecosystems to a = wide swath of professionals and academics, from senior executives of major = corporations, government leaders, public policy makers, and consultants, to=
academics, researchers, and educators.

Critique: With the publication of "Clusters of Innovation in the Age of Dis= ruption", Professor Jerome Engel has expertly compiled and edited an impres= sively comprehensive, extraordinarily informative, and deftly organized and=
presented study comprised of sixteen contributions by credentialed experts=
.. While also available for personal reading lists in a paperback edition (9= 781035312146, $55.00), "Clusters of Innovation in the Age of Disruption" is=
strongly recommended as a core addition to corporate, college, and univers= ity library Entrepreneurship/Business collections and MBA supplemental curr= iculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Jerome S. Engel (https://jeromeengel.com) is an internation= ally recognized expert in innovation, entrepreneurship, and venture capital=
-- and lectures and advises business and government leaders around the wor= ld. He joined the faculty of University of California, Berkeley in 1991 to = found the Lester Center for Entrepreneurship, of which he is a senior fello=
w and the founding executive director emeritus.

True North
Bill George, author
Zach Clayton, author
John Wiley & Sons
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com
9781119886105, $32.00, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/True-North-Authentically-Workplace-Emerging/dp/11198= 86104

Synopsis: With the publication of "True North: Leading Authentically in Tod= ay's Workplace, Emerging Leader Edition), renowned leadership expert Bill G= eorge and Millennial tech entrepreneur Zach Clayton issue the challenge to = emerging leaders (from Gen X to Millennials and Gen Z) to lead their organi= zations authentically through never-ending crises to make this world a bett=
er place for everyone.

Emerging leaders do so by discovering their "True North" (who they are) and=
then finding their "North Star" -- their leadership purpose. To navigate t= oday's complexities, George and Clayton show emerging leaders how to lead w= ith their hearts, not just their heads, with passion, compassion, and moral=
courage by being true to their values to reach their full potential as the=
y take on great challenges and navigate complex issues.

The Emerging Leader Edition of "True North" is filled with dramatic stories=
from successful leaders such as Microsoft's Satya Nadella and Merck's Ken = Frazier to PepsiCo's Indra Nooyi and General Motors' Mary Barra, and emergi=
ng leaders like OneTrust's Kabir Barday and Kanbrick's Tracy Britt Cool of = how they overcame great challenges to build highly successful organizations=
..

Critique: What must be classified as essential reading for anyone seeking t=
o: Becoming an authentic leader, equipped to lead inclusively with moral cl= arity through challenges and crises;
Cultivating regular introspection to ground yourself with self-awareness, l= ive your values, and use your unique strengths; Integrating all aspects of = their lives -- including who you are at home, at work, and in the community=
; Understand how Millennials are leading more effectively in today's world;=
In being an inclusive leader prepared to take on fraught issues like stake= holder challenges, racial and sexual equality, and sexual misconduct; Knowi=
ng when (and how) leaders should speak out on today's complex public issues=
..

Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "True North: Leading A= uthentically in Today's Workplace, Emerging Leader Edition" is particularly=
and especially recommended for personal, professional, community, corporat=
e, college, and university library Business Management, Leadership & Motiva= tion collections. It should be noted that "True North: Leading Authenticall=
y in Today's Workplace, Emerging Leader Edition" is also available in a dig= ital book format (Kindle, $19.00).

Editorial Note #1: Bill George (https://www.billgeorge.org) is the former C= hair and CEO of Medtronic and Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School (= HBS), where he has taught leadership to MBAs and executives since 2004. He =
is the author of four bestselling books: Authentic Leadership, True North, = Finding Your True North, and 7 Lessons for Leading in Crisis. True North ha=
s been recognized as one of the 25 Best Leadership Books of All-Time. He ha=
s served on the boards of Goldman Sachs, Mayo Clinic, ExxonMobil, Novartis,=
and Target.

Editorial Note #2: Zach Clayton is the founder and CEO of Three Ships, whic=
h operates digital marketplace businesses. He leads this fast-growing busin= ess with several hundred employees.

Augmented Lean
Natan Linder, author
Trond Arne Undheim, author
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com
9781119906001, $26.95, HC, 416pp

https://www.amazon.com/Augmented-Lean-Human-Centric-Framework-Operations/dp= /1119906008

Synopsis: With the publication of "Augmented Lean: A Human-Centric Framewor=
k for Managing Frontline Operations", serial startup founder Dr. Natan Lind=
er and futurist podcaster Dr. Trond Arne Undheim deliver an urgent and inci= sive exploration of how to facilitate agile processes amongst a millennial = workforce that already lives by many of its tenets.

"Augmented Learn" demonstrates how to abandon legacy industrial technology = that is failing modern operations and hindering operational excellence and = digital progress. As an executive and leader, you cannot fall prey to hyped= -up notions of industry 4.0's factory of the future automation, artificial = intelligence, internet of things, sensors, digital twins, and augmented rea= lity fixing every problem. Instead, to truly reduce cognitive load, complex= ity, and frustrations in the workplace, we must build cyber-physical techno= logies so that humans remain at the center.

Leaders must ensure that the technology they deploy at an industrial scale = has fluid interfaces that demonstrably simplifies work and makes operations=
more flexible without introducing fear, uncertainty, or doubt -- and "Augm= ented Lean" will teach them just how they can accomplished these imperative=
s.

Critique: Timely, informatively, exceptionally well organized, and thorough=
ly 'reader friendly' in presentation, "Augmented Lean: A Human-Centric Fram= ework for Managing Frontline Operations" will have a special and practical = value to readers with an interest in Corporate Leadership and Industrial Re= lations. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.00), "A= ugmented Lean: A Human-Centric Framework for Managing Frontline Operations"=
is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, pro= fessional, community, college, and university library Business Management i= nstructional reference collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies.

Editorial Note #1: Natan Linder (https://www.linkedin.com/in/linder), is Co= -founder and CEO of the frontline operations platform Tulip, and the Co-fou= nder and Chairman of the Board of Formlabs, a pioneer in professional deskt=
op 3D printing. He received his doctorate from MIT Media Lab's Fluid Interf= aces Group.

Editorial Note #2: Trond Arne Undheim (https://trondundheim.com), is a futu= rist, podcaster, venture partner, Co-founder of Yegii, and formerly with MI=
T, WPP, Oracle, and the EU. He received his doctorate in the Future of Work=
and Artificial Intelligence from the NTNU's Faculty of Social and Educatio= nal Sciences.

Thriving on Overload
Ross Dawson
McGraw Hill
c/o McGraw Hill Professional
1221 Avenue of the Americas, 45th Floor, New York, NY 10020 www.mhprofessional.com
9781264285402, $28.00, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Thriving-Overload-Success-Exponential-Information/dp= /126428540X

Synopsis: "Thriving on Overload: The 5 Powers for Success in a World of Exp= onential Information" is a groundbreaking guide that delivers the practical=
insights and strategies necessary to build a positive relationship with in= formation and excel at work and in any venture.

"Thriving on Overload" author Ross Dawson draws on his work as a leading fu= turist and 25 years of research into the practices that transform a surplus=
of information into compelling value. In "Thriving on Overload", he shares=
simple actionable techniques for staying ahead in an accelerating world. I= t's all about choosing to thrive on overload -- rather than being overwhelm=
ed by it. Develop the five intertwined powers that enable extraordinary per= formance in a world of overload:

Readers will discover valuable lessons from some of the world's most extrao= rdinary "information masters" -- the entrepreneurs, investors, executives, = and researchers who excel at transforming vast mines of data into the solid=
gold of insight and effective action.

Packed from cover to cover with clear guidance, useful exercises, engaging = stories, and handy resources, "Thriving on Overload" will help to build the=
capabilities that enable the readers to outperform their peers and prosper=
as never before in a world defined by excessive information.

Critique: The next best thing to sitting front row center in one of Ross Da= wson's workshops, "Thriving on Overload: The 5 Powers for Success in a Worl=
d of Exponential Information" is informative enhanced for the reader with t=
he inclusion of a remarkable Introduction (Learning to Thrive), an eight pa=
ge listing of Resources for Thriving, a four page listing of Acknowledgment=
s, twenty pages of Notes, and a ten page Index. While highly recommended as=
an addition to community and academic library Entrepreneurship, Informatio=
n Management, and Self- Help/Decision Making collections, it should be note=
d for personal reading lists that "Thriving on Overload: The 5 Powers for S= uccess in a World of Exponential Information" is also available in a digita=
l book format (Kindle, $15.12)

Editorial Note: Ross Dawson (https://rossdawson.com) is a world-leading fut= urist, entrepreneur, and keynote speaker. He is Founding Chairman of the Ad= vanced Human Technologies group of companies, with clients including indust=
ry leaders, such as Boston Consulting Group, Citibank, Coca-Cola, Google, I= nterpublic Group, Microsoft, News Limited, Oracle, Procter & Gamble, PwC, V= isa, and Walmart. Dawson is in strong demand globally, having delivered key= note speeches and strategy workshops to business and government leaders in = over 30 countries. He appears frequently in media, such as ABC TV, BBC, The=
Guardian, New York Times, and VICE, among many others.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
s from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these=
reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, inte= rnet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indivi= duals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo= rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat= ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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