The 40 best books published so far this year (06’25)| From The Economist

The 40 best books published so far this year https://www.economist.com/culture/2025/06/05/the-40-best-books-published-so-far-this-year From The Economist Biography and memoir 1- Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America. BySam Tanenhaus 2-Careless People. By Sarah Wynn-Williams 3-The Optimist: Sam Altman, OpenAI and the Race to Invent the Future. By Keach Hagey. 4-Source Code: My Beginnings. By Bill Gates 5-The Thinking Machine: Jensen Huang, Nvidia and the World’s Most Coveted Microchip. By Stephen Witt Business, economics and technology 6-Apple in China: The Capture of the World’s Greatest Company. By Patrick McGee. Scribner 7-The Art of Uncertainty: How to Navigate Chance, Ignorance, Risk and Luck. By David Spiegelhalter 8-Chokepoints. By Edward Fishman 9-The Corporation in the 21st Century: Why (Almost) Everything We Are Told About Business Is Wrong. By John Kay 10-Empire ofai. By Karen Hao 11-House of Huawei. By Eva Dou Culture and arts 12-Adventures in the Louvre: How to Fall in Love with the World’s Greatest Museum. By Elaine Sciolino 13-Bye Bye I Love You: The Story of Our First and Last Words. By Michael Erard 14-Fatherhood: A History of Love and Power. By Augustine Sedgewick 15-John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs. By Ian Leslie 16-Pronoun Trouble: The Story of Us in Seven Little Words. By John McWhorter 17-Raising Hare. By Chloe Dalton Fiction 18-Among Friends. By Hal Ebbott 19-Beartooth. By Callan Wink 20-The Dream Hotel. By Laila Lalami. 21-Flesh. By David Szalay 22-Let Me Go Mad in My Own Way. By Elaine Feeney 23-Ripeness. By Sarah Moss 24-Theft. By Abdulrazak Gurnah. 25-Twist. By Colum McCann 26-We Do Not Part. By Han Kang History 27-38 Londres Street: On Impunity, Pinochet in England and a Nazi in Patagonia. By Philippe Sands 28-The cia Book Club: The Best-Kept Secret of the Cold War. By Charlie English 29-The Einstein Vendetta: Hitler, Mussolini and a Murder That Haunts History. By Thomas Harding 30-Jesus Wept: Seven Popes and the Battle for the Soul of the Catholic Church. By Philip Shenon 31-The Last Days of Budapest. By Adam LeBor 32-Peak Human. By Johan Norberg 33-Strangers and Intimates: The Rise and Fall of Private Life. By Tiffany Jenkins 34-The Third Reich of Dreams: The Nightmares of a Nation. By Charlotte Beradt Politics and current affairs 35-The Party’s Interests Come First: The Life of Xi Zhongxun, Father of Xi Jinping. By Joseph Torigian 36-Righting Wrongs: Three Decades on the Front Lines Battling Abusive Governments. By Kenneth Roth 37-Russia’s Man of War: The Extraordinary Viktor Bout. By Cathy Scott-Clark Science and health 38-Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer’s. By Charles Piller 39-Is a River Alive? By Robert Macfarlane 40-More and More and More: An All-Consuming History of Energy. By Jean-Baptiste Fressoz 41-Waste Wars. By Alexander Clapp.

- Pedro

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A Fresh Perspective on Perfectionism, Inspired by HBR Ideacast

A Fresh Perspective on Perfectionism, Inspired by HBR Ideacast I recently listened to a thought-provoking episode of HBR Ideacast featuring Dr. Ellen Hendriksen, which explores how to understand and manage perfectionism. The episode draws on insights from her book How to Be Enough—a read I highly recommend. For me, the conversation was eye-opening. It prompted a fundamental shift in how I approach perfectionism. Why? Because it led me to revisit the first principles behind this often misunderstood mindset. Here are a few key takeaways: -Perfectionism isn’t about wanting everything to be flawless. Rather, it stems from overvaluing performance—viewing outcomes in binary terms (success or failure) and tying one’s self-worth to results. -It’s often driven by a positive trait: conscientiousness. This includes a strong sense of responsibility, diligence, a desire for excellence—all admirable qualities. However, when unchecked, they can push us beyond the point of diminishing returns. In essence, perfectionism arises when our conscientiousness compels us to keep refining or reworking something—whether it’s a report, decision, or assessment—even when further effort no longer adds value. In other words, when we ignore the “good enough” principle. Reflecting on my own habits through this lens, I recognize that I often struggle to draw that line. More than once, I’ve spent excessive time on tasks that, in hindsight, didn’t warrant it. To address this, I’m adopting a simple rule: Before continuing to improve a piece of work, I’ll ask myself—Is this already good enough for the purpose it serves? Lastly, if a recruiter asks me about my biggest weakness, I may still say "perfectionism"—but now, I can explain it with a deeper, more nuanced understanding of what that means and how I’m working to manage it constructively. https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/hbr-ideacast/id152022135?i=1000683028403

- Pedro

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Speed, Strategy, and Talent: The Story Behind Ford’s Le Mans Victory

A film I recently watched about Ford’s bold bet and its race to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It’s a highly engaging movie that tells a fascinating story while illustrating how clear goals, a solid strategy, strong leadership support, and—above all—the right people and talent can turn the seemingly impossible into reality. As a bonus, it also highlights the role Goodyear’s technology played in making it all happen. If you’re a fan of cars, motorsport, and great storytelling, this is definitely a film worth watching. (text revised by a LLM) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1950186/ https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0G0ZJRP5IMCAV5729ZXNRCIP8M/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

- Pedro

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Escaping into Books: The Power of Reading and Reflection

It's no big surprise to me, but it turns out books and libraries have a positive impact on readers' lives. I’m always a bit skeptical of such studies, but I couldn’t resist this confirmation bias once I saw it. 🙂 I must admit, I love reading but rarely visit libraries—something I plan to change this year. For me, the main benefits of reading are: - It transports me to different worlds and perspectives. - It helps me escape the present moment and take a long-term view on topics. - It expands my knowledge and broadens my horizons. - It fosters personal growth and self-reflection. - It allows me to engage with my thoughts and enjoy solitude. As for the study, it suggests that libraries: - Help people feel calmer and more at peace. - Prepare individuals for the complexities of the world. - Serve as valuable sources of knowledge. - Support personal growth and development. When was the last time you visited a library or picked up a book? Give it a try—you might just enjoy it. (text revised by a LLM) https://lithub.com/its-official-research-has-found-that-libraries-make-everything-better/

- Pedro

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No te Pierdas Aprendemos Juntos 2030: Inspiración y Aprendizaje en Cada Charla

Aprendemos Juntos 2030" es una iniciativa de BBVA que no te puedes perder por su calidad, diversidad y la impresionante trayectoria de sus invitados, quienes aportan conocimiento y experiencia única. He visto muchas charlas sobre diversos temas y ninguna me ha decepcionado. Si ya no sabes qué ver en tus plataformas de streaming, échale un vistazo y aprendamos juntos (texto revisado por un LLM) En BBVA creemos posible una vida mejor en un mundo más sostenible y queremos ofrecerte las herramientas para enfrentar los grandes retos del futuro. En este canal descubrirás las historias más inspiradoras y los contenidos más útiles para afrontar tu día a día, animándonos a luchar por una sociedad más inclusiva y respetuosa con el planeta. Suscríbete y no te pierdas todas nuestras novedades, ¡te esperamos! https://www.youtube.com/@AprendemosJuntos/featured

- Pedro

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Review > Value First, Then Price: Building Value-Based Pricing Strategies

Finalized Value First, Then Price: Building Value-Based Pricing Strategies by Andreas Hinterhuber (editor), Todd C Snelgrove (Editor) My Book Rating - 2.5/5 (Qualitative - between "Okay" and "I Liked It”) BOP#3 - Book Club The book explores the relevance and importance of a value-driven organization through multiple lenses: (i) pricing, (ii) procurement, (iii) management, and (iv) change management. It comprises 25 individual pieces—including interviews, essays, use cases, and empirical evidence—written by various authors. These contributions emphasize the importance of understanding value, its relevance, and how to effectively quantify and communicate it both internally and externally. As a whole, the book serves as a solid introduction and refresher on the significance of being a value-driven organization in any industry. It encourages readers to focus on the value they generate for customers and consumers. It also provides a great starting point for deepening your knowledge of value-based approaches and opens multiple pathways for further exploration.A recommended read for professionals in pricing, sales, and procurement, offering insights on how they can apply these principles within their organizations. A word of caution: Avoid the Kindle edition. While it is technically readable on a Kindle, the formatting has not been properly adapted to the platform. As a result, many of the Kindle’s features and readability enhancements are missing, significantly diminishing the overall experience and value. (text revised by a LLM) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7110863649

- Pedro

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What Must Be True: Strategic Thinking for Managing Risk

Roger Martin, former Dean of the Rotman School, has written a fascinating and insightful article about risk management, emphasizing that a robust strategic process is the only effective way to approach it. Martin argues that, in most cases, risk management conducted by corporate boards often amounts to little more than box-ticking to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (S-OX) Section 404. This requirement, enacted after scandals like Enron and WorldCom, has become a lucrative exercise for consulting firms but provides little real value to management or investors. Instead of addressing critical risks, these efforts often generate exhaustive lists of potential risks (as seen in typical 10-K filings), which serve as "safe harbor" statements for management rather than actionable insights. A more effective way to approach risk management is by applying the Rumsfeld Risk Matrix (as illustrated in the accompanying graphic). This matrix divides risks into four quadrants: 1.Known Knowns – Risks we are aware of and understand well enough to measure and manage. 2.Known Unknowns – Risks we recognize but do not fully understand. 3.Unknown Knowns – Risks we are unconsciously aware of but fail to identify as risks. 4.Unknown Unknowns – Risks we are entirely unaware of. The ultimate goal of risk management is to increase awareness, turning unknowns into knowns, and improving precision by addressing uncertainties. This involves identifying key risks that are not fully understood, assessing their material impact and likelihood, and investing in understanding them better. It also requires implementing systems to monitor risks that might not be obvious and to uncover entirely new risks. So how is this achieved? The answer lies in a strong strategic process. A well-designed strategy explicitly considers what must be true (WWHTBT) for success and potential derailment, addressing factors such as industry dynamics, customer behavior, organizational capabilities, competitor actions, vendor dependencies, and technological advancements. By conducting thorough internal (IFE) and external (EFE) factor evaluations, along with a comprehensive SWOT analysis, organizations can identify key risk factors, enhance awareness, and improve their ability to detect unknown risks early. This article offers valuable insights and is highly recommended for anyone interested in strategic risk management. (text revised by a LLM) https://rogermartin.medium.com/risk-management-strategy-59869afd3558

- Pedro

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How Math Connects Fireflies, Clocks, and Computing

A fascinating video featuring Steve Strogatz explores the power of mathematics and how it reveals hidden patterns in the world that would otherwise remain undiscovered. In one example, Strogatz discusses a study where he and his colleagues explained why fireflies begin flashing in unison. This phenomenon, initially thought to be purely biological, was redefined as a mathematical problem. Building on these findings, engineers developed a method to synchronize small electronic clocks, demonstrating how the mathematical principles from the study extend to fields like distributed computing and sensor networks. Mathematical abstraction—a cornerstone of mathematical reasoning—strips away irrelevant details, allowing us to focus on the fundamental elements of a problem. This approach uncovers connections and commonalities across diverse phenomena and scientific disciplines. I hope you enjoy the video as much as I did! (text revised by a LLM) https://youtu.be/kV-pnbtfraE

- Pedro

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El Gran Otro: Cómo el Capitalismo de Vigilancia Moldea Nuestros Comportamientos

He terminado La era del capitalismo de la vigilancia: La lucha por un futuro humano frente a las nuevas fronteras del poder por by Shoshana Zuboff, Albino Santos (Translator) Mi valoracion - 3/5 (Qualitativa - “Me ha gustado”) Un extenso libro sobre lo que la autora define como el capitalismo de vigilancia, que representa un nuevo paradigma para la sociedad, en el cual nosotros (los humanos) y nuestros comportamientos somos la fuente principal de materia prima para este proceso. Shoshana nos guía de manera exhaustiva a través de sus orígenes, cómo funciona y la importancia del behavioral surplus (excedente conductual) como base de todo. También aborda quiénes son los ganadores de esta nueva forma de organización social y económica (las "Magnificent 7") y quiénes son los grandes perdedores (nosotros). Se nos presenta todo lo que estamos perdiendo, en la mayoría de los casos sin ser conscientes de ello. Asimismo, se explican los riesgos a los que nos enfrentamos como sociedad: el fin de la privacidad, el libre albedrío individual y la creación de un "Gran Otro" que intenta influir en todos nuestros comportamientos. Es un libro cuya lectura recomiendo encarecidamente. Sin embargo, no es para todos, ya que resulta demasiado extenso. Estoy convencido de que podría reducirse fácilmente en un tercio de sus 861 páginas actuales sin perder su valor. De hecho, creo que esa reducción aportaría mayor claridad y eficacia al mensaje. Como diría Saint-Exupéry: "La perfección no se alcanza cuando no hay nada más que añadir, sino cuando no hay nada más que quitar". (texto revisado por LLM)

- Pedro

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How to make your arguments stronger

"...stick to their strongest points; resist the temptation to try besting others with brute force. ..."

"...it’s important to note that the delivery of your message is every bit as important as its content ..."

"...You cannot increase the quality of an argument by simply increasing the quantity of your argument ..."

Review: How to Win Friends and Influence People

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A book that was recommended by several persons (friends, acquaintances & personal influencers), dated from 1930 just met my expectation (no more or less than that). It has interesting principles and advises that one should be aware and follow with a "big" grain of salt and dose of critical thinking.

It's well written, structured and clearly states its objectives. The examples and anecdotes that support the rationale and underlying messages & takeaways are just that and for sure there are plenty that one could mention contrarian to the principles disclosed.

Do admit that this book has to be framed and evaluated under the 1930 management prevailing style (direct and control leadership) and i'm sure it brought to the discussion several new ideas/principles that later became new leadership styles (supporting, delegation and even coaching).

It's a good read, although would not meet my "strongly recommended book" threshold.

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