Review: Due Diligence: The Critical Stage in Mergers and Acquisitions

Due Diligence: The Critical Stage in Mergers and Acquisitions by Peter Howson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Read this book to get a quick refresher and also to allow me to structure my knowledge on Due Diligence. I achieved both objectives. Not bad!

The book is a good guidance on the subject and makes you think through different lenses/areas of expertise the basics of this important and more often than not difficult phase of every M&A project.

It provides you practical watch-outs and leads you through the main areas of a Due Diligence and presents the main objectives, activities that should be undertaken & discloses the main risks and concerns.

For the areas where you are not an expert, it brings awareness of what you should expect and allows you to have an educated conversation with the subject matter expert on the required deliverables.

The check lists presented are a good tool, nonetheless the main one on appendix A should have been organized by area and not has it was disclosed (it seems randomly made).

Finally, i think what is called Commercial Due Diligence should have been named Strategic Due Diligence and the area of Risk is clearly lacking inputs and it's significantly below the other chapters of the books.

ps - due to the author nationality, the subjects presented are clearly skewed from an UK perspective, but that does not undermines the quality and insights conveyed.





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Review: Managing Risk and Uncertainty

Managing Risk and Uncertainty by Richard Friberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I took a couple of days after reading this book to provide my rating and this review. I did it on purpose so i could mature the idea of what to write and how to rate it. Looking back it was a wise decision as the rating will be higher today if i did it immediately after (in fact would be a 3,5 stars).

I got this book by chance, while looking for books on risk, and the thing that made me read it was its synopsis and coming from MIT press, most probably I'm one of the few that did it (looking at goodreads jhistoric and even the information available on Amazon).

So why did i like it:
- Presented in an operational framework on how to think about risk and uncertainty and how to manage it, through different lenses and specific areas within a company;
- Ran through several areas related with risk & uncertainty (finance, economics, pricing, forecasting, behavioral science) explaining the basics and also disclosing the sources of it synthesis that allows a interested reader to deepen his knowledge in case he finds it appropriate (i will do it myself in a couple of areas);
- Disclosed the how the author thinks and approaches risks and uncertainty and you can use (always adding your critical reasoning and experience) to your day-to-day live. The 4 main strategies are a great starting point, at least how to structure it
- It requires (and can be a severe handicap for the ones not with sufficient literacy) at least a intermediate level of economic and finance knowledge to not get lost in quite a few areas. It made me revisit several concepts that i did not thought and operacionalize for a long time.

What i did not like:
- the books loses when it tries to be also a text book. Gets caught on the midst of a technical book with a specific body of knowledge, and a text book to support specific lectures on risk and uncertainty;
- The online resources are not currently available, that hamper the full resources that should be available;
- The examples that are quite good and insightful but could be complemented with additional examples (fully explained and resolved) and solution on the online resources.

I do think it was time worth spent reading it and for people that would like to broaden their horizons on this topic I do recommend its reading. I know that I will use specific areas of knowledge presented on my daily professional activity.


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Review: Teoria Geral do Esquecimento

Teoria Geral do Esquecimento by José Eduardo Agualusa
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Um livro de fácil leitura e que nos apresenta um conjunto de pequenas histórias que afluem na historia principal de Ludovica Fernandes Mano.

Apresenta uma realidade "metaforizada" da independência de Angola, onde se apresentam temas relevantes e mesmo chocantes da sociedade Angolana de uma forma simples e ao mesmo tempo impactante (em especial por aquilo que fica por dizer),

A história de Ludo, como rio grande que é, incorpora nas suas margens todas as pequenas histórias que enriquecem a narrativa e nos fazem percorrer 30 anos de história contemporânea (bem sei que tem de passar pelos menos 50 anos para assim ser considerada formalmente...) de uma forma simples e bem escrita,

Excelente livro para uma tarde de verão.


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Review: Thinking, Fast and Slow

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of the best books i have read (nonfictional), due to all the knowledge it conveys and also the way it's written -simple, clear and sound - with direct impact on your day-to-day life.

It explains how you make decisions and how you can mitigate your unintended mistakes (cognitive and emotional), by creating barriers/processes, when appropriate, to guide you through (system 1 and system 2). Its also discloses:
- several behavioral cognitive biases (with sound and surprising examples);
- presents the way you make choices (prospect theory, risk aversion and risk seeking and its fundamentals, among others);
-distinguishes the Humans (us) and Econs (the humans as per the in classic economic theory - Rational Economic Man) and finally;
- differentiates between the "experience self" and the "remembering self" and its sound implication on decision making.

A book i will always keep at hand, so i can easily consult/read/study it again and again, because after you read it you become aware of the daily mental flaws, but you will be pushed to continue to persevere on the same mistakes/misbehaviors.

Highly recommend its reading (or even study) for all readers, not only people interested in psychology, finance, economics, etc...


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Review: O Coro dos Defuntos

O Coro dos Defuntos by António Tavares
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Um retrato da vida rural ente 1965-1975 apresentado de uma forma simples, mas ao mesmo tempo complexa, mostrando as fortes diferenças existentes (mundo/cidade vs. aldeia) e como uma comunidade rural as enquadra no seu dia-a-dia.

Gosto como o fio condutor de acontecimentos históricos une a narrativa e nos apresenta a evolução dessa mesma comunidade e de cada um dos seus membros.

Comunidade essa que ainda a vivi e que consigo tão facilmente reencontrar em cada uma das personagens e no seu todo.

Recomendo a leitura deste pequeno e saboroso livro




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Review: Optimismo e Não Desespero

Optimismo e Não Desespero by Noam Chomsky
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Trata-se, apenas, de uma compilação de entrevistas ao Noam que apresentam de uma forma, creio, superficial a sua forma de pensar sobre assuntos mt concretos .

As perguntas são realizadas de uma forma claramente enviesada e por vezes o entrevistador parece mais interessado em demonstrar o seu pensamento e menos em saber a real resposta do entrevistado. Acredito que o próprio nome da publicação onde foram apresentadas diz mt sobre a sua natureza "Truthout".

Concordo com alguns dos pilares enunciados pelo Noam e discordo da maioria, mas parece-me que a sua opinião é fundada no estudo dos factos e conhecimento existentes e que depois são trabalhados através da sua "filosofia" e conhecimento, logo podem ser discutidos e analisados (não é dogmático e radical como o seu entrevistador)

Este livro criou a possibilidade de num futuro estar disposto a ler um livro do Noam, para entender o seu trabalho e o seu pensamento político.

De todo o livro a parte que mais gostei foi a relacionado com o seu trabalho linguístico (da página 207 à 215), sendo que as restantes 200 páginas tornam-se repetitivas (bastaria ler as primeiras 50 para saber o conteúdo das demais 150).

Por fim, o poema do Mário Cesariny "Entre nós e as palavras" que está tb está nesta edição é sem dúvida uma delícia,


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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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