Business, Finance & Law Books

Book SynopsisTheodore Levitt’s 1960 article “Marketing Myopia” is a business classic that earned its author the nickname “the father of modern marketing”. It is also a beautiful demonstration of the problem solving skills that are crucial in so many areas of life – in business and beyond. The problem facing Levitt was the same problem that has confronted business after business for hundreds of years: how best to deal with slowing growth and eventual decline. Levitt studied many business empires – the railroads, for instance – that at a certain point simply shrivelled up and shrank to almost nothing. How, he asked, could businesses avoid such failures?His approach and his solution comprise a concise demonstration of high-level problem solving at its best. Good problem solvers first identify what the problem is, then isolate the best methodology for solving it. And, as Levitt showed, a dose of creative thinking also helps. Levitt’s insight was that falling sales are all about marketing, and marketing is about knowing your real business. The railroads misunderstood their real market: they weren’t selling rail, they were selling transport. If they had understood that, they could have successfully taken advantage of new growth areas – truck haulage, for instance – rather than futilely scrabbling to sell rail to a saturated market.Table of ContentsWays in to the Text Who is Theodore Levitt? What does Marketing Myopia Say? Why does Marketing Myopia Matter? Section 1: Influences Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context Module 2: Academic Context Module 3: The Problem Module 4: The Author's Contribution Section 2: Ideas Module 5: Main Ideas Module 6: Secondary Ideas Module 7: Achievement Module 8: Place in the Author's Work Section 3: Impact Module 9: The First Responses Module 10: The Evolving Debate Module 11: Impact and Influence Today Module 12: Where Next? Glossary of Terms People Mentioned in the Text Works Cited

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Book SynopsisFriedrich Hayek’s 1944 Road to Serfdom is a classic of conservative economic argument. While undeniably a product of a specific time in global politics – which saw the threat of fascism from Nazi Germany and its allies beguilingly answered by the promises of socialism – Hayek’s carefully constructed argument is a fine example of the importance of good reasoning in critical thinking.Reasoning is the art of constructing good, persuasive arguments by organizing one’s thoughts, supporting one’s conclusions, and considering counter-arguments along the way. The Road to Serfdom illustrates all these skills in action; Hayek’s argument was that, while many assumed socialism to be the answer to totalitarian, fascist regimes, the opposite was true. Socialist government’s reliance on a large state, centralised control, and bureaucratic planning – he insisted – actually amounts to a different kind of totalitarianism. Freedom of choice, Hayek continued, is a central requirement of individual freedom, and hence a centrally planned economy inevitably constrains freedom. Though many commentators have sought to counter Hayek’s arguments, his reasoning skills won over many of the politicians who have shaped the present day, most notably Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.Table of ContentsWays in to the Text Who was David Linden? What does The Road to Serfdom Say? Why does The Road to Ser Matter? Section 1: Influences Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context Module 2: Academic Context Module 3: The Problem Module 4: The Author's Contribution Section 2: Ideas Module 5: Main Ideas Module 6: Secondary Ideas Module 7: Achievement Module 8: Place in the Author's Work Section 3: Impact Module 9: The First Responses Module 10: The Evolving Debate Module 11: Impact and Influence Today Module 12: Where Next? Glossary of Terms People Mentioned in the Text Works Cited

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Book SynopsisThomas Piketty is a fine example of an evaluative thinker. In Capital in the Twenty-First Century, he not only provides detailed and sustained explanations of why he sees existing arguments relating to income and wealth distribution as flawed, but also gives us very detailed evaluations of the significance of a vast amount of data explaining why incomes is distributed in the ways it is.As Piketty stresses, “the distribution question… deserves to be studied in a systematic and methodical fashion.” This stress on evaluating the significance of data leads him to focus on the central evaluative questions, and look in turn at the acceptability, relevance, and adequacy of existing justifications for the unequal distribution of wealth. In doing so, Piketty applies his understanding of the data to answering the deeply important question of what political structures and what policies are necessary to move us towards a more equal society.Piketty’s evaluation of the data supports his argument that inequality cannot be depended on to reduce over time: indeed, without government intervention, it is highly likely to increase. In addition, he evaluates international data to argue that poor countries do not necessarily become less poor as a result of foreign investment. This strong emphasis on the interrogation of data, rather than building mathematical models that are divorced from data, is a defining feature of Piketty’s work.Table of ContentsWays In to the Text Who was Thomas Piketty? What does Capital in the Twenty-First Century Say? Why does Capital in the Twenty-First Century Matter? Section 1: Influences Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context Module 2: Academic Context Module 3: The Problem Module 4: The Author's Contribution Section 2: Ideas Module 5: Main Ideas Module 6: Secondary Ideas Module 7: Achievement Module 8: Place in the Author's Work Section 3: Impact Module 9: The First Responses Module 10: The Evolving Debate Module 11: Impact and Influence Today Module 12: Where Next? Glossary of Terms People Mentioned in the Text Works Cited

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Book SynopsisA critical analysis of Karl Marx’s Capital, which is without question one of the most influential books to be published in the course of the past two centuries. Controversial in its politics, and arriving at conclusions that are passionately debated to this day, it is nonetheless a fine example of the creative combination of a philosophical method (the dialectic) with historical and economic information to produce a new interpretation of history. Capitalism, thought Marx, works by exploiting the working class. Their wages do not reflect the value of their labor. Marx concluded that capitalism would fail because of this contradiction at the heart of the capitalist system. He wrote Capital to give activists the theories and language they needed to criticize the system. But the work also outlines the new communist society that Marx hoped would rise in its place, and it helped to inspire the rise of states that largely shaped the modern history of our planet. Today, after a century of conflict, Marx’s analysis still offers valuable tools that help us analyze the modern world. Marx's belief that he had arrived at a scientific way of describing the present and predicting the future may not be shared by many of his modern interpreters. But his ability to connect things together in new ways is not in doubt – and nor is the influence of the new hypotheses that he generated as a result of so much careful analysis. Table of ContentsWays In to the Text Who was Karl Marx? What does Capital Say? Why does Capital Matter? Section 1: Influences Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context Module 2: Academic Context Module 3: The Problem Module 4: The Author's Contribution Section 2: Ideas Module 5: Main Ideas Module 6: Secondary Ideas Module 7: Achievement Module 8: Place in the Author's Work Section 3: Impact Module 9: The First Responses Module 10: The Evolving Debate Module 11: Impact and Influence Today Module 12: Where Next? Glossary of Terms People Mentioned in the Text Works Cited

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Book SynopsisThomas Robert Malthus’ 1798 Essay on the Principle of Population helped change the direction of economics, politics, and the natural sciences with its reasoning and problem solving. The central topic of the essay was the idea, extremely prevalent in the 18th and 19th centuries, that human society was in some way perfectible. According to many thinkers of the time, mankind was on a course of steady improvement with advances set to continuously improve society and life for all. Malthus was a skeptic on this point, and, in a clear example of the skill of reasoning, set about constructing and marshalling a strong argument for a less optimistic view.Central to his argument were the laws of population growth and their relationship to growth in agricultural production; in his view the former would always outstrip the latter. This provided a strong argument that society was limited by finite resources – a closely reasoned argument that continues to influence economists, politicians and scientists today, as well as environmental movements. While Malthus’ proposed solutions have been less influential, they remain an excellent example of problem solving, offering a range of answers to the problem of population growth and finite resources.Table of ContentsWays In to the Text Who was Thomas Robert Malthus? What does An Essay on the Principle of Population Say? Why does An Essay on the Principle of Population Matter? Section 1: Influences Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context Module 2: Academic Context Module 3: The Problem Module 4: The Author's Contribution Section 2: Ideas Module 5: Main Ideas Module 6: Secondary Ideas Module 7: Achievement Module 8: Place in the Author's Work Section 3: Impact Module 9: The First Responses Module 10: The Evolving Debate Module 11: Impact and Influence Today Module 12: Where Next? Glossary of Terms People Mentioned in the Text Works Cited

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Book SynopsisJohn Maynard Keynes’s 1936 General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money is a perfect example of the global power of critical thinking. A radical reconsideration of some of the founding principles and accepted axioms of classical economics at the time, it provoked a revolution in economic thought and government economic policies across the world. Unsurprisingly, Keynes’s closely argued refutation of the then accepted grounds of economics employs all the key critical thinking skills: analysing and evaluating the old theories and their weaknesses; interpreting and clarifying his own fundamental terms and ideas; problem solving; and using creative thinking to go beyond the old economic theories. Perhaps above all, however, the General Theory is a masterclass in problem solving. Good problem solvers identify their problem, offer a methodology for solving it, and suggest solutions. For Keynes the problem was both real and theoretical: unemployment. A major issue for governments during the Great Depression, unemployment was also a problem for classical economics. In classical economics, theoretically, unemployment would always disappear. Keynes offered both an explanation of why this was not the case in practice, and a range of solutions that could be implemented through government monetary policy.Table of ContentsWays in to the Text Who was John Maynard-Keynes? What does The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money Say? Why does The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money Matter? Section 1: Influences Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context Module 2: Academic Context Module 3: The Problem Module 4: The Author's Contribution Section 2: Ideas Module 5: Main Ideas Module 6: Secondary Ideas Module 7: Achievement Module 8: Place in the Author's Work Section 3: Impact Module 9: The First Responses Module 10: The Evolving Debate Module 11: Impact and Influence Today Module 12: Where Next? Glossary of Terms People Mentioned in the Text Works Cited

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Book SynopsisLiquidated is a work of anthropology that treats an unusual, despised subculture – that of the Wall Street banker – much as anthropologists have traditionally treated remote ‘savage’ tribes. But using the techniques of ethnography, including interviews, analysis of daily lives, and fieldwork to investigate a modern western culture is not original; what sets Ho's work apart and gives it value is her mastery of the critical thinking skills of problem-solving and creative thinking to reconceptualize the way in which we understand the bankers' mindset. Ho's great achievement is to ask productive questions, most obviously in drawing a distinction between bankers' self-image as capitalist warriors, freeing up value for themselves and shareholders by increasing the liquidity of the assets they invest in, and the social consequences of what they do. As Ho points out, not only is Wall Street institutionally inclined to embrace risk, in order to maximise profit; it is also prone to assume that increased liquidity (most often achieved by breaking up and selling off the parts of a large corporation) is a good in itself, irrespective of the outcomes for the workers actually involved in these disposals. Considering alternative possibilities, and generating fresh solutions, Ho determines that the capitalist principles that underpin Wall Street are myths, not the expression of some natural economic law..Table of ContentsWays in to the Text Who is Karen Ho? What does Liquidated: An Ethnography of Wall Street Say? Why does Liquidated: An Ethnography of Wall Street Matter? Section 1: Influences Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context Module 2: Academic Context Module 3: The Problem Module 4: The Author's Contribution Section 2: Ideas Module 5: Main Ideas Module 6: Secondary Ideas Module 7: Achievement Module 8: Place in the Author's Work Section 3: Impact Module 9: The First Responses Module 10: The Evolving Debate Module 11: Impact and Influence Today Module 12: Where Next? Glossary of Terms People Mentioned in the Text Works Cited

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Book SynopsisOne of the primary qualities of good creative thinking is an intellectual freedom to think outside of the box. Good creative thinkers resist orthodox ideas, take new lines of enquiry, and generally come at problems from the kinds of angles almost no one else could. And, what is more, when the ideas of creative thinkers are convincing, they can reshape an entire topic, and change the orthodoxy for good. Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s 2007 bestseller The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable is precisely such a book: an entertaining, polemical, creative attack on how people in general, and economic experts in particular view the possibility of catastrophic events. Taleb writes with rare creative verve for someone who is also an expert in mathematics, finance, and epistemology (the philosophy of knowledge), and he martials all his skills to turn standard reasoning inside out. His central point is that far from being unimportant, extremely rare events are frequently the most important ones of all: it is highly improbable, but highly consequential occurrences – what he calls Black Swans – that have shaped history most. As a result, Taleb concludes, improbability is not a reason to act as if a possible event does not matter. Rather, it should inspire the opposite reaction.Table of ContentsWays in to the Text Who was Nassim Nicholas Taleb? What does The Black Swan: the Impact of the Highly Improbable Say? Why does The Black Swan: the Impact of the Highly Improbable Matter? Section 1: Influences Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context Module 2: Academic Context Module 3: The Problem Module 4: The Author's Contribution Section 2: Ideas Module 5: Main Ideas Module 6: Secondary Ideas Module 7: Achievement Module 8: Place in the Author's Work Section 3: Impact Module 9: The First Responses Module 10: The Evolving Debate Module 11: Impact and Influence Today Module 12: Where Next? Glossary of Terms People Mentioned in the Text Works Cited

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Book SynopsisIn Blue Ocean Strategy, W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne tackle the central problem facing all businesses: how to perform better than your competitors? Their solution involves taking a creative approach to the normal view of competition.In the normal framework, competition is a zero-sum game: if there are two companies competing for the same market, as one does better, the other has to do worse. The authors’ creative leap is to suggest one can beat the competition by not competing. Companies should avoid confronting competitors in crowded marketplaces, what they call “red oceans,” and instead seek out new markets, or “blue oceans.” Once the blue oceans have been identified, companies can get down to the task of creating unique products which exploit that market.Chan and Mauborgne argue, for example, that a wine company might decide to start appealing to a group previously uninterested in wine. This would be a “blue ocean” market, giving the winemaker a huge advantage, which they could exploit by creating a wine that appealed to the tastes of a beer-drinking demographic. A classic of business writing, Blue Ocean Strategy is creative thinking and problem solving at its best.Table of ContentsWays In to the Text Who are W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne? What does Blue Ocean Strategy Say? Why does Blue Ocean Strategy Matter? Section 1: Influences Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context Module 2: Academic Context Module 3: The Problem Module 4: The Author's Contribution Section 2: Ideas Module 5: Main Ideas Module 6: Secondary Ideas Module 7: Achievement Module 8: Place in the Author's Work Section 3: Impact Module 9: The First Responses Module 10: The Evolving Debate Module 11: Impact and Influence Today Module 12: Where Next? Glossary of Terms People Mentioned in the Text Works Cited

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Book SynopsisRobert Lucas is known among economists as one of the most influential macroeconomists of recent times – a reputation founded in no small part on the critical thinking skills displayed in his seminal 1990 paper ‘Why Doesn’t Capital Flow from Rich to Poor Countries?’ Lucas’s paper tackles a puzzle in economic theory that has since come to be known as the ‘Lucas paradox,’ and it deploys the author’s brilliant problem solving skills to explain why such an apparent paradox in fact makes sense. Classical economic theory makes a simple prediction of how capital flows between countries: it should, it states, flow from rich to poor countries, because of the law of diminishing returns on capital. Since poor countries have so little capital invested in them, the returns on new investment should be proportionally far better than investment in rich countries. This should mean that investors seeking new opportunities will invest in poorer countries, making capital consistently flow from rich nations to poorer ones. But, problematically, this is not in fact the case. Having defined the problem, Lucas did what any good problem solver would: he looked critically at the criteria involved, and offered a series of possible solutions. Indeed, in just six pages, he puts forward four hypotheses to explain the paradox’s existence. The popularity of his paper, and the influence it has had, are also greatly magnified by careful reasoning embodied in Lucas’s marshalling of evidence and his explanations of the judgements he has made.Table of ContentsWays in to the Text Who was Robert E. Lucas Jr.? What does Why Doesn't Capital Flow from Rich to Poor Countries? Say? Why does Why Doesn't Capital Flow from Rich to Poor Countries? Matter? Section 1: Influences Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context Module 2: Academic Context Module 3: The Problem Module 4: The Author's Contribution Section 2: Ideas Module 5: Main Ideas Module 6: Secondary Ideas Module 7: Achievement Module 8: Place in the Author's Work Section 3: Impact Module 9: The First Responses Module 10: The Evolving Debate Module 11: Impact and Influence Today Module 12: Where Next? Glossary of Terms People Mentioned in the Text Works Cited

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Book SynopsisMilton Friedman was arguably the single most influential economist of the 20th-century. His influence, particularly on conservative politics in America and Great Britain, substantially helped – as both supporters and critics agree – to shape the global economy as it is today. Capitalism and Freedom (1962) is a passionate but carefully reasoned summary of Friedman’s philosophy of political and economic freedom, and it has become perhaps his most directly influential work. Friedman’s argument focuses on the place of economic liberalism in society: in his view, free markets and personal economic freedom are absolutely necessary for true political freedom to exist.Freedom, for Friedman, is the ultimate good in a society – the marker and aim of true civilisation. And, crucially, he argues, real freedom is rarely aided by government. For Friedman, indeed, “the great advances of civilization, whether in architecture or painting, in science or literature, in industry or agriculture, have never come from centralized government”. Instead, he argues, they have always been produced by “minority views” flourishing in a social climate permitting variety and diversity.” In successive chapters, Friedman develops a well-structured line of reasoning emerging from this stance – leading him to some surprising conclusions that remain persuasive and influential more than 60 years on.Table of ContentsWays In to the Text Who was Milton Friedman? What does Capitalism and Freedom Say? Why does Capitalism and Freedom Matter? Section 1: Influences Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context Module 2: Academic Context Module 3: The Problem Module 4: The Author's Contribution Section 2: Ideas Module 5: Main Ideas Module 6: Secondary Ideas Module 7: Achievement Module 8: Place in the Author's Work Section 3: Impact Module 9: The First Responses Module 10: The Evolving Debate Module 11: Impact and Influence Today Module 12: Where Next? Glossary of Terms People Mentioned in the Text Works Cited

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Book SynopsisThe modern vision of the world as one dominated by one or more superpowers begs the question of how best to understand the world-system that existed before the rise of the first modern powers. Janet Abu-Lughod's solution to this problem, in this highly influential work, is that Before European Hegemony, a predominantly insular, agrarian world was dominated by groups of mercantile city-states that traded with one another on equal terms across a series of interlocking areas of influence. In this reading of history, China and Japan, the kingdoms of India, Muslim caliphates, the Byzantine Empire and European maritime republics alike enjoyed no absolute dominance over their neighbours and commercial partners – and the egalitarian international trading network that they built endured until European advances in weaponry and ship types introduced radical instability to the system. Abu-Lughod's portrait of a more balanced world is a masterpiece of synthesis driven by one highly creative idea: her world system of interlocking spheres of influence quite literally connected masses of evidence together in new ways. A triumph of fine critical thinking.Table of ContentsWays In to the Text Who was Janet L. Abu-Lughod? What does Before European Hegemony Say? Why does Before European Hegemony Matter? Section 1: Influences Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context Module 2: Academic Context Module 3: The Problem Module 4: The Author's Contribution Section 2: Ideas Module 5: Main Ideas Module 6: Secondary Ideas Module 7: Achievement Module 8: Place in the Author's Work Section 3: Impact Module 9: The First Responses Module 10: The Evolving Debate Module 11: Impact and Influence Today Module 12: Where Next? Glossary of Terms People Mentioned in the Text Works Cited

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Book SynopsisDebt is one of the great subjects of our day, and understanding the way that it not only fuels economic growth, but can also be used as a means of generating profit and exerting control, is central to grasping the way in which our society really works. David Graeber's contribution to this debate is to apply his anthropologists' training to the understanding of a phenomenon often considered purely from an economic point of view. In this respect, the book can be considered a fine example of the critical thinking skill of problem-solving. Graeber's main aim is to undermine the dominant narrative, which sees debt as the natural – and broadly healthy – outcome of the development of a modern economic system. He marshals evidence that supports alternative possibilities, and suggests that the phenomenon of debt emerged not as a result of the introduction of money, but at precisely the same time. This in turn allows Graeber to argue against the prevailing notion that economy and state are fundamentally separate entities. Rather, he says, "the two were born together and have always been intertwined" – with debt being a means of enforcing elite and state power. For Graeber, this evaluation of the evidence points to a strong potential solution: there should be more readiness to write off debt, and more public involvement in the debate over debt and its moral implications.Table of ContentsWays in to the Text Who is David Graeber? What does Debt: The First 5000 Years Say? Why does Debt: The First 5000 Years Matter? Section 1: Influences Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context Module 2: Academic Context Module 3: The Problem Module 4: The Author's Contribution Section 2: Ideas Module 5: Main Ideas Module 6: Secondary Ideas Module 7: Achievement Module 8: Place in the Author's Work Section 3: Impact Module 9: The First Responses Module 10: The Evolving Debate Module 11: Impact and Influence Today Module 12: Where Next? Glossary of Terms People Mentioned in the Text Works Cited

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Book SynopsisIn this bookRobert West explores the science behind motivation, delving into the Machiavellian art of persuasion and examining the roles that incentives, praise, and punishment play in our society.This lively and humorous book reveals simple yet game-changing principles that will transform your understanding of motivation and set you on a practical path to achieving your personal and professional goals."How do effective leaders motivate their teams?""How can parents stop their children throwing tantrums?""How do adverts play on our hopes and fears?""How do I resist that last slice of cheesecake?"Robert West is Professor of Psychology at University College London and an Associate of UCL's Centre for Behaviour Change. He is Editor-in-Chief of the scientific journal Addiction, and he has published more than 800 scholarly works including books on behaviour change and addiction.Jamie West is a writer, performer, and musician. He holds a BA in English from UCL and an MA in Creative Writing from Birkbeck University.

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Book SynopsisHow can I tell what I really want?How can I stop doing things I don't enjoy?How do random rewards control our behaviour?How can I avoid doomscrolling?In this book, Professor Robert West and his son, Jamie, once again delve into the psychology of motivation, this time focussing on our animal brain', the part responsible for habits, instincts and desires.Packed with information, humour and practical tips, React explores the basic building blocks of behaviour and reveals how we can take control of our impulses so they work for, rather than against, us.Robert West is Professor Emeritus of Health Psychology at University College London (UCL) and an Associate of UCL's Centre for Behaviour Change. He is a former Editor-in-Chief of the scientific journal Addiction, and he has published more than 900 scholarly works including books on behaviour change and addiction. Jamie West is a writer, performer and musician. He holds a BA in English from UCL and an MA in Creative Writing from Birkbeck University.

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Book SynopsisThe Power of Whitehall provides rich and informative observations about the nature of the Civil Service, its values and effectiveness, what threatens it and how it should continue to adapt to a changing world. Journalist David Normington and historian Peter Hennessy address themes such as the importance of politicians trusting Civil Servants and the difficulties that arise when they don't; the role of Special Advisers and the extent to which they are a threat to the Minister-Civil Servant relationship; and of the effect of Select Committees and the media. Civil Servants are now exposed to the public in unprecedented ways, with both negative as well as positive consequences. What does it mean that the political neutrality of the Civil Service has been enshrined in law since 2010, approximately 150 years after it was first proposed by Northcott and Trevelyan? The Power of Whitehall is an accessible introduction to the life of the Civil Servant as well as the Civil Service itself.

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Book SynopsisGood governance is one of the UK's fundamental values, and citizens are entitled to expect that public officials, both elected and non-elected, behave according to the highest standards of ethical behaviour. However, such lofty aspirations are not enough to root out corruption. If integrity in public life is to be maintained, the core principles behind it must be constantly sustained and strengthened. This new Haus Curiosities volume, published in collaboration with Westminster Abbey Institute, looks at the place and meaning of integrity in the individual public servant, in public service institutions, and in the wider public they purport to serve. It tries to answer the fundamental questions of what integrity means in public life, what lasting value it has, and why it has such a critical part to play in the constitution of Britain. The book also explores how people in public service institutions can cease to behave with humanity when those institutions deny the individual human spirit. On the other hand, the authors argue for the critical importance of institutions in upholding values when fallible humans forget them, as we have witnessed in the Civil Service's steadfast and stabilising response to the Brexit referendum and its uncertain aftermath. Integrity in Public Life provides a critique of and an essential guide to integrity, leaving the reader with some hope for its continued place in public life.Trade ReviewPraise for Haus Curiosities series: `The thinking person's commuting read.'-Independent

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Book SynopsisTruth in Public Life explores the difficulty in defining truth, its critical importance in civilised society and the challenges and threats to telling the truth in different public service settings. Three leading experts reflect on subjects related to truth in public life. Vernon White, in his essay 'Truth Pursued, or Being Pursued by Truth', shows that absolute truth exists and explains why and how it matters morally. In 'Truth Sustained', Stephen Lamport describes why truth is important to sustaining civilised society and argues that truth is central to other essential qualities, such as objectivity, honesty, openness, leadership, selflessness, integrity and accountability. In her essay 'Truth Told', Claire Foster-Gilbert explores the challenge of truth-telling for public servants: for politicians, who are routinely not believed; for civil servants, whose ministers may only want to hear those facts that support their policy ideas; for journalists, tempted to tell the story that is 'too good to check'; for judges, who may suffer from unconscious bias; for police officers, who must win the trust of the public by believing accusers, without jeopardising justice for the alleged perpetrators. This short book is a potent reminder of how important truth is, even as it is threatened afresh.

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Book SynopsisThis series documents a second strand of Wales'' transport heritage, namely its now lost tramways. This rigorously researched account, photo-illustrated throughout, details the history of Swansea''s tramway and the city at the time when these services were in regular use, guiding you through its story station by station.

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Book SynopsisThe Worst is Yet to Come explores the disturbing possibility that the current crisis of neoliberal capitalism isn't going to spawn an emancipatory renaissance, but a world that is much, much worse. Wealthy CEOs see it. They've been purchasing isolated bunker-retreats in New Zealand for when the shit goes down. Our politicians know it too, and are frantically transforming the liberal state into a militarized machine. Scientists are either uselessly decrying the looming eco-catastrophe or jumping on the opportunity to conduct ever-reckless experiments with the human genome. The animal kingdom is retreating from the scene in terrible silence, preferring the swift demise of the abattoir's bolt-gun than witnessing what is about to happen. Yet some of us are still ignoring the warning signs, choosing instead to remain cheerfully optimistic, believing that society has probably hit rock bottom and the only way is up. This book argues the opposite. What if we haven't hit rock bottom and are on the precipice of something much worse? And what if were too late? But this grim prospect isn't submitted in the name of millennial fatalism or hopeless resignation. On the contrary, if our grandchildren are to survive the implosion of capitalism - for the chances we will are fairly slim - then a realistic picture of the nightmare to come is crucial. Only an unwavering attitude of "revolutionary pessimism" will help us to prepare accordingly. For the apocalypse will almost certainly be disappointing.Trade Review"Concise, astute, unapologetic... the book we need in these trying times." — Into the Void"Really excellent… both terrifying and funny.” — Paul Mason"Fascinating." — Guardian

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Book SynopsisLudwig Von Mises’s 1912 contribution to the theory of monetary policy and the current prevailing consensus in modern economic liberalism, The Theory of Money and Credit, was a milestone achievement. The author’s familiarity with the historical literature on banking and credit allows him to present a coherent theoretical structure that links private exchange between individuals, business and banks to condition the markets affecting money and credit. Through its wider influence on liberal thinkers and politicians, the Theory of Money and Credit has become a classic reference for those seeking to understand the advance of economic liberalism since the 20th century.Table of ContentsWays in to the Text Who was Ludwig von Mises? What does The Theory of Money and Credit Say? Why does The Theory of Money and Credit Matter? Section 1: Influences Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context Module 2: Academic Context Module 3: The Problem Module 4: The Author's Contribution Section 2: Ideas Module 5: Main Ideas Module 6: Secondary Ideas Module 7: Achievement Module 8: Place in the Author's Work Section 3: Impact Module 9: The First Responses Module 10: The Evolving Debate Module 11: Impact and Influence Today Module 12: Where Next? Glossary of Terms People Mentioned in the Text Works Cited

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Book SynopsisSouth Korean economist Ha-Joon Chang used his 2003 work Kicking Away The Ladder to challenge the central orthodoxies of development economics, using his creative thinking skills to shine new light on an old topic. Creative thinkers are often distinguished by their willingness to challenge received ideas, and this is a central aspect of Chang’s work on development. Before Chang, the received wisdom was that developing countries needed the same kinds of economic policies and institutions as developed countries in order to enjoy the same prosperity. But, as Chang pointed out, the historical evidence showed that First World economic success was, in fact, due to exactly the kinds of state intervention that modern development orthodoxy shuns. Western affluence is the product of precisely the kinds of state control – of protectionism and the setting of price tariffs – that developed countries have since denied the developing world in the name of economic freedom and ‘best practice.’ By insisting that Third World nations should adopt these economic policies themselves, argued Chang, the West is actually stifling Third World economic prospects – kicking away the ladder. His carefully reasoned argument for a novel point of view was closely based on the critical thinking skill of producing novel explanations for existing evidence, and led many to question development orthodoxies – sparking a rethink of modern development strategies for less-developed countries.Table of ContentsWays in to the Text Who is Ha-Joon Chang? What does Kicking Away the Ladder Say? Why does Kicking Away the Ladder Matter? Section 1: Influences Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context Module 2: Academic Context Module 3: The Problem Module 4: The Author's Contribution Section 2: Ideas Module 5: Main Ideas Module 6: Secondary Ideas Module 7: Achievement Module 8: Place in the Author's Work Section 3: Impact Module 9: The First Responses Module 10: The Evolving Debate Module 11: Impact and Influence Today Module 12: Where Next? Glossary of Terms People Mentioned in the Text Works Cited

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Book Synopsis'It is rare for a business analysis to read like a thriller – this one does.' – Azeem Azhar, Founder, Exponential View 'Vital to understanding how[TikTok] works and the impact it's having.' – Damian Collins MP, former chairman of the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee 'TikTok Boom is a must read for students, scholars, and policy makers.' – David Craig, Clinical Professor, USC AnnenbergA whole generation is hooked on TikTok. In just a few years, it’s raced ahead of WhatsApp and Instagram to become the biggest app in the world. But how did it burst into life and overtake its rivals? Delving deep into its upstart origins, TikTok Boom charts the astonishingly rapid rise of China’s viral video app. It yields new insights into its culture, addictive algorithm, and influencer ecosystem. And it reveals the influence its owners in Beijing are having on hundreds of millions worldwide through the use of little-known content guidelines. TikTok is the emerging battleground for a geopolitical tussle between East and West for control of social media. TikTok Boom is a rollercoaster business story bristling with ambition and drama. Find out where TikTok came from and where it's going. Find out how TikTok Works and whether it can work for you.Reviews'A careful, detailed teardown of the people, culture and technology behind the world's most dynamic social network. It is rare for a business analysis to read like a thriller – this one does.' – Azeem Azhar, Founder, Exponential View'It's clear that Stokel-Walker's strength is that he's not just TikTok-literate, he's TikTok-fluent. He knows the product, the people, and the entire ecosystem inside and out, and it is this familiarity that makes his telling so compelling, because he knows how to make you feel like you, too, are an insider in this strange new world.' - Rui Ma, founder, Tech Buzz China'Blending journalistic narrative with state-of-the-art academic research, no other author comes close to weaving this epic tale of the rise of China’s first global platform threatening Silicon’s Valley hegemony while operating as inflection point around the rise of one globe two Internet systems. This is a must read for students, scholars, and policy makers.' – David Craig, Clinical Professor, USC Annenberg'This book charts the story of an app on the rise that's changing the world of tech, charting the future of culture, and creating a new world of work: the creator economy... it breaks down some of the biggest questions for the future of work and culture.' - Li Jin, Atelier VenturesExtract: ByteDanceAsk most people what ByteDance is and they’ll likely meet you with a blank stare. Yet it is the owner of TikTok and a host of other world-leading apps. Founded in March 2012, it’s worth about $180 billion – up from its $75 billion in 2018 when the Japanese technology investors SoftBank Group bought into the company. Despite the fact that its apps are used by two billion people worldwide, earning it $34 billion in revenue in 2020, ByteDance deliberately keeps a low profile among the general public in the West. It wants its products to take centre stage. It’s a strategy devised by its low-key, but intensely-driven founder, Yiming Zhang. Whereas his fellow Chinese rival, Musical.ly’s Alex Zhu, is creative and flighty, Zhang is measured and focussed. Compared to his more brash counterparts in China, such as Jack Ma, the former boss of Alibaba Group, who’s known for his exuberance and outgoing personality, he is even a little dull. Considered. He practises ‘delayed gratification.’ He’s rational – though his choice of clothing, T-shirts and jeans, makes him more laid back than the average Chinese executive. Imagine the slightly underwhelming disappointment of Mark Zuckerberg, rather than the zany pinball personality of Elon Musk. Born in 1983 in the city of Longyan in the coastal province of Fujian that’s known for having the highest proportion of emigrants to the Western world in all of China, Zhang is, however, fiercely independent. While many people entering China’s tech sector are comfortable to land a job at one of the pre-existing Chinese tech giants, Zhang ignored that route. He was not after the quick buzz of instant success by piggybacking onto a pre-existing victor: he played the long game. Buy the book to carry on readingTrade Review'It is rare for a business analysis to read like a thriller – this one does.' – Azeem Azhar, Founder, Exponential View 'Vital to understanding how[TikTok] works and the impact it's having.' – Damian Collins MP, former chairman of the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee 'TikTok Boom is a must read for students, scholars, and policy makers.' – David Craig, Clinical Professor, USC Annenberg'It is rare for a business analysis to read like a thriller – this one does.' – Azeem Azhar, Founder, Exponential View 'Vital to understanding how[TikTok] works and the impact it's having.' – Damian Collins MP, former chairman of the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee 'TikTok Boom is a must read for students, scholars, and policy makers.' – David Craig, Clinical Professor, USC AnnenbergTable of ContentsIntroduction. Explanation of TikTok's power to create social media stars and the rise of Chinese tech challenging the dominance of Silicon Valley. Mentions Yazmin How, Andy Warhol, super-viral videos, Curtis Roach, artificial intelligence,GAFA, Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Donald Trump 1. Haywire Servers. The success of TikTok forerunner Musical.ly, lip-synching app, founded by Alex Zhu. Mentions TikTok active users, YouTube growth, Periscope livestreaming, Vine app, Yiming Zhang, Instagram, Facebook 2. The Convention Centre, 2019. TikTok's stellar growth becomes apparent at VidCon in 2019. Mentions VidCon London,Hank Green,John Green author,YouTubers, Zoe Glatt, TikTok, TikTokkers, TikTokers, Lil Nas X Old Town Road, Will Smith, Vicky Banham, Hannah Snow, Laura Edwards 3. The First Global Chinese Platform. TikTok becomes China's first social media Goliath, ending decades when Chinese firms primarily made products for Western consumers. Silicon Valley, Facebook, Twitter, Chinese tech, Made in China, Created in China, Cambridge Analytica scandal, Chinese apps 4. China Versus the World. The Chinese Communist Party and control of TikTok. Mentions China National Propaganda and Ideology Work Conference, Xi Jinping, China Communist Party, Wang Yongzhang, Great Firewall of China, Weibo, LinkedIn 5. Creator Focus: Luca Gallone. Feature on a TikTok creator who performs magic tricks, having been on TV show Britain's Got Talent. Mentions @lucagallone, private magic show, TikTok magician, LGBTQ TikTok, cooking TikTok, witchtok, magic TikTok, TikTok versus YouTube 6. The Super App Store. Introducing ByteDance, the Chinese tech company behind TikTok. Mentions TikTok founding, ByteDance, Chinese tech company, Yiming Zhang, Alex Zhu, SoftBank, Alibaba Group, Jack Ma, Nankai, Steve Jobs, Jack Welch, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Toutiao, Fanfou, 99Fang, Neihan Duanzi 7. The Importance of Memes. How viral images and messages have helped spread social media apps, particularly TikTok. Mentions video sharing platform, Vine video app, Shawn Mendes, Jake Paul, Lele Pons, YouTubers, decline traditional media, Gregor Reynolds, Put Your Finger on the Screen, Disney 8. We Want Our Money. Vine short-form video app loses the support of its creators after failing to pay them enough money - a lesson TikTok learns. Vine’s head of creator development, TikTok, Karyn Spencer, Twitter acquisition Vine, King Bach, Andrew Bachelor, Yiming Zhang, ByteDance apps 9. Acquiring Fame. ByteDance buys innovators such as Jukedeck as it builds its tech platforms. Mentions John Bolton, AI companies, computer-generated music composer, Flipagram, Yiming Zhang, Apple acqui-hire, Google, Facebook, Toutiao 10. Alex Zhu. Zhu's development of the app that blasted TikTok to success: Musical.ly. Yiming Zhang, Toutiao, Lip Sync Battle, Instagram Facebook Messenger, participatory design, WeChat 11. An Easy Birth. ByteDance capitalises on the success of Toutiao and launches a short-form video app, Douyin. Kelly Zhang, Alex Zhu, Musical.ly, Kuaishou, algorithmic power, Sun Tzu Art of War, ByteDance, AI Lab 12. Launch of TikTok. ByteDance launches Douyin's cousin in Western markets. Thailand, TikTok Taiwan, TikTok Indonesia, Vietnam, Google Play Store, Android phone app, Zoe Glatt, livestreaming, zheng nengliang, meibai 13. Paying for Popularity. ByteDance realises how to launch TikTok into new markets by advertising and signing up Instagram influencers. TikTok India, digital advertising, television advertising, Yiming Zhang, clicks per mille, Instagram stars, Geetha Sridhar, Hydroman, TikTok logo watermark 14. Takeover of Musical.Ly. ByteDance buys Musical.ly to expand TikTok in western markets. Mentions Alex Zhu, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, TikTok’s vibrating musical note, Douyin, ByteDance global video domination 15. Creator Focus: Anna. Feature on TikTok creator Anna Bogomolova. Mentions TikToker, TikTokker, @Anna, Thomas ‘Tomska’ Ridgewell, YouTuber, Muffin Time video, PewDiePie, YouTube, Instagram, Japan kawaii culture, VidCon London 2019, lip-syncing videos 16. The Secrets of Success. An in-depth analysis of how TikTok users interface with the app. Mentions Eternal Sword, Krystle Byrne, Sarvenaz Myslicki, TikTok algorithm, Charli D’Amelio, Mariah Amato, becoming TikTok star 17. How We Use TikTok. Capturing the full picture on an individual's use of TikTok, showing the addictiveness of its algorithm. Mentions Canada, Eternal Sword M, Krystle Byrne, Zahraa Berro, Charli D'Amelio, Muslim TikTok, Hollie Geraghty 18. Controlling the Ecosystem. How TikTok's owners ByteDance, reward creators on the platform, while retaining control of the app, through such programmes as the TikTok Creator Marketplace. Mentions TikTok business history, multi-channel networks, MCN stars, influencers, ByteDance, YouTube ecosystem 19. Managing the Talent. Exploring the companies and managers who guide the careers of TikTokers. Mentions Noah Beck, TalentX Entertainment, Josh Richards, Instagram, Sway LA, Bryce Hall, TikToker bad boy, TikTok stars, TikTok influencer agency, TikTok management company, TikTok followings 20. Supporting the Community. How TikTok learnt the mistakes of the Vine app and rewards its popular creators so that they remain on the platform, through programmes such as the TikTok Creator Fund. Mentions TikTok money, TikTok creator riches, Curtis Newbill, Douyin, Alex Zhu, D’Amelio sisters 21. Extra Money for Stars. How TikTok hires key staff and recruits influencers and creators from other social media platforms, to ensure its exponential growth continues. Mentions Pentos, TikTok analytics tool, Fabian Ouwehand, A.me, TikTok influencers, #TikTokPartner 22. Creator Focus: Cumbermatch. How lookalike celebrities such as Peter Clarke, who resembles the actor Benedict Cumberbatch, can build millions of followers on Twitter. Other examples are creators who look like Rihanna and Robert Downey. Mentions Jr. Paige Niemann, celebrity lookalikes, Ariana Grande 23. Yiming Zhang’s Creation. Inside the headquarters in Beijing of ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, exploring its work ethic and motivation. Chinese capital, Chinese tech, TikTok founder ByteDance, Yiming Zhang, ByteDance salary, Google, Facebook, Silicon Valley rival, ByteStyle principles, Huawei 24. Growing Pains. Further exploration of TikTok's owner ByteDance, including its official HQ in the Cayman Islands and its strategy for expanding its apps into Western countries. Yiming Zhang, ByteDance, Chinese staff ByteDance, ByteDance Ltd, Cayman Islands company, TikTok tax structure, ByteDance HK 25. Flexing Celebrity with Arnie. How TikTok expands its reach through the inclusion on the platform of celebrities such as Hollywood actor, Californian politician and former bodybuilding champion Arnold Schwarzenegger. Mentions TikTok Los Angeles, Raining Men, Cardi B, Douyin, recruiting celebrities 26. Censorship: An East-West Divide. How ByteDance moderates content on TikTok, including the differences in censorship between Chinese and Western versions of the app and discussing the treatment of sensitive issues such as Tibet, Taiwan, Uyghur Muslims, 2014 Ukrainian Revolution and Osama Bin Ladin 27. Creator Focus: Sparks and Tarts. The sudden emergence of a TikTok star, in this instance an unlikely one in the form of a labourer in London, Danny Harris, the inspiration behind the dancing builders @sparksandtarts. Mentions normal people stars TikTok, TikTok dance troupes, Covent Garden performers 28. Changing What Music Means. TikTok's impact on popular music, revitalising the genre after the collapse in sales of CDs and vinyl and breaking new acts. Interviews with senior TikTok executives. Mentions TikTok pop music, Spotify, YouTube, TikTok influence popular culture, Paul Hourican, Musical.ly 29. Doja Cat’s Story. A feature on the success of musician Doja Cat, following a breakout video on TikTok, and Lil Nas X's Old Town Road. Mentions Zandile Dlamini, Doja Cat, Doja Cat Say So, Charli D’Amelio, TikTok’s biggest star, Nicki Minaj, Jacob Pace, Musical.ly, JP Saxe, Old Town Road, TikTok viral 30. TikTok Mash-Up. How TikTok is changing the very nature of art forms, such as video and popular music. Mentions Jacob Feldman, Vine, Plot Twist, Soulja Boy’s 2007 cult classic song Crank That, Musical.ly, Berkeley School of Music Boston, Lil Nas X Old Town Road 31. One Hit Wonders. Musicians whose old hits have been revived by TikTok, whose video makers resurface forgotten tracks, cartoons and TV shows. Mentions Arista, Matthew Wilder, Break My Stride, Mariah Carey, Rolf Zuckowski, Sony, In der Weihnachtsbäckerei 32. The Convention Centre, 2020. How TikTok's profile has changed in a short time, taking centre stage in the short-form video world. Mentions Neffati Brothers, VidCon, Jamel Neffati, TikTok, YouTuber Simon Clark, Charlie Chaplin, JOBY GuerillaPod, VidCon London 2020, Shoreditch TikTok party 33. Creator Focus: Grandad Joe. TikTok can make stars of ordinary people, such as Grandad Joe, an 88-year-old grandfather from the English Midlands, who is followed by four million people. Mentions ordinary people stars TikTok, Joe Allington, @grandadjoe1933, millions TikTok followers, karaoke TikTok 34. Growing Power. How TikTok expanded across the world, capitalising on the growth of smartphone use and moving in new directions with the rise in online political activism such as #blacklivesmatter. Mentions TikTok Android smartphones, App Annie, mobile data TikTok, Douyin, TikTok scroll, Musical.ly 35. India Boom and Bust. The rapid advertising-driven rise and political fall of TikTok in India, following a ruling by the Indian High Court. Indian users move on to substitute video apps such as Rizzle. Mentions India TikTok, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai,Mumbai, Jio, Israil Ansari, WhatsApp, TikTok Taj 36. End of Silicon Valley Dominance. Simon Valley's control of social media slips as TikTok and China more generally start to exert their tech skills and ambition. Mentions Silicon Valley GAFA, TikTok HQ ShuangYuShu, Tim Cook, Taylor Lorenz, ByteDance, Netflix, Amazon, TenCent, WeChat, Yiming Zhang 37. Opposition Grows in the United States. Antipathy towards China's control of tech grows in the US where politicians start to act against TikTok's growth, bolstered by support from US President Donald Trump. Mentions Yiming Zhang, Alex Zhu, Xi Jinping, Washington, Beijing, Belt and Road Initiative 38. Donald Trump Acts. US President Donald Trump tries to ban TikTok, claiming the Chinese app is a security threat to Americans. Mentions Trump White House, US ban TikTok, Wilbur Ross, Patrick Ryan, Lark TikTok messaging system, Kevin Mayer, Yiming Zhang, Vanessa Pappas 39. Digging into the Data. Analysing whether TikTok represents a security threat to Western users. Mentions Chinese state, Western apps, Michael Gove, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, Huawei, Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, CFIUS, 5G network, ByteDance, Uyghur Muslims, Ren Zhengfei 40. Creator Focus: Mackenzie Turner. Feature on TikTok creator Mackenzie Turner, a Canadian comedian. Mentions YouTuber, Vancouver, Sham Faek, Kobe Zhou, Lael Hansen, @mackenzieturner0, comedy skits TikTok, Simon Fraser University, YouTube channel, finding fame on TikTok 41. Competition. Exploring how rival apps will threaten the future of TikTok, including Zynn and Kwai, and video tools such as Collab developed by Facebook and other major Silicon Valley rivals to TikTok. Mentions Facebook Lasso, Lasso app, Facebook Collab, Dom Hofman, Vine, Kuaishou, Owlii, Zynn, Baidu 42. Zhang Steps Back, ByteDance Races Forward. Amid pressure from the Chinese Communist Party, ByteDance's founder Yiming Zhang moves from public view, while TikTok and other apps continue to surge in popularity worldwide. Mentions Yiming Zhang, TikTok founder, ByteDance, TikTok algorithm 43. The Battle for Supremacy. Discussing who will win the race for tech supremacy, Silicon Valley in the US through tech giants such as Facebook, Google, and Amazon, or companies from Communist China such as ByteDance, Kuaishou and Tencent. Mentions ByteDance, TikTok supremacy, Google, Yiming Zhang Conclusion. Looking at have we have learnt about TikTok, its parent company ByteDance and the geopolitical tech battle between China and US. Mentions Chinese state control, TikTok growth, western social media, Xi Jinping, Yiming Zhang, Jack Welch, Silicon Valley billionaires, Elaine Jing Zhao Acknowledgements. Author Chris Stokel-Walker thanks TikTok's executives, including its PR team, for giving access to key members of staff, and to the dozens of current and former members of staff who spoke about TikTok and ByteDance anonymously Notes. Extensive references covering the key facts about TikTok, ByteDance, Douyin and other aspects of the social media battle between China and US companies

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Rio de Janeiro 6. Nairobi 7. Paris 8. Milan Reflections of our journey Acknowledgements About the authors

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Book SynopsisIn a world where an increasing number of people work remotely, Invisible Work is a new skillset and framework to ensure personal and business success - from the author of The Creative Economy. Just as power has moved from boardrooms into the domain of dynamic individuals, Invisible Work maps the evolution of this new way of being and succeeding. It is a mindset of deeply focused, value-added thinking and sharing. It is a process of creativity that combines emotional intelligence and collaboration. It is the key to the success of a growing army of self-employed workers. This is an emerging field of work in which new business domains and creative endeavours are based on personal interests and digital connections. Howkins lays out a visionary framework for working practice and success. He focuses on the ways in which we think most innovatively, how we best share those private ideas, and how we make unseen connections and remain authentic while staking out our domain in a virtual world.Trade Review'This wise and inspiring book shows us the true meaning of work in the 21st century ... Essential reading for anyone in pursuit of a more productive and purposeful life.' - Paul Owens, Founder & Chairman of BOP Consulting and Director of the World Cities Cultural ForumTable of ContentsReal Work: what exactly are we doing, and why? New Work: six reasons why work is disappearing Invisible Work: how to recognise it Thinkability: how to think it and do it Liveability: the power to be single-minded in a group Go Visible: turning thoughts into actions The Incorporated Self: how law and technology hide work Third Spaces: mixing places Mindful Machines: how we and AI can co-work invisibly Ripples: changing the future of work

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Book SynopsisSome leaders just have `it'. They walk into a room and you know they are in charge. But how? What sort of person is so inspirational that even when the chips are down they make their team feel like the strongest warriors, ready and willing to march over the hill into battle? Drew Povey is one of the UK's most influential leadership authorities. Over decades working with leaders in education, the police, the National Health service, elite-level sport and international businesses, he has developed a unique multi-sector viewpoint - and a universal model for becoming an authoritative, dynamic and brave leader.Every successful CEO, world-beating sports captain and inspirational teacher exhibits the same characteristics: the 7Cs that together create the Leadership `it' Factor - curiosity, change-ability, charisma, connection, confidence, collaboration and courage. Taking each attribute in turn, Drew explains its necessity and guides the reader with steps and exercises to master it.With countless concise case studies from the worlds of business, education and global politics - some famous; some not so famous; many notorious - Drew draws lessons, guides development and paves the path to great leadership.

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Book SynopsisFirst published as ‘Markets for Managers’, this book has proved to be a popular way for non-economists to understand and apply the key tools of economics in a business setting. Professor Anthony J. Evans, one of Europe’s leading Managerial Economics instructors, brings the content that works in his classrooms to an even wider audience. Written in an engaging and informal way, whether you are a busy executive or simply an interested amateur this is your go-to guide. In this revised and updated edition, you will be led through the building blocks of economic theory and how they relate to the real world. You will see how thinking like an economist can improve your decision making, and how markets can be used to generate value within organizations and in society at large. The book incorporates the main principles of both micro and macroeconomics and takes a broad and diverse approach. In it you will encounter the most interesting economists and understand their contributions in a historical context. The practical format is perfect for professionals and students who want to gain an applied perspective on today’s most pressing issues.Trade Review“This book is an engaging, clear, comprehensive course in economics that will give managers the key insights used every day by professional economists. For the average layperson interested in economics, this book is important. For the manager who wants their firm to thrive in an uncertain world, this book is essential. This is the best book on managerial economics I have ever read.” SAM BOWMAN, Director of Competition Policy, International Centre for Law and Economics; “The perfect way for busy people to understand how markets function, how they can be used to help managerial decision making, and how economic policy impacts corporate performance. Evans provides an excellent overview of the key debates in economic theory and leaves the reader enlightened, rather than frustrated. Highly recommended.” ALLISTER HEATH, Editor, The Sunday Telegraph

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Book SynopsisHave you ever thought about a career in HR? Or perhaps you're already working in HR and you're looking to progress? No matter what your starting point, this book provides advice and guidance to help you achieve your goals. The HR profession is dynamic and there have never been more opportunities to develop in the field. Using a wide range of examples, skills-based exercises, quizzes and reflective activities, How to Get Ahead in HR prepares you for your ideal role. Each of its chapters provides a variety of case study examples and a summary of actions to help you get started. The book introduces the field's main professional bodies and explains the available options for gaining professional qualifications. The chapter on undertaking a job search contains a variety of CV examples together with some top tips from recruiters specializing in HR. After working through the book, readers will have the tools they need to prepare job applications and perform effectively at interviews, they will know how to get qualified and they will understand how to stay updated in order to take advantage of future job opportunities.Trade Review"This book will be of interest and use to anyone looking to start or develop a career in human resource management. It is full of great advice, with examples, background information and practical tools to make use of. Highly recommended."- Stephen Taylor, Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management at the University of Exeter Business School; "This is a must read for anyone considering HR as a career path. I've read many books on HR and it can be difficult to know how to enter the profession. With Kay's book you have a clear direction to follow, and an overview of which role in HR could be most suitable for you. I talk to my career coaching clients about the benefits of creating a career path for themselves and this book will be a useful tool to help them define where they are now and the strategy to take to get them where they want to be in HR. HR is having to change and adapt at an alarming rate at present and this book is a fantastic aid to help you on the HR rollercoaster!."- Kate Nudds, L&D Career Coach

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Book SynopsisThis book reflects the author’s fifty years’ experience in international construction projects and the management and resolution of disputes. During those fifty years, Wayne Clark’s aim has always been to guide parties towards sensible and clear communication, nurturing relationships and seeking early solutions to their differences. His primary goal is to help parties avoid unnecessary conflict – a theme that is clearly evident throughout this book. While two chapters are devoted to preparing construction claims to persuade a tribunal – and in so doing persuade the other side to reach an amicable settlement – the book covers a much wider scope: from the building owner’s dream through to the contractor handing over the completed project, wise contract administration, settlement negotiations, the third-party resolution process and, finally, arbitration. During each of these stages, the theme is for the parties to continually seek ways to resolve their differences. The book also introduces the idea of the ‘shadow arbitrator’, who, if commissioned early in the dispute process, can guide parties and legal counsel to prepare claims and arbitral pleadings that will persuade a tribunal – and encourage the parties to find sensible solutions.Trade Review‘This very important and timely book discusses all the stages of a construction project, with a continual focus on ways for parties to resolve their differences. Wayne Clark has written a must-read guide for the experienced as well as for novices in sophisticated and effective construction dispute management. Read this book and learn from one of the best.’ — Victor P. Leginsky, Chartered Arbitrator and Certified Mediator, Arbitralis ADR; ‘At last, a straightforward guide to construction disputes. This book does not try to explain contract law, but instead refreshingly offers practical insight into the world of construction claims, their management and resolution. Examples, war stories and route maps leading to solutions are provided. Wayne’s book should be a valuable addition to anyone’s library.’ — Nicholas Gould, Partner, Fenwick Elliott LLP; ‘Newly qualified project managers and engineers, as well as experienced construction lawyers and claims consultants, will benefit hugely from reading this book. Wayne Clark clearly demonstrates the benefits of seeking sensible, win–win solutions rather than turning to confrontation.’ — Dr Mohammed Abdulla Al-Kuwari, Former Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Qatar Society of Engineers

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Book SynopsisThis book describes the astonishing achievements of John Angus Mackay – a man whose intelligence, humanity, political nous, people skills, wit, steely resolve and courage, were such that, what lesser beings regarded as impossible, he made possible. Through his efforts in concert with a small group of others, a thousand year process of ‘ethnic cleansing’ of the Gaelic language and culture was challenged and new means created to rebuild that which the powers-that-be had long sought to destroy. These efforts were so successful that now, the Scottish Gaelic language and culture has turned the corner and the number of young Gaelic speakers is increasing. How this was achieved, against a sustained barrage of negativity, is described, but perhaps his most obvious achievement is his long, dogged and forensically focused campaign, against huge establishment resistance, to win a Gaelic television channel. That channel now provides a fascinating range of programming at times attracting viewership figures well in excess of the total number of Gaelic speakers in Scotland. But that is only part of the story. John Angus was also a gifted teacher, pivotal in developing community co-operatives in his native Lewis, in paving the way for the creation of the Crofters’ Union and leading the development of the Gaelic Comunn na Gàidhlig, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, An Lanntair multi-arts venue, the University of the Highlands and Islands, and as its chairman, in turning round NHS Western Isles from crisis into a model small health board.

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Book SynopsisFrom our earliest wanderings to the rise of the digital nomad, here is the story of human migration. For hundreds of thousands of years, the ability of Homo sapiens to travel across vast distances and adapt to new environments has been key to our survival as a species. Yet this deep migratory impulse is being tested as never before. By building ever stronger walls and raising barriers to progress, governments are harming the lives of migrants and threatening the future well-being of our societies. In The Shortest History of Migration, a visionary thinker tells a story of the movement of peoples that spans every age and continent and goes to the heart of what makes us human. Drawn from ancient records and the latest genetic research, it recounts strange, terrible and uplifting tales of migrants past and present, examining the legacies of empire, slavery and war. Finally, Goldin turns his attention to today's world, bringing together the evidence of history with the most recent data to suggest how we might create a more humane future one that allows us to reap the tremendous benefits that migration can offer.

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Book SynopsisAfrobeats is a fast-growing genre, one that has carved out a distinct and powerful Black identity rooted within the African continent.The first book of its kind, A Quick Ting On: Afrobeats chronicles the social and cultural development of the eponymous music genre, tracing its rich history from the African continent all the way to the musical centre of the Western world.This exciting new book takes a unique look at the music of the African diaspora and their children, delving into how Afrobeats and its sub-genres have provided new articulations of Black identity and pride. It remembers the Afrobeats pioneers and memorable cultural moments, as well as investigating the impact of African migration, travel and modernisation on the genre.A Quick Ting On: Afrobeats provides an insightful look at how Afrobeats became the explosive music genre it is today.Table of Contents 1: My Personal Relationships with Afrobeats 2: Fela and Afrobeat–The Man And The Music 3: Hiplife–Fusion and Cutlure 4: Wxmen in Afrobeats 5: The Skanking Era–UK Funky House 6: Is It Really Everyday Dance? 7: The Sonic Creators: Music Producers 8: Afrobeats (Yes, With An S) 9: Diasporic sounds, Afro-suffixes and everything in between 10: Homecoming And The Future

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Book SynopsisDay-to-day struggles, triumphant success stories, and unique circumstances. A Quick Ting On: Black British Businesses takes you on an informative journey through the history (and future) of Black British entrepreneurship.With the powerful rise of Black British culture, Black British entrepreneurship has rapidly become a point of great conversation. This book looks back on significant moments in Black British entrepreneurship, exploring the struggles, success and unique circumstances that face Black British businesses.Featuring brilliant interviews and first-hand accounts from some of your favourite Black British entrepreneurs - from Sharmadean Reid MBE and Ozwald Boateng OBE, to the late great Jamal Edwards MBE, and so many more - Black British Businesses offers an important insight into how one of Britain's most influential communities continues to create space in the world of business.

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