Read to me riddles, read to me rhymes,

Read to me stories of magical times
Read to me tales of castles and kings
Read to me stories of fabulous things
Tell me of pirates, knights and counts
Teach me of gory modern day touts.

Tell me of travel, and life’s little twirl.

Open my eyes to a whole new world.

BUSINESS BEST SELLERS

Blink, Malcolm Gladwell

Good to Great, Jim Collins

The Shock Doctrine, Naomi Klein

The Wealthy Barber, David Chilton

Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki 

The 4-hour Work Week, Timothy Ferris

Now, Discover Your Strengths, Tom Rath 

Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell

Rules of Work: A Definitive Code for Personal Success, Richard Templar

The Wall Street Journal Complete Money and Investing Guide Book Dave Kansas

25 Sales Habits of Highly Effective Sales People Stephan Schiffman

Cracking the Corporate Code

Obama: Promise to Power

Say it right the First Time

Crucial Conversations

Breaking Through

Basic Black

Influencer

BLINK, Malcolm Gladwell

Blink is about the first two seconds of looking–the decisive glance that knows in an instant. Gladwell campaigns for snap judgments, persuading readers to rely on the “adaptive unconscious” – -a 24/7 mental valet — that provides us with instant and sophisticated information to warn of danger, read a stranger, or react to a new idea. Nevertheless he includes includes caveats about leaping to conclusions: marketers can manipulate our first impressions, high arousal moments make us “mind blind,” and shows focusing on the wrong cue will make us for a handsome but hapless president.

GOOD TO GREAT, Jim Collins 

A corporate culture that rigorously found and promoted disciplined people to think and act in a disciplined manner. This was the common characteristic that distinguished good from great. Based on rigorous research to determine what makes a company go from good to great, this book shows the transition doesn’t require a high-profile CEO, the latest technology, innovative change management, or even a fine-tuned business strategy.  Collins and his team narrow a list of 1,435 companies to 11, looking for those that made substantial improvements in performance over time.

THE SHOCK DOCTRINE, Naomi Klein

Klein’s coherent, comprehensively researched and footnoted assertions attempt to make a  credible case that savvy politicians and industry leaders nefariously implement policies that would never pass during less muddled times. She demonstrates this reprehensible game of bait-and-switch isn’t just some relic from the bad old days. It’s alive and well in contemporary society. The result is a powerful populist indictment of economic orthodoxy that has received mixed reviews.

THE WEALTHY BARBER, David Chilton 

An excellent beginners guide to financial planning, the book revolves around 3 characters. Dave, a teacher, Cathy, his self-employed, wealthy sister , a landscape business owner), and their friend Tom, a plant worker.  The 3 have monthly meetings with Roy, the town barber. As they get their hair cut,  Roy teaches them a tidbit on financial planning. The topics covered include The Ten Percent Solution (fun money for retirement), Wills and Life Insurance, Planning for Retirement, Real Estate Investment, Saving, and Taxes. 

THE 4-HOUR WORK WEEK, Timothy Ferriss 

The book is loaded with fascinating  business and lifestyle information from the author’s personal experience and his interactions with other “New Rich.” 

NOW, DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS, Tom Rath 

The author proposes a unique approach to managing and motivating people: focusing on enhancing people’s strengths rather than eliminating their weaknesses. An online questionnaire developed by the Gallup Organization instantly enables reader to discover their top-five inborn talents. 

OUTLIERS: THE STORY OF SUCCESS, Malcolm Gladwell

In this book Gladwell poses a provocative question: why do some people succeed, living remarkably productive and impactful lives, while so many more never reach their potential? He challenges the cherished belief of the “self-made man,” making the democratic assertion that superstars don’t arise out of nowhere, propelled by genius and talent. He shows they are invariably the beneficiaries of hidden advantages, extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn, work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot. He examining the lives of outliers like Mozart and Bill Gates, building a convincing case that successful people rise on a tide of advantages, “some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky.”

RULES OF WORK, Richard Templar

Deemed a definitive code for personal success, this book discusses how to get things done and get ahead without compromising your principles; project the air of confidence and energy that wins respect; carve out a powerful niche for yourself; handle conflict without alienating the warriors; read your corporate culture; and when to speak and when to remain silent; when to stay late and when to leave early; and how to capitalize on the key moments that can supercharge your career.

FAVORITE PICKS FOR 2008

The Toyota Way

Audacity of Hope

The Tipping Point

The Snowball

Infidel

CYBER GUIDES

2009 Internet Directory: Web 2.0 Edition (Compiles, organizes and describes an abundance of resourceful websites)

Grown Up Digital

Groundswell

RAVES & FAVES FOR MY AFRO SOUL

For hundreds of years African writers have written of their lives, experiences, culture, and history. They have written in diverse forms, styles and  in many languages; This sections is a celebration of  that extraordinary Afro originality, and flair, a response to the sentiments of my African soul.

Black Firsts Jessie Carney Smith

Beautiful Black Hair Shamboosie

The Good Stuff Michelle Stimpson

Your Girlfriends Only Know So Much: Relationship Advice from Man’s Perspective Finesse Mitchell

The Get ‘Em Girl’s Guide to the Power of Cuisine: the hip hardworking woman’s kitchen guide  Davis

In Search of Our Roots: How 19 extraordinary African Americans reclaimed their past Henry Louis Gates

My Best Friend & My Man Cydney Rax

Dear G Spot Zane

Magnolia without Moonlight

Stand and Deliver Yvonne Bynoe

From Rage to Reason: Fredrick Douglas

Whose Gonna Take the Weight  Powell

Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers go to War  Jimmie Briggs