During times of great change, some people turn to fiction for escape, while others may prefer how-to or self-help books for direction. The Economist recently ran a story entitled, “Beach reads for business folk.” For a little fun, let’s take some well-known titles and give them a twist for today’s challenges.
Instead of The 4-Hour Work Week, by Timothy Ferriss, a book that encourages outsourcing certain tasks and suggests that entrepreneurs move away from the 9-to-5 model, it could be “The 4-Hour Lunch Day.” That would give us time to prepare a proper meal, eat slowly in a relaxed meditative way, allow time for cleanup and a restorative nap. Very continental.
Or, instead of reading, Good to Great, Why Some Companies Make the Leap…And Others Don’t, by Jim Collins, look for “Good to Just a Little Bit Better” to ease those perfectionist worries in tumultuous times.
It is easy to imagine, going from The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance—What Women Should Know by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman, to these days what feels like “The Uncertainty Principle.” One step forward, two steps back. The work continues.
How about Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die to “Made to Slip: No Reasons.”
And this one, from Outliers: The Story of Success, by Malcom Gladwell, to “Insiders: The Cautionary Tale of Failure and Lies.” Gaslighting seems to be the trend of the day and where it will ultimately lead is a tale that deserves exploration.
Much is being said about job switching, inflation and the business climate as a whole. With all the supply chain problems, instead of Smarter Faster Better look for “Silly Slower Shoddy.”
This is leaving some people to feel that instead of Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, look for “Confusion: Let Your Business Slip Slide Away.”
However, as an eternal optimist, I want to end with one title I have no alternative for, The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life, by Shawn Achor. As the book says, “Thanks to cutting edge science, we now know that happiness is the precursor to success, not merely the result.” Over the last several years, it appears that many among us are changing jobs or careers to find that happiness sweet spot.
What titles and alternatives would you like to see?