“Business book reviews - Dallas Morning News” plus 1 more

Business book reviews - Dallas Morning News

Posted: 23 Nov 2009 05:29 AM PST

You Are What

You Choose

Scott De Marchi and James Hamilton (Portfolio, $23.95)

Backed by results of 30,000-plus tests, the authors break new ground in showing why six traits (time, risk, altruism, information, me too and stickiness) affect the way we make decisions.

Time is about choosing today vs. the future. Risk measures how you evaluate upside and downside. Altruism focuses on self and others.

Information speaks to gathering and using information in decision-making. The authors point out that some people believe in gut instinct. Others believe information holds the key to informed decisions.

Me too indicates the degree to which you are influenced by the opinions of others. It indicates how broad your network is (social and professional) and how much that network shapes your thinking. Stickiness deals with loyalty to the way past decisions were made.

The authors' examples explain why some people make better choices than others, learn from experience and act more like investors when assessing costs and benefits.

Derailed

Tim Irwin (Thomas Nelson, $24)

When an executive begins making questionable decisions, everyone wonders why. It's not that derailed executives suddenly turned dumb. Or is it?

Author Tim Irwin profiled the derailment of six "leaders."

No. 1 on the list is Robert Nardelli, who considered himself the likely successor to Jack Welch at GE. He landed at Home Depot instead.

Nardelli introduced by-the-numbers command-and-control processes at the chain. He wouldn't tolerate dissent. During his tenure, 98 percent of the executives were dismissed.

Subsequently ousted, he landed the top job at Chrysler, which he "led" into bankruptcy.

The other five profiles offer subtle twists on the same story.

Jim Pawlak reviews business books for The Dallas Morning News.

bizbooks@hotmail.com

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Table of Contents - News & Review

Posted: 26 Nov 2009 12:25 AM PST

GREEN GUIDE

Sustainability Green from greenCleantech offers investment opportunity for savvy entrepreneurs.

Homegrown Feast not famineLocal farmers feed the homeless, and Julie Cross gives up her sweet-potato puff recipe.

An Inconvenient Ruth Thin iceAuntie Ruth recalls her romp with the high-school hockey team.

Plug'd In Climate solutions for the rest of usIf you can't make it to Copenhagen for a discussion on climate change, how about McKinley Park?

LOCAL STORIES

Feature Story Go. Give. Think. Do.Twenty-six inspired, nonconformist, most-excellent ways to celebrate this holiday season Sacramento style.

News In from the coldWinter is coming, and there aren't enough beds for the homeless.

News Do the mathA new charter school pushes "hard sciences" thanks to its uncommon principal.

ARTS&CULTURE

Arts & Culture A second shot at fameDarondo went from '70s R&B phenom to recluse to globetrekker to pimp to janitor to physical therapist to being Elk Grove's very own Godfather of Soul.

Stage All kinds of holiday funHave we got holiday shows for you! No, seriously, here's a list.

Scene & Heard Gorging, stuffing and choking all the way to Turkey DayDocumenting Thanksgiving Frontload 2009.

Stage Reviews Entertaining Mr. SloaneSN&R reviews a new production at the B Street Theatre.

Stage Reviews Fully CommittedSN&R reviews a new production at the Sacramento Theatre Company.

Stage Reviews The Spoon River AnthologySN&R reviews a new production at the Actor's Theatre.

Poet's Corner How to Build an OwlA poem by Kathleen Lynch of Sacramento.

Night & Day Pick Kill 'em already, no?Please send my Black Album cassette to SN&R HQ, thanks.

Night & Day Pick Go climb a mountainWork off that Thanksgiving gravy with a hike in the Sutter Buttes.

Stage Pick of the Week Holiday demolition derbyMixing slamming doors and Santa: It's a holiday farce.

Book Reviews Potty talkWhat did you write on the bathroom wall?

Book Reviews Not-so-lean cuisineThe New Yorker: great food writing, but not what you'd call "low fat."

Book Reviews Sex by the shoreErotic City looks at the history of sexual freedom and liberation in our neighbor to the west.

Ogg's World Ogg's worldWelcome to the bizzare world of Doug Ogg.

Curtain Call Triple the funOne night, three Sugar Plum fairies.

DINING

Eating What a conceptThe only thing similar to Morton's is the pommes frites. And maybe that they both serve steak.

Smorgasbord Straight from the barrelDrink wine from the barrel and bottle your own creative blend.

Corner Table Oil me upIt's time for an olive-oil change.

Food Stuff Duck-off reducksDuck innards never tasted this good.

MUSIC

Music Feature Know BuenoThe local emcee raps a dream and lives a rap vision.

Sound Advice Sexy can I pour some sugar on my love for Ray J?Azukar Lounge, Jae Synth, Ray J, Kim Kardashian, Cocktail, Tila Tequila, Zokku, Al, "Sexy Can I," Ron Artest, Ray Liotta, Goodfellas, women who tear clothes off of pop stars.

Music Pick of the Week Take a bow, Pow!Ira Skinner's Monday nights at The Press Club end.

Music Pick of the Week Fri, Nov 27, Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite BoysPut on your haunted heels and make out in a parked car?

Music Pick of the Week Sat, Nov 28, Death Valley HighNew album. New band. Similar sound.

Music Pick of the Week Sat, Nov 28, Be Brave Bold RobotGet some Depends and check out this show.

Music Pick of the Week Sat, Nov 28, Poisin'dEvery rose has its thorn, every band has its cover.

FILM

Film Reviews The RoadCormac McCarthy's Pulitzer-winning novel comes to the big screen.

Cinema scoped Shopping for cinéastesDaniel Barnes recommends what to buy the film geek in your life.

Short Reviews The Blind SideFrank Capra for football.

Short Reviews Fantastic Mr. FoxWes Anderson goes from making cartoonish films to cartoon stop-motion films.

Short Reviews The MessengerFrom the "Guys Whose Job You Wouldn't Want" files.

Short Reviews Old DogsThe writers and directors forget to entertain us.

In The Mix - DVD/Video The Limits of ControlLost Highway was a mega-dud?

In The Mix - DVD/Video The Maiden HeistFrom the director of Garfield.

In The Mix - DVD/Video UpA triumph of the imagination.

OPINIONS

Race to the Bottom No, thank you!The writer scratches his head, cracks his knuckles and gives credit where credit is due.

Bites Developers: Take back City Hall!Sacramento businessmen contemplate a coup at City Hall.

Popsmart Black outDon't relegate common decency to the fine print.

Ask Joey Adverse reaction to commitmentWarning: Potential mate may experience insecure feelings, problems making decisions and difficulty sustaining intimacy.

Letters Letters for November 26, 2009Love, hate, indifferencereaders express their opinions, sometimes about each other.

Editorial Give. Thanks.Time to get your karma in check for the holidays.

15 Minutes No fencesNeighbors Without Borders moves Oak Park into today.

Editorial Cartoon Editorial cartoonThis week's cartoon from the mind of John Kloss.

Essay Go to Wal-Mart? Nevermore.A holiday retelling of Edgar Allen Poe's classic poem.

Greenlight No conflictThe city lends SN&R a financial hand, but that won't change the way we cover the city.

Ask a Mexican Magna cartesThe Mexican takes it easy this week with some long letters.

Cut&Paste Gathered from the SN&R blogsEvangelicals can't take a joke; state Dems tell Obama to end Afghan war.

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Book Reviews

Thursday, November 26, 2009