The term “uncanny valley” was coined in the 1970s at the Tokyo Institute of Technology to capture the revulsion stirred in observers when robots start looking a bit too human (picture the range from cute to relatable to freakish). That Anna Wiener borrowed it to title her memoir demonstrates the intersection of intelligence and wit found across its 275 pages.…
Book Report – Beach Reads, Shelter Edition
Below are six non-business books I read pre-Coronavirus that might provide a cure for boredom as you lock down in place. American Cozy by Stephanie Pedersen – If there’s ever been a more appropriate time to make your home more comfortable, do tell. I’d never heard of hygge (pron. hyoo-guh), the Danish practice of blanketing a dwelling in contentment and…
Book Report – Elevate by Robert Glazer
Below are lessons from Elevate author Robert Glazer… and another guru. Use these wisely in business and life and when waxing classic cars. Capacity building – in short, the endless pursuit of innate potential – is not about doing more in general, rather doing more of the right things. Inspiration without follow-through and commitment may have some value but won’t…
Book Report – That Will Never Work by Marc Randolph
Among many anecdotes shared by Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph in his memoir That Will Never Work, two in particular stand out. In one, he acknowledges “we weren’t changing the world” and it’s this level of grounded candor that makes the book enjoyable. Altering how folks consume movies is meaningful, yet mercifully the former Netflix executive doesn’t overstate the mission as…
Book Report – Radical Candor by Kim Scott
“There are two dimensions to good guidance,” writes Kim Scott in her New York Times Bestseller Radical Candor, “care personally and challenge directly.” Doing both at once accomplishes the titular management practice that became all the rage a couple years ago and for good reason – it’s the perfect book for managers looking to build trust with direct reports, complete…