Review: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"People work real hard at looking like extroverts, whether that’s comfortable or not."

As a person scoring around 70/30 on extrovert/introvert scale I was primarily interested in reading this book to better understand the inner world of many of my colleagues as well as former (and perhaps future) students who are more introverts than myself.

It's a very good guide into the topic. It challenges common practices such as open offices, organising work around teams sitting and doing things together, brainstorming sessions, pupil learning organised around groups and so on.

In particular, I found revealing connection between introversion and innovation (which isn't surprising really):

"Introverts prefer to work independently, and solitude can be a catalyst to innovation."

"In many fields, it’s only when you’re alone that you can engage in Deliberate Practice, which is identified as the key to exceptional achievement."

The famous study by DeMarco and Lister made on productivity of software engineers confirms that: the social interruptions are the biggest barriers to productivity.

And I liked another angle to what leadership really is - it's not only about standing on the stage and making motivating speeches to the ecstatic crowds of followers. Leadership...

...also occurs in more solitary situations such as developing new techniques in the arts, creating new philosophies, writing profound books and making scientific breakthroughs.

The criticism of a very common collaborative practice - brainstorming - has been very refreshing too. It makes people feel good since it makes them feel more attached. However, it does not allow for more creative ideas - it often rather means more conformism, more production blocking (only one person can talk or produce an idea at once) and more fear of looking stupid in front of others.

The notion of the highly sensitive people (which often are introverts) was also well explained and substantiated. As leaders we better appreciate and make more use of such type of people.

All the self-help advice for introverts ("how to thrive in the world dominated by extroverts") was not that interesting to me and there was a bit too much of it to my taste. A lot of that is also more relevant for the US readers as opposed to the Northern Europe where I live.

All in all, a high quality book explaining importance of certain psychological aspects in our workplaces, relationships and classrooms. Particularly recommended for leaders/managers and teachers.

Review: This Country Called Belarus

This Country Called Belarus; An Illustrated History by Uladzimir Arloŭ, Źmicier Hierasimovič
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pathetic, but interesting presentation of Belarusian history until 1918 - offers an alternative view to the common understanding that Belarus is "just a different kind of Russia".

Rich with colourful illustrations and descriptions of distant events. Often one-sided with some nationalistic motives ("we, Belarusians, as opposed to Poles and Russians"). However, it is understandable for a young independent nation searching for its roots.

Review: Thoughs on Design

Thoughts on Design by Paul Rand
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A book by the 20th century's guru of visual design.

Short, precise and effective.

Beauty and utility shall be integral part of design.

Simplicity in design is good.

Using symbols as design elements is smart.

Visual repetition creates emotional comfort.

Isolated symbols (such as letters, numbers, punctuation marks) can be a good idea.

This short book only scratches the surface of semiotics of visual communication though. And it is only based on (and illustrated by) a very narrow field of design - graphical advertisement and corporate logos.

Review: Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too

Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too by Adele Faber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's quite an eye-opening book for a parent of two (or more) children.

Most of the parents dream about their children to become the best friends. It's just that it sometimes doesn't happen. And sometimes we as parents just need to accept it. However, this book gives some invaluable advice on how not to make things worse. Indeed, there is so much we as parents can do to screw relationship of siblings - and all that with only good intentions...

The basis for everything is respecting, acknowledging and verbalising the child's feelings instead of dismissing them ("You cannot say so about your sister!").

It is also important to focus on each child individually - no comparison, no locking into roles (of the youngest one, of the "boy in the family", of "our musical talent", of a victim).

Children don't need to be treated equally. They need to be treated uniquely.

The book makes an important point about how to solve the siblings' arguments: we as parents should not interfere at all times and try to solve all arguments making children solely dependent on our judgement. We should assist them to verbalise their anger, to set certain limits and to help to establish the rules - but most of all, treat our children as individuals capable of solving their arguments by themselves.

There are much more great ideas like having family meetings on difficult subjects, setting signs for private property and avoiding trap of "togetherness" ("Our family needs to do things together - and have fun together!").

The lyrical epilogue of the book is worth a mini-book on itself - so emotional, so sad and so encouraging at the same time.

If I only could follow all those good pieces of advice at all time - also in the moments of frustration or exhaustion :)

Review: Catalonia. A Cultural History

Catalonia: A Cultural History by Michael Eaude
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I've read this book before my first travel to Barcelona and Sitges.

I can recommend it to anyone travelling to Catalonia and looking for a deeper historical context behind the great cultural monuments of Catalonia (architecture, paintings, literature, music) compared to a Lonely Planet type of a travel guide. It has definitely given me better understanding of Catalan psyche - reflected in the way Catalonia looks and feels today from a stranger perspective.

When reading, it really felt the author was a fan of Catalonia (which is good), at the same time being quite critical about many of its historical and contemporary developments.

In some places the book might have benefited from a wider historical context (it assumed the reader was rather well aware of general history of Spain), in some places it felt too detailed (like verbal description of some details of buildings). In some places it was too much influenced by author's political views. However, there is a clearly a lot of research behind the book, citations of several other authors - and last but not least - love for this unique region in Europe.

Review: Start with Why

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This book is what McDonald's is for dining out. If it is the very first time you eat outside and you happen to go to McDonald's, you can be thrilled by all the colours, menus, and efficiency of operations. However if you happen to visit McDonald's after having been to unique restaurants with special styles, menus, interiors and music it feels... well like a fast-food place.

The idea of the book is powerful (define the purpose first, proceed acting based on that - and never lose the sight of it). But that's about the only powerful idea in the book, however repeated over and over again. In addition, the author does not fail to mention 174 or so times how great company is Apple. No research, no interviews, no studies, no first-hand experience, not so original ideas either.

If anyone is looking for very simple leadership lessons, want some well-branded and well-processed fast-food for the brain, this might be a proper book.

Review: The 80/20 Principle

The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less by Richard Koch
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

80/20 principle (20% of effort gives 80% of success, 20% of problems cause 80% of grief, 20% of clients bring 80% of profit etc) is very powerful in itself. Its power lies in its simplicity and potentially ubiquitous application in business, personal life, investment, studying - anywhere really.

The book brings some thought-provoking examples of 80/20 principle in action. However, it is very repetitive and often quite superficial. Its instructive style (do this in your life and happiness will come) is also quite annoying.

300-350 pages of the book could well be substituted by a longer article.

Review: Managing The Professional Service Firm

Managing The Professional Service Firm by David H. Maister
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was one of best business management books I have ever read so far. Although based on research articles published mainly back in the 1980s-1990s, it is a priceless collection of well-structured thoughts on how to manage people, clients and organisation of a company providing professional services (such as law practice, accounting, management consulting, custom software development, training etc).

There are so many questions discussed that a manager of a professional service firm (or a business unit) faces on an everyday basis. Almost every chapter has some eye-opening observations and conclusions. Here is a selection of some:

How clients choose a service provider?
It is inherently uncomfortable experience – and it is important to be emphatic towards your (potential) clients.

What a buyer looks for in a service provider?
Someone who listens, who is sensitive, helpful and is well prepared.

How to predispose your client towards selecting you as a service provider again and again?
Through building personal relationship, going the extra mile in the assignments you do, constantly investing into own asset building.

"Above all else, what I, the client, am looking for, is that rare professional who has both technical skill and sincere desire to be helpful, to work with both me and my problem.”

What is a good marketing?
It should be a seduction, not an assault. Instead of screaming “Hire me!” it should attract clients by doing something that causes them to want to take the next step (such as telling you about their problems).

How to manage smart professionals?
They are people getting bored easily and they are always seeking out new challenges. One therefore needs to constantly satisfy their drive for the new, the unfamiliar, the challenging.

What kind of a leader is best for a professional service firm?
Someone who is a good coach. The only truly effective way to influence people is an one-on-one, highly individualised counselling.

What is a source of motivation of highly intelligent people one works with?
How highly motivated I am to fulfil some task depends on whether I can see where the challenge in the work lies, and whether or not I feel that piece of work is a “worthy” application of my talents.

How to create strategy for a professional service firm?
Professional marketplaces are too changeable and fluid to “bet the firm” on a single vision of the future. Besides, most analytical exercises on “where the market is going” tend to result in firms reaching the same (obvious) conclusions as their competitors. Rather, the goal is to create the responsive organisation.

What one can learn from the best organisations in its class?
These firms create an atmosphere of a special, private club where people feel that “we do things differently around here, and most of us couldn’t consider working anywhere else.

„While all professional firms will assert that they have the best professionals in town, those firms claim they have the best firm in town, a subtle but important difference.“

How to make a firm truly collaborative?
Groups don’t cooperate, people do. If some person has worked with another person in another unit, there is a greater chance that help with be forthcoming. Hence, firms should create opportunities for individuals to get to know each other and work together.