Review: Give and Take

Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success by Adam M. Grant
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Different people act in different situations as either givers, takers or matchers. Givers are generous with their energy, time, knowledge, skills, ideas and connections. Takers are cautious and self-protective. Matchers operate on the principle of fairness: when they help others, they protect themselves by seeking reciprocity (the most common way of behaviour).

Selfless givers (those that treat interests of others greater than their own) are often the least successful in life. However, givers can also be the most successful, since they are ultimately best at networking, they inspire others (so can be good leaders), they are more fun to work with, they are enablers for groups and teams.

From organisational / society point of view it is important that the value of giving (or, opposite, taking) can become a norm, can be a cornerstone of the culture - in case it is shown and is treated as a norm. A close-kit community where everyone is valued on how much they give to a community is a good analogy.

The book propositions are interesting and are supported by a lot of relevant and insightful psychological studies. However, it often felt that the author found just about any study that could neatly fit into his theory (which in itself is quite a simplification of human relations).

In the end, one could say that any psychology study supported the theory that (as author somewhat clumsily calls them "otherish") givers succeeded more in life. And similar points were repeated again and again throughout the book. It could have well been shorter and included fewer points to make a point :)

Review: A Brief History of Italy

A Brief History of Italy by Jeremy Black
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's not an easy task to pack the rich and multi-sided history of Italy into one relatively short book. So, the credit should be given to the author. From Etruscan civilization, through Ancient Roman times and Medieval age to Spanish / Austrian / French period until unification, Mussolini and modern times - it is rather well done.

The scrupulous details of various wars, battles, kings and regents was at times too much for such a concise book. More interesting was description of ordinary people's life in the Medieval Italy (which mostly was quite miserable apart from nobles and priests) as well as discussion about the roots of and the signs of regional inequality (between the North and the South). The author's relaxed, personal attitude to Italy (especially to what has happened in the past 30-50 years) is beneficial for the book.

Historical books could always benefit from some maps or illustrations. There was none here.

All in all, a good quick overview of the history of the country. Being a "Brief History", it is inevitably full of compromises as of what is covered there and to what extent.

Review: The Intelligent Investor

The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The classics on "value investment" - written in the 1930s-1970s - and still considered one of the best books on investment ever written. There must be something in it...

And there is indeed a lot. Although the language is old-fashioned, the style is academic and dry and several examples are not relevant anymore, the major principles of Graham sound very reasonable at any time. An intelligent investor must, above all, treat his or her investment in corporate securities as an ownership in an or a claim against an existing business. And when deciding whether to invest in specific security or not, one should apply the same principles as when deciding whether to start up a new business.

..."There are good and bad companies, there is no such thing as a good stock; there are only good stock prices, which come and go."...

Graham's investment philosophy is anchored around the concept of "margin of safety": past behaviour of the company is the best available predictor of its future results (and thus returns on investment). Not a good script for a high-risk speculative investment (which Graham calls exactly that - speculation, not investment)...

In particular, I liked the focus on some physiological pitfalls an investor can encounter. For example, the "home bias": investing in "what I know" (e.g. a store chain I often visit) can be dangerous, since it makes me as an investor lazy and complacent. Or discussion on the role of "Mr.Market" who comes to you every now and then and recommends what your business must be worth or what you should sell it for ("an intelligent investor should never buy a stock because it has gone up or sell one because it has gone down.")

And looking back at my humble history as an investor I must admit that in the long run I got the best returns from where I (before having read this book) was acting in accordance with Graham's principles. And vice versa, speculative and emotional decisions which have not been based on a research, have mostly been disappointing in the end.

Baltic Turbo

"More than 60,000 people – around five percent of the Estonian population – have voluntarily participated in genome sequencing. The data is then anonymized and used in conducting comprehensive healthcare analyses. “It’s voluntary, and you also could choose commercial providers to do this,” remarks Deniss Ojastu, Head of Business Area at the globally successful software developer AS Helmes. He rhetorically adds: “But whom would you prefer to trust – a commercial company that owns your data or your national health administration where you take ownership?”

Trust in institutions, schools, the police, or the government in general is a precondition for creating democratic digital societies that work. I’ve experienced this sort of trust before in Finland. In Germany, we’re quick to dismiss smaller countries as less complex and under less public scrutiny than we are. Deniss Ojastu won’t let that slide. “We’re regularly having the same kinds of debates as Germany. Since we take them seriously, Estonia has manifold regulations and powerful barriers in place that prevent unauthorized access or data abuse. If, despite this, a physician managed to transfer your data illegally, he would be immediately stripped of his access.”"

Source: https://www.gernbotschaft.com/baltic-turbo/

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 :)