Overview:

For those of us interested in business and technology, this is a must read. Alibaba is a historic company that is making its presence known in all forms of daily life so its good to have a basic understanding of who they are, and most importantly, what made its founders so successful.

Here Is What The Book Was About:

Chronicles the extraordinary rise of Alibaba and its founder, Jack Ma. Drawing from his personal experiences and extensive research, Clark provides a comprehensive exploration of the company’s inception, growth, and impact on the global e-commerce landscape.

Rating: (1 to 5)

3.5 based on interesting content and explanation of Jack Ma’s rise in the business world. This book would have earned a higher score with a more cohesive story.

Other Thoughts on The Book:

The author, Duncan Clark, is not a journalist, but rather a business consultant who has unprecedented access to Jack, and other successful Chinese entrepreneurs. Not bad for someone who isn’t a trained professional!

Link to Book:

Overview:

Do you watch CNBC? What about Mad Money with Jim Cramer? As someone who has always been interested in investing, and the stock market overall, you’ll find this to be an entertain and informative read.

Here Is What The Book Was About:

Jim Cramer is one of the most influential people in the investing world today, you probably have heard of him. While Cramer has authored several books, this one in particular pulls back the curtain on the inner workings of his TV Show “Mad Money.” Cramer is a seasoned investor who ran his own hedge fund, and now a television personality. He shares his experiences, anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes stories, making for an engaging and entertaining read.

Rating: (1 to 5)

4.1 based on the valuable content you can start implementing right after reading the book.

Other Thoughts on The Book:

One of the book’s strongest aspects is its ability to distill complex financial concepts into accessible and actionable advice. Cramer breaks down investment strategies, explores the psychology of the market, and offers practical tips for navigating the unpredictable world of stocks. He emphasizes the importance of research, due diligence, and staying informed, empowering readers to make informed investment decisions. There is a downloadable PDF of the required ‘homework’ for owning any stock, that you can print out and use to support your stock choices.

Link to Book:

Overview:

If you’ve watched the movie Ocean’s 11 and enjoyed the charisma, wit, intelligence, and charm of characters like Danny Ocean, you may want to check out the book.

Here Is What The Book Was About:

The titular character, Arsene Lupin, is a master thief with a flair for the dramatic, who always seems to be one step ahead of the police. The book is a collection of short stories that follow Lupin as he carries out his daring heists and engages in a battle of wits with his adversaries. What sets this book apart from other detective stories, such as Agatha Christie’s Poirot, or Sir Author Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, is the charming and charismatic personality of Lupin, the main character. Despite being a thief, Lupin is a likable and witty. The stories are cleverly written, with plenty of unexpected twists and turns that will keep you entertained.

Rating: (1 to 5)

This one earns a 3.9 based on the timelessness of the writing and relevance even in today’s society.

Other Thoughts on The Book:

While the book was written over a century ago, the stories still hold up well today. Leblanc’s writing is sharp and engaging, and he does an excellent job of setting the scene.

Link to Book:

Overview:

If you’ve been curious as to the business success story of tech giants Uber, and Air bnb then you’ll want to take a look at “the Upstarts” by Brad Stone.  

Here Is What The Book Was About:

A well researched and balanced look at the founders of Air bnb, and Uber, and how they got their respective companies started. It also tells the story of the battles in China that Uber had with DiDi and its founder Cheng Wei.

Rating: (1 to 5)

3.7 based on the character development and the great journalism that access to silicon valley execs gives. Stone was thoughtful in his story telling.

Other Thoughts on The Book:

You’ll find that Stone focuses on the human side of the story, seeing the founders as complex individuals with flaws and strengths. The author shares insights into their motivations and the challenges they faced along the way.

Link to Book:

Overview:

For those interested in politics, this is a must read. If you’re a fan of Trump and intrigued by his presidency then you should definitely check this book out.

Here Is What The Book Was About:

Its an audiobook collection of interviews conducted by journalist Bob Woodward with Donald Trump throughout the time of Trumps presidency. Bob has had access to many presidents, including Obama, Bush, and Clinton, and written books about those men as well.

Rating: (1 to 5)

Solid 4 out of 5 for the authors credibility; the audience can not tell whether he’s for or against Trump. Pretty objective until the final chapter where Woodward provides his own assessment.

Other Thoughts on The Book:

Bob is a great journalist. For example, in many examples, he does not accept Trump’s word as final. Trump tends to exaggerating, and when this happens, Woodward corrects him, sometimes directly, other times in notes to listeners. This shows the level of respect Trump had for Woodward.

Link to Book:

Overview:

Many have followed his career and yet know little about how he got to where he is, and some of the key reasons for his success. If you’re a fan, and want to take a deeper look, you’ll want to check this out.

Here Is What The Book Was About:

Autobiography of a self made man, who became successful in his chosen field. If you’ve enjoyed his films, been inspired by his body building, or simply lived in California during the time of his term in office, then you should take a look. There are plenty of anecdotes throughout the book, and at the end there is a summary of key life principles that led him to where he is today.

Rating: (1 to 5)

4.5 due to the entertainment factor, and insight into the movie business.

Other Thoughts on The Book:

Some have criticized the book for various reasons, mainly because they do not like the man. Some even say he wrote it to make peace with his ex-wife. Overall it’s a good story and well told.

Link to Book:

Overview:

If you’re hoping to lose weight, and increase your athletic performance then you may want to check out Carnivore Code, by Dr Paul Saladino.

Here Is What The Book Was About:

Dr Saladino makes the case for a carnivore diet, for losing weight, increasing mental clarity, and athletic performance. Well researched and in depth explanation of the carnivore diet. It has step-by-step guidance, sample meal plans and frequently asked questions.

Rating: (1 to 5)

Earned a 3.5 as the content was interesting about 1/3 of the way through, and also due to repetitive content. While the book was well researched, it advocates for a specific diet that may not work for everyone’s unique circumstances.

Other Thoughts on The Book:

A dry topic made interesting; book was recommended to me by a former pro athlete, who is an avid and passionate carnivore. Many find the diet simply impractical. Like any diet, it takes discipline, but can work for you, depending on what your goals are if you are willing to put in the work.

Link to Book:

Overview:

If you’re a fan of tennis and curious about the Williams’ sisters origin story, this book is a great place to start. If you’ve seen the Will Smith movie King Richard, this is a good book to check out.

Here Is What The Book Was About:

The memoir of tennis champions Serena and Venus Williams father, who is a self-made man with an indomitable spirit. He had a tough, yet ultimately rewarding life, because of his perseverance and strength, surmounting many challenges to raise children to become great, under difficult circumstances.

Rating: (1 to 5)

Scored a 4.5, as its hard to put down once you start, the story is that engaging.

Other Thoughts on The Book:

Some of the situations may seem unbelievable however keep in mind that this book is from the authors perspective, and it’s the way he remembers things.

Link to Book:

Overview:

If you’re interested in global business or work with people from different cultures, you should check out The Culture Map written by Erin Meyer. It is a study that analyzes how national culture impacts business, and can help explain why people tend to behave the way they do at work.

Here Is What The Book Was About:

Communicating across cultures is often a challenge in the global economy. Erin Meyer offers real world examples, and a simple framework based on deep experience in the business world.

Rating: (1 to 5)

Solid 4 based on the practical advice, and reference map which can help solve cultural challenges.

Other Thoughts on The Book:

Erin, a business school professor in France, was criticized in some of the reviews I’ve read for being light on research, and heavy on anecdotes from her own life experiences. While it may seem that way in all likelihood this is the result of the book editing process.

Link to Book:

Overview:

If you’re a teacher, a parent, or interested in education reform in the USA you’ll find interest in The end of Molasses Classes. An enjoyable read, for those of you familiar with Ron Clark’s style of writing short focused chapters that tell a story to make a particular point.

Here Is What The Book Was About:

The book is about the Ron Clark Academy, and aimed at helping educators by offering inspiring ideas based on methods that work. It will wet your appetite, and make you want to visit the Ron Clark Academy to see for yourself why the teaching methods work.

Rating: (1 to 5)

Rated at 4.4; with a best selling author, and such a fun engaging book that offers practical advice about dealing with children and teachers.

Other Thoughts on The Book:

Ron Clark is a dedicated man, who writes books and runs a startup school. His life is all about passion and energy. You can learn a great deal and be inspired to live up to your full potential by reading this, and his other books.

Link to Book:https://www.amazon.com/End-Molasses-Classes-Unstuck-101-Extraordinary-ebook/dp/B004INHD6O/ref=sr_1_1?crid=16PKI51C7GQRZ&keywords=the+end+of+molasses+classes+by+ron+clark&qid=1662954365&sprefix=the+end+of+molas%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1