The World's Best Book Summaries
At what point is a team too large? Are team-building activities worth it? Renowned business consultant Patrick Lencioni knows all about teams. In his book Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team, he defines what a team is and provides guidance on putting a team together and getting it on the right track from the start. Read on for Lencioni’s recommendations for the team-building process.
Do your team members feel like they can be completely open with you and each other? Or, do they tend to guard themselves and be careful about what they share? According to Patrick Lencioni, trust is foundational to team performance. He has written two books about the dysfunctions of teams. The first dysfunction is a lack of trust among team members. He explains what he means by trust, why it’s critical, and how to build it. Keep reading to learn about team trust.
What, exactly, is a hierarchy? What does a hierarchical network look like in society? Historian Niall Ferguson applies network theory to his analysis of world history. In doing so, he makes three key observations: Hierarchies are necessary to maintain social order, additional networks tend to undermine hierarchies, and hierarchies can deal with only a limited amount of complexity. Continue reading to see how Ferguson applies the hierarchical network model to society.
Do you dread doing the dishes? Do everyday tasks seem small and insignificant? With a shift in attitude, you can find significance and even joy in life’s smallest moments. In Mastery, George Leonard says the path of the master is a life lived in disciplined dedication to your chosen skill, craft, or art. The most direct way to get on this path is to master the mundane aspects of your day. Keep reading for Leonard’s insights into how to enjoy everyday life.
Which people on your team work best in collaboration? Which ones have a lone wolf personality type? We all have mental habits or motivation patterns that inform the way we behave. One of these is our work style. Generally, people prefer to work alone or in collaboration with others. They find that one style over the other brings out the best in their performance. Read more to learn how to identify the work style of the people on your team and interact with them in a way that resonates with their style.
What are the risks of bonds? Do they carry more or less risk than stocks? Many investors think that bonds are less risky than stocks. However, in his book Beating the Street, famed mutual fund manager Peter Lynch explains that bonds offer poorer returns than stocks over the long haul. Read more to understand the basics of how bonds work and two of the primary risks that come with investing in them.
Do your team members know how to handle disagreements in a constructive way? Or, do they let conflict build up until it explodes? In Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team, renowned business consultant Patrick Lencioni says that, once you’ve tackled Dysfunction #1 (the absence of trust), you can take on Dysfunction #2: a fear of conflict. When it’s managed well, conflict is healthy for teams. Continue reading to learn Lencioni’s advice for mastering conflict in teams.
Are stocks better than bonds? Which investment carries a greater risk? Despite their reputation as a riskier and more volatile investment, stocks have significantly outperformed bonds over the long term. Peter Lynch explains how bonds work and details some of the main risks that come from investing in them. Then he outlines why he promotes stocks as a superior investment. Keep reading to understand Lynch’s argument and to get a different perspective from Vanguard founder John Bogle.
What role does hierarchy play in keeping the peace? What impact do totalitarian hierarchies have on people? In The Square and the Tower, best-selling author and Stanford University historian Niall Ferguson applies network theory—the study of how people and other entities connect with each other—to the study of world history to reveal, among other truths, whether government hierarchies are truly necessary. Read more to understand world hierarchies through this lens.
When you embark on the path of mastery, what should you pack in your suitcase? What mindset do you need? What must you understand and accept? George Leonard spent years as a student and teacher of two disciplines: flying jets and practicing aikido (a Japanese martial art known for its subtle complexities). He wrote Mastery, originally published in 1991, to share the expertise he gained in these pursuits. Read on to learn how to become a master of your chosen skill, craft, or art.