The New York Times has published its last list of best-selling business books for 2023.  The December list has Atomic Habits back at the top spot. 

Of the ten books on this month’s list, after our January, 2024 session of the First Friday Book Synopsis, I will have presented synopses of six of them at our monthly book synopsis event.  I presented Atomic Habits a few years back.  I presented Elon Musk, Hidden Potential, The Creative Act, and Going Infinite during 2023.  And I will present Same as Ever at our January, 2024 session.

As always, I can fully recommend the books I have presented.  They are terrific; they have much to teach.  And, a couple of them are terrific reads! (I’m thinking of Michael Lewis’ Going Infinite, and Walter Isaacson’s Elon Musk).

One observation:  women authors are frequently under-represented on this list.  This month, there are no books by women authors.  This is simply a list of best-sellers.  So, we all need to read more books by women authors. (Note:  Right Kind of Wrong, the excellent and needed book by Amy Edmondson, just won the Financial Times Business Book of the Year Award.  This would be a good book to add to your reading stack. Read my blog post about this award by clicking here).

Here is the December, 2023 list of ten best-selling business books from the New York Times.

#1 – Atomic Habits by James Clear

#2 – Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson

#3 – Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

#4 – Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger

#5 – The Creative Act by Rick Rubin with Neil Strauss

#6 – Build the Life You Want by Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey

#7 – Going Infinite by Michael Lewis

#8 – I Will Teach You To Be Rich, Second Edition by Ramit Sethi

#9 – The Fund by Rob Copeland

#10 – Same as Ever by Morgan Housel

Is there a substitute for a good book?

When you are in learning mode; when you want to delve into a subject in depth; when you want to more fully grasp a critical area of understanding; is there a substitute for a good book?  In my view, the answer is no. 

Since 2005, the Financial Times has awarded an annual prize for the best Business Book of the Year.  Each year, they begin with a long list, they reduce it to a short list, and then they announce their selection for the Business Book of the Year.  The award comes with a cash prize of £30,000.  – Yes, the Financial Times is based in Great Britain.

Note:  they do not award a Business Tweet of the year prize, or a Business Podcast of the Year Prize, or a Business Article or Essay of the Year Prize.  They award a prize for the Business BOOK of the Year.

Now, I admit my bias:  I am partial to books.  It takes effort on the part of a learner to read a book well.  One has to focus; highlight key passages; make notes.  In other words, one does not simply simply listen to, or read, a book.  One studies a book.

So, I am a fan of the deliberate steps taken by the Financial Times in their selection process.  They look for substantive books; books that capture the times, and move our learning forward.  In their own words, they aim “to find the book that has the most compelling and enjoyable insight into modern business issues.”

Their selection for 2023 is the book by psychological-safety pioneer Amy Edmondson, Right Kind of Wrong: Why learning to fail can teach us to thrive.  (Note:  that is the title for the British edition; in the United States, the title is Right Kind of Wrong:  The Science of Failing Well).

I presented my synopsis of this book at the October, 2023 First Friday Book Synopsis. And, yes, I am in agreement that this book is worthy of the award.  It is a terrific book!

In my synopsis, I asked What is the Point of the book?  My answer:

We want to keep from making mistakes; from failing. Sort of… And, when we make mistakes, when we fail, we want to learn. Failing well is a modern-day survival skill.

And I concluded my synopsis with my own lessons and takeaways:

#1 –You will make mistakes. And, you will fail.

#2 – You will work with others who make mistakes.

#3 – Unless you get intentional about it, you will “hide” from your mistakes, and thus not learn from them as you could…

#4 – It would help to develop, and practice, psychological safety, to make it possible to learn from your mistakes.

#5 – There is no true breakthrough innovation without making mistakes, and learning from your mistakes.

I strongly recommend that you add this book to your reading list.  And, to start, you might want

to purchase my synopsis, with my comprehensive synopsis handout, plus the audio of my presentation. Click here to purchase my synopsis.

Read more books.  Keep learning by reading more books.  Substantive, award-winning books.  Keep learning; read more books! 

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The other books I presented from this year’s short list were:  Elon Musk, How Big Things Get Done, and The Coming Wave.  These are all very good books.  Purchase my synopsis of each of these by clicking here.

(In fact, something I just noticed:  my two October selections were both on the short list:  Amy Edmondson’s book, and The Coming Wave.  I don’t believe they had reduced the list to the short list by then).

Click here for a list of all of the winners, along with all of the books from each year’s short list, beginning in 2005 through 2023, from the Wikipedia page.  Click here to go to the Wikipedia page.

—–

Of the nineteen winners of this award, I have presented synopses of seven of them at the First Friday Book Synopsis.  Yes, our event is that old; we actually began in 1998.

Here are the seven winners I have presented:

2005 —  Thomas Friedman, The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century

2013 —  Brad Stone, The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon

2014 — Thomas Piketty, Capital in the Twenty-First Century (Note:  I actually presented this book at the other book club at which I speak, the Urban Engagement Book Club).

2015 — Martin Ford, The Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of Mass Unemployment

2019 — Caroline Criado-Perez, Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men

2022 — Chris Miller, Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology

2023 — Amy Edmondson, Right Kind of Wrong: Why learning to fail can teach us to thrive

(I have also presented quite a few of the books from the short list from some of the years, which did not win the annual prize).

Book Lovers & Lifelong Learners, Join us for two good books: for the January 5, 2024 First Friday Book Synopsis 

MORE THAN A BOOK REVIEW; A COMPREHENSIVE BOOK SYNOPSIS

BOOK LOVERS UNITE — BOOK SYNOPSES FOR THE LIFELONG LEARNER IN ALL OF US!

Come to learn; AND make some great connections!

2024 — Your New Year of Learning!

January 5 – IN OUR 26th Year!

Click here to register for the in-person gathering at the wonderful Park City Club in Dallas.

Scroll down for Zoom info.

What:  the January 5 First Friday Book Synopsis, 7:00 am (7:25 am for synopses start time).

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Every month since April 1998, we have presented synopses of two good business books at the First Friday Book Synopsis, in Dallas.  Now a hybrid event (both in-person at the Park City Club, and on Zoom), it is a true learning event.

———————

The two books for the January 5 session are:

1. Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes by Morgan Housel.

2. Big Bets: How Large-Scale Change Really Happens by Rajiv Shah.

Come join us!

January 5, 2024 – Park City Club (and Zoom) — 7:00 am Central Time — (program begins at 7:25 am)

At the First Friday Book Synopsis, we make each month’s session a genuine learning event.  You learn from the best business books, and then it is up to you to put into practice the things you learn.

Click here to register for the in-person session.  (Zoom info is below).

——————–

In our 26th YEAR of the First Friday Book Synopsis

Randy Mayeux provides thorough synopses of the content of useful, best-selling business books. He provides a comprehensive, multi-page synopsis handout, that concludes with his own lessons and takeaways from each book he presents.

“I love good books; and I read books
And share their core concepts
To help people become more literate
And know what to work on
To do a better job
To build a better company
And, ultimately, to build a better life.”
Randy Mayeux
——————-

January 5, 2023 – Park City Club; and on Zoom 

What to expect:

Two fast-paced synopsis presentations.

For each synopsis , we prepare a comprehensive and though multi-page synopsis handout.

For In-person participants, you will be given copies of the two synopsis handouts.  For those attending remotely, you will receive a synopsis handout to download for each of the two books, delivered the day before the event, via e-mail (and, available on this blog).

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO READ THE BOOKS IN ADVANCE! – No pre-reading of the books required!

If you are like many, you do not have time to read all of the books you would like to read. The First Friday Book Synopsis is designed for you.

Our synopses are comprehensive, thorough, and they will give you plenty of the key content from each book. You will learn, and be able to ponder the ideas in a useful way. And, even if you have read the book, my synopsis will help you remember more of what you read.

I hope you can join us.

For in-person participants: click here to register for in-person attendance.

For remote participants:
The cost of this remote meeting is “free.”
But, if you would like to contribute to participate, Randy would welcome you to send $12.00 directly to him through PayPal. Click here for a direct link to “donate” through PayPal.

For remote participants, here is the Zoom info.  The Zoom meeting requires no registration.

Randy Mayeux is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

——————–

Visit our web site where you can purchase past synopses, with audio recordings + synopsis handouts, at: 15minutebusinessbooks.com

For our most recent synopses, click here.

Purchase past synopses bundled in categories, each with audio recordings and synopsis handouts, at our other site; academyoflifelonglearning.com.

Randy Mayeux is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: First Friday Book Synopsis, 2024

Time: Jan 5, 2024 07:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83280208373?pwd=QWppaTFFNUI4ZU5VRU8wQjRVdDRqZz09

Meeting ID: 832 8020 8373

Passcode: 445289

{Note:  you can also still register to attend in-person for the November 3 First Friday Book Synopsis, at the wonderful Park City Club, by clicking here}.

In our 26th Year!

You are invited
First Friday Book Synopsis,
Friday, December 1, 2023, 7:25 am (Central Time), on Zoom.
I hope you can join us!

Meeting On Zoom

Around 100 people (in our combined in-person and Zoom participants) have been joining us for our First Friday Book Synopsis gatherings. We have had participants from all over the country. Please share this word far and wide — all are welcome!

This Friday, December 1, 2023, 7:25 am – Zoom 

The two books for tomorrow are both worth your time!

1. Stay Sane in an Insane World: How to Control the Controllables and Thrive by Greg Harden; Foreword by Tom Brady – Guest Presenter, Karl Krayer

and

2. Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson

About the books:

Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson is the definitive biography of Elon Musk. It is a comprehensive, fascinating book. This book is on the short list for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year.

Stay Sane in an Insane World by Greg Harden is written by the man who helped make Tom Brady the great player that he was. — Karl Krayer will present this synopsis.

In other words, both books are very much worth our time. You will learn!

Note: The first presentation will begin around 7:25-7:30 am.

I intend to keep this Zoom gathering free. But, your voluntary participation would be appreciated.  If you would like to contribute to participate, Randy would welcome you to send $12.00 directly to him through PayPal. Click here for a direct link to “donate” through PayPal.

PRINTING TIP: I strongly encourage all to print out the two handouts. If you will begin printing on page 2, you will still have the full handout, and save the ink that you would use on the front/cover sheet. 

Where:  On Zoom

When: This Friday, December 1— presentations begin at 7:25-7:30 am (Central Time)
The presentations will conclude around 8:35 am
Speaker: Randy Mayeux will deliver both synopsis presentations.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88546338687?pwd=NC9hRVhoaW8waUlnZGllU1UvOEJWZz09

Meeting ID: 885 4633 8687

Passcode: 208376

————————

We are all set for Friday’s Remote First Friday Book Synopsis.

#1 — Download, and print both synopses handouts by clicking here. If you have ever attended our event, you know that I am handout intensive. You really will be able to follow along better with physical copies of the handouts in front of you. So, if you have a printer, please print the handouts.

#2 — Come on in for conversation whenever you can. I have enabled the “enable join before host” button. You will arrive in the waiting room, and be let in quickly. So, you can come in, and talk to folks.

#3 — Here is the info, with the link to join the gathering:

Randy Mayeux is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting

Topic: First Friday Book Synopsis, 2022
Time:  December 1, 2023 07:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88546338687?pwd=NC9hRVhoaW8waUlnZGllU1UvOEJWZz09

Meeting ID: 885 4633 8687

Passcode: 208376

—–

Reminder: The cost of this remote meeting is “free.”

But, if you would like to contribute to participate, Randy would welcome you to send $12.00 directly to him through PayPal. Click here for a direct link to “donate” through PayPal.

(Note: you can also send money through Zelle, at Randy’s e-mail address). — (Randy’s e-mail address for PayPal, and Zelle, is ).

Please help spread the word far and wide; help make this a success.

————————–

You might want to read this post. It has a printable one-sheet reminder on how to make the most of your remote learning experience.

Remote Learning 101 – Read this before attending your learning session.

 ——————

Here is more complete Zoom info:

Randy Mayeux is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: First Friday Book Synopsis, 2023

Time: December 1, 2023 07:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88546338687?pwd=NC9hRVhoaW8waUlnZGllU1UvOEJWZz09

Meeting ID: 885 4633 8687

Passcode: 208376

One tap mobile

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Next week, I will present my last book synopsis of the year.  It will be my 23^rd synopsis of a business book at the First Friday Book Synopsis for 2023.  (I have also presented synopses of eleven books dealing with issues of social justice of the Urban Engagement Book Club, sponsored by CitySquare).

If you made me choose the most important book I presented this year, I might be tempted to name Poverty, By America by Mathew Desmond, which I presented to the Urban Engagement Book Club – although it actually also made it onto the New York Times list of best-selling business books.

So…12 months, 34 books – plus a few others custom-ordered synopses prepared at the request of clients.

These are my “new” synopses that I prepared.  And, of course, I have presented many synopses in additional presentations to multiple audiences.

When I try to choose the best book(s) I presented for a year, it is always a difficult challenge. So many good books!

At the First Friday Book Synopsis, focused on Business Books, after our December session, I will have presented, among other books, these selections this year:

Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential by Tiago Forte.

Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology by Chris Miller.

Sorry, Sorry, Sorry: The Case for Good Apologies by Marjorie Ingall and Susan McCarthy.

Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, Roy Schwartz.

How Big Things Get Done: The Surprising Factors That Determine the Fate of Every Project, from Home Renovations to Space Exploration and Everything In Between by Bent Flyvbjerg, Dan Gardner.

The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy) by Admiral William H. McRaven.

The Right Call: What Sports Teach Us About Work and Life by Sally Jenkins.

The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin.

The Fourth Turning Is Here: What the Seasons of History Tell Us about How and When This Crisis Will End by Neil Howe.

The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the Twenty-first Century’s Greatest Dilemma by Mustafa Suleyman, Michael Bhaskar.

Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well by Amy C. Edmondson

Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam Grant.

Going Infinite:  The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon by Michael Lewis.

Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson.

And, yes, I’ve left a few good books that I also presented off of this list.

Four of these books made the shortlist of six books for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year. (Through the years, I have presented a number of books that were selected for this prestigious prize).  And Chip War, which I presented early this year, was the 2022 winner of this prize.

I will select my choice for the best business book of the year I presented in the next couple of weeks.  I have done this in earlier years, and of course, I only choose from books I presented.  As in other years, this will not be an easy choice.

So many good books to read…so little time!

 

A few words about today’s book: Radical Inclusion:

This book brings a whole new perspective to our practices of exclusion. Written by the now Chief Minister of Sierra Leone, this is absolutely worth your time. I learned much!

And this synopsis will be worth your time, I assure you.

—————–

You are invited – on Zoom, Thursday!

A special encouragement to attend the Urban Engagement Book Club

Thursday, November 16, over Zoom, 12:30 pm

Please join us. All details below.

————

(Special note from Randy about this Synopsis handout:

You will notice that my handout looks much different today. It is not designed as usual. My wonderful design person has had a death in her family; her husband died from cancer. That explains the look for today.

Please keep Jen in your prayers as she grieves, and begins this new chapter in her life.

Download today’s handout here.)

—————-

If you have an open lunch time window Thursday, November 16, 12:30 pm (CST), I am presenting my synopsis of:

Radical Inclusion: Seven Steps to Help You Create a More Just Workplace, Home, and World by David Moinina Sengeh.

I encourage you to download my synopsis handout, print it out, and follow along.

Come join us on Zoom.

Urban Engagement Book Club
Thursday, November 16, 2023 – 12:30 pm (CST)

Synopsis presented by Randy Mayeux
We conclude shortly after 1:30.
(This event is free).

Here is the lineup of upcoming books, and a look back to the books of 2022.  

And, here is the Zoom link to join our gathering. 

Randy Mayeux is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83866241986?pwd=WGNyWklhWFYvdDE4QmZ5MUtIUjNWUT09

Meeting ID: 838 6624 1986

Passcode: 663247

———————

Here is the more complete Zoom info.

Randy Mayeux is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Urban Engagement Book Club, 2023

Time: November 16, 2023 12:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83866241986?pwd=WGNyWklhWFYvdDE4QmZ5MUtIUjNWUT09

Meeting ID: 838 6624 1986

Passcode: 663247

One tap mobile

+13462487799,,83866241986#,,,,*663247# US (Houston)

+17193594580,,83866241986#,,,,*663247# US

Dial by your location

    +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

    +1 719 359 4580 US

    +1 253 205 0468 US

    +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

    +1 669 444 9171 US

    +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

    +1 305 224 1968 US

    +1 309 205 3325 US

    +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

    +1 360 209 5623 US

    +1 386 347 5053 US

    +1 507 473 4847 US

    +1 564 217 2000 US

    +1 646 931 3860 US

    +1 689 278 1000 US

    +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

    +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

Meeting ID: 838 6624 1986

Passcode: 663247

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kb5hTsqvcU