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Reading Notes: Books

These are study notes on book-length works on various topics, online here for my own research and reference purposes. There's a disclaimer with more information on the nature of these notes.

Actionable Web Analytics: Using Data to Make Smart Business Decisions: Jason Burby and Shane Atchison (Wiley & Sons: 2007); A primer on Web analytics that seeks to explain basic methods for sifting meaningful information from the data that results from visitors' use of a Web site.

Advertising Transformed: Fons Van Dyck (Kogan Page: 2014); Observation and theory about the way in which advertisers must change their practices to remain effective in the digital age.

Always On: Brian X. Chen (Da Capo: 2011); An attempt to consider the impact of mobile technology that skims the surface of a handful of the social impacts that result from constant connectivity.

American Ways: Gary Althen and Janet Bennett (Intercultural Press: 2011); A study of American culture, primarily intended for foreigners visiting the United States, but also useful as a reference to the attitudes and beliefs of the domestic US market.

The Anti-Capitalistic Mentality: Ludwig Von Mises (Van Nostrand: 1956); Published during the "red scare," this work considers the flaws in the argument against free markets as well as flawed logic used to defend capitalism.

The Art of Influence without Manipulation: Rob Jolles (Berrett-Koehler: 2013); A process-oriented approach to persuading prospects in the sales process that, while not entirely without manipulation, is at least more subtle than traditional approaches to selling.

The Art of Game Design: Jesse Schell (Morgan Kaufmann: 2008); A guide to designing compelling computer games (as a source of ideas and inspiration for designing compelling Web experiences).

The Art of Selling to the Affluent: Matt Oechsli (Wiley: 2005); Considers the mindset and motivations of affluent customers ($100K+ annual household income) and the specialized sales tactics that must be used to appeal to them.

Bank 2.0: Brett King (Cyan Communications: 2010); A consideration of the changes that may take place in the banking and financial services sector as a result of technological advances and changes in customer habits and attitudes.

Banking: William A. Scott (Unknown publisher and date); Written in the early twentieth century, this book provides a concise overview of basics of the banking industry before there was much regulatory interference.

Banking: An Introduction: AP Faure (Quoin: 2003); A quick and rather superficial overview: the basics of banking, money creation, risk, and bank models.

Banking: A Very Short Introduction: John Goddard and John Wilson (Oxford University Press: 2016); A short primer on banking and the financial services industry, focusing (a bit much) on the 2007-2009 financial crisis.

Banking and Currency: Ernest Sykes (Butterworth & Co. 1905); Written in 1905, this practical overview of banking and currency contains much information that remains relevant to the current practice.

Beating the Commodity Trap: Richard A. D'Aveni (Harvard Business Press: 2010 ); A systematic consideration of the three types of commoditization and the methods firms can use to escape, persever, or even exploit commoditization under varying market conditions.

Becoming an Effective Leader: Harvard Business School Publishing (Harvard Business School Publishing: 2005); A collection of articles, case studies, essays, and other short works on the topic of leadership.

The Branded Mind: Erik du Plessis (Kogan Page: 2011); This book provides a rational examination of the application of brain science to marketing, avoiding the hype and disinformation that generally surround the topic.

Brand Psychology: Jonathan Gabay (Kogan Page: 2015); Rather a succotash of random topics related to the way in which psychology influences brand perception and engagement.

Brand Seduction: Daryl Weber (Career Press: 2016); A plausible exploration of the emotional (rather than rational) bases of buying decisions and consumer loyalty.

Brand Turnaround: Karen Post (McGraw-Hill: 2012); Considers the factors that leave a brand vulnerable to attack as well as strategies for recovering after a publicity crisis.

Branding Your Business: James Hammond (Kogan Page: 2011); While rife with flaws, this book takes a fairly comprehensive swipe at the notion of brand and the ways it can be built, maintained, and leveraged.

Broadband Applications and the Digital Home: John Turnbull and Simon Garrett (IET: 2003); Considers the ways in which Internet technology coumd potentially impact the lives of consumers in their places of residence.

Budgeting for Managers: Sid Kemp and Eric Dunbar (McGraw-Hill: 2003); A guide to budgeting practices, processes, and procedures written for those who do not have a financial background.

Building Customer-Brand Relationships: Don E. Schultz et. al. (M. E. Sharpe: 2009); This book atttempts to identify some of the flaws in traditional marketing practices, with an eye toward replacing them with notions better suited to the contemporary arena of customer-brand relationship management.

Building Respected Companies: Jordi Canals (Cambridge University Press: 2010); Analyzes the reputation of a firm from a perspective of the social responsibility in a manner that is compatible with and derivative from the its mission and purpose.

Built for Use: Driving Profitability Through the User Experience: Karen Donoghue (McGraw-Hill: 2002); A (somewhat dated) exploration of the critical importance of utility and usability to the conception and development of online services.

Built on Values: Creating an Enviable Culture: Ann Rhoades and Nancy Shepherdson (Jossey-Bass: 2011); Makes a case for the benefits of having a values-driven culture and provides a high-level plan for effecting it within commercial organizations.

Built to Love: Peter Boatwright and Jonathan Cagan (Berrett-Koehler: 2010); Considers the emotional aspects of the relationship between customers and brands, specifically looking to the way they factor into consumer preference.

Business Ethics: Mistakes and Successes: Robert F. Hartley (John Wiley & Sons: 2005); This book presents a number of case studies that highlight some of the mistakes and successes of businesses as a method of illustrating ethical concepts.

Bye Bye Banks: James Haycock (Wunderkammer: 2015); A consideration of the environmental changes that have placed the banking industry in jeopardy of balkanization.

Challenging the Wisdom of Systems: Claudio Ciborra (Oxford University Press: 2002); An examination of the current crisis in information technology that arises from the myopia of the systems-centric mindset.

The CIO Paradox: Martha Heller (Bibliomotion: 2013); A collection of anecdotes, quotes, and random advice for technology executives seeking to seize power within organizations.

Cognitive Psychology: Robert J. Sternberg (Thompson-Wadworth: 2006); A textbook on the field of psychology that considers the way people perceive, learn, remember, and process information.

The Conquest of Happiness: Bertrand Russell (Allen & Unwin: 1930); An examination of the causes of human happiness, more in the nature of personal philosophy (adopting a mindset that will make oneself happy) than the practice of customer service (providing support that will make others happy).

Conversion Optimization: The Art and Science of Optimized Marketing: Chris Goward (Sybex: 2013); Focusing primarily on small to medium-sized operations, this book provides some guidance for improving conversion rates by altering the design elements of web sites.

Creating Customer Value on the Digital Frontier: B. Joseph Pine II and Kim C. Korn (Berrett-Koehler: 2011); A model for exploring ideas based on the methods by which digital technology enables users to have experiences outside the constraints of physical environment, tangible objects, and linear time.

Creative Strategy: Chris Bilton and Stephen Cummings (Wiley: 2010); Considers the ways in which firms fall into uncreative patterns and the difficulty in introducing creativity into the planning process.

Critical Thinking and Creativity: Joe Y. F. Lau (Wiley & Sons: 2011); A primer in the basic skills of problem-solving, including both critical and creative thinking techniques.

CRM Fundamentals: Scott Kostojohn et. al. (Apress: 2011); A general description of customer relationship management systems and programs, light on practical details, but thorough on managing the processes and projects required to implement a CRM program.

The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind: Gustave Le Bon (McMillan: 1896); A century-old examination of the psychology of crowds, with specific attention to its difference from (and domination over) the psychology of individuals.

Consumer Behaviour in the International Restaurant Sector: Donald Sloan (Taylor and Francis: 2004); A collection of articles that consider the customer experience in the food service industry, which serves as an apt model for goods and service retail in general.

Creating Engaged Employees: William J. Rothwell (ARTR: 2014); A brief overview of the concept of engagement and its potential benefit to commercial organizations.

Crowdsourcing: Jeff Howe (Doubleday: 2009); An enthusiastic but generally realistic consideration of the potential of networked technology as a medium for mass collaboration.

Customer Loyalty: How to Earn It, How to Keep It: Jill Griffin (Bass: 2002); A consideration of customer loyalty, a notiuon that is not entirely new, but merely being revived as the era of mass-marketing draws to a close.

Customer Relationship Management Essentials: John W. Gosney and Thomas P. Boehm (Premier Press: 2000); A guide for businesses that wish to regain their lost relationship with their customers.

Customer Service on the Internet: Jim Sterne (John Wiley & Sons: 1996); Explores the potential and unique characteristics of the Web as a channel for customer service.

The Cutting Edge in Financial Services: Bob Veres (National Underwriters: 2003); An examination of the evolving role of financial advisors and the demand for financial services.

A Description of the Money Market: Walter Bagehot (Henry S. King: 1873); While it was written over a century ago, this book considers aspects of the banking industry that remain entirely valid and poignantly relevant to the present day.

The Design of Business: Roger Martin (Harvard Business Press: 2009); To become innovative, a company must adopt a distinctly different set of practices and characteristics than merely seeking to become efficient at existing practices.

The Design of Everyday Things: Don Norman (Basic Books: 2013); A loosely-organized set of observations taht advocate making devices and objects more suitable for use.

Design-Driven Innovation: Roberto Verganti (Harvard Business Press: 2009); Considers innovation from a management perspective: not how to be innovative as an individual, but how to lead an organization toward innovation.

Designing the Mobile User Experience: Barbara Ballard (Wiley: 2007); A sensible approach to considering the specific needs of the mobile market, albeit based on user behaviors and technologies that will change rapidly in future.

Designing Web Forms for Usability: Caroline Jarrett and Gerry Gaffney (Morgan Kaufmann Publishers: 2009); Guidance intended to improve the accuracy and completeness of data gathered from Web site visitors and makes the task easier for the user to accomplish.

Developing Effective Websites: Roy Strauss and Patrick Hogan (Focal Press: 2001); Guidance for managing Web site development projects, which are significantly different than typical business projects, and slightly different from software development ones.

Developing New Products and Services: Lawrence Sanders (BE Press: 2011); A brief look at the process of developing ideas for products and services.

Digital Banking Tips: Tolga Tavlas (DBT: 2015); A vanity-published booklet by a consultant that considers an array of topics pertaining to banking in the digital media.

The Digital Revolution in Buying and Borrowing: David Evans and Richard Schmalensee (MIT Press: 1999); Explores the revolution in commercial transactions from cash to plastic to electronic methods of payment.

The Discomfort Zone: Marcia Reynolds (Berrett-Koehler: 2014); Uncomfortable conversations can be highly productive in making positive changes in behavior. They should not be avoided, and in some instances should even be initiated.

The Distribution of Wealth: John Bates Clark (Macmillan: 1908); Considers the manner in which wealth generated in an economy is distribtued among industries, firms, and the factors of production.

Don't Make Me Think: Steve Krug (New Riders: 2014); Tips and guidance for making web and mobile sites more usable, based on years of conducting and observing usability testing.

E-Banking Management: Mahmood Shah and Steve Clarke (IGI Global: 2009); An examination of the unique characteristics of the Internet as a channel for providing banking services.

Economic Harmonies: Frederic Bastiat (IOHNY: 1850); While melodramatic and polemical, Bastiat's consideration of economics does provide some consideration of topics negleced by other classical economists.

The Economy of Machinery and Manufactures: Charles Babbage (Cambridge University Press :1832); Writing during the early industrial revolution, Babbage provides a number insights into the use of machinery that remain valuable to the present day.

Elements of Influence: Terry R. Bacon (Amacom: 2012); A broad but shallow consideration of the various methods used to motivate the behavior of other people, primarily focused on the context of business.

Emotions Revealed: Paul Ekman (Griffin: 2007); An overview of human emotion as a psychological phenomenon, including the evolutionary and societal origin and functions of emotions.

Essay on the Nature of Trade in General: Richard Cantillon (Cass and Co.: 1730); A consideration of production, trade, banking, credit, and other basic elements of economics from early in the history of the subject.

An Essay on the Principle of Population: Thomas R. Malthus (J. Johnson: 1798); Malthus's 1798 essay about the delicate balance of goods and production still provides worthwhile insight into present-day economics, particularly in emerging market economies.

Essential Business Tactics for the Net: Larry Chase (John Wiley & Sons: 1998); An overview of various approaches to utilize Internet technology to support business operations (written before the dot-com crash, so approach with caution).

The Etiquette Edge: Beverly Langford (Amacom: 2005); Etiquette covers a wide range of "people skills" that are critical to success at most levels of an organization.

Facebook Companion: Matthew Miller (Wiley: 2011); Outdated on the day it was published, this book nonetheless provides a decent overview of basics features of social networking.

A Farewell to Alms: Gregory Clark (Princeton University Press: 2007); Considers the differences between tribal, agrarian, and industrial economies to consider the reasons some parts of the world have become wealthy while others remain in poverty may have more to do with culture than other factors.

Fear in Organizations: Sheila M. Keegan (Kogan Page: 2015); A consideration of the incidental and intentional use of fear in organizations that, while unscientific and unsystematic, provides insights that may be valuable in creating a culture of innovation.

Finance, Banking, and Money: Robert E. Wright (NYU: 2012); A basic overview of banking and financial services, written after the financial crisis of the early 21st century.

Find Out Anything: Secrets Of Calculated Questioning: James O. Pyle (Career Press: 2014); A (rather too) fundamental approach to interrogation and questioning as a means to information gathering and discovery.

First-Level Leadership: Vivette Payne (American Management Association: 2005); The theory and practice of leadership on the lowest level of an organization, working directly with the front-line workers

Fundamentals of Marketing: Eugene Johnson (AMACOM: 2002); A survey of some of the basic principles of marketing, largely from a traditional (pre-internet) consumer marketing perspective.

Game Theory in Everyday Life: Len Fisher (Basic Books: 2008); A (too) basic examination of the application of game theory to foster cooperation in situations that are otherwise prone to conflict.

Gamify: Brian Burke (Bibliomotion: 2014); Gamification is more than eye-candy and gimmicks; when done properly it engages meaningful and beneficial behavior.

Generational Selling Tactics that Work: Cam Marston (Wiley: 2011); Suggest methods for adjusting marketing and sales tactics to appeal to the specific values, beliefs, and preferences to the primary age groups in the current US marketplace.

Guide to the ATM and Debit Card Industry: Fumiko Hayashi, Richard Sullivan, and Stuart E. Weiner (Federal Reserve Bank: 2003, 2006); Provides an overview electronic payment methods in the banking industry, including the history, present state, and potential future developments.

How Intelligent People Lose Credibility: Allen Weiner (Jossey-Bass: 2007); An exploration of the aspects of professional demeanor, including common mistakes that undermine credibility.

How to Manage the People Who Deliver Technology: Paul Glen (Jossey-Bass: 2003); Guidance on giving good leadership to technology workers, for whom most of the traditional approaches to leadership are ineffective.

The Human Brand: Chris Malone (Jossey-Bass: 2013); A somewhat mediocre consideration of the way people (consumers, employees, investors, and other stakeholders) relate to people, products, brands, and companies.

Human Needs and the New Computing Technology: Ben Shneiderman (MIT Press: 2002); An (polemical) examination of technology that campaigns for a shift from system-centered to user-centered application and design.

Hyperformance: Using Competitive Intelligence: T.J. Waters (Josey-Bass: 2010); A general overview of theory, methods, and practices in gathering and using information about markets, organizations, and individuals to reduce uncertainty in strategic planning and tactical maneuvers.

Increasing Human Efficiency in Business: Walter Dill Scott (Macmillan: 1911); Describes various applications of psychology as a means of modifying human behavior to improve efficiency, which in turn yields improvement in quality, quantity, and speed of productive activity.

An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations: Adam Smith (Meuthen: 1904); Written in 1776, this foundational work of economics considers many aspects of economics that remain relevant to the contemporary economy.

The Intelligent Investor: Benjamin Graham (Collins: 1973); Intended to provide laymen with guidance in investing, the author provides basic principles and theories that provide guidance for evaluating investment choices that have been staid and successful for decades.

Interaction Ritual: Erving Goffman (Pantheon: 1967); A collection of essays about social behavior, which attempts to explain some of the non-functional motivations for action and interaction.

The Internet and American Business: William Aspray and Paul E. Ceruzzi (MIT Press: 2008); A collection of articles intended to provide a broader perspective into the nature of the Internet and its impact on American business.

Internet Economics: Lee W. McKnight and Joseph P. Bailey (MIT Press: 1998); A (somewhat dated) study of the market for Internet services from the perspective of economics.

Landing Page Optimization: Tim Ash (Sybex: 2008); This book deals with an essential and often overlooked aspect of promotion: once you have attracted visitors to your Web site, what do you do with them?

Leading Your Smartest, Most Creative People: Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones (Harvard Business Press: 2009); Considers the changes in management and organizational practices necessary to leverage the minds, rather than merely the hands, of knowledge workers.

The Luxury Strategy: Jean-Noel Kapferer and Vincent Bastien (Kogan Page: 2012); Considers the idiosyncrasies of the luxury market, which is significantly different and often diametrically opposed to traditional mass marketing practices.

A Manager's Guide to Human Behavior: Matthew Reis and Judith Geller (AMA: 2010); Discusses a number of areas of management in which an understanding of human behavior would be helpful ... but without actually conveying knowledge about human behavior.

Manager's Guide to Social Media: Scott Klososky (McGraw-Hill: 2011); A hash of topics that a manager should consider when using social media - personally, for his subordinates, and for his firm. Light on support, but food for through nonetheless.

Marketing without Advertising: Michael Phillips and Salli Rasberry (Nolo: 1997); Examines the (much neglected) methods for product promotion, public relations and brand and reputation building other than paid advertisement.

Mastering Business Negotiation: Roy J. Lewicki and Alexander Hiam (Bass: 2006); A broad theoretical approach to the four categories on negotiation: avoidance, accommodation, competition, and collaboration.

Monitoring and Managing Reputations Online: Andy Beal and Judy Strauss (Sybex: 2008); An examination of the way in which the Internet has made both companies and individuals "radically transparent," the potentially negative consequences, and the potential for cultivation.

Multichannel Marketing: Metrics and Methods: Akin Arikan (Sybex: 2008); A guide for measuring the impact of marketing efforts with an eye toward an inclusive approach that measures the impact of all channels.

The Mystery of Banking: Murray Rothbard (Richardson & Snyder: 1983); An economist's perspective on the banking industry and its effect on the money supply and domestic economy.

The New Rules of Business Etiquette: Judith Bowman (Career Press: 2007); A guide to etiquette in the present day, this book provides some good advice, though it should be approached with some caution.

On Line, On Time, On Budget: Mark Kozak-Holland (MC Press: 2002); Recommended practices to avoid or mitigate risk in online projects, as a method of reducing the cost/time of dealing with problems in both development and production.

Outthink the Competition: Kaihan Krippendorff (Wiley & Sons: 2012); Outlines an approach to competition that advocates developing a unique strategy rather than becoming more efficient as the same activities as competitors.

Peer-to-Peer Leadership: Mila N. Baker (Berrett-Koehler: 2014); Proposes that a decentralized form of leadership and a networked organizational structure is not only beneficial but necessary in competitive markets.

Persuading Customers When They Ignore Marketing: Bryan Eisenberg, Jeffrey Eisenberg and Lisa T. Davis (Nelson: 2006); A process-oriented approach to considering the customer's perspective when offering goods and services in a competitive and communicative global market.

Persuasive Technology: B.J. Fogg (Kaufmann Publishers: 2003); A psychological perspective on the use of computer technology toward affecting the attitudes and behaviors of users.

The Power of Habit: Charles Duhigg (Random House: 2012); A non-scientific exploration, based on anecdotal and superficial evidence, of the manner in which habits influence behavior, chiefly in regard to consumption patterns.

Practical Guide to Project Planning: Ricardo Viana Vargas (Auerbach Publications: 2008); A quick overview of project management using the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), a reference developed by a professional association.

The Practicing Mind: Thomas M. Sterner (New World Library: 2012); In spite of being a pseudo-scientific self-help title, this book prescribes a method for focusing cognition on the process as a means to achieve better outcomes.

Predictably Irrational: Dan Ariely (HarperCollins: 2008); This book considers that not all economic decisions are made with perfect information and flawless reason - but unfortunately takes the opposite extreme in the argument.

Principles of Political Economy and Taxation: David Ricardo (Murray: 1821); Written centuries ago, Ricardo's examination of the interplay of producers, consumers, and government provides basic insight that remain relevant to the present day.

Psychology and Industrial Efficiency: Hugo Munsterberg (Riverside Press: 1913); Written in 1913, this exploration into the potential of psychology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operations, human resources, marketing, and business in general offers a number of perspectives that remain applicable to the present day.

The Psychology of Discovery and Invention: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (HarperCollins: 1997); A study of the processes discovery and invention that considers the causes, contributing factors, and function of creativity.

The Psychology of Human Leadership: Michael Paschen and Erich Dihsmaier (Springer: 2014); While this book touches only superficially on its declared topic (psychology) it nonetheless provides some interesting theories about the role, function, and method of a leader.

The Psychology of Humor: Rod A. Martin (Elsevier: 2007); Integrates (quite a lot of) research into the functions of humor and laughter as social phenomena.

The Psychology of the Internet: Patricia M. Wallace (Cambridge University Press: 1999); An early attempt at applying the principles of psychology to the behavior of individuals and groups on the Internet

The Psychology of Optimal Experience: Mihaly Csikszentmihayli (Harper & Row: 1990); A consideration, bordering on pop-psychology, of the qualities of experience that causes individuals to consider certain tasks engaging.

The Psychology of Persuasion: Robert B Cialdini (HarperCollins: 1984); Considers seven common tactics that leverage psychological tendencies to manipulate individuals into acting without thinking.

The Psychology of Revolution: Gustave Le Bon (Putnam: 1913); While this account tends to be more historical and political than psychological, it nonetheless contains some interesting observations of the factors that motivate people in groups to pursue change.

The Psychology of Self-Deception: Neel Burton (Acheron Press: 2012); The widespread practice of self-deception consists of defending an individual from unpleasant realities, while subverting perception and judgment.

The Psychology of Thought Control: Joost Meerloo (WPC: 1956); Written during the 20th century Cold War, this book describes tactics (and countertactics) that are applicable to organizations in the present day.

Quiet Leadership: David Rock (HarperCollins: 2006); Prescribes a methodology for leadership intended to develop and leverage thinking skills, as opposed to commanding mindless obedience.

Reengineering the Corporation: Michael Hammer and James Champy (HarperCollins: 2011); Revives the concept of reengineering organizations, changing processes to radically alter the organization rather than less dramatic and effective measures such as automation and efficiency improvement.

The Relationship Edge: Jerry Acuff and Wally Wood (John Wiley & Sons: 2007); A book is about relationship management in meatspace that has some insights that may be worth considering for Web and social media.

Relationship Marketing: Martin Christopher et. al. (Taylor and Francis: 2002); An overview of relationship marketing and the customer value chain as an alternative to the organization-centric transactional approach.

Relevance: The Power to Change Minds and Behavior: Andrea Coville (Bibliomotion: 2014); A somewhat rambling consideration of the value of relevance in a competitive market

Research-Based Web Design and Usability Guidelines: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Research-Based Web Design and Usability Guidelines: 2006); A collection of guidelines for developing Web sites, based on research (albeit sometimes outdated or specious research).

Retail Analytics: The Secret Weapon: Emmett Cox (Wiley: 2012); Explores the use of customer data (primarily market basket data) as a means to analyse and influence consumer purchasing behavior.

Sales Mastery: Chuck Bauer (Wileu: 2011); Tips and advice for personal selling from a seasoned industry veteran.

The Science of Human Nature: William Henry Pyle (Silver Burdett & Co.: 1917); A classical text on applied cognitive psychology that focuses on the memory and association of sense-data as the basis of thought.

Scientific Selling: Nancy Martini and Geoffrey James (Wiley: 2012); While stilted to promote services sold by the authors' consulting firm, this book also provides some general information on the use of applied psychology to improve sales and sales management.

Secrets of Selling Services: Stephan Schiffman (McGraw-Hill: 2013); Considers some of the peculiarities that are pronounced when attempting to convince customers of the value and reliability of an intangible.

Service Oriented Architecture Field Guide: Kyle Gabhart and Bibhas Bhattacharya (John Wiley & Sons: 2008); A high-level overview of service-oriented architecture (SOA), a recent trend in information systems development.

Shaping Web Usability: Albert N. Badre (Addison Wesley: 2002); An early exploration of the topic of usability - to be approached with caution, as the information is dated and, in some instances, or dubious validity.

The Shopper Economy: Liz Crawford (McGraw-Hill: 2012); Explores the notion of providing payment (cash or other rewards) to shoppers for various activities on the path to, but not inclusive of, purchasing products.

The Silent Language of Leaders: Carol Kinsey Goman (Jossey-Bass: 2011); An argument that posture, gesture, tone, expressions, and other elements of nonverbal communication can support or undermine the ability to practice leadership.

Six Immutable Laws of Mobile Business: Philip Sugai, Marco Koeder and Ludovico Ciferri (Wiley: 2009); Considers trends in mobile in Japan from both the business and consumer perspective, some of which may be relevant to the global market.

Smart Tribes: Christine Comaford (Gildan Media: 2013); An approach to making positive cultural changes within the organization based on the notion that leaders often scare their people into mediocrity.

Social Media Marketing for Business: Eileen Brown (BCS: 2010); A perspective on some ways in which commercial organizations can leverage social media, primarily to engage with customers

Social Media Marketing Handbook: Darren Barefoot and Julie Szabo (No Starch Press: 2010); A guide for marketing professionals who are seeking to leverage social media as a marketing channel.

Social Nation: How to Harness the Power of Social Media: Barry Libert (Wiley & Sons: 2010); An overview of networking that, while somewhat tainted by cheerleading and self-promotion, offers some interesting insights on encouraging the input and participation the groups of people who interact with a firm.

Socialnomics: Erik Qualman (Wiley: 2011); A fanboy's case for the impact of social media on commercial activities that, while melodramatic and distorted, presents some food for thought.

Socioeconomic and Legal Implications of Electronic Intrusion: Dionysios Politis, Phaedon-John Kozyris and Ioannis Iglezakis (IGI Global: 2009); A collection of articles that explore the phenomenon of electronic intrusion, including both e-crime and the various violations of personal privacy, consumer trust, and civil rights.

Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity: Erving Goffman (Simon & Shchuster: 1963); A sociological exploration of stigmatization of individuals within a society.

Successful Business Intelligence: Cindi Howson (McGraw-Hill: 2008); A high-level examination of recent trends in the use of technology to aggregate and analyze business data.

A Synthesis of Psychopolitics: Mohr, Ed (Tabernacle: 1976); While this book is of questionable origin and validity, it presents a number of plausible theories about the use of psychology to spread political ideologies.

Tangling with Tyrants: Tony Deblauwe (2006); Meant as a manual for employees who are dealing with bad management, this is an interesting read in the context of any relationship in which power is imbalanced.

The Theory of Money and Credit: Ludwig Von Mises (Liberty Fund: 1981); A foundational work on the origins of money, covering its foundations and sources of value through the early twentieth century.

The Theory of Moral Sentiments: Adam Smith (Millar: 1759); Defines basic principles about what is regarded as right and wrong, good or bad, desirable or undesirable as a basis for motivation and action.

Think Twice: Michael J. Mauboussin (Harvard Business Press: 2009); Considers some of the flaws in perception and procedure that cause otherwise intelligent people to make catastropic decisions.

The Third Screen: Chuck Martin (Brealey: 2011); A fairly reasonable consideration of the mobile channel, covering customer behavior and ways in which commercial interests can leverage the channel without becoming intrusive.

Treatise on Political Economy: Jean-Baptiste Say (Lippincott: 1855); A text on classical economics, written at the early stage of the industrial revolution, with attention to technology, services, and taxation.

A Treatise on Wages: Francis Walker (Macmillan: 1888); A consideration of wages as a component in the distribution of the revenues of productive/commercial organizations.

The Trouble with Markets: Roger Bootle (Brealey: 2009); A perspective on the economic crisis of 2007 that focuses on consumer debt, international trade imbalances, and dysfunction in the financial services industry.

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: John C. Maxwell (Nelson: 1998); A superchurch pastor shares insight on leadership as duty and service rather than power and control.

Understanding Emotions: Keith Oatley and Jennifer Jenkins (Blackwell: 1996); Considers the nature of emotions and their significance in cognition, motivation, and behavior of the individual and the values of a society.

U.S. Army Leadership Field Manual: Center for Army Leadership (CWL Publishing: 2004); A guide to leadership in the military, including the character, skills, and practices for providing leadership on various levels of a structured organization.

Using Emotions to Make Your Message Memorable: Vikas Gopal Jhingran (Career Press: 2014); In verbal communications, maintaining the interest of your audience and leaving a lasting impressions depends on the emotional impact of your speech.

Virtual Community Practices and Social Interactive Media: Demosthenes Akoumianakis (IGI Gloabl: 2009); A collection of academic papers written by various authors on a range of topics related to social media.

Web Metrics: Jim Sterne (John Wiley: 2002); A discussion of methods for assessing Web site data to provide meaningful information for decision making.

Web Site Usability: A Designer's Guide: Jared M. Spool (Morgan Kaufmann Publishers: 1999); Widely acknowledged as a foundational work in Web site usability, this book documents an extensive study into the factors that facilitate or frustrate users' attempts to use Web sites.

What is Six Sigma?: Pete Pande and Larry Holpp (McGraw-Hill: 2002); A concise overview of the Six Sigma methodology - but it should be approached with caution, as the tone is extremely promotional and polemical.

When Gadgets Betray Us: Robert Vamosi (Basic Books: 2011); Between the extremes of hysteria and foolhardiness, there is a level of valid concern over the way in which technology, particualrly mobile devices, poses a level of risk that merits consideration.

Why Service Stinks ... and Exactly What to Do About It: T. Scott Gross (Kaplan: 2004); An examination of problems with service in the retail industry that identifies key issues that degrade customer experience.

Workplace Negotiations: Richard Luecke (AMA: 2002); A course guide that considers the tactics for negotiation in the context of ongoing working relationships.

Writing Better Software Requirements: Ben Rinzler (John Wiley & Sons: 2009); A common-sense approach that departs from the current practice of complex and incomprehensible documentation techniques to arrive at clear, compelling, and usable requirements documents.

Your Mind and How to Use It: William Walker Atkinson (Elizabeth Towne Co.: 1911); Written in 1911, this manual for developing the powers of the human mind prescribes many procedures that are upheld even by the science of the present day.

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