Mathematics From Algebra to Algorithms: Adventures in Numbers by Michael Willers

 A fun mathematics book to refresh Algebra concepts in the context of its origin. It covered Algebra basics; ancient Greece; Egypt, India and Persia; Italian Connection; Post Renaissance Europe; and modern application in Money and Privacy. Each Topic is covered with its famous personality and a brief historical context. It is then accompanied by a set of sample problems. Each subtopic is covered in 2 pages. Overall its super fun to read and lot of good information.

Our Iceberg Is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions by John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber

This is the story about Penguins who adapted to the imminent change and moved onto a new way of life.  The characters in the story—Fred, Alice, Louis, Buddy, the Professor, and NoNo. These are the main points in the book.

SET THE STAGE

1. Create a sense of Urgency

* Do we have a strong "why" for our change ?

2. Pull Together the Guiding Team.

* Bring powerful group guiding the change.

DECIDE WHAT TO DO

3. Develop the Change Vision and Strategy

* Clarify how future will be different from past.

MAKE IT HAPPEN

4. Communicate for Understanding and Buy-In

5. Empower Others to Act

* Remove barriers and make the innovation happen.

6. Produce Short-term Wins

* Create some visible success ASAP

 7. Don't Let Up

* Press harder and faster after the first success

MAKE IT STICK

8. Create a new Culture

* Continue new behaviour until replace the old traditions.

Who moved my cheese?

Another great book to read. It’s the story of 2 mice and 2 little people. They always had their cheese in one place. One fine day, someone moved their cheese. It’s story of them adapting to the change.

Some key points:

Don’t blame the change and get annoyed. Rather anticipate the change, monitor the change and adapt to the change quickly. Change and enjoy the change!!

The One Minute Manager

 This is the about the book “ The One Minute Manager” by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson. The one minute manager starts with setting goals, praise & reprimand behaviors. It is all driven by care for people. This is the making of the one minute manager 😊

- Set one minute goals

- give one minute praisings

- give one minute reprimands

Zero to One Book by Blake Masters and Peter Thiel

 A very good read!!

Globalization brings in more competition in the market. Cut throat competition is actually bad for business, because it will eat into the profit margin. Creative monopoly is good. Patents will help business, and take the competition away by producing 10x better product compared to its nearest competitor. Also producing a business that will be around for a decade to come.

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

 I always thought that Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak were equals. Even the story started in that line and then it took a big departure from there. In his life time he worked with many ‘A’-players to invent amazing products and he had talent to pick smart engineers (and fire bozos). Apple as a company, it seems, was not for everyone. Some of his legacies

• Apple - II (with Steve Wozniak)
• Macintosh with GUI
• Ipod - carry music in pocket
• iTunes - saved music industry- tied with music industry which is a great feat
• Apple store - upscale store compared to standard computer peripherals shop
• iPhone - communication, music and photography all in one place
• iPad - movie, news and magazine - super successful 
• iCloud - new place for digital hub, demoting Macintosh
• Apple - a great company

So many inventions in a single lifetime is simply amazing. And according to author he will be counted among the likes of Edison and Ford.