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Category: Business & Careers
New Releases: August 2014 Highlights
by Dan
Business & Careers + Fiction + Mysteries and Thrillers + Science Fiction and Fantasy + Humour / July 28, 2014
Next month brings new books from Canadian authors Louise Penny and Guy Delisle, as well as international favourites Charles Cumming, Terry Goodkind, John Scalzi, and a certain Grumpy Cat. Here's our August preview of some of the big new books available from Raincoast:
FICTION
MYSTERY & THRILLERS
Charles Cumming
A brilliant novel of MI6 and modern espionage by the New York Times bestselling author of A Foreign Country and The Trinity Six.
A top-ranking Iranian military official is blown up while trying to defect to the West. An investigative journalist is arrested and imprisoned for writing an article critical of the Turkish government. An Iranian nuclear scientist is assassinated on the streets of Tehran. These three incidents, seemingly unrelated, have one crucial link. Each of the three had been recently recruited by Western intelligence. Then MI6’s most senior agent in Turkey, dies in a puzzling plane crash. Fearing the worst, MI6 bypasses the usual protocol and brings disgraced agent Tom Kell in from the cold to investigate.
Available August 5
"It’s hard not to root for a character like Kell—deeply cynical but still very much an idealist—and the bombshell plot twists toward the novel’s conclusion will have spy fiction aficionados eagerly awaiting the next installment."—Publishers Weekly
★ Indie Next List September 2014
Louise Penny
The new Chief Inspector Gamache novel from the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, How the Light Gets In.
Happily retired in the village of Three Pines, Armand Gamache, former Chief Inspector of Homicide, has found a peace he’d only imagined possible. But when his neighbour Clara Morrow tells him that Peter, her artist husband, has failed to come home, he gets up and joins her. Together with his former second-in-command, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, and Myrna Landers, they journey deeper and deeper into Québec. And deeper and deeper into the soul of Peter Morrow.
Available August 26
"The emotional depth accessed here is both a wonder and a joy to uncover"—Kirkus Reviews
Contemporary Fiction
Martha Woodroof
Readers will adore this inspiring debut of a small-town college professor, a remarkable new woman at the bookshop, and the ten-year old son he never knew he had.
A heartwarming story with a charmingly imperfect cast of characters to cheer for, Small Blessings' wonderfully optimistic heart that reminds us that sometimes, when it feels like life has veered irrevocably off track, the track shifts in ways we never can have imagined.
Available August 12
FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION
Terry Goodkind
From Terry Goodkind, author of the Sword of Truth series, comes a sweeping new novel of Richard Rahl, Kahlan Amnell, and their world.
From the far reaches of the D'Haran Empire, Bishop Hannis Arc and the ancient Emperor Sulachan lead a vast horde of Shun-Tuk and other depraved "half-people" into the Empire's heart, raising an army of the dead in order to threaten the world of the living. Meanwhile, far from home, Richard Rahl and Kahlan Amnell must defend themselves and their followers from a series of terrifying threats, despite a magical sickness that depletes their strength and which, if not cured, will take their lives… sooner rather than later.
Available August 5
From The Files of Boba Fett
Daniel Wallace, Ryder Windham and Jason Fry
Legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett bound together two volumes of great personal significance: an edition of The Bounty Hunter's Guild Handbook, and a recruiting booklet issued by Death Watch, a secretive splinter group of Mandalorians. Together, these volumes make up The Bounty Hunter Code, detailing the skills needed to make a living beyond galactic law as well as the little-known history, philosophy, and gear of Death Watch. With notes from the books' former owners, this collection serves as a crucial guide to the bounty hunter's essential tools and techniques.
Available August 19
John Scalzi
A blazingly inventive near-future thriller from the best-selling, Hugo Award-winning John Scalzi.
In the near-future, a highly contagious virus makes its way across the globe. For its unlucky victims—nearly five million people in the US alone—the disease causes 'Lock In': a state of being fully awake and aware, but unable to move or respond to stimulus.
A quarter of a century later, in a world shaped by what's now known as 'Haden's syndrome,' two FBI agents are assigned what appears to be a Haden-related murder, with a suspect who is an 'integrator'—someone who can let the locked in borrow their bodies for a time. Naming the murderer has never been more complicated.
Available August 26
"Hugo-winner Scalzi (Redshirts) successfully shifts away from space opera with this smart, thoughtful near-future thriller resonant with the themes of freedom, ethics, and corporate greed."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"This SF thriller provides yet more evidence that Scalzi (The Human Division, 2013, etc.) is a master at creating appealing commercial fiction."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
NONFICTION
Humour
And Other Poems by Kittens
Francesco Marciuliano
Just when we all thought things couldn't get any cuter, from the author of the New York Times bestselling I Could Pee on This comes I Knead My Mommy, a book of confessional poems about the triumphs, trials, and daily discoveries of being a kitten. From climbing walls to claiming hearts, these little cats bare all in such instant classics as "And Then You Said 'No,'" "Ode to a Lizard I Didn't Know Is Also a Pet in This House," and "I Will Save You." With adorable photos of the poetic prodigies throughout, this volume gives readers a glimpse into their confused and curious feline minds as they encounter the world around them.
Available August 5
Observations from Grumpy Cat
Grumpy Cat
In a world filled with inspirational know-it-alls and quotable blowhards, only one figure is indifferent enough to tell the cranky truth: Grumpy Cat. Following the success of her New York Times bestselling debut, everyone's favorite disgruntled feline is back with this demotivational guide to everyday life, love, friendship, and more. Featuring many new photos of Grumpy Cat's famous frown and packed with uninspiring observations, The Grumpy Guide to Life will help anyone get in touch with their inner grouch.
Available August 5
Even More Bad Parenting Advice
Guy Delisle
Laugh-out-loud anecdotes from the front lines of parenting.
Ever wanted to know how to be awarded the Best Dad in the Whole World? Guy Delisle has all the answers for you in these lighthearted, entertaining tales of parental mishaps and practical jokes gone wrong. Whether he's helping remove a pesky, wobbly, but not quite loose tooth or trying to win at hide-and-seek, his antics will resonate with every parent who has wanted to give a sarcastic answer to a funny question from their kid.
Available August 26
PERSONAL FINANCE
A Winning Vision for Multigenerational Wealth
Emily Griffiths-Hamilton
A fresh and accessible guide to successful wealth transition—for many generations.
Why do 70% of wealth transition plans fail? This is the question that Emily Griffiths-Hamilton sets out to answer in Build Your Family Bank, a book that looks closely at the core causes of wealth erosion and failed transition plans and offers a set of strategies for building successful wealth transition plans that will benefit many generations.
Available August 15
SCIENCE
The Science of Why Jokes Make Us Laugh, Movies Make Us Cry, and Religion Makes Us Feel One with the Universe
Jim Davies
A sweeping look at the psychological and evolutionary reasons that everyone is drawn to religion, conspiracy theories, and the news.
Why do some things pass under the radar of our attention, but other things capture our interest? What makes a story, a movie, or a book riveting? The past 20 years have seen a remarkable flourishing of scientific research into exactly these kinds of questions. Professor Jim Davies' fascinating and highly accessible book, Riveted, reveals the evolutionary underpinnings of why we find things compelling, from art to religion and from sports to superstition.
Available August 5
Check out our August preview for kids, middle grade, and teens.
Mom, Inc. Book Trailer
by Danielle
Business & Careers + Craft / May 16, 2012
Mom, Inc.
The Essential Guide to Running a Successful Business Close to Home
The Best Business Books of 2011
by Siobhan
Business & Careers / February 03, 2012
If you're looking for some good business reading, why not start with the best? Here are some business books that were highly praised in recent year-end review lists.
LeadershipNow.com Best Leadership Books of 2011 - See the full list
Lead with Purpose: Giving Your Organization a Reason to Believe in Itself, byJohn Baldoni (Amacom)
Consider: Harnessing the Power of Reflective Thinking In Your Organization, by Daniel Patrick Forrester (Palgrave Macmillan)
CEO Refresher.com Best Business Books of 2011 - See the full list
Make Your Own Rules: A Renegade Guide to Unconventional Success, by Wayne Rogers with Josh Young (Amacom)
Consider: Harnessing the Power of Reflective Thinking In Your Organization, by Daniel Patrick Forrester (Palgrave Macmillan)
Slow Down, Sell Faster!: Understand Your Customer's Buying Process and Maximize Your Sales, by Kevin Davis (Amacom)
The Elements of Power: Lessons on Leadership and Influence, by Terry R. Bacon (Amacom)
Full Engagement!: Inspire, Motivate, and Bring Out the Best in Your People, by Brian Tracy (Amacom)
Selling to Anyone Over the Phone: Connect With Every Customer; Generate Better Leads, Close More Sales, by Renee P. Walkup and Sandra McKee (Amacom)
CIO Insights10 Best IT-Business Books of 2011 - See the full list
The Power of Convergence: Linking Business Strategies and Technology Decisions to Create Sustainable Success, by Faisal Hoque, Lawrence M. Walsh and Diana L. Mirakaj (Amacom)
CIO Insights 11 Best Business Books for CIOs in 2011 - See the full list
The Elements of Power: Lessons on Leadership and Influence, by Terry R. Bacon (Amacom)
The Axiom Business Book Awards - See the full list
Winning Bronze in the Career (Job Search, Career Advancement) Category:
What's Next?: Follow Your Passion and Find Your Dream Job, by Kerry Hannon
Winning Silver in the Business Ethics Category:
Rebuilding Trust in the Workplace: Seven Steps to Renew Confidence, Commitment, and Energy, by Dennis Reina and Michelle Reina (Berrett-Koehler Publishers)
Winning Silver in the Advertising/Markting/PR/Event Planning Category:
The Experience Effect: Engage Your Customers with a Consistent and Memorable Brand Experience, by Jim Joseph (Amacom)
Winning Gold in the Women in Business Category:
Wander Woman: How High-Achieving Women Find Contentment and Direction, by Marcia Reynolds (Berrett-Koehler Publishers)
ALA Booklist Top Ten Business Books of 2011 - See the full list
Make Your Own Rules: A Renegade Guide to Unconventional Success, by Wayne Rogers with Josh Young (Amacom)
Poisoned Legacy: The Human Cost of BP's Rise to Power, by Mike Magner (St. Martin's Press)
Networking for People Who Hate Networking
by Dan
Business & Careers / August 31, 2010
One of the books that everyone was particularly excited about at the Raincoast Fall 2010 sales conference earlier this year was Networking for People who Hate Networking by Devora Zack (I think we could all relate!), and so we were really happy to see Macleans magazine review the book last week:
[Networking for People Who Hate Networking] starts with a reminder to introverts that they process the world differently. Whereas extroverts tend to discover “what they think by discussing their ideas,” introverts process by reflecting and thinking through, even writing down ideas. They shy away from meeting strangers. “If you don’t have the gift for chatter,” she writes, “focus on what you do have, a predisposition to watch and gather data. Tap into your high level of focus, combine deep listening with well-formed questions, and you need never be at a loss for conversation...”
Whereas extroverts dazzle with light banter, introverts excel in the aftermath of meetings and events with thoughtful follow-up. Focus on one or two people you’d like to keep in touch with, and send a personalized note via actual mail, referencing something they said from your introductory conversation. Or, if it’s an email, send an article or link relevant to your conversation. “Being thoughtful is better than just sending information about yourself, which can be perceived as too aggressive,” says Zack. “You’ll make a smashing second impression.”
Devora, who is a recognized expert in the field of leadership development, has also just recorded this new video about the book:
Make it Meaningful
by Sarah
Business & Careers + Health & Wellness / June 28, 2010
Once again, Berrett-Koehler's eNewsletter provides a solid half-hour of good reading, covering everything from the insightful to the silly. On the insightful side is the second edition of Alex Pattakos' book, Prisoners of our Thoughts: Viktor Frankl's Principles For Discovering Meaning In Life And Work.
In his book, Pattakos captures seven core principles—inspired by the writings of psychiatrist, neurologist, philosopher and best-selling author (!) Viktor Frankl—to apply to various work and life situations.
My favourite is Pattakos' fifth principle:
Look at yourself from a distance. Only human beings possess the capacity to look at themselves from a distance, with a sense of perspective, including the uniquely human trait known as your sense of humor.
Check out a PDF sneak-peek of the book to read about the other six principles.
In a recent blog post, Pattakos discusses five ways in which we can find meaning in the setbacks and problems we experience daily.
Alex Pattakos will be in metro Vancouver on August 6, 2010 to speak at the 6th Biennial International Conference on Personal Meaning. For more information and to register for the conference, check out the International Network on Personal Meaning website.
Women at Work
by Siobhan
Business & Careers / May 27, 2010
The latest issue of the Berrett-Koelher Publishers eNewsletter focuses on women in the workplace. They're not questioning whether women can or cannot do certain jobs (I like to think that question had been resolved by now), but instead how women work differently than men.
In their book, The Female Vision: Women's Real Power at Work, Sally Helgesen and Julie Johnson explore how women often see things differently than men, why this occurs, and how those observations inform women's actions in the workplace. She goes on to illustrate why these differences matter and how women’s vision can make a significant, positive difference in the workplace.
In a recent blog post, author Sally Helgesen writes about five ways in which women observe the world - and the workplace - differently than men do. As much as I resist sterotyping male and female behaviour, I can't help but seeing truth in her observations.
What do you think? What differences have you noticed between men and women's observations, attitudes or actions in the workplace?
Click here to read an excerpt from The Female Vision: Women's Real Power at Work.
Henry Mintzberg #33 on The List of Big Thinkers
by Crystal
Business & Careers + News / October 19, 2009
Congratulations to Professor Henry Mintzberg, author of MANAGING. Professor Mintzberg was #33 on a “top 50” list of the most influential management and business thinkers, “world changers” as selected by readers of the Thinkers 50 website, and published in The Times of London.
Also if you missed it follow this link for a fascinating interview that Professor Mintzberg did for Report On Business with The Globe and Mail Online several weeks ago.
The Essence of Managing
by Crystal
Business & Careers + Current Affairs / September 24, 2009
The phone has been ringing off the hook with press inquiries about the the new book MANAGING by Henry Mintzberg. It's no wonder with the global economic crisis that is weighing so heavily on everyone's mind.
From the Toronto Star:
The outspoken professor reckons the country has been brought to its knees by decades of short-term management on Wall Street and the likes of Nortel and GM, which inflated the importance of CEOs and reduced others to a replaceable commodity.
“The banks and other U.S. corporations were managed by egocentrics who ran companies into the ground. Human resources are downsized at the drop of a share price. What a monumental failure of management.”
From Canadian Business Magazine:
Mintzberg's latest book, Managing, published this month, just a day before his 70th birthday, promises to be as divisive as ever. It argues that companies are over-led and under-managed; it calls for the elimination of leadership as a separate discipline since good leadership is part of good management; and it says middle managers should help hire top execs. It was a failure to grasp some of these fundamentals that helped trigger the global banking crisis. “How could anyone buy those mortgages? That stuff was obviously junk,” he says. As such, the path to economic recovery won't be achieved through top-down or bottom-up management strategies, but by middle managers--the very level that has long been gutted by companies struggling to cut costs.
Why are good managers so hard to find? Anyone learning to be a manager should start with this book. From the Globe and Mail:
Managing is sprawling, complicated, contradictory stuff, and Prof. Mintzberg, to his credit, approaches it in that manner. If you're looking for quick, easy answers, don't look here. He has spent a decade ruminating over those 29 days he spent following managers, and delights in sharing his thoughts with those who like him admire managers and want some clues - but understand they will never get certainty - on how to do it better. This will be an important textbook in classrooms bringing together not only his own research and thoughts but also weaving in a century of writings by others. It will also reassure individual managers that what they do is important and not easy, and no doubt provoke some changes in their thinking.
So what does it take to be a good manager?
Should we do away with all email?
Has management changed at all in the last 100 years?
What variety of manager are you?
Watch this interview from Karl Moore at The Globe and Mail online where these questions are posed.
MANAGING is just that! managing--pure if not simple. It is the essence of managing. This book is a must read for anyone taking on a management role in life.
Image courtesy of globeandmail.com
AMACOM launch new website
by Dan
Business & Careers + News / May 28, 2009
Our colleagues at AMACOM Books, the book publishing division of the American Management Association, have launched their new website this week.
You can find out more at their blog, and you can also follow them on Twitter . And they're on Facebook too!
David Korten: Let Wall Street Fail
by Dan
Business & Careers + Current Affairs + Environment / February 03, 2009
The economic crisis is the worst since the Great Depression.
But, in his new book AGENDA FOR A NEW ECONOMY, David Korten, author of WHEN CORPORATIONS RULE THE WORLD and THE GREAT TURNING, says that the measures taken to address it will not to deal with the reality of a failed economic system. And worse--the consequences of the system's social and environmental failures may ultimately be even more destructive than the current financial collapse.
Our hope lies not with Wall Street institutions that have perfected the art of creating “phantom wealth” without producing anything of real value, argues Korten--it is with a new kind of economy that is locally based, community oriented, and devoted to creating a better life for all.
In this recent interview with David Brancaccio of PBS's NOW, David Korten explains why he believes the Obama Administration should completely reinvent the financial sector:
AGENDA FOR A NEW ECONOMY: From Phantom Wealth To Real Wealth is published later this month.