The LinkedIn Playbook. Contacts to customers. Adam Houlahan. 2022. ISBN 978064535380.   This is a revision to his 2016 book.  It’s good. Very good in fact. The author takes you from the why to the how and is thorough and detailed. I considered myself quite current on LinkedIn but found several tips and ideas that I could use right away. As the LinkedIn audience becomes more sophisticated, we need to always be putting our best foot forward to make good use of this resource and our time.  A quick read as he has a very easy style and helps you make sense of things.

Churchill’s Shadow. An astonishing life and a dangerous legacy. Geoffrey Wheatcroft. 2021. ISBN 9781324002765. From the first to the last page, I was riveted by the authors take on Churchill.  Very well researched, annotated and with a plethora of authors notes this looks to be a definitive review of what turns out to be a very flawed man.  His impact on world affairs is shown to run through many events well subsequent to his death and not to the wisest decisions.  He also comes across as quite a disagreeable racist even for his times.  His stance in 1940-41 when Britain was in its depths is shown to be his sole redeeming part to play.  Before that and after his major decisions had serious flaws which cost too any lives.   I had always held up his serious writing proclivity as a mark of greatness, now I learn that he only wrote his own speeches while hiring hordes of ghost writers to write his books. as well he was the richest author of his time, dodging taxes and what not to gather in the spoils.  I had had not realized the thrall that the US politicians held him in (and still do). Roosevelt disliked him and most things British, which meant he held off getting into WWII until the Japanese forced their hand.  Thus, the dangerous legacy holds true.   As well the author holds that Churchill directed his writers to rewrite/record history as to how he thought it should be not how it was.  A lengthy but useful book for political scientists and historians

Sell Without Selling Out. Andy Paul. 2022, ISBN 978177458088.  Andy sent me an early version of this book and I am glad he did.  This book is so ethical. It fully respects the customer and the seller. It’s not a formula or magic bullet, but it is so true. Early on he says you are not there to sell the client; you are attempting to influence their buying decision.    Each section rings so true in the daily life of selling yet many will find that they are not doing the right things now.   Clearly written you will zip through this, but it deserves a thoughtful read.

Red Roulette. An insider’s story of wealth, power, corruption, and vengeance in today’s China. Desmond Shum. 2021. ISBN 9781982156176.  This is a telling book. Much of what we have seen China do to its own people, Hong Kong and recently expats falls into place.  The regime exists to protect the well-being of those in power, their relatives and no one else.  The author believed in their system, followed all the “hidden” rules, grew wealth but ultimately lost everything, and his own wife’s life to the regime. Your eyes will be opened to what really goes on in China and how things get done. It is a very readable book that would make any business person think long and hard about doing business in China.  One can only think that Hong Kong is in for an inexorable take over in all things to benefit the mainland regime.  I would also support ensuing that China does not grab Taiwan in some way.  Canada and the US can no longer pussy foot around this.

Value(s). Building a better world for all. Mark Carney. 2021. 978-1-5417-6871-0. I have been impressed with Carney’s career ((from Ft Smith, NWT to Governor of Bank of England and now his Un posting wrto Climate Change. The book is thorough, deeply researched and timely.  His chapters on Climate change and Covid are worthwhile reading for all of us.  His explanations on how we got here to present and different definitions of value are prescient.  It should be required reading for all politicians and bureaucrats. He is a straight shooter and you can see how he could guide Canada through the financial crisis and the UK to be prepared for Brexit. He is a thinker and a planner.  He would be a stellar PM for Canada but I doubt he would take on the job.  The book is engaging, and not trivial.