Advice on business literature from Helen Edwards

We are pleased to present you a regular fresh selection of books from Helen Edwards, a SKOLKOVO Library project manager. You can read her previous advice on business literature here.

1. Fault lines: how hidden fractures still threaten the world economy
Raghuram G. Rajan
Princeton University Press, 2010
259 pages
ISBN 9780691146836

Just announced as winner of Financial Times Business Book of the Year 2010, Fault lines was written by one of the few economists to see the financial crisis coming. The book shows how the collective effect of individual choices, in themselves a rational response to the prevailing economic order, had the effect of exacerbating flaws in the financial system, leading to meltdown. The author believes that the dangers from the economic crisis are far from over and outlines the steps he thinks necessary to avert them.

And see http://www.ft.com/indepth/business-book-award-2010 for details and excerpts from all the FT short listed books.

2. The Facebook effect: the inside story of the company that is connecting the world
David Kirkpatrick
Virgin books, 2010
372 pages
ISBN 9780753522745

With the film The Social Network http://www.thesocialnetwork-movie.com/site/ just out, the Mark Zuckerberg story is attracting even wider interest. This book, also shortlisted for the FT Business Book of the Year award, was written by a reporter with inside access to Facebook's founders and key executives including Zuckerberg himself. It describes how Facebook was created but also the company's business culture and beliefs, its use of engagement marketing and the concept of "gifts" as the "cool" approach to advertising, how it makes money and its extraordinary impact on global communications.

3. The coaching kaleidoscope: insights from the inside
Manfred F. R. Kets De Vries; Laura Guillen Ramo; Konstantin Korotov and Elizabeth Florent-Treacy
Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.
256 pages
ISBN 978-0230239982

The purpose of executive coaching is to develop the practice of reflection for the benefit of individuals and their organisations. This book, based on experience at the INSEAD Global Leadership Centre and the European School of Technology and Management, Berlin, describes the research methodologies, interventions and techniques used for leadership development. There are also contributions from those experiencing coaching giving their view of their personal development.

4. The end of the free market: who wins the war between states and corporations
Ian Bremmer
Portfolio, 2010
240 pages
ISBN 9781591843016

This book discusses the growth of state capitalism and its effect on the global economy. It follows the rise of state-owned firms in China, Russia, the Arab world and Venezuela and also in India, Brazil and Mexico. How is global competition affected when market leading companies are in the hands of governments? And what are the implications for investors, business leaders and policy makers?


5. Energy predictions 2011 (pdf-version)
Deloitte Touche Tohmetsu Ltd Global Energy Research Group, 2010
13 pages

How useful are predictions in the everyday course of managing an energy business? This report, formed from in depth interviews with clients, analysts and energy practitioners, overviews the future for key energy sectors. Emerging markets are overtaking Europe in M&A activity, now accounting for 30% of new deals, and are likely to continue to be the fastest growing area. Sustainability and clean energy are key issues but is there the talent needed for their development?