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Business and Personal FinanceDecember 2014
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"If you want to be successful and reach your leadership potential, you need to embrace asking questions as a lifestyle" ~ from John C. Maxwell's Good Leaders Ask Great Questions
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New and Recently Released!
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| Bad Paper: Chasing Debt from Wall Street to the Underworld by Jake HalpernPart true crime narrative, part economic exposé, this illuminating book explores the shady but financially lucrative practices of debt collection, in which banks sell debts to debt collectors, some of whom then use immoral tactics and illegal maneuvers to hound debtors into paying their loans -- even when they don't have to (or already have). Bad Paper also tells the story of former Wall Street banker Aaron Siegel, who teamed with an ex-con to steal or intimidate his way to the top of the debt-collection industry; these are only two of the many individuals who come to life in this well-researched book by NPR journalist Jake Halpern. |
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| How to Speak Money: What the Money People Say -- and What It Really Means by John LanchesterIf you watch any news program about the economy or the financial industry, you'll hear plenty of terms that you may recognize but not fully understand, like "securitization" or "credit default swaps." If you'd like to get a better grip on these terms and others, check out this comprehensive (and yet still engagingly witty) primer, which explains how it all really works, including providing clear definitions of complex phrases. From topics like the true terms and conditions of personal checking accounts to deliberate omissions by bankers, you'll never be scared off by financial jargon ever again. |
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| Good Leaders Ask Great Questions: Your Foundation for Successful Leadership by John C. MaxwellLeadership trainer John C. Maxwell has been around for a long time -- long enough to have written more than 65 books. Here, he explains the importance of asking questions, especially for leaders. The book is divided into two parts: in part one, Maxwell expounds on the questions leaders must ask themselves and the members of their team, while in part two, he answers questions others have asked of him. His insight is valuable and practical, though interested readers unfamiliar with his work should note that Maxwell employs a strongly Christian focus in his work. |
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| How Google Works by Eric Schmidt and Jonathan RosenbergWritten by insiders -- both Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg are former Google senior executives who are still associated with the company -- this book shares the innovative tech giant's best practices, from hiring and managing employees to keeping customers happy. Probably of most interest to managers of technologically oriented teams or those managing "smart creatives," this is also a fascinating insider's peek at a company as famous for its data-driven initiatives as it is for its mantra "don't be evil." |
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Focus on: Sports and Business
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| Soccernomics: Why England Loses, Why Spain, Germany, and Brazil Win... by Simon Kuper and Stefan SzymanskiDrawing on a plethora of data, authors Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski provide fascinating insight into the reasons why soccer teams win or lose. From whether paying lots of money for individual players is worth it (no) to who's really the most soccer-mad (Norwegians), this engaging book is "Moneyball for soccer" (Booklist) and is sure to appeal to fans of the game as well as those interested in the economics of sport. |
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| Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael LewisMore than a decade ago, the general manager of the Oakland A's, Billy Beane, did something no one thought possible -- he built a successful baseball team out of relative unknowns and veterans on a payroll budget smaller than any other in the Major League. In 2002, journalist Michael Lewis was granted enough access to be present at many of the trades Beane orchestrated, resulting in a book that showcases Beane's abilities and a strategy that relied heavily on a creative use of statistics. |
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| The Billion Dollar Game: Behind the Scenes of the Greatest Day in American Sport by Allen St. JohnThe Super Bowl is just around the corner, but whether or not your team still has a chance to win that shiny trophy, you might be interested in learning what it takes to bring the Super Bowl to life. We're not talking team records here -- we're talking about the people that film and broadcast the game, set up equipment for half-time, and provide the beer. It takes a lot of preparation and planning -- and money (it's estimated that each Super Bowl has a $400 million impact on the local economy). Try Michael Oriard's Brand NFL for another look at the business of football. |
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| Come to Win: Business Leaders, Artists, Doctors, and Other Visionaries... by Venus Williams with Kelly E. CarterThe essays collected here are written by businessmen, politicians, artists, professional athletes, and so on -- all of whom explain how their experiences with playing sports have helped them attain success in their careers...and in life. While regular competitors, weekend warriors, and even those who've left their sporting days behind them may find some of the advice here to be comfortingly familiar, non-athletes may be pleasantly surprised -- and hopefully both groups will find the pointers completely spot on. "Solid advice," says Booklist. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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