Book Review: Spheres of Influence

 Spheres  of Influence by Brad Englert

The book can boast of a good collection of operating principles that apply to all business relationships. Understand their goals and aspirations, as well as expectations, and it will genuinely lead one to success. It is covered in two parts, one discussing the internal sphere of influence, and the other the external one. In 4 chapters, Part 1 of the book examines the internal issues from one's boss to one's friends and co-workers. The three chapters of part 2 traces the pivotal roles, customers, influences, and trade partners play. Real-life examples illustrate convincingly, almost all the new ideas presented.

Since we are in a world where most of our life is spent in professional interactions and joint activities, meaningful connections mean a lot. This book, with actionable insights, practical advice, and fitting anecdotes, lays down a clear path. The professional in one can follow it and become a partner to all, whether in managing expectations, resolving issues, or in fostering companionship. Also, adopting collaborative strategies and neutralizing hurdles can work wonders with productivity, and bring out the professional in one. A successful career, then becomes something unstoppable.

Book Review: The Lean-Agile Dilemma

The Lean-Agile Dilemma: Product Management Inside a Chunky Corporate by Katie Tamblin

The book begins with a discussion, contrasting startups. How, the freedom to innovate drives growth, while the chunky corporate remain focused on stability in order to flourish. It then goes into the challenges of maintaining a product direction and a vision that can guide in establishing priorities. Followed by another discussion that addresses the  question of adapting to and reacting appropriately to market disruptions, and how to handle data to make it play its part well. The significance of products, customers, and good communication that links all, is then examined. After pointing out the irreplaceable need of good inter-departmental cohesion, the book concludes with a bunch of valuable advice that covers the full book.

This book addresses a common issue with the corporate environment that causes tension, missed deadlines, and inefficient working practices. With new insights about things like re-platforming or new product development, it can help product and technology leaders navigate software development projects at organizations facing multiple constraints. I think, chunky corporate have a lot to gain from this book. They have an opportunity to imbibe the final thoughts of this book and be in safe havens in a perpetually unstable world.  

Book Review: Prolegomena to any future metaphysics

Prolegomena to any future metaphysics by Kant.

This book is actually an introduction to the metaphysics, we humans should be having among us, so says the author. So, to begin with,the book defines and establishes metaphysics as a collection of ideas we derive, not from our experience, not from our internal feelings or calculations, but apriori from pure reason. The discussion then hovers around a few questions like how to make science possible, or what role can metaphysics play. It then takes up an important issue of making metaphysics gel with science, while retaining all its speculative character. All this can transform it into a study of pure reason, the book concludes.

Though it took some time to make out, I find the ideas presented in these pages linked in a rather intuitive way.

 

Slow scientific growth?

 I have mentioned it in my book Human Element of the Human.  Scientific thinking became hugely popular thanks to the 'omnipotent' god dethroning almost all 'known' proponents of whatever peculiarity, abnormality, or all other notable things of the world. And,  science continued it, more and more of such 'unexplainables' finding an easy explanation or cure. Now, as our stock of unexplainables dwindle, won't scientific progress slow down? If so, what will happen to scientific thinking?