Club Reviews: BUSINESS WITHOUT THE BULLSH*T

BUSINESS WITHOUT THE BULLSH*T: 49 Secrets and Shortcuts You Need to Know. Geoffrey James. Business Plus.

My first reaction to the book when I saw the "49 secrets and shortcuts" was oh no not another "to do or not to do" book.  But, to be honest, I was not even through the Introduction when I saw this book to be very practical and a simple book with a concept that can be employed right now!  Right away my intrigue began with the thought that today we are all freelancers, we are our own bosses, we have to sell ourselves, clarity creates power, people trump technology, courage is critical, belief drives results, and business is simple.  All straightforward points that are very actionable.  After reading the Introduction, I was already convinced after my 50 years in the business world myself, that Geoffrey was right on target!
I found Part I on "How to Manage Your Boss" (Secrets 1-7) to be very interesting.  It is a great reminder to both boss and associate that relationships are symbiotic and that to achieve any kind of success both need the other.  I found the 12 types of bosses both humorous but also very accurately describing what I have seen myself in the business world.  James talks about 7 things you can do to keep your boss happy and I found them all to be very true.  Most of us desire to advance and move up.  "Getting your boss working for you" certainly shares ideas that will go a long, long way towards success.  It is an absolute truth that not many of us like performance reviews, both boss and associate, but Secret 4 goes a long way in making the process of performance appraisal productive.  Secret 6 on "handling unreasonable requests" is super!  If in fact the boss and associate relationship is symbiotic then honesty is a must.
Part II "How to Manage Your Co-Workers" (Secrets 8-14) is timely because working with your peers and your boss is critical to success.  I found all 7 Secrets to be right on target for anyone's personal success.  We all need to earn respect, play clean office politics, recruit a mentor, deal with annoying co-workers, and yes we have to deal with those pesky organizational; lawyers, make effective use of social media and last but not least shine in meetings.
In Part III (Secrets 15-21) we see how James defines what really great leaders do to manage their people.  I found Secret 15 to be very intriguing.  James says that good leaders do not view businesses as battlefields and they do not make the competition the enemy.  They take on their competitors through diversity, building great teams, and forming partnerships.  Secret 16 reminds leaders of a very important point, we manage people not numbers.  Secret 17 offers some great insights on how to make criticism effective and not defective. 
Part IV (Secret 22-28) shares some great thoughts on managing ones self.  I found Secret 23 to be very helpful.  All of us look to create more time.  We are busy and time is a valuable asset.  James offers some great ideas on how to create time. Read Part IV!
Part V (Secrets 29-35) is very important because it shares some ideas on how to better communicate.  I found James "5 Rules for Business Communications" in Secret 29 to be right on target and very helpful.  Secret 33 is another nugget.  All leaders speak to audiences and James speaks to how "to work the room" to be a more effective communicator.
Part VI (Secret 36-42) shares some very important ideas if you find yourself trying to manage an emergency.
Finally, in Part VII (Secret 43-49) we are exposed to "How to Cope with Evils."  This is a MUST READ and covers everything from dealing with dirty office politics, coping with management fads, spotting lies, identifying bogus statistics, when its OK to lie to your boss and how to safely be a whistle blower.  Secret 44 and the part on management by consensus really got my attention.  After my 50 years in the business world, most leading large organizations,  I would say from experience that managing by consensus is a huge mistake.  Too often I found that management by consensus meant management by everyone and that never worked for me!  At some point on some things, someone has to decide.  As James tells us, consensus normally does not deal with tough issues so we wind up on soft issues and usually remaining at status quo.  Secret 48 "The 7 Times It Is OK to Lie to Your Boss" is quite humorous.  I would have said it is NEVER OK to lie to your boss but James offers some very interesting insights.  But when all is said and done, I am only partially convinced.
In conclusion, this is a very good and interesting book.  It grabs your attention and holds it.  There are many great insights!  But I would never have call these 49 Secrets.  To me they are more management TIPS that are seldom and often poorly used. Doug Newberry Antioch, Tn.

Now, I really enjoyed this book.  Even though the title starts off with the word "Business" most of the content could apply to personal life, not just professionally.  This book is something I would definitely share with my 2 young adult children as they are relatively new in the business world & hopefully would welcome the advice it contains.  The author made it easy to read, yet didn't dumb it down. Terri Bryant, Davie

I'm a business book junkie and I believe they all have good and effective strategies to use in order to succeed in business.  But this one, "Business without the Bullsh*t" is a treasure trove of "how to" address everyday challenges in the workplace.  The "secrets" are presented in a very simple and easily understood manner.  As a result, the reader can apply them right away in their work environment confident that he/she will succeed. I especially enjoyed the section on "The Twelve Types of Bosses". I constantly found myself identifying with one of the types of bosses that the author mentioned and wishing I had had this book to refer to. This is definitely a book you want to keep at arms length and make a point of reviewing every week if your goal is to genuinely succeed in business. Alex R. Camacho, Miami

Business without the bullshit. Does that exist?  And can one get ahead in today’s work world without both perpetrating and learning to accept a healthy dose of bullshit?  It’s a great name for a book and immediately sparked my interest. Finally, a guy that tells it like it is, no holds barred. 
I tend to skip the introduction in most books. I usually find that the author talks a lot but doesn’t really say anything of value.  This time, I did read the introduction and I’m glad I did, because I actually found it to contain the most insightful statements of the book.  The premises of Everyone Is a Freelancer, You Are Your Boss and You Must Sell Yourself, pretty much encapsulate the thinking you must have and the actions you need to take in order to get ahead in today’s work climate. James nails it right from the beginning when he says you have to realize that the days of Company loyalty in return for all your hard work and an expectation of job security are long gone. We are all really just commodities now.  If a Company can find someone to do it cheaper, that’s probably the way they are going to go, even if the quality of the work is lower. 
According to James, the only way to make it through is to always consider yourself as a freelancer and to act accordingly.  You have to constantly be selling and reselling yourself and your services to Management in order to reinforce your value in hopes of being deemed irreplaceable.  At the same time, you need to always be on the lookout for new and better opportunities, keeping your options open and your resume updated so that you are ready to go at a moment’s notice.  Much in the same way Management would drop you without a moment’s hesitation.  He also says you must re-think how you see your boss.  Don’t think of your boss as managing you.  You need wake up and do your own managing.  You have to be managing yourself, your boss, your coworkers and the direction of your own career all at the same time.  You really are your own boss and there is not a moment to rest.  You must be constantly taking action that will “serve your greater purpose”.
I think that pretty much sums up a lot of the book.  Throughout the chapters, James presents scenarios, ideas, tips and tricks.  To be honest, I found much of what he said to be common sense and it wasn’t anything I hadn’t heard before. It was easy enough reading and amiable in its way.  But it also got me thinking something else. Isn’t putting forth whole sets of ideas that most people would just consider the common sense thing to do and a re-hashing of all the same things you’ve read and heard before over and over again its own form of bullshit?  I think so. And that realization turned me off from the book for a bit.
That being said, I did find some of the ideas in the section about managing your boss area to be valuable. James got me thinking about a boss and the relationship to the employee in a much different way than I had before. He says that instead of thinking of the person in that role as a Boss, think of him as someone who is providing you with a service. Some examples he gives are that your Boss gets you resources you need to get the job done, help to solve interdepartmental issues and works to secure money to get you a raise.  That makes me think of a boss in much more user friendly terms. It’s also nice to think of my boss as servicing me instead of my being the one to provide all the services while he reaps all the benefits. 
James talks about the twelve types of bosses which are differentiated by the boss’s motivations in his own career.  By correctly identifying your boss’s type and shaping your approach to him accordingly, you will make your relationship a much more effective and less contentious one.  By helping your boss get to where he wants to go, you are paving the road that will help you get you where you want to go.
He also talks thinking about the Boss not only as someone who has the power to influence what happens to you but as a regular person who, like most people, cares about the opinions of others.  He says that you should actively cultivate your boss’s peers into your own social network. These are the people who your boss listens to and whose opinions he values. Those are the people who affect his own opinions and ultimately, his opinion of you.  If those people like you and see your value and want you around, that message will make its way back to your boss and he will be influenced to like and want you around too.
So, do I recommend the book?  There were only a couple of sections that I thought were really great.  But when I think about it, both of those areas were strong enough and insightful and valuable enough to cause me to re-shape my thinking. That in itself is the highest level of praise. Rivka Kaminetzky

This was an enjoyable book and an easy read.  Geoffrey James lists 49 of what he calls ‘secrets and shortcuts’ you need to know in business,  many of which are just plain common sense.  The format makes it easy for you to search for an topic that might be troubling you, and at the end of each section he recaps his ideas, driving home the important points.
I particularly liked the section of how to communicate and more particularly ‘how to write a compelling email’.  That little secret alone should be mandatory for all incoming employees.  It’s almost like teaching a student how to write a thesis.  In this day of instant communication an effective email is a must. 
For anyone looking for a job, a must read is the section on not only how to get the job interview, but how to ace it. 
All in all, these concise little common sense tips should make life a little bit easier in the world of business if not in your private life as well. Emily Gilday

This is a book I really enjoyed. It cuts to the chase in many areas that are useful for business and for human interactions in general. Dealing with your boss may not be very different than dealing with your wife, after all.
Another good thing about the book is that you can read every paragraph from the perspective of being a boss or being an employee and you extract slightly different perspectives, both useful. At the end of each chapter there is a bulleted key points list that is not very useful if you don't read the chapter first, but very much if you have done so.
I'd like to point out a couple of chapters that stand on their own for brevity and clarity: Chapter 34, how to negotiate an agreement, is a 5 page excellent summary on the topic, and if you don't have time to read entire books dedicated to the topic (getting to yes probably the best one) this little gem will start you on the right track. How to have enough time, (Ch. 23) is also very useful for its simplicity and content.
In summary, many good lines of solid advice can be found in this book. Entertaining, to the point and highly recommendable. No BS here. Miguel Cobas, Miami

 What a fun, entertaining romp about the truth and lies about business as usual.
This little book had many pearls and pointers that should guide any office worker from the neophyte to the senior management.
Mandatory reading for new hires and survivalists in any office environment. Marv Stein, Coral Springs

I think the subtitle (49 Secrets and Shortcuts You Need to Know) says it all, and I only wish I had this book, or a good mentor, many years ago.  As it is, I’ll definitely pass this copy on to family and friends, so maybe they’ll have less trials and tribulations at work.
The book is separated into 7 “parts” – how to manage your boss, your coworkers, your employees, and yourself; and how to  communicate, handle emergencies, and cope with evil.  (What?? EVIL in the office?? Boy, was I naïve back then…) The “secrets” are short, and are summarized at the end of the topic.  Most of all, this is a commonsense book for surviving not only in the workplace, but in life. Betty G Hubschman, Whitsett, North Carolina


I like that this book is written in seven parts and is designed to jump in right wherever you need advice most.
The parts are:
1) How to manage your boss
2) How to manage your coworkers
3) How to manage your employees
4) How to manage yourself
5) How to communicate
6) How to handle emergencies
7) How to cope with evil
In each section, James identifies secrets and shortcuts you may use to get ahead of whoever your competition happens to be or if you want to help others make it in the world of work.
I liked the twelve management styles in the first section and I think it set the tone for the easy read of the rest of the book.
I read each section as they were presented and found that I really did not need to.  Did not have to remember what the previous sections stated before reading any of the other sections.  I did keep in mind the first two parts on Managing your boss and coworkers though.  This to me is a big part of who I deal with on a daily basis.  I can keep the customer happy just by answering their questions, but, if I am not careful with my co-workers, my work life could be difficult.
The  “Five Rules for Business Communication” part I liked.  We are told why it is important to be clear about the specific reason for communication. Mr. James states it’s critical to know the preferred medium of the person to whom the communication is directed, whether that’s face-to-face, phone, or email. Messages must to be short and to the point, while being absent of buzzwords and jargon.  How true!!
The entire work covers many points one can put to use on the spot: job interviews; office politics; layoffs; stress; rejection; failure; and what to do if you screw up are only a few.
This is a "Perfect" read for someone just out of college and perhaps should be a daily or weekly reader. Forrest Carper

While I might call bullsh*t on Geoffrey James designating the tactics and techniques in this book "secrets", Business Without the Bullsh*t is a practical business read full of useful thinking points for both managers and employees.
The seven parts of the book are divided into helpful categories that allow either a quick read cover to cover, or an engaging reference for particular circumstances.  I actually printed the "How to Keep Your Boss Happy" Secret and gave it to two young employees to show them that what I kept telling them about how to advance their careers and keep me from going off the deep end was not complete balderdash.  This information is, at times, full of buzzwords and banality.  Regardless, as a manager, it is important to reflect on the topics presented on a constant basis, to ensure the business is running effectively, efficiently, and effortlessly.  Clichés are clichés for a reason.
Whether it be handling an emergency, considering the next hire, or communicating with the younger generation of workers, the fact that Business Without the Bullsh*t made me think, gave me ideas, and assisted with potential solutions makes it a book that will stay on my shelf. Scott Rembold, Coral Gables

Business Without the Bullshit is simplistic approach to business with not much substance and relevance to today's approach to business. Low rating at best. Ron Groce

This is a wonderfully titled book of simple and mostly obvious concepts, some of which bear reminding. However this book is flawed. The good news is however you can search for what is relevant to you in a clear table of contents and read those portions and get something out of this book.
The book is organized in an efficient manner and chapters are called “secrets” and they are short. They are so short one has to wonder why a shortcut appears at the end of every secret because at a certain point I found myself just reading the shortcuts. And I can tell you exactly at what point in the book that happened.
Secret 12 is titled how to handle corporate lawyers and this is where I began to lose interest in the message and had to wonder exactly what provoked such a biased almost irrational diatribe from the author. The author clearly believes attorneys are deal breakers and it is almost always best to leave lawyers out of the process and if you must use an attorney then you must also minimize their “legal gibberish”. And you are warned to never rush an attorney’s work or you will be punished. I believe conversely a good lawyer can be a deal maker and add value as a creative and effective problem solver. That has been my experience.
The author became less credible to me as a source of helpful information. I may not have agreed with every point prior however I did think most of the secrets had merit and were worthy reminders to focus, prioritize, communicate effectively, do what you say you will do, be respectful and so on. However I discovered the simple approach is too simple and leaves out too much.
The author makes a point of the importance of making decisions and moving on. But nowhere does he share the insight that when you’ve made a mistake with a decision, own it and fix it. That has been my experience.
With regard to meetings the author suggests they are generally a waste of time and writes if you don't want to attend a meeting "create an excuse that's plausible but not insulting." I find meetings to be important as they provide the benefit of collaborating face to face with others to share, create, prioritize and improve upon singular ideas. That has been my experience.
Above are a few examples of what I did not like in this book. I did like the organization and some of the tactics and techniques presented. My favorite shortcut is “expect something wonderful to happen every day.” This book is full of some good secrets but in my opinion important secrets are missing, the shortcuts should be at the end as a recap and some secrets are simply flawed. Lynn Wiener
The book is full of great advice, here are some of my favorites :
You can catch stress from others! Called mirror neurons, so stay away from stressed people, who seem to be every where in today's business world.
Common Boss lies " We are one big happy family".
The book also offers some great tips, I found this one" the most difficult part of time management is not changing the things you do, it is having the courage and discipline to track what you are actually doing", knowledge is power.
Your resume according to the book is useful for 2 things, positioning for a new job or strengthening your ability to do your current job.
You must create yourself as a brand in today's world. Your photo is your brand logo, brand image is your literacy and your social networking is your media.
I found this to be a great book for all business levels from interns to CEO's and I recommend it for any one in business, no matter what type.
Get the job done and cut out the BS!
Thumbs up on this one! Cynergy Egbert
What an eye opening read…
The book title and tag line led me to believe the book would focus on building a business.  What I found inside was a well written guide to surviving the evolving changes in today's workplace.
Over the past 20-30 years business has changed.  The employee/employer relationship is not expected to last for a decade, let alone a career.  Continuous change is the norm.  How has corporate management and the workforce adjusted?  If  you don't understand this, either as a manager or employee, you may become extinct.
In this book, author Geoffrey James guides you through today's changing workplace.  Each chapter includes the key take always at the end to use as reference when needed.
Business without the bullshit is your guide to managing and surviving today's workplace environment.  From intern to seasoned manager, everyone will find insights to building better interactions in their workplace.
I strongly recommend this book for  anyone looking to elevate their careers. John Phillips

This book is not only  well written  but it is also  full of insights and  applicable suggestions. It is an excellent reference book to keep and review  periodically.  I enjoyed reading it and discussing some of the suggestions with coworkers and friends.  The only disappointment when reading the book was that I wished the author would had  included more about the actual research and interviews done  preceding the publication of the book.  As the author indicated that his book is the culmination of many years or research and interviews with “hundreds of executives”. However,  I still consider this book one of the most valuable business books written in the last 10 years. Pilar Somoza, North Bay Village

Geoffrey James authors and shares business insights through one of the most popular blogs and widely followed Twitter feeds available. Through these outlets, James offers countless suggestions and recommendations on how to become more effective, efficient and successful in the business industry. Theses publications have served as the catalyst for the development of this book. In this book James offers 49 secrets divided into 7 general subject areas. Each of the subject areas as well as the secrets may be read in any order as determined by the reader. This format makes the book useful as a reference guide for managers when faced with specific situations as well as a primer for anyone working in a business environment.
The section on How To Communicate was of exceptional value as it provided 7 secrets that could be of value to managers of any level of experience. In general, this section, as well as the entire book, encourages and identifies ways for business managers to “streamline” (minimize Bullsh*t) in all facets of work. James feels the streamlining will improve the business environment by eliminating the things that “Bog Down” the process. While I can support the need to streamline all business practices and quite frankly to eliminate the BullSh*t, the book at times is too rigid in it positions. It can not be forgotten that successful management is an art and the skillful manager will know when to dramatically streamline a process or communication and when not too. A manager with limited experience may not be able to ascertain the appropriate times it is appropriate to implement these suggestions and when not to. If a newly named manager sends a too blunt or simplistic email (i.e. We need to Hire Richard as editor.), it may not be well received by upper management. It is also important for managers to recognize the preferred skills and methods of their boss and/or organization. As James suggests in section 1, Secret number 2, How to keep your Boss Happy – Communicate Clearly. Clearly should be by the boss’s definition!
Despite these concern, I found the book to be an enjoyable and informative read and would not have any reservation recommending it to other, although I would also offer my own warning regarding the blanket use of all of its secrets without first examining the current work environment.  Andy Gillentine

This book was one of those books you pick up and before you know it it’s done!
It was a great book! It is perfect for anyone who is starting a new business, or role.
The insightful no nonsense secrets and shortcuts are easy reading and readily applicable to daily business. My favorite was #23 How to have enough time.
It seems there is no shortage of time management gurus but Mr. James does a nice job of keeping it simple and concise
A great read—Highly recommended. Chip Moody Jr.

I really enjoyed this book and will be rereading it again to ensure I retain all the teachings.  The book certainly lives up to it's title.  Geoffey James does a great job of providing the readers with proven techniques to accelerate your business success.  He sheds light on how to best deal with bosses and manage employees while also giving you insights on how to effectively communicate ideas.  There's over 40 different secrets and techniques, it's tough to pick my favorites.  I found every chapter even more interesting than the previous one.  james' humor and writing style kept me hooked from page one.  Enjoy the read! David Mesas

I highly recommend Business Without the Bullsh*t to anyone in the working world or those that might join us one day (which means YOU unless you are one of the lucky few whose great  great grandfather invented plastic or something). It is chock full of practical tips that can assist you with dealing with real world situations at working, regardless if you are a Chief or an Indian. The best part is that he cuts out all of the fluff that other books have and gets right to the point.
While the book is laid out in a manner that allows you to jump around and read the sections that look like they apply the most to your situation, and not every topic is going to apply to you on a regular basis, since it is a quick read, I would make a point of reading it cover to cover. I realize that every topic doesn't apply everyday (#5 "How to ask for a raise") but once you finish, I'd keep it handy open it up at least once a week and randomly select one of the 49 topics and read it again. I've done this for the last couple of weeks and you'd be amazed at the fresh outlook you'll get, not only with what you are dealing with today but also what pops up three days from now.  Mike Ewart, Miami Lakes

The concepts presented in the book give the reader a better grasp of how to manage oneself and others in order to grow for the long term.  Treating your current Boss more of a “client” is more relevant today as more challenges and opportunities give people more freedom to move in the corporate world.  Constant learning and keeping your emotions in check are important as well.  I found this book a useful tool in helping people get more from their own work and time spent in reaching individual goals. Peter Kihn, Sterling Heights MI

The book states it has 49 secrets and shortcuts you need to know.  That is absolutely correct! This is a great book for high school and college students getting ready to find employment as well as any employee that wants to make a difference at their current and future job’s. The short chapters make each section easy to read and does not bullsh*t around getting right to the point without wasting any valuable time.
Geoffrey James discusses all the important areas that will help employees become successful in today’s business environment.Trisha Molina

Great concept for a book – loved the organization that allows you to zero in on various areas of specific interest!  Not really a ‘how to run a business book’, but actually a valuable reference for employees who might not have access to a mentor for guidance on office politics or issues.  Would be a nice gift for a high school or college graduate landing their first job.  Nicely done Geoffrey James! Doramary Russell, Coral Springs

The book by author Geoffrey James is a handy reference guide to various business situations relating to communications, people, execution and strategy for advancement.
The book is easy to read and contains at a glance shortcuts of the discussion for each chapter.  As with any book that attempts to provide advice on almost 50 situations some of the subjects are not very comprehensive such as dealing with a egotistical boss who believes that being a bully is an effective way to manage.  On the other hand the chapter on writing effective e-mails was well done…as we all receive hundreds of emails a day those that show some thought  in the subject line will stand out and in my experience also clarifies the content of the mail….too many people who are rushed put out stream of consciousness emails that fail to move the discussion to  a decision making point.
A number of chapters provide advice that if you do not like the job for various reasons the exit strategy should be formulated.  While this strategy works for younger employees who are in large enough cities where there are a number of job choices my experience is that people who do not work in large urban areas are often at  very good company that limits the ability to move….more detail about surviving in these environments would be helpful. 
Another helpful chapter deals with stress and there is some good advice about trying to avoid multitasking as a perpetual state of activity.  Stated another way while deadlines are important the quality of the work is also important…balancing these two are an essential part of advancing within an organization.
Priced at $27.00 this book of 49 ideas is certainly worth the investment. Walter Stanton

Now, I really enjoyed this book.  Even though the title starts off with the word "Business" most of the content could apply to personal life, not just professionally.  This book is something I would definitely share with my 2 young adult children as they are relatively new in the business world & hopefully would welcome the advice it contains.  The author made it easy to read, yet didn't dumb it down. Terri Bryant, Davie

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Next Book: BUSINESS WITHOUT THE BULLSH*T

BUSINESS WITHOUT THE BULLSH*T: 49 Secrets and Shortcuts You Need to Know. Geoffrey James. Business Plus.


FROM THE PUBLISHER
As columnist for the award-winning "Sales Source" blog on Inc.com, James has distilled blunt secrets from the hundreds of successful executives and entrepreneurs he has interviewed over the years. BUSINESS WITHOUT THE BULLSH*T provides quick and dirty solutions that cut straight through all the BS of office policies, procedures, and politics.

Here's the author's website.

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CLUB REVIEWS: CONTROL ALT DELETE

 Ctrl Alt Delete: Reboot Your Business. Reboot Your Life. Your Future Depends on It. Mitch Joel. Business Plus. 288 pages.

Mitch Joel makes a clear case for what he calls the seismic shift in the way we do business.  I liked the book because he not only drives home the point that we must make this change, or get left behind, but he then goes on to tell us in an upbeat manor how to make these changes not only in our business, but in our whole way of thinking. Emily Gilday, Miami
The world is changing and at a more rapid pace than ever before.  What I read was eye opening, scary and invigorating all at once.  However, the area that stuck out the most was the rapid proliferation of data driven mobile devices.  With 2.1 Billion data devices purchased and over 2 million iPhone's sold in 24 hours, the access to information is truly at everyone's fingertips.  Add in the love affair we have with these devices and a cultural phenomenon is not in the near future, it's happening now.  In my business, we have created opportunities to be where are consumers are and the mobile device is a key component.  Now, the question becomes how to monetize it.  We haven't mastered that aspect of the business plan nor have our competitors.  But our usage on the mobile device was 6% three years ago compared to 94% via the desktop.  Now, it's 57% mobile and 43% desktop.
Switching gears, one area Mitch focused on was the new office. I found that interesting especially where he mentioned a company that doesn't have specific office space for their employees.  Everyday, you can sit where you want. It made me think about how it eliminates the class system. By doing so, would it create more collaboration or would people start creating their own space and then protecting it.  I think in a smaller work environment, it would be a great test to determine the impact.  I am honestly to scared to do a similar tact with 36 sellers.  However, one take away was developing a creative space for people to collaborate, think or work in a more free flowing environment.  
Overall, I recommend this book because it provides useful insight on how the business environment is truly changing. Mitch provides useful links, mentions several books or provides some great websites.
Thanks for the opportunity, I really enjoyed this book based primarily on the takeaways I received. Greg Alexander Plymouth, MN

Joel serves up a thorough evaluation of the new landscape of marketing, and takes a solid stab at where we’re heading. He stresses the importance of building and nurturing direct relationships with consumers through social media and beyond. He makes a case for delivering real value by making your business and marketing truly useful to your customers.
The main goal of the book seems to be to shake up the reader to let go of old models of marketing and customer relationships. In this respect, it succeeds. I found myself questioning and reevaluating my own strategies. Real answers, though, are hard to come by.
As a business owner, I tried to extract lessons that I can apply to my own company, but I’m not convinced that smaller businesses will gain as much as larger consumer brands will from Ctrl Alt Delete.
The writing style is so rambling and awkward that I really didn’t enjoy reading this book. Here’s a typical sentence:
“In my first book, Six Pixels of Separation, I engaged in the argument that it’s not about how many people your brand connects to (which is the main metric that traditional advertising looks at), it’s that now we can better understand who these people are and what they’re really about (wants, desires, level of care).”
Seriously, how many sets of parentheses can one sentence handle? This seemingly lazy writing is found from beginning to end, complete with questionable grammar, and far too many references to the author himself.
I will keep Joel’s lessons in mind as I move my business forward, but I wish he could have presented them in a more digestible form. He needs a good editor to make this material truly engaging. Robert Kirkpatrick, Miami Beach

I'll start of my review by saying, I certainly recommend this book to anyone in business.  Mitch touches on many current and interesting topics in the fast changing data and advertising industries that are truly impacting all businesses.  I appreciate how he first gives the reader the business implications and then uses the second half of the book to tie that back to how the reader should embrace these changes from a personal and professional perspective.  I found myself highlighting many lines in this book, which only means it was packed with good material. David Mesas, Miami

This was painful.  I tried my best but couldn't get through more than
half.  I get that lots of people are going to lose their jobs, but
repeating words like "purgatory" and giving Gary Vaynerchuk style
advice ("post on blogs!") actually isn't that useful.
A book on the same topic which is actually both interesting and useful
is James Altucher's "Choose Yourself." Scott Wilson (Tampa?)

Ctrl Alt Del is a wakeup call for older entrepreneurs and business men on how to rethink revitalize and reinvent their traditional brands using the technology and social interaction of the 21 century.  Mitch joel stresses creativity, communication, the personal touch that has been lost in our fast paced world.
While he appears overly enamored or awed by technology, he makes a good case on how to effectively use mobility, openness, and social networking for marketing, sales, support, and just idea gathering and promotion. The old adage of reinventing oneself by examining one's own processes rings true just as teaching an old dog of a business owner  new tricks to survive.
I loved his concrete examples and "rules" that even work for the young adventurer or the old business salt. Marvin Stein, Coral Springs
 
I would definitely recommend this book.  It is concise, precise and right on the mark when it comes to showing how to outline the basics for technology's sake.  It is written in a step by step format that even the less than savvy computer users, like myself, can grasp.  Two thumbs up. Terri Bryant, Davie

I received CtrlAltDelete on 15 Aug 13 and have read it twice.  I have been reading well over a hundred books a year for at least the past 35 years, and I must honestly say this in one of the few books I could just not put down.  Having spent 50 years in the business world, after twice reading Joel's book I have said to myself more than once where was Joel when I really needed him.  I have now retired for the third time and have no plans for active employment again but I could have used much of Joel's insight over the years of my career.  When I retired the first time at the end of Sep 2001, after a 38 year career, I was second in command (COO) of a 14,000 member organization scattered all over the world.  I would have been both a better professional and leader had I had the opportunity to seize on Joel's insights those many years ago.
But I am where I am and as I read, twice, I could not put my notepad and pen down.  I wrote lots of notes to share with friends and younger professionals that I have the honor of mentoring.  There is so much I want to share so let me just lung right in.
For those who do not acquire this book and read it, shame on you, you have lost a very helpful book and lots of valuable insights that can be put to use immediately.
I found it quite interesting and right on point that Joel refers to the time in which we are living as PURGATORY.  I think he is right on target!  He says if you go to a conference, look around you because 1/3 of those you see will not be around in 5 years.  This is a time of great upheaval in business and Joel says the DNA of business has changed forevermore.  Consumers are smart and getting smarter.  Consumers are ahead of their brands that serve them.  The business challenge of how to adapt technology has put business in what Joel calls "a rapid state of genetic mutation" and we are in the middle of this evaluation.  Joel calls this moment PURGATORY because many businesses are scared and don't know what to do.  A tweaking of the organization will not do.  Businesses have to understand this state of purgatory or the business dies and jobs disappear.  We find ourselves in a world described by co-founder of Apple, Steve Jobs,  as "If you don't cannabalize yourself, someone else will."  CtrlAltDelete is all about rebooting your business and yourself.

Now for me at least, I share a few of Joel's more salient points:

• . Many things we see are changing the way business is done.
•  -Digital only brands
•  -Cradle to grave business models like Apple
•  -Manufacturers who have direct relationships with consumers
•  -Everything is customer focused; business must look at things like customers
•  -Businesses asking customers to LIKE them on Facebook
•  -Customers are not linear, they are what Joel calls squiggly.  They are connected to each other  but also to the world
•  -To be successful businesses must have a positive relationship with their customers
•  -Relationships are at the core of every successful business
•  -As Apple co-founder Jobs said, "It is not the customers job to figure out what they want," that is what successful businesses do

Joel is right when he says business must: (1) deliver value first, (2) be open, (3) be clear and consistent, (4) create a mutually beneficial world, and (5) build true fans.
Well I could go on writing and writing but let me stop here.  To Richard's readers DO NO MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO read Joels CtrlAltDelete. Doug Newberry, Antioch, Tn.

 WOW! What a book! This is a must read book for the entrepreneur and would be entrepreneur called Ctrl Alt Delete by Mitch Joel. Be sure to get a copy of it. It is fascinating and provides an insight into how companies should be doing business and how you relate to it. anyone who is thinking about starting a business, or anyone who has a business and needs to kick start it, will not put this down until they devour every page of it. It is the holy grail for businesses and would be businesses. Not only does it provide insight into what is going on now in the world of marketing, it provides a step by step blueprint of how you can adopt to it. This is the bible for learning what is wrong with your business, how you can fix it and what you can do as an individual to find your passion and become an entrepreneur yourself. Barry Epstein, Boca Raton

A couple of specific ideas discussed really struck me. First is the notion of the "one screen world", meaning that businesses need to change their thinking from research and marketing to sales and service with regard to how resources will be budgeted and consumed as we move to the "mobile" screen replacing desktops, and even brick and mortar! Another idea Joel discusses is the coming evolution of DNA marketing. Scary realistic idea that we are being watched and tested for what we may be willing to buy in the future! John Moorehead, Weston

I really enjoyed Joel’s book.  He stressed how important technology is in all areas of business (as seller, marketer, consumer), and in personal life.  We can’t ignore how quickly technology is changing the ways we interface.  He also stresses the importance of building direct relationships, and the “touchy-feely” part of me really identified with this!  His five lessons about building direct relationships  stress the necessity of delivering something of real value and using technology to build upon relationships and something that is mutually beneficial.  Hmmm.  That works for personal relationships as well as business relationships, doesn’t it?
And finally, with so many people losing their jobs, his chapter on Startup Mode was beneficial…  well worth anyone who is disgruntled at all with his/her present work to align with the right people, embrace mistakes, and move ahead.
His motto of “embrace the squiggle” repeats Apple’s “Here’s to the Crazy Ones” advertising, ending with “… the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” Betty G Hubschman, Whitsett, North Carolina

What an energizing book!
I love marketing and it has been my life since high school.
I am amazed at the changes and what lies ahead.
This book opens your eyes to the many opportunities and also their side effects.
Do you want to give up all your privacy to take a chance on making money through a Facebook site for your company and is that the media platform for your business analytics?
All these questions and more are discussed by the author Mitch Joel.
I am looking for the sequel as I have so many questions from reading this book!
I also like his references, it is like a social media course in college.
In today's world everyday is a new technology, a new market tool and you must study what fits in your field.
Mine is Real Estate and which app, twitter or Facebook do I spend my time with to capture the next listing or buyer, besides combing the MLS?
Possibly in the future a listing on the MLS will automatically generate a tweet, show up on Facebook and generate a sale from China!
The possibilities are yet to be explored and this book opens your world to look for new marketing tools every second.
Of course, it also points out you need a life and when do you separate from your Iphone? Last kiss at night and first in the morning!
Excellent book I highly recommend for all professionals to read. Cynergy

The author is very current on the most popular app and provides examples for the digital strategies in marketing a business.  The writing is broken into small sections mostly not more than one page which makes the book difficult to follow.   The  content has good examples of new technology but the writing can have more explanations.  The book has an index and is divided into two.  The first half is on the company and the second half on the individual marketing.  The orange cover makes it a light and amusing read. William Murtada, Miami
 
In CONTROL ALT DELETE , Mitch Joel states from the time he wrote his book to it's actual publication, the contents may be outdated.
However, he covers so much useful material while sighting many creative methods, ideas and examples of both successful and unsuccessful endeavors, the outdated suggestion is highly unlikely.
His book points out the importance of the digital world of the internet and it's components in every aspect
of life in today's ever changing world of technology.
He points out the importance of the social media (Face Book etc.), the mobile devices and active and passive media. The internet is an amazing source of information! Even clean bathrooms,"sit or squat" can be found there.
Not only can various kinds of information be found but purchases can be made as well.
I have recently discovered that a book published in the UK can be purchased before it is made available in the U.S. That is helpful if you don't want to wait for it to arrive here.
In order to keep up with world of almost daily changes, businesses as well as their employees need to
"reboot" in order to remain a part of it. To be indispensible is to do something others can not do.
Trying to be like everyone else is risky business in the forseeable future. An entrepeneur needs to have
the desire to create the future.
Joel also points out there may be consequences for using the i-phone and other devices as a companion
rather than another human being. It is important to ask yourself if what is happening on your i-phone or other devices is more important than the here and now. Remember that thought when you are with your children or
other people and don't forget to set your priorities.
If longevity is your goal in business and relationships with others, Mitch Joel's book should be made an
important part of your life. It's a necessary read! Margot Byrnes, Miami

I did not enjoy this book as I did the others.  Iwould get to a part that started off interesting but by the time I got to the end of the section or example I had to reread the beginning of that part to remember the subject.
There were some parts I liked, e.g. the squiggly - the idea not his examples.  The five dynamics were good, I do not think he brought the idea home for the rebooting your personal life though.
To me this was a very confusing book which did not hold my attention.  I may read it again, but after I read the previous three books I reviewed first. Forrest Carper

Mitch Joel writes a useful book on how businesses must adapt to the virtual digital world in which we now operate.  As a small business owner, I daily wrestle with the shifting tides of marketing in the twitter/Facebook/website environment.  My business does not naturally lend itself to any form of traditional marketing.  This continues to be true as a digital presence becomes "traditional."  Personally, I am afflicted with the need to constantly check my twitter feed, so I understand the necessity to adapt to the "One-Screen World."  While Joel's suggestions on meeting goals for delivering appropriate content to millions of potential clients don't always align with what my business can or should be doing, it provides a fresh view to the reality of the need for a digital presence.
I found it interesting that Joel readily cites other authors and thinkers, and recommends numerous books, blogs and websites when explaining a premise or position.  For what its worth, that gave me a positive feeling about the ideas and the author, and also led to additional "research" and other great business ideas.
Overall, the content was sharp and thought-provoking, and the presentation in multi-heading "bites" made it an easy read.  I felt like I could always pick it up even if I could only read four or five pages during a brief sitting.  This kept me coming back for more, and led me beyond the pages to bonus ideas. S D Rembold

It's hard to keep the subject of how technology influences your marketing, your relationships and your life fresh, and this book is no breakthrough.
Divided in two sections, the first dealing in how rebooting can impact your business and the second about rebooting your life, the book, like every marketing book in this day and age, showcases many successful enterprises and the strategy they used to get there. It's a tried and true strategy, and judging by the amount of similar books proliferating, a winning one.
The problem with this particular one is  that a found limited applicability to the advice doled out. Perhaps because I'm not in the service community trying to reach thousands of distant eyes, but even when the book turns to "personal life" advice I found its logic unnecessarily stretched just to prove a point, and even then I didn't find it that useful. Maybe I need rebooting, but this book never pushed the right keystrokes in my brain. 5 out of 10. Miguel Cobas, MD

 Every time I opened "Ctrl Alt Delete" to read a few more pages, I hoped it would get better. It never did. With so much energy and enthusiasm about the opportunities presented by the Internet, Mitch Joel seems perfectly positioned to make sense of it all. Instead, he delivers a shabby quilt of ill-stitched memes, reverent of the entrepreneurial spirit and fail-fast startup culture that has so radically transformed business since the Internet's inception.
The book's string of bite-sized sections, each carrying a short but catchy subhead, is enjoyable at first. But while the style gives author Mitch Joel a chance to punctuate his transitions with wit, the transitions eventually fall flat. The quick-pivots between case studies, admonitions, and advice intended to help the reader understand how to keep pace with modern consumers quickly turn into little speed-bumps in overly-long stories that should have been trimmed by a good editor.
Remarkably, this book does deliver a little value along the way. For the unaware, it creates a clear and compelling view of the convergence of media platforms that Joel casts as "The One-Screen World." It points to the wholly under-appreciated imperative of building direct connections with customers in a world where social media is taking on added importance to marketers every day. And for people who missed out on the revolutionary Tom Peter's book, "The Brand You 50," it makes clear the many reasons for resetting one's priorities in a business world that has so firmly placed us at the helm of our own careers. Michael Fitzhugh

Everyone knows we are in the “Information Age,” but Mitch Joel warns that only few today are poised to succeed as the digitization of our interactions continues at warp speed.  Great discussion of how digitalization of consumer interaction, through smart phone, tablet and/or wearable computer technologies, is drastically re-shaping our business and personal lives.  Adapt and embrace the new realities of communication, and everyman smart-technology, or be left behind.  Clever and worthwhile reading. Doramary

This book goes into detail about how our world is changing at a phenomenal pace.  In order to be successful, it is important to be like one of the customers, walk in their shoes and step outside the box, get away from sitting behind the desk.  In order to gain a customers attention, one needs to be up to date in all areas of technology and digital media in regards to advertising and marketing.  It may seem fairly basic, but today’s fast paced world waits for no one.  We cannot sit idly by as the competitors are always a step ahead to get the business.  This book embraces today’s technological world in an easy to follow format. Trisha Molina, Miami Springs

 A very thought-provoking book is this Control, Alt, Delete.  As the title implies this is an information-age book that addresses the dilemma of computer improvements, applications to personal devices and their impacts on business.  It goes without saying that since days of Marshal McLuhan the impact of technology has radically altered the economics and decision making processes of business.  And in the current economic sphere that writer Mitch Joel addresses, where sole practitioners take on the corporate giants, the challenge becomes how to re-invent ourselves and our businesses to address the influences of 24x7 access, big data’s impact on consumers, and the associated real problems of finding a job via cyber mode, where we can apply our unique talents.
    When so much of the employment picture is run digitally, our digital presence has to resist becoming digitally stereotyped, such that individual expression is limited by your tech presence for good or bad.  As one makes your digital self known, it might be said that you survive only by what you write, and the digital impact you make for your product saves your identity and defines your worth.
    Besides mastering the technological innovations and hardware the Futurists dilemma (and sometimes the consumer person’s nightmare) becomes; Do we function well by allowing the media mode of social network and web presence, to be the place where we strive to retain our unique identity?  Or sorry to say, do we just let media filtering translate our message in bulk with an archetypal message?
    Seth Godin might say “Weird” is alright, “just be you”; but this book goes to the next level and favors a new approach to media presence where people market themselves by striving to get to app status, so to speak.  This book says there might be some new thinking required too, about how we create our private space and then take it to big data to draw attention to ourselves and thereby justify other people’s time for a message.
    But McLuhan’s message and admonition are still valid here.   Your message depends somewhat on the media transmission method.
             Yes, we’re all going to be increasingly connected to the technology to connect to our customers.  But the valuable message to new workers, from the characteristics Control Alt, Delete supports, is worth reading.  Be careful of throwing out the baby (our special message) with the bath of continual static virtual evaluation.  A New You might encounter a Reality Check when the final impression gets transmitted..   Is there a danger of being co-opted? Jim Swaner

Mitch Joel makes a clear case for what he calls the seismic shift in the way we do business.  I liked the book because he not only drives home the point that we must make this change, or get left behind, but he then goes on to tell us in an upbeat manor how to make these changes not only in our business, but in our whole way of thinking. Emily Gilday, Miami

I did not enjoy this book as I did the others.  Iwould get to a part that started off interesting but by the time I got to the end of the section or example I had to reread the beginning of that part to remember the subject.
There were some parts I liked, e.g. the squiggly - the idea not his examples.  The five dynamics were good, I do not think he brought the idea home for the rebooting your personal life though.
To me this was a very confusing book which did not hold my attention.  I may read it again, but after I read the previous three books I reviewed first. Forrest Carper

Read more...

NEXT BOOK: CTRL ALT DELETE

 Ctrl Alt Delete: Reboot Your Business. Reboot Your Life. Your Future Depends on It. Mitch Joel. Business Plus. 288 pages.

From the Publisher
The DNA of business has changed. Forever. You can blame technology, smartphones, social media, online shopping and everything else, but nothing changes this reality: we are in a moment of business purgatory.

So, what are you going to do about it?
 
Mitch Joel, one of the world's leading experts in new media, warns that the time has come to CTRL ALT DELETE. To reboot and to start re-building your business model. If you don't, Joel warns, not only will your company begin to slide backwards, but you may find yourself unemployable within five years.

That's a very strong warning, but in his new book, CTRL ALT DELETE, Joel explains the convergence of five key movements that have changed business forever. The movements have already taken place, but few businesses have acted on them. He outlines what you need to know to adapt right now. He also points to the seven triggers that will help you take advantage of these game-changing factors to keep you employable as this new world of business unfolds.

Along the way, Joel introduces his novel concept of "squiggle" which explains how you can learn to adapt your personal approach to your career, as new technology becomes the norm.

In short, this is not a book about "change management" but rather a book about "changing both you AND your business model."

Read about the book on the author's blog here.

About the Author
Mitch Joel is President of Twist Image, an award-winning Digital Marketing and Communications company.

Marketing Magazine dubbed him the "Rock Star of Digital Marketing" and called him, "one of North America's leading digital visionaries." In 2006 he was named one of the most influential authorities on Blog Marketing in the world. In 2008, Mitch was named Canada's Most Influential Male in Social Media, one of the top 100 online marketers in the world, and was awarded the highly prestigious Canada's Top 40 Under 40. Most recently, Mitch was named one of iMedia's 25 Internet Marketing Leaders and Innovators in the world.

His newspaper business column, New Business - Six Pixels of Separation, runs bi-monthly in both The Montreal Gazette and Vancouver Sun and he also has a regular column, Media Hacker, on The Huffington Post. His first book, Six Pixels of Separation, named after his successful blog and podcast is a business and marketing bestseller.

Oh, and I reviewed Mitch Joel's previous book, Six Pixels of Separation right here.

Read more...

Club Reviews: PRESENT SHOCK

Present Shock: When Everything Happens Now. Douglas Rushkoff. 256 pages

I enjoyed reading this book.  Even at 266 pages, it was a quick & easy read. What I liked most about the book is the fact that while it related to the business world, its content can be applied to anyone in general. It shows how being multi-media savvy is the wave of the future, but it is already here now.  We have to embrace it, but still be able to relish good old fashioned face to face time. Terri Bryant, Davie

There’s no question that just about everything moves faster these days that it used to. The sheer volume of information that we have access to (and that has access to us) is not just enormous, but is growing daily. There’s also no doubt that attention spans are, in general, shorter than they used to be. It often appears that we need to be in constant contact and we must react instantly to whatever input we experience.
I think that Rushkoff has made a basically sound observation of current society: that we are beginning to experience life as one long continual moment rather than maintaining a view of life as a narrative. I think, though, that he’s expanded this idea far beyond what is really going on in the world. He has cherry-picked valid examples that do support his ideas (tv shows that break the third wall and disrupt linear storytelling, and games that exist for the moment-to-moment experience and appear to have no end), but he has a tendency to ignore the far more frequent and far more popular tv shows and games that do have a linear way of thinking.
Overall I’d say that this book does have a lot to say that is worth reading, and would recommend it, but I think that he is seeing (and trying to persuade us) of a worst case scenario. The changes that he sees and reports are there, but they are not as overwhelming as he believes. Bill Purtee, Missouri City, Texas

So.... here's the deal: this is a very interesting book but you have to get past the first chapter to believe it. It is contrived and lengthy. Once you do, the book actually flows quite well and is full of interesting insight about the plight of the modern man in the modern era where everything flies in your face at hyper speed.
As interesting as it is, I have no real use for the narrative of the book. I felt like watching a good movie that left me satisfied but will be forgotten in a couple of weeks. Nonetheless, the book brings an interesting point of view about how the future has "escaped our control" and overall I would recommended as an interesting, but not  indispensable read. It took me 10 days of night reading to finish it. Miguel Cobas, MD

When I was in high school I corresponded with pen pals all over the world. Actually, they were tape pals. Instead of exchanging letters, we would exchange 3-inch reels of audio tape which allowed us to record our messages but also to include records or radio shows we were listening to. That's how I first heard The Beatles, a full six months before they appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show.
It took a long time for those tapes to travel though the mail system from the UK or New Zealand. I was reminded of that process recently when I heard from one of those tape pals from all those decades ago. He found my name on the Internet, sent me an e-mail, and now thanks to Skype we can carry on our conversations (complete with music) in real time.
It's technological progress like that that has brought us to where we are now…a state of Present Shock. Because of smartphones, Facebook updates, tweets, Instant Messaging and all that, information comes at us continuously and it is making us crazy! There's an app for that… I mean, a word for that: digiphrenia. It's the disordered condition of mental activity.  Are brains are always active, but are we really thinking, learning, growing?
Anyone having difficulty processing the overload ought to take some time to read this book. Not only does Rushkoff explain how we got to this point, he provides something that is lacking as we jump from e-mail to blog post to tweet: context. He helps to explain why politicians can no longer talk about, let alone solve, the major problems we are faced with and why economists totally missed the worldwide economic crisis of a few years ago.
Every time our phones beep or our laptops ping we are faced with a choice. Do we answer it, or do we continue with whatever it is we are supposed to be doing? Like having a conversation with the person who is sitting across the table from us. Rushkoff reminds us that "the first experience most of us had of this sort of forced choice was call waiting."  Yes! I can still remember the day, 25 years ago, the first time someone called me from his car on one of those newfangled cellular phones… and then put me on hold to take another call. Call waiting on a cell phone. What a stupid idea.
I hated it just like I grew to hate instant messaging and that annoying ping every time a new e-mail message arrives and those people who look at their phones while they're supposed to be listening to me. "In the digital realm we are either the programmers or the programmed — the drivers or the passengers."
Some of the most fascinating findings in the book concern the way this "always on" activity has disrupted the cycles that have governed human behavior for centuries — the seasons, the cycles of the moon, sleep patterns etc. I'm looking forward to studying more about Rushkoff's experiments in scheduling his activities to synchronize with the cycles of the moon.
As long as we are reaching for the stars, since everything is connected to everything else in this digital world, I couldn't help jotting down my horoscope for the day I finished the book. "Full throttle, and it gets chaotic. Take it slower, for a sustainable pace."
A good first step might be to shut off the smartphone, power down the computer and spend some quality time reading this book. Tom Teuber, Madison, WI

This book reminds me a lot of Toffler's Future Shock except today there is no future.  Everything is focused on the immediate. There is no thought of the future, everything is NOW! We have found ourselves moving from e mail to texting and from Blogs to Twitter. If the end of the 20th century was about "futureism," then the 21st century is about "presentism." The current generation has no memory burden because there is no past to remember. People today use institutional thinking not rational, considered thinking. Today the moment something is realized, it is over, and one moves to another NOW moment. Indeed, we have moved from Toffler's Future Shock to Rushkoff's Present Shock. We have lots the narrative, the story of how we got here.  People are only interested in the NOW! President Obama has encouraged people to be the change not to wait for it.  No more linear stories; the NOW is in! We have reality TV all focused on NOW.  The NBA is the only sport on the rise because it focuses on individual over team performance. And then there is CNN where we have instant everything. But there is a problem with the present. It disconnects us from reality. We don't get the big picture, just the NOW! And of course the internet brings everyone into the conversation.  People have grown skeptical of professional journalism. One study says, people only have a 25% confidence level. Video games have long passes other forms of entertainment. Our games focus on winners and losers and they are infinite, the just keep going. Many of our games are known as RPG (role play games) and unfortunately much is devoid of value. We live in a "better hurry" society.  We have come to let technology rule our lives and thus given up all control. We have forfeited the power of choice. With our e mail, Twitter and Smart phones, we are constantly being vibrated. We are constantly in the "on" mode. Used properly our technology can help us with lots of things. But is seems today we are doing everything humanly possible to compress time.  Everything is now; no past and no future, just this instant, NOW! And of course we have discovered that living in a global world, everything is connected.
In the final analysis, I did find the book a bit hard to read in spots and it got a bit tedious before it ended. Doug Newberry

Interesting topic and an interesting book!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Although sometimes I did have a difficult time following where the author was going with his examples and did re read some of the chapters again just to ensure I caught the gist of the reading.  
The more I read the book the more I understood why people seem to have a hard time concentrating on one topic nor  have no interest in reading a newspaper. The American Public wants information now, they do not want to wait. There really is no time to soak in information and provide feedback or even contemplate a decision. We are constantly in the loop for what is going on in the world.
The Overwinding Chapter and especially the Time is Money section really brought home to me why investment ideas from the past may not hold true in the future.  
I will re-read this book and not let it sit on a shelf.  I also need to find my copy of Future Shock and read it again. Forrest Carper, Bossier City, La

Present Shock is a complex book about how the world has changed with digital technology.
It compares the past to  the new present which has become complicated and distracting with so much information coming at us at once through the new technology which can do more harm than good.
The information received sometimes discards and disregards the truth and historical reality.
The author does a substantial job of clarifying the progression of the transition from before technology, (even including the TV remote control) to the here and now of instant information along with the reasoning
behind such changes. He points out the changes and why they occur and continue to do so.
Much of the past has been lost with the new technology. Creativity seems to have disappeared from skilled craftsman to story telling to simple mathematical thinking skills.
Perhaps that is why there are reruns of old movies, books, and Broadway Shows.
No one seems to have many new ideas.
That may also be the reason that The Antique Road Show and American Pickers are so popular.
We are still seeking the quality and sentimental things that were produced by skilled craftsman and writers.
The Shock in Present Shock seems to be more for the generations of the past before digital technology than of the present. We are the ones have experienced all of the changes! Margot Byrnes, Miami

When is the last time you saw or heard the words Alvin Toffler? This well written volume will reintroduce (or introduce) you.
This book tackles head on the issue of the century in a completely transparent way that is very stimulating.  The hard hitting philosophical, economic, political, and educational issues are addressed with a totally realistic analytical framework. Oh yes, the issue of the century is the question “who’s in charge here, the people or the computers?” We need to tell “Hal” (the computer in the Sci-fi movie “2001; A Space Odyssey”) that the people will rule. The author makes a good point in saying that this should be the case without getting preachy. Even if singularity becomes a reality in the next 2 or 3 decades which the author and many scientists believe will be the case, human beings will still drive the planet. Whoops! I’m sounding preachy.
The author uses excellent elements in building a paradigm for the readers to use in reaching their own conclusions about technology and people. For example, his use of the concept of fractals (repeating patterns) will be very mind expanding. Though I first read about the concept over 20 years ago, the reader will share in the feeling that fractals have an element of newness every time you see one. Whichever side of the issue you are on, concepts like fractal will keep you in the analytical for fun and profit mode. Dr. Robert C. Preziosi, Ft. Lauderdale

Present Shock is a very detailed overview of today's ever changing world of technology.  Reading it made sense for a baby boomer progressing through the changes of today's society throughout the decades.  Rushkoff writes exactly the way today is moving; fast paced, short paragraphs, and jumping around.  I needed to focus fast to get a clear understanding of his message and felt like I was taking a college course. Trisha Molina

In his book, Present Shock, Douglas Rushkoff, successfully held my attention while making his point about our disconnect and dissonance between our digital selves and our analog bodies. Not only could I recognize myself, my co-workers, my friends and my family in much of his writing, I can understand and relate to the examples he uses because they come from popular tv shows, movies and novels. Present Shock is an easy and enjoyable read. Rushkoff doesn't pass judgment or criticize. He simply takes a magnifying glass to what is already evident in our text-induced, social media-enriched, tech-run, digital world. We are so engaged in "presentism" we just don't notice. Susan Taslimi Litten, Parkland 

 It was a light interesting read with a lot of anecdotes to tie the point home. The author discusses how there is a conflict between " our digital selves and our analog bodies" putting us in a state of "present shock."  The advice is nothing we have not hear before: live more in the present (i.e.: eye contact over texting, quality over speed, etc).  Recommended if you are still struggling to find that balance of technology no completely ruling your life, however, pretty common knowledge if you have already achieved this. Isadora Cipolletta, Miami

As a senior citizen struggling to not get left behind in this digital world my head was spinning in reading this book. Understanding the vocabulary with which Rushkoff describes this new millennium was enough to make me nuts.  
The book reminds me of how much I loathe the "narrative collapse", and long for eye contact and a phone call over a text.  I'm retired, so why then am I always struggling to catch up?
Perhaps Rushkoff is truly in step with the now, but this book left me behind.  And quite frankly, I don't care. Emily Gilday 

This book makes you think.  The author's thesis is that so much is happening in the present that it is shocking us. He does this with examples of the popular TV programs and small personal examples.  The cyclical nature of things is discussed but my opinion is that cycles both in the universe, the solar system and the relationship of the earth to the moon and sun is more important then this book portrays. The portrayal is like explaining what the Romans made popular in their entertainment and extrapolating what the Roman society will evolve too.  Their downfall was mostly through corruption and a slave economy!
My take is the human society and body do go through cycles. This is explained much better by the author Og Madino, particularly in his book, The Greatest Salesman on Earth.
Because there is an error in the area of my expertise, sailing, I question all the examples used to support the author's argument about present shock. This error occurs in the part  about feedback. A navigator does not read feedback on a compass but on a GPS (Global Positioning System), a recent system put in place that helps all of us to navigate more accurately with this feedback.
The issue is why everyone is concerned is the pessimism of the future not the present. This is part of the cycle.  The author did have a short blurb in the book about the philosopher and paleontologist, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Teilhard describes where the human race is going in his books, much better then this book does. Gordon Ettie

The book is really outstanding at covering the way(s) our culture is changing.
Most noticeably the effects of technology on work, time, multitasking and the “NOW” effect.
It also presents some insights or reminders into digital distraction, work and life interruptions and downtime.
Lastly with all the IRS NSA and State dept scandals---the insight to conspiracy theories was timely.
Great Book! Chip Moody Jr.

The topic and the concept is intriguing. I have often wondered what it is like living in a fishbowl (live  CNN reporting for everything) a new reality tv show, and that is what Present Shock describes.  The author is compelling and convincing and provocative.  The question seems to be will we have time to reflect on issues that surround us and allow us to think and weigh options and to reflect before succumbing to the knee jerk response that is being required of us in the future. M. Stein. Coral Springs

I found the book to be interesting, but more a lot more ‘heavy reading’ then I expected.  Timely topic, good insights on social media and its impact on our lives. Doramary Russell, Coral Springs

It takes a particular blend of interests to appreciate Douglass Rushkoff's map of the world. He dives deeply into the realms of corporatism, technological innovation, media theory, and pop culture all with equal enthusiasm and often in rapid succession. The reward for anyone sharing this mélange of interests rich. Few writers are capable of distilling developments in these areas in as organized or remarkably clear a manner as Rushkoff. His enthusiasm and talent for synthesizing connections between these fields and a litany of observations by other are clear in his latest book, "Present Shock: When Everything Happens Now."
Rushkoff's three most recent books, "Present Shock," and before it "Life Inc," "Program or Be Programmed," together build a picture of a developed world run amok, so throughly awash in material wealth and information that both have ceased to have meaning. The continuity of his arguments is remarkable, especially considering they span five years of relatively radical change. In  "Present Shock" he easily picks up the thread.
In one anecdote after another, he builds cringe-worthy pictures of people lured into parting with growing amounts of attention, wealth, and humanity by promises of ever faster and intense gratification only to be left disappointed, impoverished, and degraded.
Rushkoff surveys a world in which the traditional arcs of big stories that once sustained and transmitted culture from one generation to another fall under the weight of self-referential TV programs, stranding us with dead-end entertainments. The artificial urgency created by efforts to achieve maximum productivity pushes us into what he calls "a short forever," in which all activity is directed ultimately toward ceaseless consumption. The disorienting freedom from time created by the digital technologies enabling that consumption, for with 2 a.m. and 2 p.m. are qualitatively the same, leave us drained and disoriented.
The chaos of present shock—being trapped in an ever-lasting now—leaves us confused, he suggests. Worse, we're made susceptible to constant misinterpretation of disconnected events because of our inability to step back to take in the big picture, to "pull back to see the pattern." In the end, we long for closure, completion, for apocalypse.
Yet reading "Present Shock" is a surprising pleasure. Rushkoff is an almost unexpected optimist. His predictable turn at the end of every chapter toward positive applications for the very same technologies he disparages elsewhere offers a welcome respite from the cynicism and hopelessness the reader might otherwise endure. He rejects binary judgements in favor of more nuanced assessments of the radical changes that have brought about the shock-induced paralysis he chronicles in the book.
Rushkoff argues in the end for a mindfulness in which we "give each moment the value it deserves." That he takes the time to convey his arguments so completely at book-length, writing what he light-heartedly calls "an opera" in a literary world shifting toward shorter and more shallow cultural appraisals is evidence the author taking his own advice. After reading "Present Shock," you're likely to want to do the same. Michael Fitzhugh

Love the author's perspective on how we've gotten what we asked for-everything faster, more information, immediate results, paranoia and "digiphrenia". We can't enjoy being one place because we're busy socially networking to find a better party, better job, better life. Meanwhile we lose eye contact and other social skills because we "live" online. Sounds like a sci-fi movie script from 1980, but he makes us realize how much civilization has changed post 9/11. John Moorehead, Weston

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Review: WORK LIKE A SPY

Work Like a Spy: Business Tips from a Former CIA Officer. J. C. Carleson. Porfolio. 208 pages.

Review by Richard Pachter

You need an angle, an opening, a hook — maybe even a gimmick — to get published and be remembered. In Work Like a Spy, author Carlson leverages the most interesting part of her resume and the result is an clever and enjoyable book.

Will you learn how to work like a spy? Yes and no.

Carlson uses her espionage background to provide various examples of scenarios from the world of cloak and dagger, then explains how an operative would proceed, and provides a parallel situation, with recommended actions in the more mundane world of business.

It's an entertaining and colorful formula, resulting in some breezy and pleasant lessons, especially the parts where Ms. Carlson shares her personal experiences (which were reviewed and approved for publication by her former employer prior to publication).

The question, of course, is whether or not the result adds up to something new and original, or at least a fresh view of the familiar from a different angle.

Not really. Most of what Carlson concludes and recommends involves common sense. If you can't figure out, for example, that you must be extremely careful not to hire a competitor's relative for an important position in your company, you're in big trouble.

And gathering competitive intelligence by listening carefully to disgruntled or harried employees, possibly while consuming an adult beverage or two, is a time-honored tradition, well known to most savvy managers.

Still, if you'd like some clues about intelligence gathering in business — and doing it legally, as Carlson repeatedly admonishes — it's here, undercover.

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NEXT BOOK: Work Like A Spy

Work Like a Spy: Business Tips from a Former CIA Officer. J. C. Carleson. Porfolio. 208 pages.

In Work Like a Spy, author J.C. Carleson applies lessons learned from her years as an undercover CIA officer to the business world. Quite simply, the techniques used in the clandestine world are broadly applicable, universal methods for getting what you want from other people.
In the business setting, you may be seeking a new job, a promotion, a big sale, or a regulatory ruling in your company's favor. Whatever it is that you seek, someone has the power to give, and this book will teach you new strategies to get it. Broken into three parts, Work Like a Spy includes an introduction to the basic skill sets used by CIA officers, clandestine methods that can be applied at the organizational level, and techniques that can be applied to specific business situations.

When J. C. Carleson left the corporate world to join the CIA, she expected an adventure, and she found it. Her assignments included work in Iraq as part of a weapons of mass destruction search team, travels throughout Afghanistan, and clandestine encounters with foreign agents around the globe. What she didn’t expect was that the skills she acquired from the CIA would be directly applicable to the private sector.

It turns out that corporate America can learn a lot from spies—not only how to respond to crises but also how to achieve operational excellence. Carleson found that the CIA gave her an increased understanding of human nature, new techniques for eliciting informa­tion, and improved awareness of potential security problems, adding up to a powerful edge in business.

Using real examples from her experiences, Carleson explains how working like a spy can teach you the principles of:
• Targeting—figuring out who you need to know and how to get to them
• Elicitation—a subtle way to get the answers you need without even asking a question
• Counterintelligence—how to determine if your organization is unwittingly leaking information
• Screening—CIA recruiters’ methods for finding and hiring the right people

The methods developed by the CIA are all about getting what you want from other peo­ple. In a business context, these techniques apply to seeking a new job, a promotion, a big sale, an advantageous regulatory ruling, and countless other situations.

As Carleson writes, “In a world where infor­mation has a price, it pays to be vigilant.” Her book will show you how.

Here's a column Carlson wrote for CNN.

Want to participate? It's free! Please send your name and U.S. terrestrial mailing address here. - See more at: http://www.bizbooksclub.com/2013/03/next-book-work-like-spy.html#sthash.96SRWOO9.dpuf

Want to participate? It's free! Please send your name and U.S. terrestrial mailing address here. - See more at: http://www.bizbooksclub.com/2013/03/next-book-work-like-spy.html#sthash.96SRWOO9.dpuf

 Want to review this book? Email your U.S.-based terrestrial mailing address here.

Want to participate? It's free! Please send your name and U.S. terrestrial mailing address here. - See more at: http://www.bizbooksclub.com/2013/03/next-book-work-like-spy.html#sthash.96SRWOO9.dpuf

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