Tag Archives: The Back of the Napkin
Blah, Blah, Blah & Demand – December Choices for the First Friday Book Synopsis
We had a terrific session yesterday at the November, 2011 First Friday Book Synopsis. Karl Krayer presented his synopsis of The Shallows, and I presented my synopsis of the new book by Jim Collins, Great by Choice. It was a valuable session. Both books were terrific, and I view Great by Choice as an important book for all leaders.
For December, we have selected two books. The first is Blah Blah Blah: What To Do When Words Don’t Work by Dan Roam. Roam is the author of The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures, which Karl presented back at the July, 2008 First Friday Book Synopsis. Though Roam is known for his creative use of simple drawings, it his clear thinking that makes him an especially valuable resource. You can read the review of this new book by Bob Morris on our blog here, and Bob’s most recent interview with Roam (it’s his send with this author), here.
The other selection is Demand: Creating What People Love Before They Know They Want It by Adrian Slywotzky and Karl Weber. I have not yet read much of this book, but Bob Morris speaks highly of it, so I look forward to diving into it. The title reminds me of the famous line by Steve Jobs: “People don’t know what they want until you show it to them.” You can read the review of this book by Bob Morris on our blog here.
Speaking of Steve Jobs, I will present the new Walter Isaacson biography, Steve Jobs, at the January, 2012 First Friday Book Synopsis. I have read the first couple of chapters, and am utterly captivated. It is selling fairly well: #1 on practically every list, (overall and nonfiction) and its different versions are #s 1, 2, & 3, (Kindle Edition; Hardcover Edition; Audio edition) on the Amazon Business Best-Seller list at the hour I write this blog post. I look forward to every presentation I make at the First Friday Book Synopsis, but the Jobs books is one that I am unusually jazzed about.
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You will be able to register through our home page for the December First Friday Book Synopsis, hopefully, by the middle of next week (around November 9).
Health Care on the Back of the Napkin
A while back, Karl Krayer presented the synopsis of The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures by Dan Roam. It presents a really clear and simple way to communicate your key points.
The Health Care Debate on a Napkin
If you would like to see the author’s attempt to explain the health care debate (with the aid of a Doctor), take a look at his slide show here — all on the back of a few napkins. It is pretty enlightening, mostly devoid of controversy, and will help you think through the issues.
(I learned of this from Andrew Sullivan’s blog, who linked to Cool Infographics).
