Required Reading
The Future is an Open Book
By Dale Beck
Some say there's nothing new to invent. Steve Jobs disagreed, helping to lead the way, his influencing transcending society. Innovation continues, and we had better be prepared. For the consumer, sometimes it's hidden, as noted by the Tofflers in their book, Revolutionary Wealth. Businesses, too, need to adapt, as explained by Michael Malone. Finally, tomorrow's leaders must understand the foundations set today if they're to excel with the valuable help gleaned from the virtual world. It's all part of adapting to our ever-changing society.
I, Steve
Steve Jobs in His Own Words
Edited by George Beahm
160 pages, published by Agate Publishing
What better tribute can one give a man than to serve up a collection of valuable quotes spoken over a three-decade period? Here, readers will find insights from Steve Jobs' speeches, interviews, and media coverage. Arranged alphabetically, topics include branding, consumerism, the dangers of stagnation, and teamwork, to name but a few, and offers a glimpse into the mind of one of the most successful luminaries and technical visionaries of our time, one who Fortune Magazine labeled in 2009 "The CEO of the Decade."
His take on Apple? As quoted in the book, "What if Apple didn't exist? Think about it. Time wouldn't get published next week. Some 70% of the newspapers in the U.S. wouldn't publish tomorrow morning. Some 60% of the kids wouldn't have computers; 64% of the teachers wouldn't have computers. More than half the Websites created on Macs wouldn't exist. So there's something worth saving here." – Time, August 18, 1997
The Future Arrived Yesterday
The Rise of the Protean Corporation and What It Means for You
Written by Michael Malone
320 pages, Published by Crown Business
We know change has arrived, sometimes more visible than others. To wit is the decline of both the newspaper and music industries in their original form, passed in the fast lane by the digital world. What we don't know is what companies will be affected next, especially those holding on to aging business models. As the electronic age continues to emerge, adaptation is key for the successful company. Malone's solution is the "protean corporation," one that displays the ability to adapt to an ever-changing landscape. His role models include such high profile organizations as Google and the U.S. Army cited as perpetual "shape shifters. Key to a company's success is a solid core of employees surrounded by a vast cloud of individuals on the periphery, opening the door to free-lancers and small business contributors.
Wired for Thought
How the Brain Is Shaping the Future of the Internet
Written by Jeffrey M. Stibel
203 pages, published by Harvard Business Press
Is the Internet a copy of the human brain? Jeffrey Stibel says it is, as it has evolved with many of the same abilities. However, unlike humans, the Internet will get its strength from its superior ability to network. And through the evolutionary process, it will continue to get stronger. Thus companies that understand its power are maximizing their potential by creating better websites, more accurately predicting consumer behavior, and utilizing social media. However, to understand its full potential, Stibel says one should study the brain first, and not the Net. An amazing success story in his own right, Stibel reveals one secret of his success, that of how to use the Internet to expand business in the global economy.
Revolutionary Wealth
How It Will Be Created and How It Will Change Our Lives
Written by Alvin and Heidi Toffler
Paperback, 512 pages, published by Crown Business
From the authors of Future Shock (1970) and The Third Wave (1980) comes the sequel, Revolutionary Wealth. Futurists Alvin and Heidi Toffler discuss our changing financial world, one that has spawned a vast departure from the era of mass production. Most significant is the impact of cyberspace and the beginning of a historic period in which cash is less valued. Detailing how 21st century wealth will be created, the two predict how our knowledge-based economy continues to expand. Dealing with everything from family life, jobs, China, Hollywood, and more, discussion includes not only the growing economic opportunities, but the mounting number of risks as well in an era when many of America's outdated infrastructures continue to show signs of collapse.