Year End Bix Books Round Up -- December 2005

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BOOK REVIEWS

CALENDAR

Dec. 10, 2005, 5:47PM

Significant business titles of 2005

By STEVE POWERS

For The Chronicle

Compelling businessbooks of 2005 provedbusiness is aboutmuch more than justthe bottom line.

The books I listedamong my favoritesfor the year includeda look at stockinvesting as a means

of dealing withdivorce, war in theMagic Kingdom andusing your inner childto get your way.

Some of theengrossing business reads also dealt with practical concerns, fromdealing with bosses from hell to successful networking.

These 10 are a mix designed to represent books that tell businessstories, offer personal advice or cover management and marketingissues.

The books are not ranked in order from one to 10 because, forinstance, the book that answers the most compelling questions of one reader may seem like old news to another.

But there is a definite effort here to put some of my favorite readsfirst.

The common thread is they all made a lasting impression long afterI read the last page.

Without further ado, here's the list.

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Disney War

By James B. StewartSimon & Schuster,$29.95

This is one of those books that will cause you to exclaim "wow!"

when you're finished. At least it did me. Perhaps Disney War wasespecially compelling for a baby boomer like me, who grew up onmovies, books and TV shows from the Disney monolith.

It presents a picture that's a sharp contrast to the gentle years of Walt Disney's sweet, homogenized world, of Mickey and Bambi andDumbo. Beneath the placid, happy surface of the land of MickeyMouse and his pals are turmoil, discontent, deceit and outright war.Stewart's exhaustive research peels back the seemingly blandDisney facade to reveal the disturbingly dark side of Disneyland.

Never Eat Alone

By Keith Ferrazzi with Tahi RazCurrency Doubleday, $24.95

Networking books are all over the place, but Keith Ferrazzi's effortstands head and shoulders above the crowd. I've read manynetworking books, and this one is the best.

Indeed, if I were stranded on a desert island, this is the book Iwould pick (ignoring the fact that I wouldn't have anyone to networkwith on a desert island).

Networking is an all-important concept in business. Many hand outbusiness cards like candy at Christmas, thinking this will do it. Keith

Ferrazzi begs to differ.

His book argues that a successful networker is one who is willing tohelp others without strings attached, and conversely, is able toaccept what others can do forhim.

American Sucker

By David DenbyBack Bay Books,$14.95

What's a New York film critic doing writing a book about finances? Itis an unlikely juxtaposition at first, but as the narrative progresses,the reader will understand David Denby's motivation.

This one truly touched my heart in a way few other books did thisyear.

Denby is launched on his odyssey in the world of stock trading whenhis wife of 18 years announces her intention to divorce him. If you're looking for a nuts-and-bolts primer on stock trading, this isn'tthe book for you, although it does point up some good principles fornovice investors.



If, however, you like books that illustrate a business lesson from anintensely personal standpoint, you'll not only like this book, you'llfind yourself moved by it.

Denby reveals how the process of learning to invest in the stockmarket also helps him deal with his personal crisis.

How to Negotiate Like a ChildBy Bill Adler Jr.Amacom, $17.95

The cover, with a picture of a petulant-looking child, captured myattention and made me laugh. The cover's promise of a good readdid not disappoint.

Bill Adler's book of tactics on negotiating like a child was a heckuvafun read that mixed in with some serious business advice.

Ever have days when you wish you could act like a little kid? Times

when you'd like to throw yourself on the floor and pitch a fit to getyour way?

You still can.

Adler, a book packaging executive in Washington, D.C., has writtena book that's more practical and useful than you might think. Hedescribes tactics that go well beyond histrionics in a charming bookthat nicely packages its advice in clever language.

All Marketers Are Liars

By Seth Godin

Portfolio, $23.95

Whenever I receive a Seth Godin book, I feel a tingle of anticipation.He's always original, and he delights in writing business books thatare far off the beaten trail.

This one makes the list for its inventive treatment of how people sellby asking: Are marketers born liars or just great storytellers? We alllie or tell stories at some level. We tell stories about all kinds of things: our friends, products, the Houston Astros and even our pets.

Godin explores this very human tendency, but the book is not aboutdeceiving people. Rather, it's about telling and living the truth. But

as sellers know, those who can tell a captivating story to buyers area lot more likely to make the sale.

Operation Yao M ing

By Brook LarmerGotham Books,$26

Brook Larmer's book wormed its way onto my sights as one of thebest of the year with its unusual blend of investigative reporting,sports bio and business book. That's not an easy feat to pull off, but



Larmer succeeds admirably.

The former Newsweek bureau chief in Shanghai examines theremarkable phenomenon that is Yao Ming from all angles. However,this book is not just a sports bio. It takes on a decidedly businessslant as Larmer closely examines the politics of the Chinese sportsempire, American big business and the mass marketing of an NBAcelebrity.

The narrative is an absorbing one, as Larmer digs deep to uncovermany facts and anecdotes that make readers feel like they werethere to see the Houston Rockets star at key moments in his life.

A Survival Guide for Working WithBad Bosses: Dealing With Bullies,Idiots, Back-Stabbers and OtherManagers from Hell

By Gini Graham Scott, Ph.DAmacom Books, $15

Bad bosses seem to be a universal experience in the world of work.Ask any group of employees about supervisors from the past andthe subject of bad bosses is sure to come up.

It's a common experience, but Gini Graham Scott does far morethan just retell horror stories. In these short chapters she listspractical tactics for trying to deal with unpleasant bosses who makeit hard to come to work each day. But not all the antagonists areogres. Some are pleasant enough but will still drive you crazy withtheir disorganization or procrastination. Her relaxed, common-sensestyle won me over and convinced me her book was the guide of allguides to dealing, as best you can, with supervisors who make yourlife hell.

What Goes Up: The UncensoredHistory of Modern Wall Street

By Eric J. WeinerLittle, Brown & Co., $27.95

Many histories of Wall Street have been written, but what makesthis one different was that the narrative came straight from themouth of many of the major players in that story. I liked the book'simmediacy and candidness.

Eric Weiner digs deep to peel back the complex layers comprisingmodern Wall Street, letting the key figures speak for themselves. Heweaves their takes into a fascinating narrative of frank, no-holds,barred discussion of Wall Street. The principals in the book seem tobe rather free in their recollections of their own personal piece of Wall Street history, making for a delightful change from the usualbusiness histories.

The Great American Job Scam

By Greg LeRoyBerrett-Koehler Publications, $24.95



In the field of investigative business reporting, few writers are on apar with Greg LeRoy. LeRoy's investigative style busts chops andsizzles up his narrative, especially the way he describes the trapthat so many towns fall for.

Company A promises to move in or expand operations in a certainplace and create new paying jobs. In return, the company demands

huge tax breaks and other subsidies from state and localgovernments. The town doesn't want to lose this employer, so itcaves in to meet the company's desires. And in many cases, thecompany rewards the town by failing to keep its promises asadvertised. LeRoy's righteous-anger style of writing caught myattention and lifted this book above others of its ilk.

The Likeability Factor

By Tim SandersCrown Business, $23

Like Seth Godin, Tim Sanders is known for writing unconventionalbusiness books, but Sanders homes in on emotions (he previouslywrote Love Is the Killer App). He gets points from me foracknowledging that business is not just about cold hard facts.Sanders once again zeroes in on an area of his strength. For me,this propelled Sanders' book out of the mire of predictable businessbooks to one that deserved to be in the 10 best.

Do you know what yourL-factor is? Do you even know what the term means? If not,perhaps it's time to dive into Sanders' book.

Quite simply, the L-factor stands for how easy it is for people to likeyou; and according to Sanders, this factor has a great deal to do

with your success in life and business.

Steve Powers reviews business books for the Chronicle. If you havesuggestions or feedback, e-mail him at [email protected].

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Year End Bix Books Round Up -- December 2005