Enjoyable reads from 2017

This may seem like a fairly long list, but it is nothing to all the books I wished I could have read.  Some of the ones left out were just as worthy.  Maybe one or two might catch your fancy.

FICTION TITLES

"Underground Airlines" is alternate history with some thoughts to ponder.  It also is my most popular blog, including all topics this year.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/02/underground-airlines.html

"Homegoing" points out two ways Africans came to America, in this fictional case starting from Ghana.  One way was through slavery, but the other one was successful more modern immigrants.  A good read.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/01/homegoing.html

"The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon" is part of a series starting with the "The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency."series by Alexander McCall Smith  Read more:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/01/the-minor-adjustment-beauty-salon.html

The Underground Railroad, won a Pulitzer Prize and is another interesting take on African Americans escaping the south.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/05/the-underground-railroad.html

"Thomas Jefferson Dreams of Sally Hemings" is historical fiction that fills in some very interesting speculation,  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/06/thomas-jefferson-and-sally-hemings-make.html

The Cuban Affair--family tradition I have been to Cuba as a Canadian tourist  friendly people, but in addition I married into a family related to the author.
http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2012/05/tribute-to-nelson-demille-real-writer-i.html


"The Best Kind of People" was the selection for Hamilton Reads and had also been a Heather's Pick.  Check:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/08/the-best-kind-of-people.html

"Indian Horse" is a book I read a second time as it become a selection of the Burlington Public Library  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/09/indian-horse-by-richard-wagamese.html

Jane Austen amazes me with her understanding of people, even if they are mainly land owners and respectable professionals.  I re-read "Northhanger Abbey" which like her other books are well worth reading.

"See you in September" by Facebook friend Charity Norman.  Hard to put down.  As in most books I enjoy very layered format where you learn details that explain events.  This one deals with how a cult recruits new members and how one family reacts.  Check out an update on Charity:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2018/02/charity-norman-discovery.html


NON FICTION SELECTIONS

"Homo Deus" one of the most profound books I have ever read.  Thank goodness it also comes with a good dose of humour. This book should be read by everyone who wants to understand where humans have come from and where we are headed.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/04/homo-deus.html


"White Trash" deals with racism, but also links it to America being a class society where everyone has someone to look down upon.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/02/white-trash.html

"Hillbilly Elegy" wrote about another minority group.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/03/hillbilly-elegy.html

"The Content Trap" provided a new slant on what makes a difference in disseminating ideas.  For those mystified about modern communications.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/04/the-content-trap.html

"The Political Mind" by George Lakoff reminds us of the power of words and how they can impact everyone.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/07/george-lakoff-wants-to-reform.html

"Old Age:  A beginner's guide" has a scary title, but the reality most of us wish to avoid is sometimes spurred by something unexpected.  The  author got Parkinson's at n early age and rethinks his view on life and death    http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/03/old-age-beginners-guide.html  Lots for everyone to ponder.

"We were Eight Years in Power." interprets American history as tinged with racism.  A lot of historical facts that are well worth considering:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/12/we-were-eight-years-in-power.html

"A World in Disarray" by Richard Haass gives a view of diplomacy and power in the wordl  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/06/a-world-in-disarray.html

"War" got my attention after watching Gwynne Dyer speak I wanted to read one of his basic books.  Most of his newer books are column based. http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/06/war-as-explained-by-gwynne-dyer.html

Plum Johnson book, "They Left Us Everything' brought back some memories.  Many years ago I came across a newspaper, Kids Toronto and was impressed.  At the time I was working for a distribution company and I approached her to try to sell our services. She was too smart for me, but I came to respect her more.  Pleased to find she had written a book covering her life experiences and found her even more interesting.


The Happiness Hypothesis:  What could be more important?  The author is one of the best writers for really important issues.  If happiness is high on your priority list check this one out.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/10/are-you-interested-in-happiness.html

Born a Crime  If you have heard Trevor Noah's comedy routine this will give you a bit of his background and help explain where his sense of humour comes from:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/10/born-crime-beginnings-of-trevor-noah.html

The 100 Year Life  --the younger you are the more important are the issues presented in this book.  If you are pondering retirement it still is worthwhile to better understand how the future is shaping up.  Lynda Gratton has another winner.
http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/11/the-100-year-life-how-to-make-most-of-it.html

A World of Three Zeros--may seem idealistic, but has some experience and should be discussed.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/12/a-world-of-three-zeros.html  

I am interested in what books other people (no one more worthy than my readers) think are worth reading.

To read the reviews from 2016 check here:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2016/12/books-i-am-glad-i-read-in-2016.html

"The Content Trap" adapts to the new reality

Getting ahead in the world seems like wading through a never ending swirl of new trends.  Research and analysis tries to keep up with developments.  As Bharat Anand started this book he predicted life would change during the process.  He was surprised by a project he became involved which forced him to adopt some of the book's thinking

In a world with relentless pressures and seemingly never ending technical innovations the author identifies two basic problems:  1).  getting noticed and 2). getting paid.  If you aren't different in business you will die.  The value of this book is a a deeper understanding of future business basics.

Traditionally advertisers have paid for the dissemination of information.  Now there is free information, including ads on the inter-net  Many newspapers are out of business because many people find it more cost effective to advertise online.

Schibsted, a publishing firm in Norway illustrates it is possible to take a print newspaper and convert to a very prosperous online entity.  They were able to persuade Germans to advertise their cars on the Norwegian website.  In South Africa, the Oscar Pretorious shooting happened between press deadlines forcing the owners of one firm with an opportunity for a scoop to first present story online.  This forced them to change their focus.

Connectivity is the key factor.  User connectivity, product connectivity and function connectivity.  Schibsted asks 'how can we help our readers to help each other."  The strength of a network is its connectivity.

It is fixed costs that make upscaling so profitable.  Walmart always credited for tough bargaining with suppliers, but controlling their fixed costs was as important.  Other moves they made include rural locations, clustering, reducing advertising.  These steps reduced fixed costs.

Most consumers resent the bundling of cable channels.  The author contends there are benefit for both providers and consumers.  The practice keeps the costs down as individual channels would have to have a higher price.  The consumer gets lower costs for their choices while the provider reduces fixed costs.

One fact hit me--You Tube offers their viewers a chance to skip watching an ad, but it is only after 3 seconds which is required in order to charge an advertiser.

Complementary items increase each others value and are an example of function connectivity.  At one time a concert/performance was an ad for a CD, but now the price of obtaining music is cheap while concert tickets are more expensive.  The Michelin system for evaluating restaurants was originally intended to encourage people to drive more.

Some advice from an established advertising analyst, David Ogilvy:  "Information about the product is more important than persuading the consumer with adjectives."

Competition advantage ultimately comes from scarcity and differentiation.  Managing the two is the key to digital success.  Many examples are given how some companies stumbled or sometimes planned for better connections to demonstrate their value.

While in the midst of this book Bharat was asked to help design online courses for the Harvard Business School (where he was a professor).  Stumbling around he realized that students learn best when they engage with others.  Borrowing from concepts learned writing the course encouraged students to interact.  We all connect with others in ways not previously thought possible.

To get some more insights from Bharat visit:  https://www.entrepreneur.com/author/bharat-anand