Tag: self-improvement

Robert Sutton “The No Asshole Rule”

1 comment

The book is quite interesting. First, the author isn’t afraid to call things by their real names, without falling into political correctness. Second, through several examples, he shows why having assholes in a company is harmful.

The essence of the book is almost fully captured in its title: just don’t work with assholes. In the first few chapters, it seemed like there wouldn’t be much more than examples of why it’s bad to work with them. Yes, there’s a fair amount of fluff, but there are still valuable insights.

The author breaks down what makes a “certified asshole” in his view. This helps apply the criteria to anyone, making it easier to understand how bad a person can be for business and personal well-being.

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Dawn-Michelle Baude “The Executive Guide to E-mail Correspondence”

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The book provides very valuable advice on writing business letters in general, not just in English. It thoroughly covers aspects such as the structure of a letter, the order in which information is presented, key points of emphasis, and more. English adds its own nuances, which the author addresses separately (as the book focuses specifically on correspondence in English).

The content is divided into thematic chapters with examples, and each is broken down almost paragraph by paragraph. I initially started reading the e-book version but soon realized that this is the kind of book you need to have as a reference on your desk. This way, you can refer to it when necessary and compose a letter with recommendations tailored to a specific situation or topic. It serves as a kind of cheat sheet.

I recommend it to anyone whose job involves a lot of business correspondence. It’s definitely worth getting the paper version and keeping it handy on your desk.

My rating: 5/5

Igor Mann, Renat Shagabutdinov “A Business Hack for Every Day”

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The book is interesting because it brings together a variety of small, useful tips from different areas of everyday work that are relevant to almost anyone. Nearly all of the content can be found independently by reading books or watching video tutorials. However, the value lies in the concise presentation: everything is collected in one place and in a single book.

The material is conveniently divided into sections, and some may be less interesting to the reader if they don’t pertain to their field (for example, tips on marketing or big data, which are quite specific). Others are more universally applicable. If something piques your interest, the authors generously provide resources where you can learn more.

I didn’t find any groundbreaking revelations for myself, but some of the tips helped me look at tricks I already use from a different perspective, showing how they could be improved.

The book is easy and quick to read, so I can recommend it. No one is saying you have to do things exactly as suggested, but if you find something useful, the benefit will be undeniable.

Igor Ryzov “The Kremlin School of Negotiation”

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I have very mixed feelings about this book, both during the reading and after finishing it. On the one hand, there are many interesting insights worth considering. On the other hand, much of the material felt quite superficial and unlikely to truly help someone become a better negotiator just by reading this book. This becomes especially apparent when you compare it to other negotiation training resources. Even the appendix at the end—on national negotiation traits—seems questionable: my personal experience working with colleagues from various countries suggests that things aren’t as simple or clear-cut as the author presents them.

Do I recommend reading this book? Yes. Will it genuinely help as a training tool? In some aspects—yes, but not significantly.

My rating: 3/5

Elle Luna “The Crossroads of Should and Must. Find and Follow Your Passion”

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A very strange book. Judging by the ratings, most readers consider it almost a revelation, although, in truth, its entire message can be summed up in one phrase: “Find what interests you and do it without fear.” And that’s it. At times, the author seems more interested in drawing illustrations and quoting famous people than in trying to build something coherent.

My rating: 1/5