31 December 2006

Dave's Notable Books 2006

Who said the notable had to be published exclusively in 2006? Not I...That's why I am putting down the most notable books I read in 2006. What books have changed your world view? your personal latitude? you?

Here are those books and with a list like this, I can only imagine what my list will look like in 365 days.

Freakanomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything

by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
This book put a whole world of misconeptions in order. This book challenged a great many myths, some that were taken for granted and others that I really didn't want to know but am glad that I do now.

Married to the Brand: Why Consumers Bond with Some Brands for Life
by William J. McEwen
Great book if you want a lot of hard core data. This book delivers the 411 on why some products have maintained their brand status and others will only wish they could.

Lovemarks: The Future Beyond Brands
by Kevin Roberts, A. G. Lafley (Foreword by)
Another great book about brands and why they did to become the brands they are today. This book not only covers great American brands but a few international brands, that are the greatest thing since sliced bread came to their country.

Re-Imagine!
by Tom Peters
Re-Imagine, has changed my life. It has opened my eyes to what I have always known but was too dumb and naive to accept. Now I question everything and accept nothing at face value. I also learned that business is business and friends are friends. That's why you never have one equal the other.



A Woman in Berlin: Eight Weeks in the Conquered City
by Anonymous, Philip Boehm (Translator)skip to next title
Having lived in Berlin for two years of my life. I always yearn to learn more about the history of this close to 770 year old city. However, after reading this almost day to day account of what happen when the Soviets conquered this once international city, I was left with a deep scar. The story of the women in Berlin and what they endured when the victors from the East claimed their spoils of war. The scar comes from living and loving that city and its citizens. It also comes from being one of the victors. No I did not fight to conquer Berlin nor was I in World War II. However, when I was in Berlin I was considered a member of the victorious Allies (British, French, Soviet, and U.S.). While I can see the Soviets were only getting a little payback of what the Germans did to their country, I still do not condone what was actually done. This is a must read.

24 December 2006

What are you doing reading a blog on Christmas Eve?

What sort of idiot would write a blog posting on
Christmas Eve?


"Only you, Dave!"


"A week ago I'd have kicked your butt out of here. But you are
absolutely right.


I'm not crazy. It's Christmas Eve. It's the one night when we
all act a little
nicer. We...we smile a little easier. We...we...share
a little more. For a couple
of hours we are the people we always
hoped we would be. It's really a miracle
because it happens every
Christmas Eve. And if you waste that miracle, you're
gonna burn for
it. I know. You have to do something. You have to take a chance

and get involved. There are people that don't have enough to eat
and who are cold.
You can go and greet these people. Take an old
blanket out to them or make a
sandwich and say, "Here."

"l get it now."

And if you give, then it can happen, the miracle can happen to you.
Not just the poor and hungry, Everybody's gotta have this miracle!
It can happen tonight for you all!
If you believe in this pure thing,
the miracle will happen and you'll want it again tomorrow!
You won't say, "Christmas is once a year and it's a fraud." It's not!
It can happen every day! You've just got to want that feeling!
You'll want it every day! It can happen to you!
I believe in it now.
I believe it's gonna happen to me, now. I'm ready for it!
And it's great. It's a good feeling.
It's better than I've felt in a long time.
I'm ready."

Have a Merry Christmas. Everybody.

Sound familiar? These are the greatest lines about the true
meaning of Christmas since Linus spoke those famous words on
the stage of the Christmas show in Merry Christmas Charlie Brown.
These words come from one of my top three Christmas Movies of
All Time, SCROOGED starring Bill Murray as Frank Cross.



BTW, the other movie is It's A Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart
and Donna Reed.