Jack’s Notebook by Gregg Fraley

(Thomas Nelson, Inc., 242 pages, 2007, $22.99)

This is one of the best business books I have read, although I have a hard time classifying it as a business book. Jack’s Notebook is a unique, gripping tail of intrigue. It is a novel, a story and along the way reveals how to structure the creative thinking process that every business needs. I think business people and non-business people will enjoy the book.

One suggestion for the author to improve the book is get rid of the cursive written paragraphs at the start of each chapter—they actually detract from the work.

I am very familiar with the brainstorming process that Fraley describes. I was part of a company going through a reorganization and have been a participant. Subsequently, I was trained in the method and conducted it for other companies. The book details a solid approach that causes a person, group or company to eventually focus with a new spirit. Must reading.

Coolhunting by Peter Gloor & Scott Cooper

(Amacom, 230 pages, 2007, $24.95)

Cool hunting—finding the hip—discovering the trend is an extension of The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. The difference between the works is that Gladwell’s is more big picture, and Coolhunting gets into the specifics of how networking and swarm creativity work. At the heart of Cool is the collaborative innovative network or COIN.

When I read a book like this (or like Gladwell’s), I always wonder—how long did they think about the idea, then how long did they research the ideas; how long did it take to put the subject matter in some sort of order, and, finally, how long did it take to write the book. I am guessing a long time on all counts.

The authors teach and research at MIT. They have myriad examples of online networks that individuals or businesses can join to collaborate with others. I will not label this as must read—one, because I just used that phrase above, and two, if you have not read Gladwell’s book yet, start there. If you have read Gladwell’s book and liked it, this is a must read.

Smarts by Chuck Martin, Peg Dawson, and Richard Guare

(Amacom, 215 pages, 2007, $21.95)

The authors have penned a very entertaining book. The work covers brain functions or cognitive skills that neuroscientists have identified.

The skills are:

• Self-restraint
• Working Memory
• Emotional Control
• Focus
• Task Initiation
• Planning
• Organizing
• Goal Setting
• Time Management
• Flexibility
• Observing
• Stress Tolerance

These are called Executive Skills. These skills are located in the frontal lobes of the brain, and the authors believe they are developed starting at birth and are hardwired into every individual. Brain researchers have found that the skills are fully developed by adulthood. Each individual has 2 or 3 skill strengths and 2 or 3 skill weaknesses.

I talked to a number of doctors after reading this book, and, although they agreed that these skills were frontal skills, they disagreed with the statement that you cannot improve them in any major way. Most of the doctors I spoke with believed that you are the sum of your experiences or that you can learn anything. I tend to agree with the doctors, not the authors. I think it was Napoleon Hill who said that “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”

Although the authors claim to believe that these skills cannot be changed in any major way, luckily for us, they still go ahead and point out how to address any weaknesses. The types of jobs you take on should be based upon your strengths and weaknesses. When putting together a project team, you should be aware of each participant’s skills.

Although there may be some question about the one premise in the book, it does not influence the material in the book. The authors have created a very worthwhile tool. They have a self-assessment test, types of jobs that are suited for the various skill categories, how to match skills to a position, how to hire someone for a position, and what questions to ask when you are interviewing someone to determine that person’s skill set. If you are in human resources or having problems with people, project teams, or performance—I hate to say it again—this is a must read.

Nick Dragisic is a former CEO and is a business consultant. Contact him at npdj@aol.com