2. Must Reads

Must Reads

“When turmoil rules, go in.” — Lao Tzu

There is so much to read, so much to know, so many sources to follow. And the volume of news and information just keeps growing exponentially. How to keep up? Even more, how to rediscover the serendipity of learning something new and interesting for its own sake?

Here, for your enjoyment and interest, are the articles Temin and Company considers “must reads.” They are primarily on the topics of reputation and crisis management, the media, leadership and strategy, perception and psychology, self-presentation, science, girls and women, organizational behavior and other articles of interest.

They are listed below with the most recent articles first, and to the side, by category.

We hope you enjoy them and would appreciate your comments. And whenever you have any favorite articles for us to add, please let us know so that we might include them for other readers to enjoy.

There is so much to read, so much to know, so many sources to follow. And the volume of news and information just keeps growing exponentially. How to keep up? Even more, how to rediscover the serendipity of learning something new and interesting for its own sake?

Here, for your enjoyment and interest, are the articles Temin and Company considers “must reads.” They are primarily on the topics of reputation and crisis management, the media, leadership and strategy, perception and psychology, self-presentation, science, girls and women, organizational behavior and other articles of interest.

They are listed below with the most recent articles first, and to the side, by category.

We hope you enjoy them and would appreciate your comments. And whenever you have any favorite articles for us to add, please let us know so that we might include them for other readers to enjoy.

Top 20 Films about Finance: From Crisis to Con Men

Usman Hayat, Enterprising Investor, September 20, 2013

This article’s author put together a list of the top 20 films about finance on the basis of both their entertainment value and their educational value. But he noted that putting this list together was a sobering exercise that led him to an unfortunate yet inescapable truth: If the silver screen is any guide, financial professionals, particularly those working on Wall Street, have had a serious public relations problem since long before the global financial crisis of 2008. […read more]

The CEO apology, in 14 tweets

Jena McGregor, The Washington Post, November 21, 2014

When Uber CEO Travis Kalanick rattled off a series of 14 tweets Tuesday afternoon, most of the attention was on what he said rather than how he said it. While Kalanick may have intended to apologize for the controversy that erupted after one of Uber’s executives suggested digging into the personal lives of journalists, he was chided for the sorry-not-sorry nature of his remarks.

Yet his decision to issue that apology via a “tweetstorm” — a series of tweets on a single subject — was also a head scratcher. Using a series of tweets, rather than a single one that links to a blog post or press release for more information, has become an increasingly popular vehicle for corporate communications. But that might be misguided.

Davia Temin says she generally likes the idea of executives using a tweetstorm: It has a feel of spontaneity and authenticity, and the flood of comments can prompt greater visibility for the CEO’s remarks. If an executive is using it to lay out a position or discuss an industry issue, it can be “a brilliant use of the medium,” she says. “People report on a tweetstorm more than a blog.” […read more]

For Any Product to be Successful, Empathy Is Key

Jon Kolo, Harvard Business Review, November 20, 2014

What you really need to create a good product is empathy, and empathy isn’t about intellectually knowing – it’s about feeling. To feel what a product’s user feels, you need to spend time with them, learn about their specific wants, needs, and desires, and get to experience their emotions. In the world of design-led product innovation, pursuit of empathy is the key to success. […read more]

Deep brain stimulation easily beats caffeine for boosting mental agility

Graham Templeton, Geek, November 20, 2014

tDCS stands for “transcranial direct current stimulation” and, as the name implies, it involves passing electricity through your head. tDCS introduces a gentle, long-lasting current that users maintain for half an hour or more. These lightweight, helmet-like rigs decrease some neurons’ resistance to firing, making brain activity energetically easier. The tech has long been under investigation by the military for its ability to improve hand-eye coordination, but new research is increasingly focusing on its potential to improve overall brain functioning. […read more]

From the battlefield to the Ivy League: Warriors go back to school

Jacqueline Alemany, CBS News, November 11, 2014

The Warrior School Project, an academic summer boot camp designed to help veteran soldiers make the transition from battlefield to campus, is designed to feel familiar to veterans, an academic curriculum seen through camouflage-tinted glasses. It includes an analytic reading technique called “ninja reading” and a rigorous grading system to bridge the military and academic cultures. […read more]

The Worst Voter Turnout in 72 Years

The Editorial Board, The New York Times, November 11, 2014

The abysmally low turnout in last week’s midterm elections — the lowest in more than seven decades — was bad for Democrats, but it was even worse for democracy. In 43 states, less than half the eligible population bothered to vote, and no state broke 60 percent. […read more]

The coming crisis in antibiotics

Ramanan Laxminarayan, Ted Talks, November 10, 2014

At TedMed this past September, researcher Ramanan Laxminarayan spoke about how antibiotic drugs save lives. But because we use them too much, the drugs will stop working for everyone, as the bacteria they target grow more and more resistant. […read more]

Obama Asks F.C.C. to Adopt Tough Net Neutrality Rules

Edward Wyatt, The New York Times, November 10, 2014

In his most direct effort yet to influence the debate about the Internet’s future, President Obama said on Monday that a free and open Internet was as critical to Americans’ lives as electricity and telephone service and should be regulated like those utilities to protect consumers. […read more]