Book summary - Range, by David Epstein

“Range,” a 2019 book by David Epstein subtitled “How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World,” argues that in a complex and unpredictable world, generalists with a broad set of experience and skills will often outperform deep and narrow specialists. These individuals who possess “range,” excel at connecting disparate ideas and adapting to new situations. This is especially relevant to develop a career in risk management, as it requires the ability to draw upon diverse knowledge and skills, responding to change, while fostering creativity in problem-solving and innovative thinking. Quotes And he refused to specialize in anything, preferring to keep an eye on the overall estate rather than any of its parts … And Nikolay’s management produced the most brilliant results. ...

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Book summary - Reinforcement Learning, by Richard S.Sutton and Andrew G.Barto

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Book summary - Scaling People, by Claire Hughes Johnson

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Book summary - Scam me if you can, by Frank Abagnale

Scam Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale offers insights into modern scams and the mind of con-artists, making it a must-read for risk professionals seeking to better understand fraud prevention strategies. Related pages Identity theft How to protect yourself from identity theft How to recover from identity theft

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Book summary - Stewardship, by Peter Block

The full book review is in progress. For early access and to let you know when the review is published, you can subscribe to the newsletter.

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Book summary - Superagency by Reid Hoffman

.. what we have with AI is the greatest learning machine that has been invented in history Reid Hoffman Further viewing Reid Hoffman On Good Uses For AI - The Late Show Related pages High agency

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Book summary - Superintelligence, by Nick Bostrom (2014)

This 2014 book explores the potential future impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on society and the human condition, particularly where AI far surpasses that of humans. Concepts in this book Markov chains

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Book summary - Talent, by Daniel Gross & Tyler Cowen

FT Longlist 2022 - Talent

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Book summary - The Answer to How is Yes, by Peter Block (2003)

I first heard of Peter Block from his 1981 book, Flawless Consulting. His later 2003 The Answer to How Is Yes is a book about finding meaning - here he challenges the obsession with technical solutions, processes, and step-by-step plans as a way to avoid personal responsibility and meaningful action. He argues that people often ask “how?” as a defence mechanism - seeking certainty, expert validation, or a foolproof plan - rather than committing to what truly matters. Block advocates for shifting the focus from “how do I do this?” to “what am I willing to commit to?” emphasising personal agency, ownership, and purpose-driven action. ...

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Book summary - The Next 100 Years, by George Friedman

What this book is about George Friedman is a geopolitical forecaster and strategist, known for his analysis of global affairs and forecasting, having founded Stratfor in 1996. In his 2009 book The Next 100 Years, Friedman presents a bold and provocative forecast of the major geopolitical events and trends that will shape the 21st century. Why read this book This book is essential for risk professionals as it provides a comprehensive understanding of potential future scenarios, helping them to understand the factors that shape geopolitical trends, and to help them to anticipate and mitigate risks in an ever-changing global landscape. ...

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Book summary - The Operational Risk Handbook for Financial Companies

Video Learning from Author Brian Barnier, interview with Sarder TV Author’s website

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Book summary - The Right Use of Power, by Peter Block

The full book review is in progress. For early access and to let you know when the review is published, you can subscribe to the newsletter.

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Book summary - The Trusted Advisor, by David Maister

I first discovered David Maister’s books when I was with PwC in the mid-2000s, and being so early in my consulting career, his writing demystified much of language around the firm’s strategy for me. Few understand professional services like Maister, a consultant who has shaped the industry’s thinking. He has written numerous books on how to run firms, including Managing the Professional Service Firm (1993), The Trusted Advisor (2000) (co-authored with Charles H. Green and Robert M. Galford), and Strategy and the Fat Smoker (2008). ...

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Book summary - Thinking in Systems

Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows (2001) is a introduction to understanding and solving complex problems through systems thinking. Related pages Systems thinking

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Book summary - Trillion Dollar Coach

Trillion Dollar Coach is a biography of Bill Campbell, Silicon Valley’s most influential business coach, written by Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg, and Alan Eagle. After a successful career leading technology companies, Campbell dedicated his later years to mentoring top leaders like Steve Jobs, Larry Page and Eric Schmidt — helping them sharpen their own leadership skills as they built companies worth trillions. This book distils the management lessons that cemented his legacy as the guiding force behind some of Silicon Valley’s most successful companies. ...

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