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Latest Read: Think Like a Freak

The authors of Freakonomics and SuperFreakonomics, Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner publish Think Like a Freak. This is their third, and potentially last book in the Freakonomics platform.

think like a freak

Their idea is to train people to … well, think like they do, like a Freak. For example, the soccer penalty kick. Which way will the kicker try to strike the ball into the net? Go left side, middle or right? Well this is their first lesson to dig into the analytics and the mental thoughts of the kicker and goalie.

The level of attention they pay to the soccer question may be viewed as overthinking. Yet with your legacy riding on the kick, you have to decode a lot of data in a minute. Take this idea further. You will see the book’s insights develop for your life.

They teach readers to boil events down to incentives. Then measure the hell out of it. Yes this is an interesting take on how to change someone’s position. They even address the idea that you are too old to change your ways. The book’s subtitle is their offer to retrain your brain.

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Education Innovation Reading

Latest Read: The Power of Moments

Chip and Dan Heath have written The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact. This is a wonderful book of insights. The book has four themes: Elevation, Insight, Pride and Connection. This ‘epic’ outline is their foundation to address why moments can elevate and change your life and workplace.

The Power of Moments

I shared with colleagues that I was learning new ideas in this book. I was very pleasing to learn many of my new colleagues were also reading this book!

The opening moment is more of a reaction to an ‘accepted practice’ in high schools. In order to drive viewership to younger audiences ESPN began televising national signing day. High school athletes now declare their college football program scholarship choice on TV. Two teachers created the same for high achieving students, providing them the same stage to show off their academic accomplishments. This book delves into fascinating mysteries of experiences we can move into memorable experiences. The Power of Moments shows us how to be the author of richer experiences.

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Education Innovation Reading

Latest Read: When to Rob a Bank

The authors of Freakonomics, Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner published When to Rob a Bank, a collection of stories from their blog. When these two economists look at popular culture, results will be amazing stories.

When to rob a bank

So, how do economists celebrate the 10th anniversary of publishing their breakout book Freakonomics? By researching stories from their most popular blog articles. One wants to be a professional golfer while the other is a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. And they play a lot of poker in Las Vegas.

This book provides insights via their blog posts. Learn about tipping and why flight attendants do not collect them. In addition, if you were a terrorist how would you attack? And why does KFC always run out of fried chicken?

Indeed, their idea to reduce air traffic in NYC was really genius, just close LaGuardia. There is certainly no chance in a political environment in New York City that LaGuardia would ever close.

Chapter 9 is the focus of When to Rob a Bank. Turns out Thursday morning is the best time to commit this crime. However the return on investment is not worth any effort.

Their story of how a woman arrested in 1961 for robbing a bank was again amazing!

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Education Innovation Reading

Latest Read: David and Goliath

David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell is all about the underdog succeeding. Stories of the little guy overcoming adversity to overcome a larger, highly favored adversary. While you may never tire of stories like this, Gladwell is exceptional at detailed storytelling.

David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell

The story of David cutting off Goliath’s head reminded me that I have largely forgotten the fable’s details since childhood. And it his opening chapter, it was in childhood that I can fully understand the story of a junior girls basketball team in silicon valley that used a full court press throughout the game to defeat their bigger opponents.

In chapter four, you learn David Boies (David) had dyslexia. He could still defeat Goliath (law school). I found this chapter very inspiring. From time to time as a child, dyslexia forced me to question what level I was confronting in grade school reading. The ability for David Boies to utilize other learning skills to succeed, looking back…sure wish I knew this story back then.

Ever work at a Children’s Hospital? I found from time to time my trips to the hospital required a stiff upper lip walking the hallways. At Children’s Wisconsin, administrative units are two miles from the main campus in an old renovated factory. Nikola Tesla worked in this factory 1919-1922. But that is different story.

Gladwell’s fifth chapter was also surprisingly personal. His David moment focused on tragic events that led to success over great odds. This includes the bombing of London during World War II. The story transitions to this ‘David’ moment of perseverance….the early treatment of childhood leukemia. As parent of young children I remain deeply moved passing kids in the hallway undergoing treatment at the hospital.

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Education Innovation Reading

Latest Read: Talking to Strangers

Talking to Strangers, a new book by Malcolm Gladwell results in another enjoyable and thought provoking read. There are many lessons that I have enjoyed from his works The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers, and What the Dog Saw. Now reading David and Goliath that somehow I put down and never picked back up to finish. Over the last year I have been listening to his Revisionist History podcast. Again a very enjoyable experience.

talking to strangers by malcolm gladwell

Gladwell announced Talking to Strangers via his Podcast. Intrigued to see where he would next provide excellent writing and storytelling.

This book is no exception and yet there are painful, probably necessary in today’s world, lessons that clearly show how a lack of communication skills across all walks of live set alongside business objectives create sad stories across our country.

As Gladwell states many of his stories reflect the inability to understand the forest and the trees metaphor. Five parts to this book: Puzzles, Default to Truth, Transparency, Lessons, and Coupling.

His insights often show a revisionist approach to interpretations of communication. Talking to Strangers is no different. As Hernan Cortes found Montezuma II results in 20 million Aztecs murdered during Spain’s colonial expansion introduced a pattern of social interaction. Was this genocide all based upon a lack of translation? The chapters seem to push the reader to just that conclusion.