The Books I Read In April - Review
Book 11 | April 2018
Harvard Business Review - Entrepreneur's Handbook | Harvard Business Review Press
You just can't go wrong with HBR content. I'm a big fan of Harvard Business Review Press and their content whether it be in article form or not, and to further cement my appreciation for their content this book was a perfect read.
A very simple, easy to understand and must read for anyone considering or interested in starting their own business or company regardless of its size.
The book touches on:
- preparing for the journey of entrepreneurship
- organising your startup
- writing a business plan
- financing your business (early stage, seed stage, angel investors and VC's [venture capitalists])
- growth, sustainable growth, and leadership
- harvesting, exiting, and going public
Overall, this book gets a strong 4.5 out of 5 from me. Not because of my bias towards HBR, but because of the value that this book provided me by covering so much relevant and important content so succinctly and clearly.
Rating:
- Afzal Hussein - 4.5/5
Buy it here.
Book 12 | April 2018
If The Oceans Were Ink - An Unlikely Friendship and a Journey to the Heart of the Quran | Carla Power
Carla Power, an American journalist and researcher at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies embarks on a yearlong journey into the heart of the holy Quran and Islam as a religion through following, connecting and learning the life that is led by and exposed to a practising Muslim, Sheikh Mohammad Akram Nadwi (also a researcher at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies). Carla asks Akram if she could follow him in an effort to journal and learn more about the religion that is Islam, arguably at present the most controversial and talked about religion in the western world and beyond.
Carla covers all topics one might expect in such a book ranging from Islam in the West, Islam in the East, women in Islam, men in Islam, radicalism, pilgrimage, practising Islam, prophets, raising a Muslim family, other religions, the veil, historical female scholars and leaders in Islam, heaven and hell, death, and more.
My review of this book could extend to pages, however, I wouldn't want to spoil such a good read for you all.
Overall, I found this book to be an immensely powerful read and would recommend and welcome it to readers of all (or no) faiths and backgrounds.
Please read it (as with all books) with an open mind and embrace the journey Carla pursues.
I have to be honest, this book, particularly Sheikh Akram's commitment to leading a righteous life with the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as his continuous guide has inspired me to be a better Muslim and all round better human being.
Highly recommended.
Ratings:
- Amazon uk - 4.8/5
- Goodreads - 4/5
- Afzal Hussein - 4.6/5
Buy it here.
Book 13 | April 2018
When Breath Becomes Air | Paul Kalanithi
As you know, I try and read a book a week. This one however, took 3 days! It was such a page turner. You know the type. Where you can't put it down because you're dying to find out what happens in the next page/few pages.
Paul Kalanithi is a neurosurgeon (often thought of as brain surgery, but also includes working on the spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system #DrAHussein) who was an extremely talented, accomplished and recognised surgeon in this field. His career was on a steep upward curve and at the young age of his early thirties his dream and ambition of becoming an even more accomplished neurosurgeon and neuroscientist was within arms length. This book is a product of his passion for writing as he decided to document the life changing events and journey that were to come.
Everything changed when he was diagnosed with life threatening lung cancer at the age of 35. From being in the doctors seat advising and comforting patients, he was now the patient. The book takes you through the months to come and on Pauls, his wife's (Lucy) and his family's journey of heartbreak, struggle, confusion and pain.
SPOILER ALERT. READ ON AT YOUR OWN RISK!
The book highlighted the fact of life. Death. It highlighted the often most ignored fact that everyone's time will come regardless of one's life's current state and current circumstances. At the young age of just 37 Paul's life was taken by an unforgiving disease. He left behind his wife and their 8 month old baby girl. A truly saddening account of an outstanding human being.
If you'd like to read Paul's journey in greater detail please give the book a read.
Ratings:
- Waterstones - 4.8/5
- Goodreads - 4.3/5
- Amazon UK - 4.5/5
- Afzal Hussein - 4.6/5
Buy it here.
Book 14 | April 2018
Millennial Workforce - Cracking the Code to Generation Y in Your Company | Javier Montes
This book touched on an area of particular interest of mine - millennials in the workplace. In an ever changing world with huge generational imbalances in the common workplace whether it be a large corporate or a small business one thing often seems to be a cause for concern and that is the fact that millennials have a different way of working compared to their seniors, the generation that went before them, Generation X.
For clarity, millennials (Generation Y) are thought of as being born between the early-80s and the mid-90s, whereas Generation X were born between the mid-60s and mid-70s.
Otherwise known as Generation Y, millennials are turning the traditional working environment on its head. They tend to spend two or so years at a company and then bounce to a new and more exciting opportunity, they're thought of as 'entitled', spoon-fed, desire flexibility in their careers and value a sense of purpose more than material things.
In this book, the author goes into detail on a few of these topics and touches on managing millennials, leading millennials, retaining millennials and more.
I'll definitely be taking away a few key points from this book and though it might not be a book for everyone I'd definitely recommend it to any senior executives and people interested in identifying what makes millennials happy in the workplace. A must read for managers.
Rating:
- Goodreads - 3.3/5
- Afzal Hussein - 4/5
Buy it here.
Until next month, happy reading!
P.s. I'd love to hear what books have been keeping you busy this year. Let me know in the comments, especially if you have any great recommendations!
Thanks :)
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The Books I Read In March - Review
The Books I Read In February - Review
The Books I Read In January - Review
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Disclaimer:
The views and comments expressed in this article are solely those of Afzal Hussein and are not representative of any organisation, charity or third party.
Risk Manager @ Lloyds Banking Group
6 年Hi Afzal, what's the trick behind reading a book a week? I can't even get through reading one per two months..
Loan Officer at NJ Lenders Corp
6 年Thanks for sharing your book reviews. I will be reading "Millennial Workforce - Cracking the Code to Generation Y in Your Company | Javier Montes" as I am a young millennial myself.