Jackson Library

Guy Kawasaki on his blog cites the 19 bloggers that Inc. magazine thinks you should read. Included among them is Kawasaki's blog, but we're happy to report that GSB Alum Seth Godin's blog also made the grade. Check it out.

Fact or Fad: Who is Shaping the Brain Fitness Market? is a presentation by the MIT Club of Northern California to discuss the recent book by Dr Elkhonon Goldberg and GSB Alum Alvaro Fernandez, The Sharp Brains Guide to Brain Fitness. With the success of Nintendo’s Brain Age, Posit Science and dozens of new software programs and games that promise 'brain fitness', the question arises, "Are we experiencing a fad, or an emerging new consumer market?" Alvaro and panel members Roger Quy, General Partner, Technology Partners and Jan Zivic, Founder, Vibrant Brains, will discuss this and other questions.

Where: Wilson Sonsini Palo Alto
When: Tuesday October 6th, 6 - 8 PM.
Registration: http://tinyurl.com/paloaltoevent

On our New Books rack in Jackson Library we find How The Mighty Fall: And Why Some Companies Never Give In (HG3761.C65 2009) by Jim Collins (Good to Great), which argues that amidst the dismal landscape of fallen firms there are lessons to be learned on how decline can be detected and reversed. Collins defines five stages of decline, and makes a case that decline is self-inflicted and can be turned around.

He in turn offers a foreword to UC Berkeley Professor and GSB Alum Morten Hansen's book Collaboration: How Leaders Avoid The Traps, Create Unity and Reap Big Results (HD31.H317 2009). Hansen believes leaders can paradoxically sabotage themselves by promoting more collaboration in their companies, forgetting that the goal of collaboration is not collaboration itself but results. The book distills a decade of research into an approach that helps managers separate good collaboration opportunities from the bad. Writes GSB Professor Jeffrey Pfeffer (What Were They Thinking?) " ... Hansen illustrates both the pitfalls and potential of collaboration, and provides specific, actionable ideas to make effective collaboration the norm instead of the exception."

Richard A. Posner has come out with A Failure Of Capitalism: The Crisis Of '08 And The Descent Into Depression (HB3722.P67 2009), where he conducts a postmortem on the recent meltdown to identify heavy capital flows from abroad and lowering interest rates from the Fed, the deregulation of the financial sector, and the relation between executive comp, short-term profits and risky lending among the causes.

Finally, Chaotics: The Business Of Managing And Marketing In The Age Of Turbulence (HF5415.K6244 2009) warns us that turbulent times are no longer the exception but the norm. Authors Philip Kotler and John A. Caslione roll out examples of firms that are nevertheless highly resilient, and offer their 'Chaotics Management System' for minimizing vulnerability and exploiting opportunities. GSB Alum Tom Peters (In Search Of Excellence) writes "Leave it to Phil Kotler to give us lift-off power when we need it most".

Having a hard time finding that right job? Never fear, register with Doostang which "is an online community that seeks to match the brightest new grads with what it says are the crème de la crème of positions in finance, consulting and tech".

Doostang was created by Mareza Larizadeh. "Larizadeh never intended to launch a career start-up. He was completing his MBA at Stanford University in 2005 when he got the idea for Doostang, which is a modified version of 'reaching for talent' in Latin."

Read more about it.

So often today our "service economy" is anything but. Stanford Business School Alum Seth Godin blogs about the abdication of responsibility in once great corporations, noting how a firm can deteriorate into a pixelated mosaic, with every employee eager to push 'interruptions' (i.e. legitimate requests for service) to others. Nor is this unique to companies; it can represent the decline and fall of any organization. Haven't we all experienced this when trying to get service from once great brands? The old saw still applies: "If not you, who? If not now, when?"

It's graduation season at Stanford U. and beyond! I happened across this item from "Inside Edition" which highlights a GSB alumna, Ariane de Bonvoisin, author of "The First 30 Days". She shares her list of the top 10 things current graduates and job seekers can do to make the right career choices especially in this tough economic climate.

Read more about it.

GSB Alum Alvaro Fernandez alerts us to the fact that his firm SharpBrains has produced a market report and also a book The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness, co-authored by Alvaro and his co-founder at SharpBrains, Elkhonon Goldberg. The book includes insights from top scientists and detailed descriptions of over twenty products. It's summer time; pamper your body, but give that brain a workout !

This posting is a reference to Seth Godin’s blog. Seth is GSB alum, entrepreneur, bestselling author, and a renowned speaker. He also writes for his blog on daily basis. His posts are concise, to-the-point, witty, and covering a wide spectrum of topics. business and ethical. The post Why aren't you (really) good at graphic design? contains a compilation of print and online sources which can help every student or a business person to develop skills for creating better visual presentations of a slide show, or handout, or any other type of printed materials.

GSB Alum Alvaro Fernandez tells us that the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) has just released a special report prepared by his firm, SharpBrains (link available only to current GSB community). It describes the growing use of computerized brain fitness tools offered to senior housing residents as part of comprehensive wellness initiatives, and provides an overview of the brain fitness field -- with 4 case studies that shed light on brain fitness centers in seniors housing communities. The report was the fruit of a meeting between Alvaro and the President of ASHA, facilitated by fellow GSB Alum Ryan Frederick. For those wishing to learn more, check out the description at the SharpBrains site. Alvaro himself will be at the NY Public Library on November 17 to speak on brain fitnesss as a professional development event for librarians.

Helen Chang of GSB News & Publications alerts us to the fact that a PBS Frontline documentary 'Young and Restless in China' will be airing Tuesday, June 17. The program features 9 smart, young and ambitious Chinese individuals trying to ride the crest of the tremendous change sweeping their nation. Among those profiled is our own GSB Alum, Lu Dong (Class of 2004). Read more to learn what's happening today in the world's most populous economy.

So you're an MBA2, girding your loins to go back onto the corporate battlefield. What can give you a decisive edge over your competitors? Information. But as an alum, you won't have access to any of the powerful databases and tools you now enjoy at Jackson Library. Right? Wrong.

You can take it with you. Or at least some of it. Interested? The My Library After Graduation 30-minute "bullseye" session will bring you up to date on what's available to you as a GSB alum. This briefing takes place Friday, May 23 from Noon - 12:30 in Library conference room 303. To learn more, or to sign up, email librarian Helen Losch.

We are saddened to report the passing of GSB Alumnus Claude Rosenberg (MBA '52), financier, philanthropist and friend of the Library. Mr Rosenberg and his wife Louise were well known nationally for their charitable donations. Among the beneficiaries of their benevolence was Jackson Library, whose Rosenberg Corporate Research Center, dedicated in 1992, was the real foundation stone for today's outstanding array of Jackson databases. The Rosenberg gift was the greatest single impetus in the growth of the electronic tools that have become an integral part of the Library. In addition, their bequest changed the look of the Library, making it a much more attractive place to study and collaborate. Jackson Library staff who remember Mr Rosenberg always found him engaged, interested and enthusiastic about the development of resources for future business students. For these and other reasons, we pay tribute to Mr Rosenberg's memory.

Stanford MBA graduates Brian Spaly and Andy Dunn are in the rag business. They created Bonobos, an exclusively online trousers merchant specializing in lightweight corduroy, superfine twill and wool. Bonobos ( www.bonobospants.com.) offers a slightly flared leg and a little width in the thighs. Read more about their story.

GSB MBA alum Alvaro Fernandez will speak at "The Emerging Brain Fitness Market: Building Better Brains", an event jointly presented by The MIT Club of Northern California, American Society on Aging, The Business Forum on Aging and SmartSilvers.

Fernandez, CEO of SharpBrains.com, will summarize the science, market segments, players and trends, based on the first Brain Fitness Software Market Report, which will be presented at this event, and will discuss the implications with neuro-technologists, gaming experts and investors. Joining him will be Zack Lynch (Neurotechnology Industry Organization) as Moderator, as well as panelists Andy Donner (Physic Ventures), Kunal Sarkar (CEO Lumos Labs), Alexander Doman (CEO Advanced Brain Technologies), Dan Michel (CEO Dakim). Opening remarks will be given by Susan Ayers Walker, SmartSilvers and AARP.org (Contributing Technology Journalist).

Date: 02/12/2008 Tuesday
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Venue: Wilson Sonsini (950 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto map)
Cost: $20 online, $25 walk-in

See more information and registration at SharpBrains.com.

Roger Urban, GSB Alum '67, President of the Urban Wallace Associates, photographer, author -- and ardent fan of ballet -- has just published a limited edition book of rare photographs of ballet legend Rudolf Nureyev, Life Behind the Metaphor, a beautiful collection of photographs taken during the artist's 1978 U.S. tour with the Dutch National Ballet. These previously unpublished photographs are stunning, showing the power, strength and matchless artistry of Nureyev.

Mr. Urban has donated the complete collection of his photographs, along with original set and costume sketches from the tour, to the Jerome Robbins Dance Division of the New York Public Library of Performing Arts, along with proceeds from the book sales. A strong supporter of libraries -- and ballet -- is always tops on my list.

Alumni in the News: MarketWatch from DowJones ( July 25 ) highlights Baby Boomers' growing angst about memory loss and mental acuity, as people increasingly turn to "brain-fitness" techniques. The piece quotes SharpBrains, 'brainchild' company of GSB Alum Alvaro Fernandez and Dr Elkhonon Goldberg, as estimating that the market for brain-fitness software targeting adults will be at between $80 - $100 million this year. (SharpBrains is a portal that orients companies and individuals toward brain-training techniques, tools and services.)

Two MBA alums have opened a new business in San Francisco and though you might think wealthy people have now paid to make their lifestyles de luxe in every possible way, two new entrepreneurs have found a niche making a very quotidian business, the men’s barbershop, upscale. Read about it.

Two GSB alums Rod Beckstrom (MBA '87) and Ori Brafman (MBA '01) have written a book entitled The Starfish and the Spider. The focus of the book is decentralized organizations and how well they can work. The title metaphor derives from the fact that although a starfish and spiders have similar shapes, their internal structure is dramatically different. A spider dies when its head is removed while a starfish can regenerate limbs. What do organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Craigslist and Al-Qaeda have in common? This book draws on real world examples of how starfish like organizations clash with spider like organizations. Read more about this book at Amazon.

The library has a copy of this book in the Popular Business Books collection. Call number: HD50 .B73 2006.

Jackson Library recently received a copy of the new book by Seth Godin (MBA '84), Small is the New Big : And 183 other Riffs, Rants, and Remarkable Business Ideas, a compilation of entries from his popular blog and writings from his column in Fast Company.

You may read reviews and download free samples at Godin's book site. The Library's copy is currently shelved in the Popular Business Books collection. For availability, check the library catalog record.

I have had business students ask me from time to time where to find the "accounting books" or the "how to conquer Wall Street" types of books while staffing the Information desk. Every now and then I do get the "tongue in cheek" request for where are the "business books for poets" or where are the "fun" business books!

While there are no business book "murder mysteries" or "romance novels" in the HD section in the library, some GSB Alumni have crafted tomes of a non-business nature.

CIRCLE
By Victoria Chang (MBA '98), Southern Illinois University Press

My first book of poetry, CIRCLE, is finally out! It's a book that I've been working on for nearly a decade. Earlier last year, the book won a book prize (the way many first books of poetry are published), the Crab Orchard Review Award Series in Poetry.

Natural Dance
Photographs by Hal Eastman (MBA '62), Peregrine Images, 2003

The photographs in Natural Dance celebrate the freedom, energy and power of women dancers as they spontaneously explore their personal inner sense of movement in intuitive harmony with the natural beauty around them. At the same time, these extraordinary images capture the liberating spirit of dance and the dance rhythms that permeate the natural world. Created by an unusual time-lapse photographic technique, the images evoke late 19th and early 20th century prints. Quotes about dance in nature from famous current and historical dance personalities provide context for the images.

The Future of Jazz
by Yuval Taylor (Editor), Will Friedwald, Ted Gioia (MBA '83), Stuart Nicholson, Chicago Review Press, Incorporated, 2002

In The Future of Jazz, 10 leading jazz critics take on the various issues surrounding jazz's future-the dominance of mainstream jazz, its spread around the world, the difficulty of making a living playing it, the growth of repertory jazz, the dearth of interest among young African Americans, the paradoxically backward-looking nature of the avant-garde, and many others. Published in an innovative new format, this book was written entirely by email as these jazz critics engaged in lively debate on the future of this venerable American institution.