by Rupe | Dec 12, 2003 | Not So Recent Reads
Author: Jack Valenti
Date: 12-Dec-03
Public speaking is one of the most intimidating and important aspects of many jobs. As a one-time speechwriter for President Johnson, and current president of the Motion Picture Association of America, Jack Valenti has written and delivered speeches in all kinds of settings. Originally published in 1982, Speaking Up with Confidence is an indispensable resource for anyone who wants to write and deliver a speech that people will listen to and remember.
My Thoughts:
by Rupe | Nov 22, 2003 | Not So Recent Reads
Author: John Keegan
Date: 22-Nov-03
In fiction, the spy is a glamorous figure whose secrets make or break peace, but, historically, has intelligence really been a vital step to military victories? In this breakthrough study, the preeminent war historian John Keegan goes to the heart of a series of important conflicts to develop a powerful argument about military intelligence. In his characteristically wry and perceptive prose, Keegan offers us nothing short of a new history of war through the prism of intelligence.
Keegan brings to life the split-second decisions that went into waging war before the benefit of aerial surveillance and electronic communications. The English admiral Horatio Nelson was hot on the heels of Napoleon’s fleet in the Mediterranean and never knew it, while Stonewall Jackson was able to compensate for the Confederacy’s disadvantage in firearms and manpower with detailed maps of the Appalachians. In the past century, espionage and decryption have changed the face of battle. Timely information, however, is only the beginning of the surprising and disturbing aspects of decisions that are made in war, where brute force is often more critical.
Intelligence in War is a thought-provoking work that ranks among John Keegan’s finest achievements.
My thoughts: Great read of intelligence professionals.
by Rupe | Nov 22, 2003 | Not So Recent Reads
In an effort to understand the underpinings of the current wave of anti-American/Westernism currently unleashed around the world by so called forces of terrorism, I set out on a study of the history of such muslim faiths as Wahabism, Sufism, etc…
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Author: Robert Baer
Date: 22-Nov-2003
In his powerful new book, Robert Baer, author of See No Evil, turns his attention to Saudi Arabia, revealing how our government’s cynical relationship with our Middle Eastern ally and America’s dependence on Saudi oil make us increasingly vulnerable to economic disaster and put us at risk for further acts of terrorism.
For decades, the United States and Saudi Arabia have been locked in a “harmony of interests.” America counted on the Saudis for cheap oil, political stability in the Middle East, and lucrative business relationships for the United States, while providing a voracious market for the kingdom’s vast oil reserves. With money and oil flowing freely between Washington and Riyadh, the United States has felt secure in its relationship with the Saudis and the ruling Al Sa’ud family. But the rot at the core of our “friendship” with the Saudis was dramatically revealed when it became apparent that fifteen of the nineteen September 11 hijackers proved to be Saudi citizens.
In Sleeping with the Devil, Baer documents with chilling clarity how our addiction to cheap oil and Saudi petrodollars caused us to turn a blind eye to the Al Sa’ud’s culture of bribery, its abysmal human rights record, and its financial support of fundamentalist Islamic groups that have been directly linked to international acts of terror, including those against the United States. Drawing on his experience as a field operative who was on the ground in the Middle East for much of his twenty years with the agency, as well as the large network of sources he has cultivated in the region and in the U.S. intelligence community, Baer vividly portrays our decades-old relationship with the increasingly dysfunctional and corrupt Al Sa’ud family, the fierce anti-Western sentiment that is sweeping the kingdom, and the desperate link between the two.
My thoughts: Very interesting read. The historic context in which the book places the “House of Sa’ud” is quite frightful and very troubling. I would recommend a read of this book as a starting point for anyone interested in the subject.
by Rupe | Oct 23, 2003 | Not So Recent Reads
Author: Lilyan Wilder
Date: 23-Oct-03
Lilyan Wilder is a communications expert who has worked with the world’s most notable public figures, broadcast correspondents at ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN, and many Fortune 500 companies. Her clients have included media icons Oprah Winfrey and Charlie Rose, former President George Bush, John Scully, and Katherine Graham. 7 Steps to Fearless Speaking will teach you how to cope with panic, avoidance, and the trauma of speaking as you give the gift of your convictions and experience your voice for the first time.
My Thoughts:
by Rupe | Oct 23, 2003 | Not So Recent Reads
Author: David Allen
Date: 23-Oct-03
In today’s world of exponentially increased communication and responsibility, yesterday’s methods for staying on top just don’t work. Veteran management consultant and trainer David Allen recognizes that “time management” is useless the minute your schedule is interrupted; “setting priorities” isn’t relevant when your email is down; “procrastination solutions” won’t help if your goals aren’t clear.
Allen’s premise is simple: our ability to be productive is directly proportional to our ability to relax. Only when our minds are clear and our thoughts are organized can we achieve stress-free productivity and unleash our creative potential. He teaches us how to:
– Apply the “do it, delegate it, defer it, drop it” rule to get your in-box empty.
– Reassess goals and stay focused in changing situations.
– Overcome feelings of confusion, anxiety, and being overwhelmed.
– Feel fine about what you’re not doing.
From core principles to proven tricks, Getting Things Done has the potential to transform the way you work – and the way you experience work. At any level of implementation, David Allen’s entertaining and thought-provoking advice shows you how to pick up the pace without wearing yourself down.
My Thoughts: Not a bad read, but found to be in the same vein as 17 Lies…. Will have to revist at some point and re-evaluate.
