What we’re reading: July 2009

CAFB staffers like their biz books. Here’s an inside look into some of our book shelves.

Kerri Qunell, VP Communications recommends:
Not Everyone Gets a Trophy: How to Manage Generation Y
By Bruce Tulgan

“Generation Y, whose members were born between 1978 and 1990, can be difficult to manage. Bruce Tulgan, a writer and management training consultant, offers not only a colorful portrait of this unique group, but also shows companies how to harness its power.

Tulgan says Gen Y-ers were raised in overprotected environments with parents who respected their every word and deed. He says Gen Y employees tend to have high expectations for themselves, don’t necessarily respect authority, and often take a short-term view on paying their dues. These factors can create generational tension, especially with older workers.

Go here for more info on the book, including the fourteen most common myths about Generation Y in the workplace, and Tulgan’s actionable best practices to bring out the best in today’s young talent.”

 

Glenda Shayne, VP Community Programs recommends:
8th Habit, From Effectiveness to Greatness
By Steven Covey

“I love this book because it’s all about supervision. He emphasizes the need to know your own voice and inspire the people you supervise to find their’s, so they can become great leaders.”

 

Kim Willis, Communications Coordinator recommends:
Groundswell
By Charlene LI and Josh Bernoff

“LI and Bernoff define groundswell as ‘a spontaneous movement of people using online tools to connect, take charge of their own experience, and get what they need — information, support, ideas, products, and bargaining power — from each other. The groundswell is broad, ever-shifting, and ever-growing. It encompasses blogs, and wikis; podcasts and YouTube; and consumers who rate products, buy and sell from each other, write their own news, and find their own deals.’

This book explains social technology, what to do about it, as well as offer ways to use it succesfully in your company. Join the global phenomenon they call groundswell – it’s so much fun.”

 

Aimy Steadman, Online Development Coordinator recommends:
Texas Organic Gardening
By Howard Garrett

“This book is an easy-to-read reference for plants and plant care in Texas. This was a much more useful tool to me than many other gardening books as the pests, heat and land that we deal with in Texas call for special measures not usually discussed. The book includes:

• Which varieties of vegetables can survive the Texas summers
• An easy to make organic pest solution that can be used in most cases
• Tips on working with the land and water resources you already have available 
   

And it’s great for Texas gardeners looking for a good resource for organic food gardening.”

 

Molly Robbins, Community Events Coordinator recommends:
Basic Black: The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work (and in Life)
By Cathie Black

“Basic Black encourages you to take every day and be as creative with it as possible.  Cathie Black, president of Hearst Magazines, encourages you to look for ways to stand out from the crowd and gain the trust of those around you in order to get ahead in your career and in life.  This book is stacked with significant tips and humorous stories to illustrate her point and is definitely a fun read.”

 

Chelsea Cates, Agency Relations Representative recommends:
They Don’t Teach Corporate in College
By Alexandra Levit

“This is a great book for those new to the work force (i.e., recent graduates) or those who want to brush up on professionalism in the workplace. It has information that, once read, seems obvious but is practical to develop professionally. This book addresses the basic human resources topics my business degree didn’t cover. It also includes sample documents and funny stories of do’s and don’t’s.”

 

Lisa Goddard, Advocacy and Online Marketing Director recommends:
School Lunch Politics: The Surprising History of America’s Favorite Welfare Program (Politics and Society in Twentieth Century America)
By Susan Levine

“School Lunch Politics is a history timeline of the beginnings of nutrition science and the establishment of the National School Lunch Program in 1946.  Learn about the politics and culture of food, and how federal priorities have shaped what school children eat.  If you enjoyed Fast Food Nation, you will probably enjoy this book as well.

Factoids:

• The desire to assimilate immigrants into American culture shapes the foods that were available (and are still served) through the school lunch program.
• Federal focus on child hunger did not become a priority until the World War I draft resulted in candidates being turned away due to poor nutrition.”