June 17, 2017

The advantage of this book is its clear simplicity and the concrete tools available both in the book and on the accompanying CD. The fundamentals of PM are presented in an understandable and well-structured manner. The descriptions are neither too brief nor too overloaded, as in some academic works with hundreds of pages. For PM beginners, the book is a good overview, and even for professionals, it can occasionally serve as a reference to quickly review a few key points in condensed form. If you want to start a project and aren't yet familiar with it, this is the right book. Those with extensive experience will want to turn to other books.

Max Tegmark
Ullstein Verlag, 2016

Sometimes you put a book down because you don't like it or because you don't understand it. This book about the universe by the Swedish physicist from the USA ranges from the expansion of the cosmos to questions of quantum physics and also examines what might have happened before the Big Bang. I didn't put it down; I liked it very much, but there were still parts that overwhelmed my imagination. However, even the passages I didn't really understand were extremely interesting. Reaching the limits of one's imagination is also exciting; the Level IV universe was just too abstract for me. The book wonderfully explains the origin of the universe, or rather different universes, on different levels and also delves into the depths of quantum physics. A theory that everything can be calculated mathematically is presented. Questions about our existence and how often we might exist and where are excitingly portrayed. Albert Einstein's findings have served as the starting point for research results to this day, and the author also presents his theory of a "mathematical universe" (which didn't seem particularly plausible or easily understood to me). Anyone who enjoys learning amazing things and pushing the boundaries of human knowledge will be well served. However, you shouldn't skip reading the book for too long, or you might lose track.

**** 4 out of 5 stars (more like 6 out of 5 stars)

Not invented here / Cross-industry innovation
Ramon Vullings & Marc Heleven
Hanser Verlag, 2016

Even though it has an English title, the book was published by Hanser Verlag in a German translation with the English title. First of all: it really is a great book! The format and layout alone provide a completely different reading experience than most specialist books. And the content is convincing, with plenty of unusual ideas and resources on the core topic: How do I create added value for customers in a company through new products and services? The authors approach the individual chapters in an easily digestible, section-by-section sequence. On every page, you'll find great inspiration for how to attractively expand your own product range by borrowing from - usually completely different - industries and companies through astonishing combinations. My suggestion: First, skim through the book to get the overall picture. Then pick out a specific initial tip and work on it immediately - ideally in a team. I think you'll see good results very quickly. A book for reflection and experimentation, and indispensable for every company, large or small.

***** 5 out of 5 stars (more like 6 out of 5 stars)

Homo Deus
Yuval Noah Harari
CH Beck Verlag, 2017

First of all: It's a remarkable book! In recent years, an increasing number of popular science books have appeared that shed light on the future of humanity from a serious perspective. In Homo Deus (the godlike human) (apart from science fiction, which often runs surprisingly accurately ahead of reality) a taboo is broken that had previously been off the radar of most people: Feelings and individual behaviors are also merely biochemical processes that, perhaps in the not-too-distant future, can also be precisely analyzed and replicated! This would at least dilute one of the beliefs of most people, that they are unique and defined by individual views and emotions. In the first part of his work, Harari describes the incredibly rapid development of humanity and its religions and orientations, from natural religions to monotheistic religions and the worldviews of the Enlightenment up to the present day. (Super)beliefs are partially losing their relevance, and illnesses are becoming easier to overcome.

The second part extrapolates the present: Computers and algorithms often know what we want better than we do ourselves. The analysis of large amounts of data allows for astonishingly accurate predictions of behaviors and desires that we ourselves are often not even explicitly aware of. We increasingly turn to our "big brother" with confidence and ask him for advice or let him make suggestions that are often better than our own decisions (which are more strongly connected to emotions). The look into the future deals with the possible loss of millions of jobs and the question of what people will do then. The world will be determined by data and no longer by people, is one conclusion. Only a small segment of people will still have a say, the masses hardly at all. Overall, these are surprising conclusions, yet somehow understandable. I'll put the book aside and look at it again in 10 years.

100 fewer pages in the 500-page book might have made the message even clearer. But the length doesn't really matter; it's written in an entertaining and engaging way.

***** 5 out of 5 stars

The deceptive memory
Julia Shaw
Hanser Verlag, 2016

Knowledge consists largely of memories. Therefore, this captivating book about our brain and our memories is also important for readers interested in knowledge management. You learn some astonishing facts from an authoritative source. For example, that human memories are only permanent after a certain age, yet many memories are eventually forgotten; that through appropriate "manipulation," people can remember things they never experienced; that memories change over time, and truth and wishful thinking blend. But you also learn that these fundamental properties of the brain have quite useful effects. It's surprising when it becomes clear how vague observations often are that were once believed to be certain, and which, for example, lead to important witness statements. That you can't learn in your sleep, and that there are some (few) people who, after a certain point, remember every day of their lives exactly. We can also read about the influence of social media and other developments on our memory. A highly interesting, scientifically based, and very readable and exciting book.

***** 5 out of 5 stars

The zero marginal cost society
Jeremy Rifkin
Fischer Verlag, 2016

A book that predicts nothing less than the possible medium-term replacement of capitalism by an economy based on sharing and common use. The costs of certain goods and services, such as the internet, renewable energies, transportation, etc., but also of other goods, are increasingly falling due to global competitive pressure. Through customized 3D printing, sharing resources such as tools, housing, and cars via platforms, and the continued spread of freeware, open source, and other innovative formats, costs for individuals are decreasing in many areas. The younger generation is thinking more about sharing and preserving the environment. Thus, certain business models no longer function as they did in the past; a new type of economy could emerge, just as social and business models have repeatedly changed over the past 10,000 years of human history.

People could increasingly learn to see themselves as ONE humanity, which can only survive through meaningful cooperation and the protection of resources. Environmental destruction, wars, and terrorist attacks via the internet remain massive threats.

A highly interesting book that, based on current developments and plausible considerations, greatly stimulates thinking about borders. The only drawback is the sometimes somewhat lengthy explanations of certain developments. But that seems to be a common trait among American science authors. Hence, no 5 stars.

**** 4 out of 5 stars

The end of democracy
Yvonne Hofstetter
C. Bertelsmann Verlag, 2016

An author with genuine experience in the subject matter takes a trip into a future that is almost here yet still seems far away. Big data, algorithms, and artificial intelligence are increasingly determining our lives, even more than we consciously realize. The author asks whether it might not be practical and feasible to create "artificial" politicians who can govern this incredibly complex world better than humans are capable of. Regarding some of today's leaders (even in democracies), there are certainly legitimate doubts about this. Reality and fiction are skillfully blended in the book. Politics, economics, and technology, as well as their interactions, are presented in an interesting, if sometimes somewhat abrupt, blend with good background knowledge. One of the key questions is: What will humans do when more and more work is done by machines? And the other important question: Would the rule of artificial intelligence and machines spell the end of democracy? And what consequences would this have? A very worthwhile book, but one that alternates between nonfiction and fiction, not always an easy read.

**** 4 out of 5 stars

Cybersick
Manfred Spitzer
Droemer Verlag, 2016

The line between usefulness and addiction in many of today's electronic media is thin. Manfred Spitzner, a neuroscientist, explores the topic in detail in his new book. The focus is on the internet and smartphones, but television also plays a role. The risk of falling into abuse and triggering a non-substance addiction appears to be considerable. Especially for children and adolescents, video games, but also chat programs, can lead to a loss of perception of reality with far-reaching consequences. But adults are not immune to this either. The urge to "know" everything quickly and to read emails easily leads to incorrect prioritization and unfocused and superficial work with constant distractions. Likewise, the willingness to truly learn things or to critically question them often decreases. It is so easy and convenient to uncritically absorb the information offered to us. Just becoming aware of these dangers makes the book worth reading. Even though the statistical studies sometimes take up a bit too much space, it remains a fairly easy-to-read book and has given me important impressions and reflections.

**** 4 out of 5 stars

Other interesting books:

The New and its Enemies
Gunter Dueck
Campus Publishing, 2013


Together we are stupid!?
Fritz B. Simon
Carl-Auer-Systeme Verlag, Heidelberg, 2004

Social Business
Annabelle Atchinson ea
Frankfurter Allgemeine Buch, 2014

Web 2.0 and social media in corporate practice
Andrea Back ea
Oldenbourg Scientific Publishers, 2012