“The Noble Purpose of Business Schools and Markets: Correcting the Systematic Failure of Shareholder Capitalism,” Andrew Hoffman
Is capitalism working? Otherwise, will business school help fix it?
Andrew J. Hoffman, professor of sustainable corporations, argues that business education is behind in order to reinvent. In this timely book, he argues that despite growing evidence that this ideology contributes to inequality, ecological collapse and political mistrust, the MBA program is still locked into an outdated model of shareholder advantage.
True to this premise, the author argues for substantial change. He says business schools don’t just add electives to sustainability and ethics. They must develop leaders who restructure their curriculum, pedagogy and incentives from scratch to act as market stewards rather than as agents who maximize profits.
The book’s strength lies in its feasible portrayal of academia, recognizing the challenges of institutional inertia, faculty compensation structure, and student disillusionment. Despite these obstacles, Hoffmann can utilize many experiments and work for change within the academic system. He encourages students to play an active role in shaping their own educational experience.
Some may find the book idealistic. But Hoffman’s urgency is based on common sense. Although he admits that change will be difficult, he believes it is possible, and is led by a school that is likely to rethink the MBA for a full time.
This is a broad and thoughtful guide that connects history, law, economics and education. Its purpose is not to tear capitalism apart, but to rebuild it from its foundations. Whether business schools are willing to lead or not, it remains an open question. Leo Cremoneggi
“Transcendence: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI,” Faisal Hoque
Artificial intelligence, in particular generative AI, is a very fulfilling technology and is very fast moving, and it seems likely to create an endless demand for books on how to use it well. Faisal Hawk’s contribution to this growing mountain is a strange hybrid. He constructs the challenge as a philosophical and practical exploration of humanity and human possibilities.
Most busy business leaders may skip philosophy and jump into the practical guidance that makes up a large part of his book. Hoque is an acronym lover. He applies two of them to individuals, businesses and governments. His first is “open” to unlock the possibilities of AI – outlines, partners, experiments, navigators. His second is “care” to mitigate that risk – destruction, assessment, regulation, exit. Fictional case studies are used to describe the framework. Nike’s new CEO is taking into account the risks and rewards of launching AI-driven products for athletes with disabilities. Innovators at U.S. government agencies are considering the benefits and disadvantages of a platform that matches new AI investments.
These are useful exercises, but they sit a little awkwardly next to the higher investigation of humanity in Hoque. “If AI is a kind of philosopher’s stone, can it provide spiritual wealth and material advantages?” he asks in the final part of the book. This will cover the theme of the title. Citing St. Augustine, he concludes that the correct attitude towards AI is “love.” Call me a cynic. But I don’t think it will work with Nike directors or members of Donald Trump’s cabinet. Andrew Hill
“Nothing like this. Taylor Swift’s Strategic Genius,” Kevin Evers
Kevin Evers, editor of Harvard Business Review, believes Taylor Swift’s business strategy should be given the same critical attention as Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, or Jeff Bezos.
Such being not only a songwriter, but also a savvy strategist, the ability to not only endure his abilities, but also grow out of pressure ever, is defined as a “rebellion.” Evers’ book traces the rise of subjects to superstars with enough clarity for casual audiences and sufficient detail to engage even the most obsessive fans (I include myself in the latter group).
I feel that some of that comparisons have grown a bit, but Taylor Swift is not an iPhone – Evers’ biography is an attractive quest to see how her business insights shaped her artistry, and vice versa. Nor is there any small reference to the personal romantic connections that have long dominated the singer’s reporting.
The songwriter’s constant reinventional album-by-album account also serves as a tale of the drastic changes that have shaken the music industry in the digital age. According to Evers, Swift not only adapted successfully, but personally shaped the business model of artists in the Internet age, from pioneering digital engagement with MySpace fans in the early 2000s to tackling the rise of music streaming and the dawn of Tiktok.
It’s a sharp and comprehensive analysis, but if you’re not familiar with the songwriter’s lyrics, some of the Philor might be a bit confusing. Prepare many mentions to the old cardigan and red scarf. Stephanie Stacy
“Shutterproof: How to thrive in a world of constant chaos (and why not resilient enough), Tasha Eurich
Make lemon cheesecake when life gives you lemons.
That is the central premise of the foresightful research into stress and success of organizational psychologist Tasha Yurich. The book challenges the traditional notion of weathered adversity, arguing that “bouncing” is not a viable strategy to meet the demands of the modern world. Rather than helping us float, trying to stay on top of the water, it makes us own. The solution is to find ways to leverage challenges and use them as opportunities for personal development.
ShatterProof offers a step-by-step approach to its transformation and falls into a broad category of reflexes, research, and revisions. Yurich presents the idea that resilience is not just a myth, but a stack of three myths stacked on an inappropriate trench coat. She argues that old biology is not equipped to deal with New Year’s adversity. Instead of pushing pain, we need to start with the realization that many of us aren’t dealing with the way we think we need to recognize it and deal with it.
The authors then propose practical steps to constructively confront emotional dysregulation and outline the underlying psychological needs that drive stress responses and mindset changes required for growth. In the final section, Shatterproof becomes a workbook, leading the reader to three important shifts needed to respond to stress with intention, in order to restore self-worth, embrace value-driven thinking, and to build strong relationships.
In many ways, ShatterProof is not designed to be read as much as it is used, and its strength lies not in its prose, but in its clarity and purpose. As a distillation of structured workbooks and thoughtful research, it offers a practical and grounded approach to tackling stress and emotional tensions that many find surprisingly relevant to the current climate. cordu krubally-n’diaye
