Since the dawn of the twenty-first century, the West has been in crisis. Social unrest, political polarization, and the rise of other great powers - especially China - threaten to unravel today's Western-led world order. Many fear this would lead to global chaos. But the West has never had a monopoly on order.

Surveying five thousand years of global history, political scientist Amitav Acharya reveals that world order - the political architecture enabling cooperation and peace among nations - existed long before the rise of the West. Moving from ancient Sumer, India, Greece, and Mesoamerica, through medieval caliphates and Eurasian empires into the present, Acharya shows that humanitarian values, economic interdependence, and rules of inter-state conduct emerged across the globe over millennia. History suggests order will endure even as the West retreats. In fact, the end of Western dominance offers us the opportunity to build a better world, where non-Western nations find more voice, power, and prosperity. Instead of fearing the future, the West should learn from history and cooperate with the Rest to forge a more equitable order.This is the definitive account of how world order evolved and why it will survive the decline of the West.

Venture capitalists manage to raise and invest trillions of dollars despite being wrong most of time through asymmetric bets – where a few big wins outsize losses by factors of 1,000x.

In The Super Upside Factor, Daniel Kang draws on his experience as a venture capitalist at Softbank Vision Fund and a Y Combinator-backed founder to adapt asymmetric principles for personal and professional life. He offers a clear framework for maximizing luck and generating outsized returns—what he calls Super Upsides.

Through vivid, real-life experiments, Kang demonstrates how he put these principles into practice—from securing a book deal writing just 15 minutes a day; to recovering from a spiralling plane as a pilot; to raising millions by betting on pivotal career shift.

This book draws upon the author’s firsthand experience going from no money, network, or looks to a highly successful career in entrepreneurship and venture capitalism. In this book, readers will find discussion on:

* Core concepts like the multiplier effect and black swans

* Probabilities, biases, and luck, and how to make them work for you, not against you

* Tools and first steps to create a “life portfolio” of uncapped upsides and unlimited opportunity

Backed by decision science research and personal experimentations, the book strikes a balance between theory and practical advice, guiding readers to identify and optimize skewed life bets. Beyond the tactical elements, Kang explores the human side of applying these principles, including discussions on mental health, emotional struggles, and even tactically quitting.

The Super Upside Factor will inspire readers—even the most risk averse—to realize they are only a few Super Upsides away from extraordinary success and provide precise asymmetric principles needed to stack the odds in their favor.

Embark on a transformative journey with No Fear Networking: A Guide to Building Connections for the Socially Anxious Professional, tailored for anyone who's ever felt overwhelmed by traditional networking. Crafted by a formerly agoraphobic LinkedIn guru who became a viral sensation at 30, this guide is an essential toolkit for fostering genuine connections and opening doors to new opportunities.

No Fear Networking offers a compassionate approach to networking, addressing the challenges faced by socially anxious professionals through practical, actionable strategies. From understanding the nuances of social anxiety to mastering the art of small talk, this book provides everything you need to network with confidence and still feel like yourself.

What You'll Discover Inside:

* Understanding Social Anxiety: Gain insights into the socially anxious mind and learn how to harness your unique strengths in professional settings

* Strategic Networking Preparation: Shift your mindset with a makeover for "people that can't people," develop a magnetic personal brand, and craft a networking game plan tailored to your comfort level

* Practical Networking Skills: From mastering small talk to navigating digital platforms and face-to-face interactions without fear, learn the skills to make networking natural and effective

* Advanced Strategies and Overcoming Setbacks: Build and maintain valuable connections, leverage your network for career growth, and gracefully handle rejections and setbacks

Michaela Alexis shares not just strategies but her personal journey-from a job seeker grappling with agoraphobia to a sought-after speaker and LinkedIn influencer. Her story is proof that anyone can transform their networking approach and achieve success without losing themselves in the process.

No Fear Networking is more than just a book; it's your gateway to thriving in the professional world despite social anxiety. Whether you're looking to enhance your networking skills or completely start from scratch, this book will gently guide you every step of the way.

What if you could enter any room with complete confidence, knowing just what to say and how to act, yet still be 100 percent yourself? Sound impossible? It's not! It's not even complicated.In How to Read a Room, communication expert Dr. Mike Bechtle shares his simple four-step process for accurately assessing any situation--a business meeting, a social situation, a conference, an interview--so that you can be comfortable, confident, and genuinely you. He helps you- discover what's happening in a room before you ever say a word- connect and converse with anyone- develop listening skills, empathy, and social intelligence- build real relationships- discern when and how you're called to lead and to serve- impact every room you enter

Whether you're an introvert who feels awkward or struggles with what to say, or you're an extrovert who is trying to be mindful of your tendency to take over conversations, this book will help you hit all the right notes and still be uniquely you.

We all spend a huge amount of time trying to get people to listen to us, and despite our best efforts, we often fail. But what if the secret to influencing others was in first accepting them?This is known as validation: the act of showing someone that you understand their experience and accept it as valid

.As both a means and an end, validation skills are proven to impact five key areas of our life: enhancing our relationships, de-escalating conflict, increasing our ability to drive behaviour change, influencing growth in others, and developing a stronger connection to self. In this groundbreaking book, Stanford University psychologist Caroline Fleck explains why validation is a catalyst for transformation, and shares her step-by-step framework to put this powerful skillset into practice.

Curiosity: The Secret Ingredient for Success in Personal and Professional Growth describes the ins and outs of curiosity: what it is, how it works and what it does; how it influences success for individuals and organisations, why it is hard to maintain over time and how we - and our organisations - can get (even) better at it. The book is a practical guide for professionals to help them become aware of and take intentional action towards being more curious towards the world, others and even themselves.

With curiosity gaining traction in the business world as a new paradigm for being, relating and leading for the 21st century, Stefaan van Hooydonk's deep dive into the very concept of curiosity has never been more timely.

In this book, readers will learn about:

* Why curiosity is magical and complex--and far more than a simple one-dimensional word

* How curiosity drives innovation, continuous improvement, and employee engagement all at once

* The science of curiosity, drawing on insights from data and the latest research on this topic

A highly unique resource on one of the most influential concepts in business success and beyond, Curiosity earns a well-deserved spot on the bookshelves of professionals young and old, as well as HR, learning professionals, managers, and all individuals seeking to be a little more curious and unlock a new world of meaning and opportunity.

Cultivating a positive outlook can help you and your team embrace strengths, see opportunities instead of problems, and even feel more engaged in routine tasks.

This book provides insights on how to create an environment where everyone can flourish and grow. You’ll learn about the effects of emotional contagion; how gratitude, feedback, and perspective matter; and how to establish an optimistic and innovative team culture.

This volume includes the work of:

* Carol Dweck

* Emma Seppälä

* Shawn Achor

* Kim Scott

How to be human at work. The HBR Emotional Intelligence Series features smart, essential reading on the human side of professional life from the pages of Harvard Business Review. Each book in the series offers proven research showing how our emotions impact our work lives, practical advice for managing difficult people and situations, and inspiring essays on what it means to tend to our emotional well-being at work. Uplifting and practical, these books describe the social skills that are critical for ambitious professionals to master.

We have never had to feed as many people as we do today. And yet, we misunderstand the essentials of where our food really comes from, how our dietary requirements shape us, and why this impacts our planet in drastic ways. As a result, in our economic, political, and everyday choices, we take for granted and fail to prioritize the thing that makes all our lives possible: food.

In this ambitious, myth-busting book, Smil investigates many of the burning questions facing the world today: why are some of the world’s biggest food producers also the countries with the most undernourished populations? Why do we waste so much food and how can we solve that? Could the whole planet go vegan and be healthy? Should it? He explores the global history of food production to understand why we farm some animals and not others, why most of the world’s calories come from just a few foodstuffs, and how this might change in the future.How to Feed the World is the data-based, rigorously researched guide that offers solutions to our broken global food system.

Drawing from the experiences of real-life giving circles, philanthropy leader Hali Lee challenges our traditional understanding of giving, showing how everyday people can take back philanthropy from the billionaires and make the world a better place.

When you think of philanthropy, what do you envision? Uber wealthy donors? Extravagant galas? In recent decades, philanthropy has come to be seen as something exclusive to those with an abundance of resources. But giving doesn't have to mean donating millions of dollars. It can be as simple as a group of people who come together to do something good in their community. In The Big We, Hali Lee argues that the future of philanthropy belongs to community action, specifically giving circles--groups of people who come together to pool their resources to make positive change. Born of traditions of generosity rooted in many of our ancestral cultures, giving circles provide a way for us to overcome our sense of overwhelm at the many problems we face by learning, acting, and giving together.

Through stories of real giving circles around the country, including her own experience starting the Asian Women Giving Circle, Lee shows us a more expansive vision for the future of philanthropy. One led by people who are refocusing on community, who care about rebuilding the civic space, and who are yearning for connection, purpose, and shared vision. Through these giving circles do we see not only the immense impact we can have in our own backyards, but also the tremendous scope of change we can achieve through the power of collective action.

Have you ever:

* Got stuck in your career?

* Said 'yes, sure' when you should have said 'sorry, no'?

* Tried to change someone?

* Listened to your inner voice?

These are all examples of habits, decisions and behaviours that will derail your efforts to build a life of success - of better decisions, career and relationships; of happier and healthier living.In his new international bestseller, Rolf Dobelli reveals 52 of life's biggest mistakes, and shows why the key to living well is so much simpler than you might think. Just understand what the pitfalls are... then avoid them.

Key Summary of The Not To-Do List

Rolf Dobelli’s The Not-To-Do List is a witty, inversion-based guide to avoiding life’s pitfalls. Instead of preaching success formulas, Dobelli catalogs 52 behaviors to steer clear of, drawing on Charlie Munger’s idea that knowing where you’ll “die” helps you avoid it. From neglecting maintenance to indulging in hypocrisy, each chapter exposes a path to misery with sharp anecdotes and research, then offers a “quiet voice of reason” for a better way. Below are 12 key ideas, distilled in Dobelli’s irreverent tone, to help you dodge life’s traps and thrive.

Don’t Let Things CrumbleNeglecting your house, health, or relationships is a surefire way to ruin everything. Like the man who ignored his leaky roof, you’ll watch life collapse if you skip upkeep.

Be the unsung hero: monitor your life like a jet engine engineer, fixing small issues before they’re catastrophic. “Maintenance is by no means a heroic deed. It is boring and unsexy… but more important than any other.”

Embrace Your Inner Sloth at Your PerilYour “inner pigdog” loves laziness, whispering to stay in bed. Feed it, and you’re doomed to stagnation. Our ancestors conserved energy for survival, but today’s world rewards disciplined effort. Self-motivation is a muscle—train it through consistent action, not external carrots.

Dobelli warns against procrastination movements, urging you to act despite your sloth’s protests. “Self-motivation is like a muscle. If you overexert yourself, the muscle will get tired… But by making demands on that muscle, you are simultaneously training it.”

Unreliability: The Fast Track to RuinWant to tank your reputation? Be unreliable. Promise the moon, then vanish. Charlie Munger nailed it: “If you will only master this one habit, you will more than counterbalance… all your virtues.” Reliability, not genius, drives success—look at the Long-Term Capital Management collapse, where high-IQ Nobel laureates flopped. Build trust by keeping your word; it’s worth millions in future opportunities. “It takes ten years to build a reputation, but just ten seconds to ruin it.”

Arrogance Is a One-Way Ticket to IsolationAct like an a*****e, and you’ll be friendless. Flaunt your ego, dismiss feedback, and hog glory—misery awaits. Dobelli shares Munger’s funeral anecdote: one mourner said of the deceased, “His brother was worse.” Success hinges on cooperation, not self-worship. The Mayo Clinic rejects “I”-heavy candidates, favoring team players. Stay modest; gratitude wins hearts. “Success is merely the final link in a long chain of coincidences for which we ourselves can take zero credit.”

Lower the Bar for HappinessHigh expectations breed disappointment—in marriage, parenting, or daily life. Warren Buffett credits his long marriage to “low expectations.” Your brain’s Bayesian wiring overestimates outcomes for new experiences, so deliberately dial hopes down by three points on a 0-10 scale. Be real from the start in relationships to avoid disillusionment. “If you have your sights set on a life of contentment… Rate your hopes… Then deliberately deduct three points.”

Stop Drifting, Start PlanningAimless days kill productivity. Treat to-do lists as fairy godmother wishes, and you’ll achieve nothing. Successful people, like Eisenhower, give themselves orders, scheduling tasks in strict time blocks. J.P. Morgan paid $25,000 for this advice: “Every morning, write a list… Do them.” Plan realistically, tackling tough tasks when fresh. “Incorporate the items on your list into your daily routine; treat them as if they were important meetings (with yourself).”

Don’t Sabotage Your MarriageCriticize your spouse’s knick-knacks, ignore their doubts, and compare them unfavorably to neighbors—divorce court beckons. A good marriage is life’s cornerstone, requiring loyalty and constructive dialogue. Conflicts are normal, but petty jabs aren’t. Invest in your partnership like an entrepreneur in a business. “Your quality of life depends largely on… the quality of your thoughts and the quality of your relationships… There’s no one else you’ll spend so much time with.”

Quit Early, Lose BigGiving up at the first hurdle guarantees failure. Life’s potholes are inevitable, but persistence, like Thomas Edison’s 1,000+ light bulb attempts, builds mastery. Silicon Valley’s “fail fast, fail often” mantra encourages trying again, not quitting.

Dobelli’s scientist friends suggest 1,000 attempts or ten years before pivoting. “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work,” Edison said. Keep going to conquer your niche.

Hypocrisy Erodes TrustPreach ideals but live oppositely, and you’ll lose respect. Demand eco-friendliness while jetting privately? Your cover’s blown. Everyone’s a bit hypocritical—principles clash, willpower wanes—but keep it minimal.

Reputation and self-respect are gold. Upton Sinclair’s insight: “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” Align actions with words for authenticity. “Your reputation is gold dust. This alone should force you to keep the hypocrisy to a minimum.”

Learn from Others’ MistakesInsist on learning only from your own flops, and you’ll suffer needlessly. Charlie Munger read voraciously to avoid others’ errors: “I want to know where I’m going to die, so I’ll never go there.”

Books and mentors offer shortcuts to wisdom, sparing you pain. Dobelli’s flops taught him more than his hits. “Tip: visit the graveyards of failed companies, projects, people, marriages and families. That’s where you’ll learn the most.”

Social Media: The Envy MachineHyperactive social media use fuels toxic envy and distraction. Dobelli calls it “the perfect envy machine.” Many successful figures quit it, reclaiming focus. Limit scrolling to protect mental clarity and real-world connections.

Walter Isaacson notes how gene-editing pioneer Jennifer Doudna avoided digital noise. “Envy is one of the most toxic emotions, and you should immediately remove it from your repertoire.”

Choose Your Circle WiselyNegative people sap your energy and health, as emotional contagion research shows. Surround yourself with optimists to boost creativity and well-being. Dobelli cites studies linking happiness to physical health, urging you to curate your social atom carefully. “The brilliant researcher Nicholas Christakis… showed that negativity not only rubs off on immediate friends but also permeates social networks and has an impact on friends of friends.”