Comfort in darkness by Rickson Gracie

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A mythic figure in fighting and a legendary member of the “first family of martial arts,” Rickson Gracie is considered the godfather of what we recognize today as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Although Rickson’s three decades of total dominance in Jiu Jitsu is astounding, even more astounding is the serenity and spiritual depth of his approach to combat. Some consider Jiu Jitsu a martial art, others consider it a sport, but to Gracie, it is a philosophical system he uses to face and evaluate life’s challenges and maintain happiness and peace of mind.

Gracie wrote Comfort in Darkness after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, a terminal sentence which he views as the greatest fight of his life, one he knows he will eventually lose. This is Gracie’s defining life statement about his spiritual and technical practice. For the first time, he reveals his time-tested theories and techniques of invisible Jiu Jitsu, a combat system anyone can use to awaken their power and apply it to their everyday lives. An indispensable tool for any fighter or seeker, Comfort in Darkness teaches how to balance and align the mind, body, and spirit.

Here are some key lessons from the book:

* Embrace Discomfort for Growth: Rickson Gracie emphasizes the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone to achieve personal growth. Life’s challenges and discomforts provide valuable lessons that shape our character and resilience.

* The Power of Mental Strength: Physical abilities alone are not enough for success in martial arts or life. Mental fortitude is crucial. The book highlights how training the mind can make a significant difference in overcoming challenges and achieving success.

* Mastering the Art of Submission: Gracie draws parallels between martial arts and life, suggesting that submission in the right moments can be a powerful tool for control and peace. This applies both to physical confrontations and emotional or mental situations.

* The Importance of Discipline: Discipline is central to mastering any craft, whether it’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or navigating life’s struggles. Gracie stresses that consistent effort, practice, and patience are essential for long-term success.

* Finding Inner Peace: True success in martial arts, and in life, comes from finding inner peace amidst chaos. Gracie reflects on how mental clarity and emotional control are critical in the face of adversity.

* Building Relationships through Trust: The book highlights the importance of trust in relationships, especially in a combat sport like Jiu-Jitsu. Trust between training partners and in oneself is vital to progress and success.

* Embracing Failure as a Teacher: Failure is seen as a necessary part of the journey. Gracie teaches that instead of avoiding failure, we should learn from it, using it as a stepping stone toward improvement and self-awareness.

Hospital, heal thyself by Mark Taylor

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Part biography and part clear-eyed examination of a healthcare system in crisis, Hospital, Heal Thyself: One Brilliant Mathematician's Proven Plan for Saving Hospital, Many Lives. and Billions of Dollars tells the story of enigmatic healthcare visionary Eugene Litvak, whose research and strategies have already been implemented at many top 12-ranked hospitals to save hundreds of millions of dollars and countless thousands of patient lives. While U.S. healthcare costs continue to skyrocket, Litvak's program described in this book offers tested, effective methods to trim those costs while simultaneously improving patient outcomes.

Written by veteran prize-winning healthcare journalist Mark Taylor, this book includes compelling discussion on:

* How hospital and emergency room overcrowding has harmful and potentially deadly effects on patients and staff

* How Litvak's algorithms and complex mathematical theories help hospitals staff appropriately to safely manage patient flow

* How applying Litvak's unique patient flow interventions improves nurse retention in an era of mass nurse exodus

Litvak's methods have been proven to work in the best hospitals in America and the world. Studies in the top medical journals confirm their success in reducing medical errors; hospital and emergency room overcrowding; nurse and physician burnout and stress and patient mortality rates. They've saved millions of dollars for each hospital adopting them, while improving patient satisfaction and outcomes, nurse retention, hospital efficiency and addressing healthcare disparities and inequities.

Distilling complex ideas into accessible language, Hospital, Heal Thyself: A Mathematician's Proven Plan for Saving American Hospitals Many Lives and Billions of Dollars is a timely, essential read for all medical practitioners and healthcare administrators and staff who want to play their part in transforming modern healthcare, and the world, for the better.

Customer 360 by Martin Kihn and Andrea Lin

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Become more competitive by developing a superior customer experience through data, AI, and trust - and get your organization ready for AI agents like Agentforce

Customer 360: How Data, AI, and Trust Changes Everything delivers key insight and vision on using emerging technologies to delight customers and become more competitive by providing a superior customer experience. Find out why AI agents like Agentforce need a strong foundation of customer data. This book helps readers attract and engage their customers across channels and throughout their journey, from acquisition and onboarding, through service, upsell, retention, and win-back.

To demonstrate the influence and importance of these ideas, this book contains a multitude of real-world case studies from companies in a range of industries, with business models, and at various stages of digital maturity. Readers will learn about:

* Using exciting technologies like AI and GPT while building a commitment to ethical use, safety, and privacy through secure guardrails

* Getting ready to use exciting emerging technologies like AI agents and autonomous AI

* Organizing data around customers, prospects, and accounts—even if that data comes from many different sources in different formats

* Making new technologies an extension of your existing data investments so that both work better

* Choosing a strategy and implementation plan to minimize time-to-value and ensure success weighing build, buy, or partner

* Handling internal stakeholders and dealing with change in a way that benefits the business

For business leaders, executives, managers, and entrepreneurs, Customer 360: How Data, AI, and Trust Changes Everything is an essential read to understand and connect technology, people, processes, and strategy—truly the future of customer engagement—and leave competitors wondering what just happened.

Moneygpt by James Rickards

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AI-powered programmes like ChatGPT have become valuable tools in the financial market, and proven to be incredibly beneficial to investors looking to identify investment opportunities and risks that might be overlooked by humans. Yet there is a darker side to these products, which we are only just beginning to fully understand.

In this book, Rickards shows how models like ChatGPT work, and how they can be leveraged to capitalize on markets and avoid losses by providing accurate, up-to-date financial insights. Rickards’ guide is essential reading for anyone looking to navigate this tumultuous new climate.James Rickards breaks down the best ways you can protect your wealth in the age of the shifting financial markets, busting the myths surrounding all the usual doomsday predictions around super intelligent AI.

The undercover economist by Tim Harford

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“Economics is about the way people make choices in the face of scarcity.”

An economist’s version of The Way Things Work, this engaging volume is part field guide to economics and part exposé of the economic principles lurking behind daily events, explaining everything from traffic jams to high coffee prices.

The Undercover Economist is for anyone who’s wondered why the gap between rich and poor nations is so great, or why they can’t seem to find a decent second-hand car, or how to outwit Starbucks. This book offers the hidden story behind these and other questions, as economist Tim Harford ranges from Africa, Asia, and Europe to the United States, revealing how supermarkets, airlines, and coffee chains—just to name a few—are vacuuming money from our wallets. Harford punctures the myths surrounding some of today’s biggest controversies, including the high cost of health care; he reveals why certain environmental laws can put a smile on a landlord’s face; and he explains why some industries can have high profits for innocent reasons, while in other industries, something sinister is going on. Covering an array of economic concepts, including scarce resources, market power, efficiency, price gouging, market failure, inside information, and game theory, Harford sheds light on how these forces shape our day-to-day lives, often without our knowing it.

Showing us the world through the eyes of an economist, Tim Harford reveals that everyday events are intricate games of negotiations, contests of strength, and battles of wits. Written with a light touch and sly wit, The Undercover Economist turns ‘the dismal science’ into a true delight.

Here are five key lessons from The Undercover Economist by Tim Harford:

* Scarcity and Trade-offs: Resources are always limited, so every choice involves a trade-off. Whether it’s time, money, or labor, understanding scarcity helps individuals and businesses make better decisions by evaluating what to prioritize.

* The Importance of Incentives: People’s actions are shaped by incentives, which can be both positive and negative. For example, companies set prices based on how consumers will react to them, while governments use taxes and subsidies to influence behavior.

* Market Power and Price Setting: Companies often have the power to set prices, and their ability to do so can create inequalities. Monopolies and oligopolies can charge higher prices for goods, affecting consumers’ spending habits.

* Game Theory and Strategic Decisions: Economics often involves strategic thinking. Companies, governments, and individuals regularly make decisions based on how they expect others to behave. This can be seen in competitive pricing, negotiations, or policy-making.

* The Hidden Costs of Everyday Life: Harford explains how seemingly simple things, like a cup of coffee or a traffic jam, are shaped by complex economic forces. Prices are influenced by supply and demand, and market failures can impact everyday experiences.

Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty

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“The distribution of wealth is ultimately a political choice, not simply an economic inevitability.”

Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty is a groundbreaking exploration of the history of wealth distribution and inequality over the past few centuries. In this comprehensive work, Piketty examines the evolving relationship between capital and income, tracing how wealth has accumulated over time and the consequences for economic disparity. The book provides in-depth insights into the mechanisms that have driven wealth inequality, from industrialization to globalization, and offers a critical analysis of the challenges that modern societies face in managing these economic disparities. With its clear presentation of complex economic concepts, Capital in the Twenty-First Century is a must-read for anyone looking to understand the forces shaping the global economy today.

Through meticulous research and detailed historical analysis, Piketty proposes a new economic framework to address inequality and wealth concentration. He argues for progressive taxation, wealth redistribution, and other policy reforms to ensure a fairer distribution of wealth. This thought-provoking book has sparked debates among economists, policymakers, and the public, making it a key contribution to ongoing conversations about the future of capitalism and economic justice. Piketty’s work challenges us to rethink the role of capital in the 21st century and its impact on society at large.

5 Key Lessons from the book:

* Wealth concentration drives inequality: Throughout history, wealth has been concentrated in the hands of a small elite, which has led to economic and social inequality. Piketty explores how different historical periods have seen varying levels of inequality based on the relationship between capital and income.

* The return on capital exceeds economic growth: Piketty argues that over time, the rate of return on capital (such as profits, dividends, and interest) often exceeds the rate of economic growth, leading to a concentration of wealth that benefits the rich.

* Historical context matters: By examining wealth distribution over several centuries, Piketty demonstrates how historical events, such as wars and economic crises, have temporarily reduced inequality, only for wealth to accumulate again during periods of stability.

* The role of education and public policy: Piketty emphasizes that public policies, including education and social welfare systems, play a significant role in shaping wealth distribution. He advocates for progressive taxation and policies to reduce wealth concentration.

* The global dimension of inequality: The book examines how globalization has contributed to wealth concentration on a global scale, affecting not only individual countries but the global economy as a whole.

Basic Economics is a citizen's guide to economics, written for those who want to understand how the economy works but have no interest in jargon or equations. Bestselling economist Thomas Sowell explains the general principles underlying different economic systems: capitalist, socialist, feudal, and so on. In readable language, he shows how to critique economic policies in terms of the incentives they create, rather than the goals they proclaim. With clear explanations of the entire field, from rent control and the rise and fall of businesses to the international balance of payments, this is the first book for anyone who wishes to understand how the economy functions.

This fifth edition includes a new chapter explaining the reasons for large differences of wealth and income between nations.Drawing on lively examples from around the world and from centuries of history, Sowell explains basic economic principles for the general public in plain English.

Here are 5 key lessons from Basic Economics: A Common Sense Guide to the Economy by Thomas Sowell:

* Understanding Scarcity and Trade-offs: Economics is fundamentally about the allocation of scarce resources. Every decision involves trade-offs, as resources are limited, and we must choose how to best allocate them.

* The Importance of Prices: Prices act as signals in a market economy, guiding producers and consumers in making decisions. They reflect the value of goods and services based on supply and demand, helping to balance the distribution of resources.

* The Role of Incentives: People respond to incentives, and understanding how incentives work is crucial to understanding economic behavior. Policies that alter incentives can significantly affect outcomes in business, education, and personal decision-making.

* The Dangers of Government Intervention: Government policies often have unintended consequences. While interventions are sometimes necessary, they can distort markets and harm economic efficiency if not carefully thought out.

* The Importance of Markets in Promoting Cooperation: In a market economy, individuals and businesses cooperate without direct communication or centralized planning. Markets allow people to exchange goods and services in ways that benefit all participants, creating wealth and opportunity.

The M&A failure trap by Baruch Lev and Feng Gu

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In The M&A Failure Trap: Why Most Mergers and Acquisitions Fail and How the Few Succeed, a distinguished team of finance and accounting researchers and practitioners delivers a practical and up-to-date exploration of the shortcomings of managerial mergers and acquisitions decisions. In the book, you'll discover:

* Why 80-90% of all corporate acquisitions fail

* How to substantially improve acquisition decisions

* How to predict a specific merger outcome

All the lessons and advice provided in this book are fact-based—derived from a sample of 40,000 real-life merger cases around the world which are thoroughly analyzed and provide the foundations for our findings and recommendations.

The authors offer keen insights into the most important predictors of mergers and acquisitions failure and success and show you how to identify the potential warning signs of a problematic transaction. The book also provides insights into the human element of M&As: what happens to executives and employees of failed acquisitions. You will also find in the book a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art research on M&As and numerous analyses of successful and unsuccessful real-life mergers.

Perfect for executives and directors contemplating a major M&A decision or currently engaged in such a transaction, The M&A Failure Trap will also earn a place in the libraries of students of business and economics, as well as investors faced with decisions impacted by a merger or acquisition, and shareholders expected to vote on an upcoming transaction.

Economics in one lesson by Henry Hazlitt

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Considered among the leading economic thinkers of the “Austrian School,” which includes Carl Menger, Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich (F.A.) Hayek, and others, Henry Hazlitt wrote Economics in One Lesson in 1946. Concise and instructive, it is also deceptively prescient and far-reaching in its efforts to dissemble economic fallacies that are so prevalent they have almost become a new orthodoxy.

Economic commentators across the political spectrum have credited Hazlitt with foreseeing the collapse of the global economy which occurred more than fifty years after the initial publication of Economics in One Lesson. Hazlitt’s focus on non-governmental solutions, strong—and strongly reasoned—anti-deficit position, and general emphasis on free markets, economic liberty of individuals, and the dangers of government intervention make Economics in One Lesson every bit as relevant and valuable today as it has been since publication.

Key Lessons from this book:

* The Importance of Looking Beyond the Immediate Effects: Hazlitt emphasizes that when evaluating any economic policy, it’s crucial to consider both the immediate and long-term consequences, not just the immediate benefits or harms. Economic decisions should not focus only on the visible effects but also on the hidden consequences that will emerge later.

* The Fallacy of Broken Windows: Hazlitt debunks the commonly held notion that destruction (like broken windows) is beneficial because it boosts economic activity. In reality, destruction simply redirects resources from more productive uses and reduces overall wealth.

* The Unseen Effects of Government Intervention: Hazlitt stresses that government interventions, like subsidies, price controls, or tariffs, can have unintended negative effects on other areas of the economy that aren’t immediately visible. These policies tend to disrupt the market’s natural order and harm both consumers and producers in the long run.

* The Importance of Free Markets: One of the book’s central tenets is that free markets, driven by competition and the voluntary exchange of goods and services, lead to more efficient outcomes than government regulations or central planning. Hazlitt advocates for minimal interference in markets.

* The Need for Individual Responsibility: Hazlitt argues that individuals, not the government, should be responsible for their own economic decisions. By allowing people to make choices freely, society can grow wealthier and more prosperous over time.

* The Consequences of Inflation: Hazlitt explains how inflation erodes the value of money, harming savers, and reducing purchasing power. He advocates for sound money policies and warns against printing more money to finance government deficits.

* The Role of Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurs play a vital role in the economy by innovating, taking risks, and responding to market demands. Hazlitt emphasizes the importance of allowing entrepreneurs to operate without unnecessary restrictions to encourage growth and innovation.

Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt

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Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool? Which should be feared more: snakes or french fries? Why do sumo wrestlers cheat? In this groundbreaking book, leading economist Steven Levitt—Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago and winner of the American Economic Association’s John Bates Clark Medal for the economist under 40 who has made the greatest contribution to the discipline—reveals the answers. Joined by acclaimed author and podcast host Stephen J. Dubner, Levitt presents a brilliant—and brilliantly entertaining—account of how incentives of the most hidden sort drive behavior in ways that turn conventional wisdom on its head.

The book Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything is an interesting read that combines the theories of economics with everyday issues and topics, presenting a series of fascinating and engaging exercises. Written by Stephen J. Dubner and Steven Levitt, this book provides a unique take on various things that we face every day. It was published by William Morrow in 2013. The book became popular thanks to its unique narrative style, which presents complex economic concepts using humor and everyday wisdom.

The book is written in the format of essays that cover economic issues and dissect how they are connected to everyday life. There are a total of six essays in the book. The first chapter deals with the issue of cheating and uses the example of sumo wrestlers. The second chapter deals with real estate agents and their practice of information control. The third chapter is about drug dealing, explained in an unconventional manner. It talks about the life and earnings of cocaine dealers and the low wages they earn. The fourth chapter deals with the topic of abortion and discusses how abortions have helped reduce crime rates. The fifth chapter is about parenting and education. The sixth chapter sheds light on the issue of naming children and the socioeconomic patterns related to it. The book uses interesting methodologies to put forward its teachings and often takes unconventional stands.