Book cover of The Living Company: Habits for Survival in a Turbulent Business Environment

Book description

Most companies do not survive the upheavals of change and competition over the long haul. But there are a few remarkable firms that have withstood the test of several centuries. What hidden lessons do they hold for the rest of us? Arie de Geus, the man who introduced the revolutionary…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked The Living Company as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I love this book because it brings a new perspective to scenario planning. In particular, de Geus writes about “memories of the future” and how these are critical to developing sensitivity to weak signals that otherwise go unnoticed.

This book contains so many lessons about scenario planning, and de Geus provides greater detail on these than many authors. His writing style is casual and easy to follow, keeping the reader engaged from page 1. 

What is it that leads some organizations to survive and thrive for a long time when many fall by the wayside? I have wrestled with this question over the years and find the insights in this book refreshing and helpful.

The book underlines the importance of internal dynamics integrated with external sensitivity, leavened by learning as a continual source of renewal. 

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December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

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