New York Times – Hardcover Business Best Sellers – April 2009
It’s déjà vu all over again as the April 2009 New York Times Hardcover Business Best Sellers list looks a lot like what we saw in March and February. Just as those months revealed America’s concern over the economy through our reading choices, April continues this trend. In fact, both of the newcomers to the April Top Five deal specifically with the current financial turmoil; making Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers the only outlier on the list.
Besides Gladwell and the newbies, The Great Depression Ahead, by Harry Dent and Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover round out the Top Five. We, of course, recommend neither of these books, so we find it quite strange that they remain in the Top Five. Perhaps if we quit pointing out what we dislike about them, they will just go away.
Outside of the Top 5, we feel compelled to highlight Jonathan Lehrer’s How We Decide at Number 6. This terrific read is moving the NY Times list likely because we named it to our Ten Best Decision Making Books Ever list last month.
How We Decide, as we revealed last month, introduces the reader to many concepts surrounding behavioral psychology and economics, and how these affect our decision making. This book is loaded with entertaining information that will stimulate your thoughts about how we think and make decisions in response to the complex situations we face. Although this book is enjoyable, it falls a little short in helping the reader uncover clear rules for making better decisions. (Still a recommended read, however.)
The Top Five – NY Times Business Hardcover Best Sellers April 2009 (to view the entire list, follow this link):
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OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) Why some people succeed — it has to do with luck and opportunities as well as talent — from the author of “Blink” and “The Tipping Point.” |
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HOUSE OF CARDS, by William D. Cohan. (Doubleday, $27.95.) The fall of Bear Stearns and the beginning of the Wall Street collapse. |
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THE GREAT DEPRESSION AHEAD, by Harry S. Dent Jr. (Free Press, $27.) A financial prognosticator anticipates further market crashes and an extended downturn, but sees a way for savvy investors to prosper. |
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PEAKS AND VALLEYS, by Spencer Johnson. (Atria, $19.95.) Making both good and bad times work for you personally and professionally. (†) |
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THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER, by Dave Ramsey (Thomas Nelson, $24.99.) Debt reduction and fiscal fitness for families, by the radio talk-show host. (†) |
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