You Should Read This

S02E06: The Tyranny of Merit: Michael J. Sandel

▶️ Book a free strategy call for your life, leadership or business with Richard https://calendly.com/richard-firsthuman/30min
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Tom and I review "The Tyranny of Merit", a thought-provoking book by Michael J. Sandel that challenges the prevailing notion of meritocracy and explores its unintended consequences. Sandel argues that in our modern societies, the idea that individual success is solely based on merit has led to a growing divide and a sense of unfairness.
The book delves into the history of the meritocratic ideal and examines its impact on social and economic inequality. 
Drawing on philosophical, political, and sociological perspectives, Sandel explores alternative visions of a just society that go beyond the narrow confines of meritocracy. He calls for a more inclusive understanding of success that takes into account the common good and promotes a sense of solidarity among citizens.
 
"The Tyranny of Merit" raises important questions about the nature of success, fairness, and the role of luck in our lives. It challenges us to reevaluate our assumptions and consider alternative models that prioritize equality, dignity, and a sense of community.

S02E05: The Palliative Society: Byung-Chul Han

▶️ Book a free strategy call for your life, leadership or business with Richard https://calendly.com/richard-firsthuman/30min
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Tom and I review "The Palliative Society: Pain Today"  by Byung-Chul Han, a Korean-born Professor of Philosophy and Cultural Studies who teaches at the Berlin University of the Arts.
The author chronicles how our societies today are characterized by a universal algophobia: a generalized fear of pain. We strive to avoid all painful conditions – even the pain of love is treated as suspect. This algophobia extends into society: less and less space is given to conflicts and controversies that might prompt painful discussions.
The phenomenon takes a hold of politics too: politics becomes a palliative politics that is incapable of implementing radical reforms that might be painful, so all we get is more of the same.

S02E04: The Man Who Broke Capitalism: David Gelles

▶️ Book a free strategy call for your life, leadership or business with Richard https://calendly.com/richard-firsthuman/30min
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Tom and I review "The Man Who Broke Capitalism: How Jack Welch Gutted the Heartland and Crushed the Soul of Corporate America—and How to Undo His Legacy"  by David Gelles. The book examines the impact of one of the United States’ most powerful chief executives, Jack Welch of General Electric (GE).
The author chronicles Welch's aggressive measures to increase profits, which included eliminating hundreds of thousands of jobs, resulting in the decline of the manufacturing sector and the destabilization of the middle class. Welch's focus on downsizing, with a goal of cutting 10% of employees annually, transformed GE and inspired other companies worldwide to adopt similar strategies.
Gelles demonstrates how Welch's emphasis on increasing shareholder value at any cost—through layoffs, outsourcing, offshoring, acquisitions, and buybacks—became the prevailing norm in American business. This approach has led to significant socioeconomic inequality and has harmed the very companies that embraced it.
Gelles highlights the transformation of companies like Boeing, Home Depot, Kraft Heinz, and more, as they followed in Welch's footsteps. However, he also explores the current shift taking place in corporate America, where companies and leaders are rejecting the Welchism philosophy and proving that success can be achieved without sacrificing livelihoods, devastating communities, and disregarding regulation.

S02E03: Four Thousand Weeks: Oliver Burkeman

▶️ Book a free strategy call for your life, leadership or business with Richard https://calendly.com/richard-firsthuman/30min
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Tom and I review "4000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals" by Oliver Burkeman. The book explores the concept of time and provides insights on how to make the most of our limited time on Earth, with the title referring to the approximate number of weeks in an average human lifespan.
Drawing on philosophical and psychological perspectives, Burkeman delves into topics such as the fear of missing out, the illusion of multitasking, the value of boredom, and the significance of reflection and introspection. He encourages readers to cultivate a healthier relationship with time, letting go of the pressure to constantly achieve and embracing the beauty of impermanence.
Overall, the book is a thought-provoking and counterintuitive exploration of time management, urging readers to reconsider their approach to productivity and embrace a more balanced and meaningful existence. It offers a fresh perspective on how to navigate the complexities of life in a world that often feels perpetually rushed.

S02E02: The Dawn of Everything: David Graeber & David Wengrow

▶️ Book a free strategy call for your life, leadership or business with Richard https://calendly.com/richard-firsthuman/30min
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Tom and I review "The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity", a book written by David Graeber and David Wengrow.
The book challenges the traditional narratives of human history, which tend to focus on the rise of civilization and the development of agriculture. Instead, Graeber and Wengrow argue that the traditional narrative of human history is flawed and that there is evidence of a much longer and more diverse human history.
The book draws on a wide range of evidence, including archaeological finds, anthropological studies, and historical records. The authors argue that many of the assumptions that have been made about human history are based on incomplete evidence or flawed interpretations of the available data.
Overall, the book provides a new perspective on human history, one that challenges traditional narratives and highlights the diversity and complexity of human societies throughout time.

S02E01: Nazi Billionaires: David De Jong

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Tom and I delve into the highly-rated 'Nazi Billionaires' by David de Jong.
The book explores the stories of wealthy German industrialists and financiers who supported and benefited from the Nazi regime.
The author provides a detailed account of the rise of these families, their close ties to the Nazi Party, their financial support of Hitler's war machine, and their roles in perpetrating the Holocaust. The author draws on extensive archival research to uncover the hidden history of these families. He also delves into the post-war legacy of these families and their attempts to rebuild their fortunes and reputations in the face of their dark past.
Together, we explore the moral corruption of businesses and discuss what can be done to prevent it.

S01E07: Small Is Beautiful: E.F. Schumacher

▶️ Book a free strategy call for your life, leadership or business with Richard https://calendly.com/richard-firsthuman/30min
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Tom and I review one of the most influential books of 70’s, Small Is Beautiful, written by the economist E F Schumacher.
Schumacher’s central thesis is that the way we approach economics improves our living standards whilst degrading our culture.
In this episode, we explore several aspects of Schumacher’s thinking:– Buddhist economics– Education as our greatest asset– Economic reductionism– Man and machine– The role of the State

S01E06: Antifragile: Nassim Nicholas Taleb

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Tom and I explore the book that gave us a new word: antifragile, things that gain from disorder.
Many consider Nassim Nicholas Taleb to be one of the greatest thinkers of his generation. We take a dive into Taleb’s radical case to embrace uncertainty in a new way and what it means for us in business.

S01E05: Humanocracy: Gary Hammel & Michele Zanini

▶️ Book a free strategy call for your life, leadership or business with Richard https://calendly.com/richard-firsthuman/30min
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Author Gary Hamel is consistently rated one of the most influential business thinkers today. In this, his latest tome, Gary argues that we should be creating organisations as awesome as the people in them.
 
Tom and I explore the five ‘m’s of Hamel’s blueprint for humanocracies: - motivation to bust bureaucracies - models for profitability in this new paradigm - mindsets to escape industrial age thinking - mobilization to hack outmoded systems - migration to a new organisational DNA.

S01E04: Mission Economy: Mariana Mazzucato

▶️ Book a free strategy call for your life, leadership or business with Richard https://calendly.com/richard-firsthuman/30min
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Taking her inspiration from the 'moonshot' programmes which successfully co-ordinated public and private sectors on a massive scale, Mariana Mazzucato calls for the same level of boldness and experimentation to be applied to the biggest problems of our time. We must, she argues, rethink the capacities and role of government within the economy and society, and above all recover a sense of public purpose.
 
Tom and I critique Mazzcuato's views on how we might re-imagine the State. With Richard more sceptical of State-sponsored solutions and Tom with more social-democratic leanings, it makes for a fantastic conversation