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Here's partial list of books that have influenced me:<br><br>
<b>I. Business<br>
</b>•<x-tab> </x-tab><u>In
search of Excellence</u> – Peters and Waterman: a documentation of how
excellent companies operate humanly<br>
•<x-tab> </x-tab><u>Built to
Last</u> – Collins and Porras: documentation of how visionary companies
operate beyond a quest for profits with a purpose of benefitting
society<br>
•<x-tab> </x-tab><u>Borderless
Business</u> – Mann & Goetz: Essays on working effectively in the
global society includes the social process triangle & corporate
process triangle<br><br>
<b>II. Society<br>
</b>•<x-tab> </x-tab><u>The End
of American Exceptionalism<b> </u></b>– Bechovich (sp?): The challenge to
become one in the world of nations rather than THE one.<br>
•<x-tab> </x-tab><u>Riding the
Waves of Culture </u>– Trompenaars & Hampden/Turner: Identifying the
characteristics of different cultures, both national and company.<br>
•<x-tab> </x-tab><u>The Nature
of Prejudice</u> – Gordon Allport: Somewhat old, but a classic on the
dynamics of social and racial prejudice<br>
•<x-tab> </x-tab><u>The Secular
City</u> – Harvey Cox: the urban revolution has happened and is worth
celebrating<br><br>
<b>III. Theology<br>
</b>•<x-tab> </x-tab><u>Radical
Monotheism and Western Culture</u> – H. Richard Niebuhr: Spells out the
paradox of monotheism: All is unworthy and all is good!<br>
•<x-tab> </x-tab><u>The History
of Christian Thought</u> – Paul Tillich: A fantastic and readable story
of how and why theology developed the way it has (transcribed
lectures)<br>
•<x-tab> </x-tab><u>The Noise of
Solemn Assemblies</u> – Peter Berger: The Church’s sociological reality
belies its theological intents<br>
•<x-tab> </x-tab><u>Christ
Without Myth</u> – Schubert Ogden: Getting beyond the stories to the
reality that the Christ story communicates<br>
•<x-tab> </x-tab><u>Bending
History, I & II </u> -- J.W. Mathews: Joe’s classic theological and
sociological talks.<br><br>
<b>IV. Fiction<br>
</b>•<x-tab> </x-tab>The George
Smiley Trilogy (<u>Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; The Honorable Schoolboy;
Smiley’s People</u>) – John LeCarre: The hero was personally inept but
professionally outstanding in serving a cause higher than the immediate
circumstances. We’re sort of undercover agents for the Other World, and
I’ve found George to be an inspiring role model.<br>
•<x-tab> </x-tab>The Harry
Potter Series (1-7) – J.K. Rowlings: She sets up 2 parallel universes,
one “normal” and the other wondrous (but they are actually the same
universe); the business of wizards is to protect us “muggles” from
perceiving the wonders that are present. Our mission, on the other hand,
is to help our clients and colleagues to perceive and appreciate this
wondrous universe. <br><br>
John Epps<br>
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