Marshmallow's pre-2014 reading list

As the time to jet off to Switzerland draws closer, I've found myself thinking more and more about what I can do to prepare for next year. I figure any knowledge I can gain to save myself time and/or stress when the baby arrives and the MBA program starts will be time well spent.

One obvious way to get ahead is to read books while I still have a bit of free time. This way I can get more familiar with some of the topics that I will be encountering next year, or at least start getting in the right frame of mind.

Here is my desired reading list for the next few months. Realistically speaking, I probably won't get to many of these, but I'll try! If anyone has any must-reads you would add to the list please let me know. Same if you've read any of these and know they will be a waste of time!

• Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive
  Noah J. Goldstein, Steve J. Martin, Robert B. Cialdini
  
  I will be doing lots of debating (and hopefully lots of convincing) during the MBA program at IMD. I've read Cialdini's other book "Influence" and really enjoyed it so I am looking forward to this one.
  
  
• A Whole New Mind - Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future
  Daniel H. Pink
  
  As a "left-brainer," I'm very interested in the concepts behind this book. Just being good at programming or crunching numbers is not good enough today. Creativity, empathy and communication skills are more important than ever. One of my goals for next year is to learn new was to develop and engage my "right-brain" so I'll be reading this one closely!
  
  
• Managers Not MBAs: A Hard Look at the Soft Practice of Managing and Management Development
  Henry Mintzberg
  
  This book goes into a critique of management education. It argues business schools churn out cookie-cutter, one-dimentional managers, when there should be more focus on one's personal experience. I think it's important to understand some of the criticisms of MBAs, and how I can mitigate/learn from them as I get through the program next year.
  
  
• Secrets of Power Presentations
  Micki Holliday
  
  I don't get too many opportunities to give presentations at work today. So I imagine I will have a bit of a learning curve to overcome next year, when I will probably be putting together presentations all the time. I figured it will be good to pick up tips and best-practices on how to present convincingly.
  
  
• Made to Stick - Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
  Chip Heath, Dan Heath
  
  Students at IMD are expected to come up with creative ideas to tackle all kinds of different problems. This book gives some insights on what traits make certain ideas successful while others fail. Hopefully it will help me maximize the effectiveness of how I communicate my thoughts.
  
  
• The Halo Effect... and the Eight Other Business Delusions that Deceive Managers
  Phil Rosenzweig
  
  It's easy to think a business has the perfect strategy, the best employees and the brightest future when profits are up and everyone is happy. However all may not be well, and it's important for leaders to develop the awareness to know how to avoid these types of pitfalls.
  
  
• Thinking, Fast and Slow
  Daniel Kahneman
  
  This book is about understanding how we think, and how we make decisions. It breaks down when it's best to be intuitive and think "fast" versus when to be analytical and think "slow." Sounds like a very interesting read, and it should complement "A Whole New Mind" and the concept of right-brain versus left-brain well.
  
  
• Outliers: The Story of Success
  Malcolm Gladwell
  
  What makes successful people successful? What is different about high-achievers? This book looks at how intangibles related to a person's upbringing, their talents, social context and opportunities play a part in determining their chances of becoming truly great.
  
  
• From Business Cards to Business Relationships: Personal Branding and Profitable Networking Made Easy
  Allison Graham
  
  IMD will provide some incredible opportunities for networking, and I want to make sure I make the most of them. I like the concept of a personal brand as a way to present my best self, and make a lasting, positive impression on the people I meet.
  
  
• Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System - and Themselves
  Andrew Ross Sorkin
  
  I'll be one of very few people in next year's class to come from banking/finance. I want to make sure I can speak about the financial crisis in a an informed and well-rounded manner, considering how close to the whole thing I have been in my work experience.
  
  
• Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World
  Michael Lewis
  
  Another book that looks at the consequences of the global financial crisis. Definitely seems like a good "big picture" book on understanding the effects of recklessness and irresponsibility by global leaders across the globe.
  
  
• The Portable MBA
  Kenneth M. Eades, Timothy M. Laseter, Ian Skurnik, Peter L. Rodriguez
  
  I figured reading an MBA "refresher" type book would be good way to get a little preview of the kinds of things I will face in the coursework next year. Maybe it will also help me identify any areas that I need to work on or read more about.
  
  
• Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
  Daniel H. Pink
  
  This book dives into what truly motivates people. It challenges some of the conventional wisdom behind incentives, rewards and motivations used in business today. Seems like it would provide good food for thought as I carve my path toward being a leader and a motivator.
  
  
• The Negotiation Book: Your Definitive Guide To Successful Negotiating
  Steve Gates
  
  Being a good negotiator will be critical next year, as I expect to encounter many situations where compromise will be necessary. It's a real skill to be able to reach agreement without having to back down and give up on what you really want.
  
  
• 42 Rules for Your New Leadership Role (2nd Edition): The Manual They Didn't Hand You When You Made VP, Director, or Manager
  Pam Fox Rollin
  
  I am hopeful the IMD MBA will help me make the jump to a role with expanded leadership. I am looking to pick up as much information as possible to help make that transition into leadership smoother.
  
  

I'll need to be up to speed on my parenting as well, so these will also be crucial reads. I'm sure this list will grow!

• Dude, You're Gonna Be a Dad! How to Get (Both of You) Through the Next 9 Months
  John Pfeiffer
  
  I will never be able to fully understand what Ashley is going through as our baby grows in her belly. But I definitely want to be as in tune as possible with what she is experiencing as we go through this incredible journey together.
  
  
• The New Father - A Dad's Guide to the First Year
  Armin A. Brott
  
  I know much of the learning during fatherhood will be done "on the job." I'm very excited, but also a little bit terrified, frankly! I think it's a good idea to learn as much as I can about the process and what to expect. I want to be as involved a dad and as dutiful a husband as possible next year.
  
  
• The Happiest Baby on the Block
  Harvey Karp
  
  The people who reviewed this book seem to believe it worked almost miraculously. It taught them what to do to turn their finicky, difficult babies into calm, happy ones. Having a tough baby could make the year that much more stressful, so knowing what kinds of things I can do to help might make a big difference.
  
  

Update: Here's one more book that I want to add to this list:

• The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century
  Thomas L. Friedman
  
  Looks like a fascinating read on how globalization has re-shaped the world over and over, and "flattened" it, that is, globalization has promoted individual empowerment by turning the world into a more level playing field.