Time to Indulge in Rest, Relaxation and Reading

It’s vacation, which means it’s the perfect time to indulge in the three “R”s: rest, relaxation and reading. Here is a collection of books, recommended by professors at the HEC Paris MBA, that are guaranteed to keep your interest piqued even after you’ve returned home from the holidays.

Age of Discovery: Navigating the Risks and Rewards of our New Renaissance, by Ian Goldin andChris Kutarna

Recommended by Jérémy Ghez, Affiliate Professor of Economics and Decision Sciences

The Reasoning: “In the past, humanity experienced political instability and woes that are similar to today’s,” says Professor Ghez. “What followed? The Renaissance. Today, humanity has never been this healthy, wealthy, connected and empowered — so it’s time to act and seize the opportunities of the coming renaissance.”

 

Lean in: Women, Work and the Will to Lead, by Sheryl Sandberg

Recommended by Matteo Winkler, Assistant Professor, Law and Tax Department

The Reasoning: “I read this book while preparing my MBA course on Diversity & Inclusion Strategy,” says Professor Winkler. “It is an extraordinarily inspiring book about women’s equality, opportunities and leadership. To quote the author herself, ‘The promise of equality is not the same as true equality. We should transform this promise in truth’.”

 

The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg

Recommended by Mark Desjardine, Assistant Professor of Strategy and Business Policy  

The Power of Habit, recommended by an HEC Professor

The Reasoning: “I’m all about routine,” says Professor Desjardine.  “If I regularly put the right routines in place then everything in my life seems to run a little smoother. Drawing on the right mix of academic research and compelling, real-life examples, Duhigg explains the power of how forming good habits can be beneficial for people. For business students, it’s even more relevant because he also explains how good and bad habits can make or break organizations. This is a book that has practical significance for any business student’s personal and professional life.”

 

Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes

Recommended by Daniel Newark, Assistant Professor of Management and Human Resources

The Reasoning: “Don Quixote is an extraordinary work of literature and being a business student is no excuse for abstaining from extraordinary works of literature,” says Professor Newark. “There is also a chance it could be useful to someone aspiring to effective leadership, but that is a secondary concern—usefulness is a poor reason to read a book.”

 

Economics of Strategy, by David Dranove,‎ David Besanko,‎ Mark Shanley andScott Schaefer 

Recommended by Gonçalo Pacheco de Almeida, Associate Professor of Strategy and Business Policy 

Economics is recommended by a HEC ProfThe Reasoning: “This book covers topics that range from basic concepts in managerial economics to more advanced strategy problems relevant to a careful and thorough MBA education,” explains Professor Pacheco de Almeida. “The main advantage of this book is that it is a comprehensive and rigorous – and yet applied – overview of the key results in strategy research and practice since the inception of the field. The key concepts and ideas are introduced and then illustrated with a number of insightful and classical business examples supported by back-of-the-envelope economic analysis.”

 

 

Guns, Germs and Steel, by Jared Diamond and The Black Swan, by Nassim Taleb

Recommended by Pepa Kraft, Associate Professor of Accounting and Management Control

The Reasoning: “Both of these books illustrate, in very different ways, the role luck plays in our lives,” says Professor Kraft.

 

Flash boys, by Michael Lewis

Recommended by Luc Paugam, Associate Professor of Accounting and Management Control

The Reasoning: “This is a fascinating and real story about the development of the high frequency trading industry,” says Professor Paugam. “The book reads like a thriller and allows us to understand the implications of high-speed trading for average market participants.”

 

Lobbying for Change, by Alberto Alemanno

Recommended by Alberto Alemanno, Professor of Tax and Law

Lobbying for Change, HEC Paris MBA, Christmas Reading

The Reasoning (condensed from the Amazon.com website):  In a period where big business, individuals and wealthy lobby groups seem to have a greater effect on the government than the citizens they represent, this book offers an alternative answer. Taking matters into your owns hands and becoming ‘citizen lobbyists’ can turn out to be hugely successful. The time has come to demystify and democratize lobbying.  Whoever you are, you’ve got power, and this book will show you how to unleash it.