Recommended by Knowledge Ecology Fair crew

We've compiled a list of books that we think you'll find useful. For your reading enjoyment we selected the very best books in this category.

Creativity in Business, by Michael L. Ray, Rochelle Myersl This liberating book refutes the myth that creativity is a gift limited to a select few. Ray and Myers provide simple guidelines for unlocking the creative essence in all of us. This exploration of innovative thinking in companies of all kinds "shows us how creativity in business can enrich us, and those who work with us. 25 drawings. Amazon.com's price: $10.36

Learning As a Way of Being : Strategies for Survival in a World of Permanent White Water, by Peter B. Vaill In his 1989 book Managing a Performing Art, Peter Vaill coined the phrase "permanent white water" to describe the turbulent environment in which we all work. Now, Vaill couples the concept of the "learning organization"--continual, on-the-job education and training for managerial leadership--with the continual change that permeates the modern workplace to create an innovative method of "learning as a way of being, " based on self-direction, creativity, and expressiveness. Amazon.com's price: $16.80

Personal and Organizational Transformations : The True Challenge of Continual Quality Improvement, by Dalmar Fisher, William R. Torbert Table of Contents Series preface Acknowledgements Introduction 1. CQI and the manager in action 2. Action inquiry: the gene of CQI 3. Fundamentals of action inquiry 4. Practising action inquiry at work 5. Frames and personal development as foundations for CQI 6. Strategists in action: managerial and organizational learning 7. Developing a CQI group 8. Developing a learning organization 9. TQM programmes and the ongoing paradox of generating organization-wide Collaborative Inquiry 10. The quintessence of Collaborative Inquiry 11. The 'chaotic' action awareness of transformational leaders 12. Creating a Community of Inquiry 13. Seeking the good life: the CQI Path Appendix A: Action inquiry exercises Appendix B: Liberating Disciplines Index Amazon.com's price: $17.47

Rekindling Commitment : How to Revitalize Yourself, Your Work, and Your Organization, by Dennis T. Jaffe, et al A roadmap to understanding and responding actively, creatively, and effectively to the new demands of the organization in flux. The authors assert that despite the damage to trust in organizations, most people still want to give their best, and the survival of a company depends on that energy and determination. They show that taking care of themselves will allow individuals to develop a new sense of mastery in life and work, while organizations are rewarded with a committed, productive workforce. Amazon.com's price: $19.25

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People : Powerful Lessons in Personal Change, by Stephen R. Covey A revolutionary guidebook to achieving peace of mind by seeking the roots of human behavior in character and by learning principles rather than just practices. Covey's method is a pathway to wisdom and power. Amazon.com's price: $11.20

The Soul of Creativity : Insights into the Creative Process, by Tona Pearce Myers An inspiring group of thinkers, teachers, and artists guides the reader to a personal definition of creativity. Five chapters--Brush with Inspiration, The Creative Process, The Dark Side, The Healing Power, and The Spiritual Practice--each describe a separate stage along the journey. Amazon.com's price: $11.96

Synchronicity : The Inner Path of Leadership, by Joseph Jaworski, Betty S. Flowers For everyone at any level of any organization--public or private, large or small--Synchronicity shows how to achieve maximum leadership potential through nothing less than a fundamental chang of mind and spirit. Joseph Jaworski shows how a real leader can set the stage on which "predictable miracles" take place within an organization. Amazon.com's price: $17.47

Thinkertoys : A Handbook of Business Creativity for the 90's , by Michael Michalko This is a treasure chest of business and creative ideas. The dozens and dozens of creative methods detailed in this book are new and excellent tools for any business person. And even for non-business types. Michael goes through ways to change your view of a problem, dozens of idea generating methods, sorting and weeding techniques, and group and individual methods. The number and quality of surprising, startling, practical, usable, and results-generating ideas was a shock. And despite the 335 pages, it is not over written, as many large books are. This is a tight, easy reading, tool chest for innovation. And this collection of "Thinkertoys" will be part of your intellectual and problem-solving arsenal for years. As long as there are problems to solve, fun to have, and profits to make (through customers to serve) this book will be a heavenly gift and asset to anyone who reads and uses it. Amazon.com's price: $14.36

Values Shift: A Guide to Personal and Organizational Transformation, by Brian R. Hall Amazon.com's price: $28.95

Other titles

Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work : 101 Stories of Courage, Compassion and Creativity in the Workplace, by Jack Canfield (Editor)

Empires of the Mind : Lessons to Lead and Succeed in a Knowledge-Based World, by Denis Waitley

The Enneagram Personality Portraits : Enhancing Team Performance

Jamming : The Art and Discipline of Business Creativity, by John Kao

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