Retired scientist, I read a lot, fiction and non-fiction, on a wide range of subjects, though science, politics, philosophy, law, science fiction and historical detective stories are favourites.
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However, he had an interesting job. He could be proud of this, because he had invented it himself. Like all the best jobs, it was one that had never existed before he came along, and really it did not need doing.
— Desperate Undertaking by Lindsey Davis (Flavia Albia, #10) (77%)
Although the book is set in ancient Rome, there are still jobs (or posts) to which this is relevant, reminding me a little of Parkinson's Law
The book uses four Greek gods to describe different styles of management culture. Zeus represents the club culture, revolving around one central leader, flexible and dynamic, or wilful and arbitrary - depending on that leader. Apollo embodies the role culture, organised, structured and stable, or hidebound, slow and expensive - depending on whether it evolves. Athena symbolises the task culture, focussed around achieving some goal, great if the goal is well understood and desired by the whole organisation, but at risk of fracturing under disagreements. Dionysus designates the existential culture, almost a non-culture in which a group of individuals share some resources because it is convenient for them, but not necessarily a common goal - they can become an Apollo culture if the management of the shared resources becomes non-trivial.
The book covers the evolution, advantages and disadvantages of these four types, though it does not relate them to political …
The book uses four Greek gods to describe different styles of management culture. Zeus represents the club culture, revolving around one central leader, flexible and dynamic, or wilful and arbitrary - depending on that leader. Apollo embodies the role culture, organised, structured and stable, or hidebound, slow and expensive - depending on whether it evolves. Athena symbolises the task culture, focussed around achieving some goal, great if the goal is well understood and desired by the whole organisation, but at risk of fracturing under disagreements. Dionysus designates the existential culture, almost a non-culture in which a group of individuals share some resources because it is convenient for them, but not necessarily a common goal - they can become an Apollo culture if the management of the shared resources becomes non-trivial.
The book covers the evolution, advantages and disadvantages of these four types, though it does not relate them to political systems.
The book provides many examples of how most people are naturally well intentioned. It is interesting to read in the context of Game Theory, specifically the iterated prisoners dilemma, where co-operation is overall the most successful strategy, and Corruptible - which discusses how those who are not co-operative can yield excessive power.
When I see Mark Zuckerburg, with his T-shirts and jeans and trainers, I always think of Umberto Eco saying fascism doesn't always show up in uniform. Now we know it can also show up in casual wear.
— How to Lose a Country by Ece Temelkuran (65%)
Ece Temelkuran, April 2018, giving a keynote speech at Republica in Berlin
Content warning The final part reminds me of Transactional Analysis, as per [I',m OK, You're OK](https://books.paladyn.org/book/2795/s/im-ok-youre-ok)
Does not fall into neat categories, and the concept of an external soul is fascinating and unexpected.
The true 'Cinderella' tale of how the daughter of a Thames waterman married the son …
Real life Cinderella story showing a case of unexpected social mobility in the Georgian era. I discovered interesting things about many local Oxfordshire places.
A Christmas present, filled with mysteries written, and hence set, in an earlier era, the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Interesting to reflect on how many of these stories could not happen now for various reasons, but they give a window into their times - which range from the 1890s to the 1950s
On Christmas Day in the Morning by Margery Allingham
In past times the Postman would deliver cards on Christmas morning!
Give me a ring by Anthony Gilbert
Doing a favour for a stranger leads to Christmas eve peril.
Father Christmas comes to Orbins by Julian Symons
A jewel thief thinks he has the perfect disguise.
The Turn Again Bell by Barry Perowne
Does a drunk driver's loss of control have fatal consequences for his daughter's future father-in-law?
A Surprise for Christmas by Cyril Hare
Memories and reminders of the past unearthed at Christmas
Dick Whittington's Cat by Victor Canning.
A jewel thief picks the wrong person to blame for a robbery
The Christmas Eve Ghost by Ernest Dudley
A murderer gives themselves away and a ghost is not what it might seem.
The true 'Cinderella' tale of how the daughter of a Thames waterman married the son …
The author gave a talk, telling the story, and I bought the book, looking forward to reading it.
