andreweverett360 Book Review, Management

The Shaping of an Effective Leader


The Shaping of an Effective Leader: Eight Formative Principles of Leadership
by Gayle D. Beebe

Westmont College president Gayle Beebe presents his eight principles of effective leadership and weaves in the wisdom of Peter Drucker, under whom he studied. The eight principles are character, competence, chemistry, culture, compatibility, convictions, connections, and commitment.

“Character is the foundation of all leadership responsibilities for all our life.” However, “without threshold competencies, even the most well-meaning individual can do real harm.”

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andreweverett360 Art, Book Review

Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes


Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes
by Walt Stanchfield (1919-2000). Edited by Don Hahn.

Walt Stanchfield began his animation career in 1937. In the 1980s and 90s he taught figure drawing classes for animators at Disney on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Disney producer Don Hahn compiled Stanchfield’s lecture notes and handouts into two volumes. The highlights below from Volume One capture some recurring themes.

The book includes drawings from Stanchfield and his students. This review includes more recent drawings by Brian Kennon, a former Disney artist who attended Stanchfield’s classes in the 1990s.

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andreweverett360 Art, Book Review

Color and Light


Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter
by James Gurney

James Gurney has a talent for explaining complicated topics in simple language. Each of 90 topics is explained on a 2-page spread, illustrated with the author’s plein air, portrait, and fantasy paintings—he is the creator of the Dinotopia series. Color harmony is a recurring theme.

“Viewers will see the subject, but feel the color and light.”

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andreweverett360 Book Review, Management

More Human


More Human: How the Power of AI Can Transform the Way You Lead
by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter

“More human means leveraging AI to unlock the best of our humanity and, simultaneously, to help us overcome some of our limitations. This is the art of the toggle, where we skillfully navigate getting the best of both human capabilities and AI. In this way, we can develop ourselves as better human leaders and thereby create better and more-human workplaces.”

The authors quote Tim Cook, CEO of Apple: “I’m not worried about artificial intelligence giving computers the ability to think like humans. I’m more concerned about people thinking like computers, without values or compassion, without concern for consequence.”

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andreweverett360 Book Review, Management

Systems Thinking for Business and Management


Systems Thinking for Business and Management
by Umit S. Bititci and Agnessa Spanellis

Organizations, markets, and economies are systems, analogous to ecosystems. This clearly-written, 278-page textbook written by professors from Edinburgh Business School and the University of Edinburgh introduces key concepts in systems thinking, including methods for modeling them and analyzing their behavior.

It is said that the purpose of higher education is to teach students to think. In this spirit, I believe future decisionmakers and policymakers would be well served by a course in systems thinking. I think every business school should include this subject in its curriculum.

“To understand the real value of systems thinking, we need to recognize that nothing in this world exists in isolation and that everything is connected to something else. Everything is affected by something and potentially affects something else. With systems thinking, one can begin to understand, explain, and predict why complex systems such as organizations, people, and societies behave the way they do.”

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andreweverett360 Book Review, Humor

Stick Man’s Really Bad Day


Stick Man’s Really Bad Day
by Steve Mockus

Whenever you think you’re having a bad day, remember it could be worse. You could be Stick Man. “If something can go wrong, it probably will for him. But he also seems to have amazing recuperative powers, and he never gives up, no matter what mishap may befall him next.”

A graphic novel of sorts, this book chronicles a day in the life of Stick Man in the form of 125 signs.

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andreweverett360 Book Review, Management

Managing Oneself and What Makes an Effective Executive


Managing Oneself and What Makes an Effective Executive
by Peter F. Drucker (1909-2005)

Peter Drucker is often referred to as the leading management thinker of the 20th century. His seminal works include Concept of the Corporation (1946) and The Practice of Management (1954). This short volume includes two of Drucker’s articles: “Managing Oneself” and “What Makes an Effective Executive.” Here are some highlights.

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