I recently had the privilege of reading “The AI-Driven Leader” by Geoff Woods, a book that emerged from the author’s deep dive into the intersection of AI and business strategy. Having met Geoff Woods and found his background and passion for business strategy exceptional, I was eager to explore his insights on how AI could transform leadership.Structure and ContentThe book is meticulously organized into three main sections:Historical Impact of Technology on Business Leaders: This section provides a riveting historical context of how technological inflections have shaped the business landscape over time. The cases of Apple under Steve Jobs, the resurgence of Domino’s Pizza through tech innovation, and the unfortunate downfall of Blockbuster and Nokia are especially compelling. Woods skillfully connects these stories to demonstrate the critical nexus of strategy and technology.Integrating AI into Leadership: Unlike many resources that offer a list of AI applications, Woods presents an elegant and powerful methodology for integrating AI into business strategy. One standout strategy is to “Make AI your strategic thought partner” — using AI to conduct interviews and ask probing questions about your strategy, execution plans, and stakeholder involvement. This approach moves beyond using AI for mundane tasks and leverages it to enhance leadership effectiveness.Implementation Roadmap: The final section is a practical guide for embedding these strategies into an organization. Covering essential business planning steps—clarifying objectives, mapping stakeholders, gathering and analyzing information, identifying solutions, planning implementation, and delivering results—this section integrates AI seamlessly into each step, making the process faster and more effective. The examples provided are practical and inspirational for implementing changes across an organization.Writing Style and AccessibilityGeoff Woods adopts a clear, accessible writing style that is exceptionally accommodating for readers without a deep technical background. The effective use of real-world case studies and practical examples makes complex concepts easy to grasp. A handy feature is the “20% that matters the most” section at the end of each chapter, summarizing key points and making it easy for readers to distill essential information.Impact and ConclusionOne of the most impactful lessons from the book is the integration of AI into OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), a framework popularized by John Doerr in “Measure What Matters.” “The AI-Driven Leader” is the perfect companion to OKR methodologies for anyone aspiring to succeed in the modern business environment. Both young managers seeking an edge and senior executives needing to stay sharp will find this book invaluable. I intend to make it a required reading for all business leaders in my organization and will recommend it to the entrepreneurs I work with.Areas for ImprovementWhile the book excels in many areas, there are a few suggestions for improvement. A consolidated section or accompanying workbook that places all the framework methodologies in one place could enhance usability. Additionally, when I read the book, the QR codes lead to the author’s website, which could link to interactive resources or guided exercises. The prompts in the appendix are helpful, but the book’s core message is about developing the right questions, not just copying prompts.Final Thoughts”The AI-Driven Leader” stands out as an exceptional business strategy guide and a timely resource for integrating AI into leadership. As one of my engineering professors once told me, “Anyone bright and hard-working can derive the answer. The magic is in knowing the right questions to ask.” This book encapsulates that wisdom by teaching leaders what to do with AI and how to think with AI.Geoff Woods has crafted a book that is both unique and essential for today’s business leaders. It blends timeless strategy principles with innovative AI applications. “The AI-Driven Leader brilliantly shows that the true power of AI lies not just in the answers it can provide but in the profound questions it can help us ask. I recommend it to anyone looking to stay competitive in an era of rapid technological change.

Well done! Though it is written for executives, the skills taught on how to effectively use AI is for everyone. I have incorporated his material into my engineering courses I teach. I also use his skills everyday with AI on various tasks such as home repair, pool robot troubleshooting, legal work, old house research, genealogy, writing, lesson planning, etc. The list goes on!The nice thing about his C.R.I.T Method is it works on nearly every AI program out there.Well done Mr. Woods!

Just finished the book and used some of the details in it to help me write an article / white paper that I’ll be posting soon.Love how use cases are articulated the in the book

The author boldly tackles the evolving role of leadership in an age when your fiercest competitor—or your most loyal teammate—might just be artificial.

As a digital transformation veteran with three decades of guiding Fortune 1000 companies and startups through the internet’s Wild West, I’ve witnessed seismic shifts in business landscapes. Now, as we enter the AI revolution, Geoff Woods’ “The AI-Driven Leader” provides what we lacked in the internet’s early days: a pragmatic, human-centric blueprint for leaders to leverage AI as their strategic Thought Partner. Woods’ insights illuminate the path forward, enabling leaders to navigate the AI-driven future with the same pioneering spirit that defined the digital transformation era.In “The AI-Driven Leader,” Woods masterfully bridges the gap between AI’s overwhelming potential and its practical application in strategic decision-making. He presents a compelling case for viewing AI not as a replacement for human leadership, but as a powerful thought partner to enhance our strategic thinking capabilities. This perspective shift is crucial for leaders who find themselves stuck in operational details, struggling to elevate their strategic vision.What sets this book apart is its practical approach to using AI as a strategic thought partner. Woods encourages leaders to shift their mindset from “How can I do this?” to “How can AI help me do this?” He introduces innovative concepts like creating an AI board of directors composed of historical business leaders’ personalities, demonstrating how AI can be leveraged for high-level strategic thinking and focusing on the 20% of efforts that drive 80% of value.The book emphasizes using AI as a proxy for a coach, board member, management consultant, or chief of staff. This approach allows executives to have access to a thought partner armed with vast knowledge 24/7, at virtually no cost, for any decision in their lives. By prompting AI effectively, leaders can sharpen their decision-making, identify personal biases, and enhance their ability to “see around corners” and make more informed strategic choices.Woods provides a simple yet effective framework for integrating AI into daily leadership practices, making it accessible even for those who may not consider themselves tech-savvy. This democratization of AI leadership is essential for organizations looking to stay competitive in rapidly evolving markets. The book serves as a wake-up call for executives who recognize AI’s importance but haven’t taken concrete steps to leverage it as a thought partner.Ultimately, “The AI-Driven Leader” reminds us that while AI can process vast amounts of data and generate insights, it’s the leader’s role to apply judgment, ethics, and strategic vision to these insights. By embracing AI as a thought partner, leaders can escape operational overwhelm, think more strategically, and accelerate growth in their organizations. This balanced approach ensures that AI enhances rather than replaces human decision-making, empowering leaders to navigate the AI revolution confidently and lead with strategic clarity in an increasingly complex business landscape.

This book is fantastic , good prompt examples. Is a must read if you want to use AI for business

Changed everything about how I look at and use AI in my businesses

My book arrived damaged, very disappointed! I need this book for a study we are doing at work so I need the book…..but I am very upset about the damage when. I opened the box!

We (Mom, Dad, and 10y/o son), loved these books! They are funny, have a good story line, and are well written. Dustin Brady is a talented author, with a real eye for stories that will draw in kids (and parents)! We hope you enjoy these books as much as we did!

Bought as a gift! He loved them and started reading them right away!

My son is 9 with ADHD and has never liked reading. He will sit and read these books for a long period of time

These books are awesome if you have a struggling reader that loves video games. My 12 year old grandson loves these books. Best part is he loves to read them with me. We just finished the 2nd book and will start the 3rd after Thanksgiving. I know there is another book set called Escaping the video game written by the same person. I’m hoping he continues to write because I have spent many years trying to find a book my grandson loves and I finally found it.

I ordered this set for my 11yr old grandson. He’s been more of a screen person with his eyes glued to one game or another. However, once he was talked into checking out the first book I’m happy to say that he’s been diving into them. Thx to the author!

I used to live in Wisconsin and permanently moved a year ago to Florida. I’m very close to my grandson and he always liked me to read to him when we lived closer. It started out when he was a toddler and he’s almost a teenager now. We worked it out and I read to him almost every night OVER THE PHONE!!! This set of books is fabulous! It’s about kids trapped in a video game! Now what preteen boy doesn’t like video games??? The stories are very creative and keeps your attention. And the best thing about the books are…I love reading them and want to keep reading the story to find out what the kids do to get out of different situations but my grandson is lulled asleep by my reading and I know I have to stop so he won’t miss out on the books ❤️

My little boy (age 9) chose this series for a class assignment and he has enjoyed reading it and it helped make the assignment fun and something he gladly participated in.

My grandson is an avid reader. When I asked him what books I could purchase for him, these were his choice. Well, they must be pretty good because he finished them in less than two weeks. And, he’d like the next set. I’m all about kids reading and this series is a hit with him. He was more eager to start reading the first book than play with other toys he received for his birthday!

Invaluable book, packed with fascinating details, quirks, idiosyncrasies, painful losses and insights into a sui generis, and in his vulnerabilities and empathy quite touching, authentic genius and one of the surpassing figures of our times. We’re lucky — I would say blessed — to have him on our side, and by our side I mean the side of Western Civilization. But to capture the nature and ultimate significance of a complex, driven, and, almost, in a Nietzschean sense, of self-transcending and self-overcoming, personality like Karp’s, it would take a biographer like William Manchester, or, at least Walter Isaacson, whose imagination and human sympathies could soar the way their subjects’ grand visions and great achievements did. And, write with a Plutarchian eloquence befitting them. Unfortunately, this writer does neither. And multiple examples of an intrusive blue-bubble agitprop are annoyingly distracting. But the result, though marred, is still lively, informative not only about Karp but about the history of Palantir, and unequivocally worth reading. Karp’s magnanimous spirit comes through like a very human face in this book’s slanted mirror in need of a bit of straightening.

The book is supposed to be a biography of Karp, but the author’s politics gets in the way and is distracting and annoying. Look, I voted democrat for 30 years, so what!! The author presents Karp and Palanter through a philosophical and judgmental left wing progressive moral prism. What does the reader learn from this book? Answer: The author hates trump, loathes and detests him. Truly good biographers may reveal their personal political opinions from time to time in a biography ; great biographers almost never do. The author here is neither. So, this was a disappointing read.

This book could have been very good if the author had overcome his impulse to politicize his description of people and events. He accuses Ron Paul of “newsletters…that included virulently racist and antisemitic content;” describes Trump’s campaign as “steeped in racism and xenophobia,” Trump’s effort to curb illegal immigration as “notable mainly for its cruelty…and human rights abuses” and his administration as “an authoritarian regime.”The author disingenuously attempts to defend Biden’s ridiculously incompetent withdraw from Afghanistan by emphasizing its “complexity.” If you can tolerate (or if you welcome) the stark, untempered left wing political bias (which you might expect from a New York Times writer), Karp’s story and his unusual personality and background are interesting, as is the evolution of the business and culture of Palantir. Insights into the development of data aggregation and assessment platforms and the problems those systems were designed to address are informative and entertaining. But, BEWARE, the political rant is nonstop. I wish he had had a better editor.

This book shines when it focuses on Alex Karp and Palantir’s fascinating journey, from post-9/11 origins and CIA backing to building cutting-edge data tools for global challenges. Those sections are sharp, engaging, and give a real window into Karp’s unique philosopher-CEO vibe. It’s the kind of tech story that hooks you.But Steinberger can’t resist turning it into a soapbox for his Trump Derangement Syndrome. Long detours bash conservative administrations with distorted takes that feel like filler op-eds, not relevant to Palantir’s tale. The editorializing drowns the core narrative, injecting left-wing rants where they don’t belong. Stick to the company next time as it’d be a winner.Maybe a fast skim for Palantir fans; but mostly a frustrating waste of time and money.

I had seen Alex Karp on TV a few times and had heard of his company, Palantir, but knew very little about either. The book, which was very well written, detailed how influential Karp and Palantier have become.It is a fascinating story about a person and a company that is shaping events in our world today. I highly recommend this book.

First off, I want to thank Michael Steinberger for spending the time in pursuit of this book! I’ve been a Palantir investor since the DPO and his book connected many dots in the Palantir story.As a retired army reserve officer with 23+ years service and a former owner of a technology company, I am glad Palantir is a leading force in protecting our society.This is an excellent book! My only suggestion is to do another.

I read this book immediately after reading Shoe Dog, the story of Nike’s founder, Philip Knight. Shoe dog is the exemplar of a biography on a captain of industry. You come away from reading that book understanding its subject and his motivations. This book, however, reads more like fanboy service than a critical analysis of a polarizing public figure… Arguably, one of the most important and controversial business leaders of the 21st century. Regardless of how you feel about its subject, Dr. Karp, this book is a wasted opportunity.

Great insights into Karp and Palantir — their tough start and eventual rise

One of the biggest issues with Bitcoin is people struggle to fully grasp the depth of the problem that it’s solving. That’s where this book really shines. The author writes in a way that’s extremely accessible for any reader, but specifically for someone that can tell there’s something very wrong with the current system and is struggling to make sense of it all.If you’re a person that knows the system is broke, but also intuitively knows socialism also ISN’T the answer, then this book is going to resonate. In addition to clearly defining all the problems, the author goes into a lot of detail on how Bitcoin works and why it offers a real free market solution. Most importantly, she shows the reader how that solution is upstream of all the things we are led to believe are the issues (politics, etc).This book isn’t an economics textbook. Instead, it’s a thoughtfully constructed story about the world you’re currently experiencing. Why it’s difficult for so many people. Why there’s hope. And what you can do to harness that hope. An amazing read!

This book should be read by everyone. I mean everyone. This will not only teach them about the nature of money, but it will teach them how to protect themselves from currency debasement with bitcoin. My first book on Bitcoin and I’m loving it. Thank you Natalie! By the way, she’s just a great writer!

This is my third Bitcoin book and it has been the easiest one to read and understand. Natalie breaks everything down that makes it so easy to understand. This is a must buy for people starting out in Bitcoin, perfect for beginners.

As someone who’s felt increasingly frustrated watching the cost of living skyrocket while savings seem to evaporate, Bitcoin Is for Everyone by Natalie Brunell was exactly the book I needed – and honestly, the one we all need right now.Natalie, with her background as an award-winning journalist and the host of the phenomenal Coin Stories podcast, has a rare gift: she takes complex economic ideas and breaks them down with warmth, clarity, and real human stories that make everything click. This isn’t a dry technical manual or a hype-filled crypto brochure. It’s a compassionate, eye-opening exploration of how our current monetary system quietly erodes our dreams – from homeownership becoming unattainable for younger generations to the constant anxiety of inflation eating away at hard-earned money – and why Bitcoin offers a genuine, elegant solution rooted in sound money principles.What I loved most is how approachable it feels. Whether you’re completely new to Bitcoin (like I was with many of the deeper concepts) or you’ve been in the space for years, Natalie meets you where you are. She weaves in history, personal anecdotes, and real-world examples that make the “why” behind Bitcoin feel urgent and inspiring rather than overwhelming. By the end, I didn’t just understand Bitcoin better – I felt genuinely hopeful about the future for the first time in a long while.If you’ve ever wondered why everything feels so much harder these days despite “progress,” or if you’re curious about Bitcoin but intimidated by the jargon, this book is your perfect entry point. Natalie proves the title right: Bitcoin really is for everyone. Thank you, Natalie, for writing such a timely, empowering, and beautifully articulated book. I’ve already gifted copies to friends and family – it’s that good!Highly, highly recommend. A must-read in 2025 and beyond.

I’ve understood for years that “something” is wrong in the “system”, but I have not known where to find an explanation, let alone a solution to the problem. I’ve been investing small amounts of money in Bitcoin for the last couple of years, seeing it as a “lottery ticket” I’ve been buying out of fear to miss out in case it turns out to be a winner in the future.Lately—amid my frustration over my poor financial situation—I’ve become increasingly curious about how Bitcoin can help me. I started reading one of the classic Bitcoin books but quickly gave up since it was boring and felt complicated.Brunell’s book kept showing up in my X feed and I must admit that as a woman, the colorful book cover felt appealing. I gave the free Kindle sample a go and I was hooked from the first page—finally, a text about Bitcoin which is engaging and simple to understand. I’m now convinced that Bitcoin isn’t a “lottery ticket”, but the way forward for a better life and society.I’m guessing many don’t want to learn about Bitcoin because it’s painful to realize how badly we’ve been screwed. But without knowledge, nothing will change. Please read this book so that at least you can make an informed decision if you want to stay in “the system” or choose a different path—a path that, according to the facts outlined in this book, will lead to a better, more independent, and prosperous future.

When I say Bitcoin is for everyone, I mean it — and this book proves it. From the first page, you can feel the conviction, the clarity, and the courage it takes to explain why Bitcoin isn’t just an investment… it’s a movement.The author does what few have done: they make complex monetary theory simple, personal, and empowering. Whether you’re stacking sats or still trying to understand what “sound money” really means, this book lights the path. It breaks down inflation, fiat decay, and digital scarcity in a way that anyone — from the retiree to the teenager — can grasp.What I love most? It’s not hype. It’s truth. It’s education mixed with conviction — the kind of blend that fuels real adoption. By the end, you don’t just want to own Bitcoin; you want to live in a Bitcoin world.I’ve read hundreds of books on money, freedom, and innovation — this one stands out as a manifesto for the next monetary era.If you believe in financial freedom, sovereignty, and the power of truth… this book isn’t optional. It’s essential.Buy it. Read it. Live it.

Many of us believe that information is the road to truth: the more of it we have, the faster we can travel to our destination. Harari dispels us of this idea, writing with great detail and providing many examples of his notion that information is meant to connect us. Truth seeking, he writes, is associated with our ability to self-correct.In order to govern and regulate a giant number of people, governments must strike the correct balance between truth and order. They typically do this via mythology and bureaucracy, which are “the twin pillars of every large-scale society.” Mythology, because humans must believe in their shared story as citizens of a place (intersubjectivity), and bureaucracy, because the government must know who it’s people are, what they own, and other various information about them so as to aid them in life endeavors. Tax records, property rights, and police files, for example, can be extremely efficient in helping states maintain their power (for better or worse).The invention of writing was the first way that humans evolved a method for storing and sharing information and it’s implementation went hand in hand with the growth of societies as information could be recorded and revisited at a later date. Whereas we once determined who owned which farm via discussions with our neighbors and friends, writing transferred this information to a central location, stored for the long-term use of whoever was the king in charge of the land. As more and more records were organized and kept for increasing numbers of people, more and more people were tasked with this record keeping, and bureaucracies were formed. This allowed societies to grow in size as greater order was kept, but it also allowed some truthfulness to slip through the cracks: it didn’t matter if everyone in town believed that your farm belonged to you because if someone produced a document that claimed ownership, and the king believed it, it was rightfully his.As information networks advanced, the balance between truth and order became more and more difficult for governments to achieve. When the printing press was first invented and writing was able to be widely distributed, was humanity entered into an era of greater truthfulness? No; greater truthfulness evolved in tandem with greater falsity. Good ideas were able to be shared faster and farther than ever before, like the concept of personal liberty, but so were bad ideas, like the idea that witches were responsible for societal maladies. It took humanity many years to dispel with the idea of witches, and it wasn’t thanks to our newfound ability to disseminate writing and information: it was due to our collective ability to self-correct. The invention of the printing press gave us books, like the Bible, and millions of people connected under the umbrella of organized religion. Organized religions are great at creating order, but are their doctrines truthful?When the radio was invented, it made greater amounts of information available to greater numbers of people, and, just like what happened with the advent of the printing press, humanity did not become flushed with more truth, we became flushed with both good ideas and bad ideas. The radio gave both Hitler and Roosevelt the ability to rally their citizens for distinct purposes: totalitarianism and democracy. What do these and other information networks (like the internet, for the most recent example, and the dawning of artificial intelligence) have in common? The ability to connect us in greater and faster ways. The common denominator of new information networks like the printing press and the radio is greater connection, not truth.This book is inherently a political book as it has to do with how information networks are managed and controlled by governments. Harari makes a clear distinction between types of governments, describing how “democracy and autocracy aren’t absolutes; they are part of a continuum.” The difference between the two is how they balance truth and order, because “just as modern technology enabled large-scale democracy, it also made large-scale totalitarianism possible.” The Soviet Union, for example, maintained a high level of order as all information was centralized and processed in Moscow. As a result, it sacrificed truth. Democracies, on the other hand, are decentralized and predicated on the free sharing of ideas, and while they allow more truth in their governing systems, they maintain less order amongst the populace. We are currently seeing this with the internet’s ability to disseminate more truth to people: government’s are losing their grip and order is turning into chaos.With this observation in mind, Harari moves on to tackle the most important question of our time: Artificial Intelligence. Whereas bureaucracies were once organized and maintained by humans and eventually computers, never before has one been organized and maintained by a super-intelligent computer. Not only is AI a new and powerful information network, it is also the first one ever created that can come up with new ideas without human input and then autonomously implement them. What does this mean for our search for truth? What happens if an AI supercomputer becomes so adept at its bureaucratic bookkeeping that we humans can no longer understand how it comes to its conclusions about whether or not to approve a loan application or the purchase of a plane ticket?In order to maintain order as societies grew, humans created intersubjective stories (mythologies) in order to connect ourselves in greater numbers. What might happen if a group of artificial intelligences create their own inter-computer mythologies that we don’t approve of or don’t even know about? What might these AI systems decide to do with this power? “The immediate results of the print revolution included witch hunts and religious wars alongside scientific discoveries, while newspapers and radio were exploited by totalitarian regimes as well as democracies. As for the Industrial Revolution, adapting to it involved catastrophic experiments such as imperialism and Nazism. If the AI revolution leads us to similar kinds of experiments, can we really be certain we will muddle through again?”The most important thing that we humans must fight to maintain control of is our ability to self-correct. This is, in essence, the scientific method: the ability to test a theory, get some answers, test a new theory, get some new answers, and ultimately change our beliefs. Determining the truth is a process that is often muddled by the means of information networks, and AI will surely make these waters murkier as it continues to do more and more of our thinking for us.

In Yuval Noah Harari’s Nexus, human civilization in the age of AI is examined from a uniquely historical perspective. In his characteristic style, Harari uses well-researched anecdotes from medieval to modern times – from Judaism to Christianity, from Caesar to Stalin to Trump – to show how societies and governments have been shaped by information networks. He argues that it is naïve to think that information technology has evolved in strict search of the truth, since it has also been applied to establish social order and reinforce myths that sometimes run contrary to the truth (such as in interpretations of scriptures and the witch trials of medieval Europe).Midway into the book, Harari shifts from medieval tales of primitive information technologies – storytelling, books, property deeds, and the printing press – to the emergence of computers and AI. He thankfully presumes that we have a general understanding of AI and spares us from a lengthy recounting of its development. I admire his willingness to embrace the appropriate but somewhat dated terms “information networks” and “computers” rather than gratuitously use more trendy AI terms. But he does makes it clear just how different, disruptive and dangerous AI advancements are becoming. Importantly, he emphasizes that AI is the first new technology that may well begin to advance itself without human control. Harari lays out a subtle political context which is often alarming, given current events. He observes that democracies encourage information flows across many independent channels with self-correcting mechanisms and institutions while totalitarian systems channel all information to a central hub with constant cross surveillance mechanisms. While democracies were initially enabled by the emergence of information technologies, they may actually now be hindered by AI advancements. He states: “The rise of machine learning algorithms may be exactly what the Stalins of the world have been waiting for (since) … AI seems to favor the concentration of information and decision making in one place.” Nexus concludes with Harari posing the ultimate question as to whether humans will have the capability or desire to control AI or to simply surrender their future to it. On a slightly critical note, as rich as Nexus is in content, the book does not always flow easily. Passages are sometimes so deep and provocative that you have to stop and re-read them to grasp their significance. Other times they seem simple and self evident. Nevertheless, Nexus delivers a remarkable collection of insights into how humanity has historically used information technology for societal governance and how the ultimate technology of AI might be poised to control our future. Dr James L. Vann

This is certainly a beautiful retrospective book that takes me all the way back to the original game for the GameCube in 2002 and does indeed have high-quality stitched binding and a nice canvas cloth-style hardcover, a very solidly built book. The illustrations are nice and clean and the colors are lovely, and the pages are on a nice art paper that is a bit more matte, so there isn’t a lot of annoying glare when you’re trying to read the pages under a bright light.The concept art covered in the book is expansive and thorough, covering all three games in the original trilogy, as well as “Metroid Prime Remastered”. It doesn’t feel skimpy and low-effort. Overall, everything a Metroid fan might be waiting for, and a wonderful prelude to Metroid Prime 4 (as of the time of this writing, due to come out December 4th here in the US).If there were any critiques, it would be that the gray used on some of the names of creatures/characters is a bit hard to see because they blend too well with the backgrounds. It would’ve helped, design-wise, if they’d used a black or white outline on the letters for that reason.One more thing of note I’d like to add is that Piggyback went the extra mile with protecting the book for shipping by putting it inside a stiff mailer; it’s always nice to see companies give a bit of a fig so that customers are happy with what they receive. Nicely done, Piggyback!

This book is truly one of the best art collections in all of Nintendo’s history! Journey behind the scenes of Nintendo’s greatest sci-fi fps trilogy in this masterful collection of high resolution concept art spanning the three games and the HD remaster. ( unfortunately Prime Hunters and Prime federation force concept art has been omitted… ) The detailed art accompanied by behind the scenes commentary from the developers offers a rich history lesson behind some of the most influential and greatest games to define a self made genre and generation!

Very high quality art book showcasing a lot of the art in all three games from Retro. As I turned through the pages, it made me remember of the adventures I had with the games when I played them long ago. Makes one appreciate the games even more. Truly gives Metroid fans great quality art with some added commentary into the insight of some of the characters, landscape and design process. A great collector’s item for the series. Prepares you for the art that will eventually come out of Metroid Prime 4’s game when it is released.

Wish I could give 4 and a Half Stars. This book is an absolutely gorgeous treasure trove of concept art. It feels like no expense was spared and any hard-core Metroid Fan should own a copy.I do wish this book delved much deeper into the development than it does. There are notes from the producer throughout, but I would have loved to hear every last detail about the “stories” each piece of art tells, why some designs were chosen over others, and so on.It’s also come to my attention the original concept artists were not credited in this book. Not cool, Nintendo/Retro/Piggyback/Whoever!

The Metroid Prime trilogy are some of my favorite games of all time, and a large part of that is the games’ incredible art direction depicting vast, immersive worlds and imaginative, terrifying enemies that leave you in awe.Having a collection of concept art from the games is a no brainer for any fan, and there is a sizable collection here to peruse, all presented in high quality. Some of the pieces were unlocked through completion milestones in the original games, but having them readily available to view in book form is a massive boon, and even then there are still plenty of pieces that I’m sure I haven’t seen before, which is a nice bonus that adds some value to the collection.My only real gripe with the collection is the commentary, which is mostly done by series producer Kensuke Tanabe. Obviously his role as producer is important, and he has a lot of great insights into the development process of these games, but I would have liked to hear more from the side of the developers, Retro Studios. The only real spotlight they get is maybe five or six paragraphs explaining the broad strokes of their thought process, goals, and challenges in making each of the games, which is interesting, but it could have been much more. This being an art book, I would have liked to learn about the artists’ creative process, like what inspiration or references they used, and what gameplay considerations they had to work around, for example. It’s not a huge dealbreaker by any means, but it is a missed opportunity.Overall, I would recommend this to any Metroid fan. Nintendo doesn’t really shine much of a spotlight on Metroid in general so the fact that this exists is a miracle in of itself. Going through it reminds me of why I love these games, and makes me appreciate the work put into them.

The art in this book is fantastic. I grew up playing the Metroid Prime trilogy, I even go back and play the Wii remake trilogy once a year. The quality of the book itself is fantastic. I’m not the biggest fan of the fabric used to cover the book but for how well this book is made it’s a small gripe. Highly recommend for any fans of Metroid Prime!

Wow! When I pre-ordered this book, I just wasn’t expecting this level of depth and quality. I’m absolutely blown away by the whole presentation here. This is one finely crafted book…everything from the foil-embossed cover to the high-quality imagery throughout, this book screams class! It’s absolutely a must-own for Metroid fans of all ages. This really isn’t just an art book, it’s more like a show piece. Just so excited to have it in my collection! No complaints at all. Very highly recommended!

Great book for Metroid Prime fans. It has some nice insight into the development of the games. As a long time fan I even learned things I never knew before. Although I wish we got prime 2 and 3 HD remaster before prime 4, this book is also a neat way to revisit the original trilogy in anticipation of 4.

In sum, these reviews pretty much confirm what I’ve been saying, teaching, writing for years — Facebook long ago lost its idealism and regard for truth, effectively giving the first election to Trump who manipulated Facebook as his personal lying machine, and allowing dictators to muzzle truth in countries around the world. Not sure the loss of whatever positive image and credibility remains is worth Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg’s net worth.A Global Fight for DemocraciesFacebook continues to allow false information to reach 2.4 billion people [now more than 3 billion] resulting in massive disinformation campaigns and manipulated elections.Most still don’t realize that Facebook played an unprecedented and leading role in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election as millions relied on their Facebook feeds to educate and inform themselves about the election.Russia’s propaganda campaigns used the Facebook platform to direct outrageous lies to mass numbers of individuals and manipulated the electorate to ensure Donald Trump’s election in 2016. Russia, and soon the Trump campaign, saw Facebook as instrumental in channeling Russia’s propaganda to those who were ignited and inflamed by “false news.”In 2016, the Trump campaign spent $19.4 million on 218,100 different Facebook ads, which were seen an estimated 1.3 billion times.Four years later as the U.S. electorate faces the reality of its recent Presidential election, there are no real controls (legislative or internal to Facebook) to ensure this won’t happen again.Time and again we witness Facebook not acting soon enough to shut down those who spew misinformation – and, in fact, often refusing to shut down clearly erroneous ads, videos, posts and groups that are targeted with often false, inflammatory and misleading content.Facebook’s Andrew “Boz” Bosworth [who is now leading creation of the metaverse for Mark Zuckerberg] admitted that microtargeting ads was masterfully achieved by Brad Parscale of the Trump campaign.Of the millions of corporations, firms, individuals who leverage Facebook’s advertising platform to direct ads to individuals, Boz was awestruck that he had never witnessed anyone so adept at microtargeting ads. He said, “The Trump campaign ran the single best digital ad campaign I’ve ever seen from any advertiser.”Strong words from the person Facebook entrusted to oversee these very ads that allowed the spread of massive lies that delivered the election to Donald Trump.And there is zero remorse from the global platform that delivers content throughout the day to more than 3 billion users. In fact, it was only a few months ago that Facebook was unapologetic in admitting it will allow lies in its ads and user posts by not fact-checking content.Since its founding in 2004, Facebook has proven itself incapable of adjusting to its place in global society, as a global corporate citizen, as a global news platform, and as a global ad giant.Global policy, national legislation and internal controls are needed to limit lies and misinformation to ensure that Facebook removes not just some but all propaganda and false articles, posts, campaigns, ads and groups.Imagine if The Guardian, New York Times, Financial Times, etc. applied Facebook’s attitude toward propaganda ads, false articles, vile reader comments, etc.Remember that the media for generations tightly controlled what news we saw; tightly controlled our response to news; tightly controlled our sharing of news; and charged us for this information.And remember that Facebook is the fifth largest media company in the world — a massive news and advertising giant outlet disguised as a place for us to share the moments from our lives.Since online news has become the predominant source for information, opinion and breaking events, the collective we — in this room, in our homes, around the world — we don’t want our “news” tightly controlled — we want our opinion and voice to be heard, and we don’t want to be charged for this information.Therein lies the fundamental problem for Facebook — to determine how and whether to control news, ads and information; to manage the veracity of fact, opinion and source; and whether to create a paid mechanism that will far better ensure information is vetted, accurate, and balanced.As a result of Facebook’s inability and unwillingness to manage its vast influence, elections in every country around the globe will continue to be attacked by anyone and any group with a vested interest in manipulating mass swaths of humanity.This massive fake news, fake advertising, fake groups, fake posts, fake content spewing platform has no controls in place to stop the proliferation and spreading of misinformation to millions upon millions like an unstoppable stage 4 cancer.And it is in Facebook’s multi-billion-dollar interest to look away, to allow itself to be manipulated, to have its COO look doe-eyed into the camera to say yet again, “You’re right. We could have done better. And we will.” And yet there are no mechanisms in place to ensure elections around the world will not be dominated by misinformation campaigns so vast in scope, so unprecedented in history.There is no sense of urgency because elected bodies in all 195 countries — National and Legislative Assemblies, Congresses, and Parliaments – as well as thought leaders, media and citizens everywhere are largely unaware of Facebook’s global role in delivering elections for armies of propaganda spewing machines who are creating fake groups, creating fake posts, and buying literally billions of fake ads to buy elections around the world.To be clear — allowing politicians to micro-target with such granularity and without regard to truth is disruptive to democracies everywhere.And yet the collective we remain unaware and unable to address the problem or demand solutions as Facebook’s ability to micro-target ads, groups, and content has created the most powerful, effective propaganda apparatus in the history of humankind — remember that Facebook’s chief ad executive openly admitted that the 2016 election was hand-delivered to Trump due to fake news and ads.We all agree that Facebook must permit a diversity of opinion among its now +3 billion users. However, the fundamental problem is that it allows distortion, lies and misinformation to be posted on its platform under the guise of “supporting democratic ideals” including free speech.We cannot expect three billion people to evaluate the accuracy of the information put in front of them, nor can we expect them to understand when they are being manipulated – though we can and must expect Facebook to separate fact from lie.Clearly elections now determined by micro-targeting ads aren’t swaying Facebook to self-regulate and impose internal controls. It’s time we create a coalition of organizations and individuals to press for legislative and regulatory changes at a global level.Sarah McCue, PhD

Careless People: Power, Marketing, and the (Absent) Moral Boundaries at FacebookSarah Wynne-Williams, former Director of Public Policy at Facebook, spent seven years at the company. In Careless People, she takes the reader behind the scenes of the world’s largest social media platform.A hopeful missionShe shows how Facebook’s original idealistic mission, “to make the world more open and connected”, was quickly overshadowed by internal tensions, political interests, and ethical dilemmas.Wynne-Williams began her career in the public sector. Driven by a strong sense of civic duty, she was initially enthusiastic about Facebook’s mission, but soon grew disillusioned with how things worked behind closed doors. In her book, she describes how commercial interests and the drive for rapid growth consistently outweighed (positive) social impact. This fundamental tension runs throughout the book.Diplomacy, data, and dominanceThe book offers a rare, and at times revealing, glimpse into Facebook’s international strategy. Wynne-Williams describes how the company organized state visits, attempted to build diplomatic relationships, and how many of these efforts ended in awkward failure. Particularly notable is Facebook’s push to enter the Chinese market, including Mark Zuckerberg’s personal effort to learn Mandarin.Facebook’s leadership: no innocent bystandersWynne-Williams doesn’t spare the company’s executive leadership. She paints a picture of a culture riddled with sexual misconduct, power plays, and rivalries. The workplace environment she describes, full of intrigue, temper outbursts, and a striking lack of psychological safety, stands in stark contrast to Facebook’s carefully cultivated public image. This insight is valuable not only for those following Facebook, but for anyone seeking to understand how power and growth shape company culture in the tech sector.Facebook as a PR machineOne of the book’s core revelations is how Facebook began to operate less as a technology company and more as a PR machine. Initiatives like internet.org were presented as altruistic, but in practice were primarily aimed at market expansion. The company’s role in political campaigns, notably Donald Trump’s election, is sharply laid out. The book illustrates how thin the line is between innovation and manipulation when user data is leveraged at scale for political and commercial gain.Insightful, but not always credibleWynne-Williams’ personal tone makes the book engaging and accessible. Her commitment to the mission, and her growing frustration, are palpable. Yet her constant presence as narrator sometimes undermines the story’s credibility. Dramatic anecdotes, coincidental twists, and strong personal judgments occasionally create distance, especially when the subject matter demands nuance.That’s unfortunate, because the topics she raises, ethics, global power dynamics, and the impact on young users, deserve to speak for themselves.Lessons for the futureWhat stays with the reader is how even the most powerful tech companies appear vulnerable when ideals clash with growth ambitions. The book shows how easily ethical boundaries blur when billions are at stake. For companies, policymakers, and marketers, it offers a confronting mirror: rapid growth and profit never come without moral cost.Final verdictCareless People is an accessible and insightful book that offers a unique perspective on the inner workings of Facebook and Big Tech. Despite stylistic shortcomings, a tendency toward dramatization, and a sometimes overly subjective voice, it’s a worthwhile read for anyone looking to understand the intersection of technology, power, and marketing.Personally, I found it especially compelling because I’ve taken the opposite path: from marketing and tech into public service. That gives me a unique appreciation of the tension Wynne-Williams describes, the ongoing conflict between social ideals and commercial imperatives.The book lacks objectivity at times, but it undeniably prompts reflection. And that alone makes it more than worth the read.Rating: 7.5

THIS IS THE GREATEST BOOK EVER PUBLISHED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS!!!If I could give this book 10 stars, I would! This book beats many other books. This book is so exciting to read that I read it three times! The beginning of the book said it extremely well — This book is about an unique kind of leadership that has the natural recurring pattern of inspiring, influencing and affecting people. It is about a very small group of leaders that achieve disproportionate amount of influences in their industries/areas compare to other leaders. The most prominent example is, of course, Steve Jobs who displayed a recurring pattern of changing one industry after another.(Of all the books that study Steve Jobs, this is probably the best one although it is not a book on Jobs’ biography. However, this book offers the best angle to understand his motivation and influence.)The core of this book is about the kind of WHYs that a special kind of leaders has that enable them to have the natural recurring pattern of inspiring, influencing and changing people and industries. The prime examples of this kind of leaders quoted in this book are Steve Jobs, Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Wright Brothers.This book is revolutionary. All the top business schools should reevaluate their curriculum based on this book! All the top business consultants should reconsider their theories and recommendations based on this book! All the writers on leadership should read this book and revise their theories! All political leaders in the world should read this book! All board of directors of corporations should read this book and learn how to select the next CEOs! …This book can be considered the MASTER book to be read before reading books like “From Good to Great”, “Stall Points”, “The Innovator’s Dilemma” and the follow-on books, “Crossing the Chasm” …The central theme of this book is WHY — the essence, the core, the purpose of a person’s life, of leadership, and the starting point of a corporation. Without the clarity of this WHY, the life of a person, the leadership, and the products and services offered by a corporation are all fuzzy and treated as commodities. This is so very true. Look around us: Though we (persons, organizations and corporations) are special in some ways, yet we are almost all commodities — except the very few that display the recurring pattern of major changes and influences such as Jobs, Apple and Google. These are the ones that have the clarity of WHY and the discipline of diligently and strictly enforcing their HOWs (principles, methods, criteria) in producing the WHATs (behaviors, products and services).There are three views of WHY + HOW + WHAT presented in this book:1. Looking from the top — the WHY in the center, the HOW in the middle and the WHAT in the outer layer form a GOLDEN CIRCLE.2. Looking from the side — the WHY at the top layer, the HOW in the middle layer and the WHAT in the bottom layer form a cone.3. Viewing in three dimensions — with the external world attached to the base of WHAT, the whole thing is a megaphone for the leader or corporation to sound out its WHY.These views are wonderful ways for us to look at leadership, to understand the life cycle of a corporation, and summarily see why companies thrived and why they died. These views can even be applied to our personal lives.Of course, this book has some blemishes. But these defects do not distract from its greatness.1. The grammar is terrible. The whole book should be reviewed by a competent editor.2. The WHYs are not strictly examined and evaluated. This book treats all WHYs from leaders, entrepreneurs and corporations as equal when in fact they are not. Probably most of the WHYs are the rewording of WHATs in disguise. Maybe a lot of WHYs are re-branded HOWs. Perhaps only a small number of WHYs can have the recurring pattern of inspiration and influence. I hope the future editions of this book can elucidate this point.3. The HOWs gets much less treatment than the WHYs and WHATs in the book. It would be great if this topic is covered in more detail.4. Maybe 60% of this book is about corporations and not on leadership as claimed in the beginning of the book. I hope the author can focus more on the recurring pattern of inspiration and influence of leadership.5. Not everything stated in this book is correct. The points discussed in this book about Jobs and Apple are good examples. Please read “Inside Apple” and Jobs biographies for more correct views on Jobs and Apple.At the first reading, the book seems repetitious. The WHY, HOW and WHAT get repeated over and over. However, on the 2nd and 3rd reading, this apparent repetition disappears and you can see the different points that the author was trying to emphasize.I would like to recommend some future topics or books for Simon Sinek:a) Qualify and rank levels of WHYs — not all WHYs are equal. Probably some are top-notch while most are mediocre. Also, tell us how to construct best kinds of WHYs.b) Compare the WHYs to big tech companies, the WHYs of big Wall Street firms (if they have any???) and the WHYs of big retail companies.c) Compare the WHYs of big empires in historyd) Compare the WHYs of nations in WWI and WWIIe) Compare the WHYs of great leaders in historyf) Compare the WHYs of great geniusesg) Consider how WHYs can be incorporated into Teachers’ College (Ed College). It is the teachers who educate our future generations. They need to be thoroughly immersed in the understanding of The Golden Circle, The Cone and The Megaphone.h) Consider how WHYs can be incorporated into the K-12 and the college educationg) Consider how WHYs can be incorporated into and how HOWs can be enforced in our political systems. We have far too many politicians and not enough true leadersi) Consider how WHYs can be incorporated into our law schools. Our lawyers really need a strong dose of treatment.In summary, this book is dynamic. It’s a dynamite! It’s the best book I have read in the last 10 years!

Wisdom that is unmatched that assists in your professional and personal goals. Read everything he writes; you will not regret it!

Great idea. Unsure it’s as effective as author claims. I had to read the second book to understand what he was saying in this book. I’ve read it four times. Great theoretical idea. Not sure how practical it is.

Love It.

While the subtitle of this book (How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action) suggests that the content is for leaders of large organizations, I believe the book’s details can apply to all kinds of leaders and businesses.The main mantra of the book is:People don’t buy WHAT you do, they buy WHY you do it.The book includes stories of many different companies. Some were successful, and others were not. The successful ones were led by individuals who strongly believed in something (they had a Why), which was the business’s guiding principle. The unsuccessful companies may have started out doing well, but when they lost their focus on their Why, or if the person who had that vision left the organization, the business started to falter.I agree with the author’s point that having a strong Why for your business can help that business be successful. I highlighted all the successful companies and individuals in the book and want to study them further. Here’s an alphabetical list of who I intend to examine:- Apple & Steve Jobs- Bridgeport Financial- Ernest Shackleton- Harley Davidson- Henry Ford- Ron Bruder — Education for Employment Foundation- Southwest Airlines- Thomas Edison- The Wright BrothersOne key concept from the book that hit home with me was that when you have a strong Why you will naturally attract individuals to your business who share that Why. A strong Why will allow you to market based on these beliefs instead of using manipulative tactics like price, features, and benefits.That’s what a WHY does. When it is clearly understood, it attracts people who believe the same thing.Another central point Why is so important relates to hiring (or being hired). It’s essential to have everyone in an organization believe in the same Why to have the best performing team. This requires a leader who knows their Why and knows how to share the details of their Why with others.While reading the books, I made some other highlights that I think were important concepts:- “There are only two ways to influence human behavior: you can manipulate it or you can inspire it.”- “WHAT companies do are external factors, but WHY they do it is something deeper.”- “Why the product exists must first be considered and why someone wants it must match.”- “If a customer feels inspired to buy a product, rather than manipulated, they will be able to verbalize the reasons why they think what they bought is better.”- “Knowing your WHY is not the only way to be successful, but it is the only way to maintain a lasting success and have a greater blend of innovation and flexibility.”- “No matter where we go, we trust those with whom we are able to perceive common values or beliefs.”This book has helped me personally. I’m in the process of trying to start a business, teaching others how to use productivity software (so far just Microsoft Excel, but I have plans to branch out to other applications). My training content is specifically geared towards those who may be intimidated by software and computers in general.I need to spend more time thinking about my Why, but my initial Why is that I believe anyone can learn to use productivity software; they need to get past any fear of using the software and computers. I think the biggest fear people have when learning new things is the fear of the unknown. I want to show people it’s not hard to learn to use software and computers if they take a little time to learn the basics. I want to help them convert the unknown to a known.If you’ve thought about starting or are running your own business, do you know your Why? Is your Why evident in everything you do related to that business? If not, I would urge you to take some time to read Start With Why and to get clear on your Why.

I use this as an exercise for work a lot. But it didn’t really change from the first book so honestly if you read the first book no need to invest in this one.But if you haven’t read the first than definitely purchase this one!

Donald Miller has given me so many good ideas for building my new company. I’m so glad I read this book before I started any of my marketing – even before I cemented the name of my product. A must read for anyone trying to build a brand.

As a new marketing manager I appreciate the easy to follow framework to develop messaging that resonates with my customers.

I learned so much about clarifying my message. I wish I would have known this years ago. I would closed more sales and worked smarter not harder.

Great quality. Can’t wait to start reading the book

Helpful

I got a lot of value from this book. Good strategy and lots of useful information.

Business owners and marketing people face more challenges today than ever. Customers are bombarded with messages and ads from morning until night from more screens and sources than ever. In this overwhelming, blaring cacophony, what can you do to make sure your message is heard?Let Building a StoryBrand 2.0 by Donald Miller be your guide. This book is the perfect tool to help you grow your business/organization by reaching, connecting with, and inspiring your prospects to choose you.The Problem: You struggle to communicate your brand’s message in a way that resonates with your audience. Your potential customers are overwhelmed with information, and your message gets lost in the noise.The Solution: StoryBrand has helped over 1 million of business—from start ups to Fortune 500 companies—significantly increase their revenues. This updated version (hence the “2.0” in the title) has 10,000 additional words of step-by-step, practical marketing help. It’s full of updated, real-world examples so you can see StoryBrand in action. Plus, throughout the book, it has calls to action so that you can implement the framework in your own business as you are learning the concepts. You can implement your simple, clear message immediately to connect with more customers.How Building a StoryBrand 2.0 can grow your business:1. Learn the Seven Points in Every Compelling Story in Human History: Miller explains the stories that all humans respond to throughout history, giving you a template to follow that will capture attention.2. Clarify Your Message: Simplify your brand message so that it is understood and remembered by your audience.3. Apply the Framework: Use your StoryBranded messaging for your website, brochures, social media, etc. and see your business grow.Your Business’ Future: The StoryBrand 2.0 framework will transform your brand’s communication. Your message will cut through the noise, engage your customers, and drive growth. You’ll see your business thrive as you connect with your audience on a deeper level.Buy the Book: Don’t let your message get lost in the noise. Take the first step towards clarity and success by reading Building a StoryBrand 2.0. Let Donald Miller’s guide help you craft a compelling story that resonates with your customers and propels your business forward.

In my opinion, this book should be a required read for anyone of any level and in any position in the software development/engineering field. This book teaches so many solid and timeless principles that could possibly take years or decades for the average person to learn, if ever.Before reading this book, I didn’t know where I stood as a developer after 15 years of doing it. I’m self-taught, and also learned from my surroundings, assuming that people in higher positions than me must know better – now I never assume anything about anyone or anything. I never got much (useful) feedback but I wanted to be as good as I could be in my field. Reading this book and applying what I learned from it eventually lead to a great confidence in my way of problem solving and coding, and this confidence naturally caused me to be happier, and that’s when I realized that when I’m confident and happy I produce my best work that I’m proud of. Not only do I feel like I have leveled up as a software engineer, but I also feel like I leveled up as a person. I also feel validated for a few things I was already doing, and learned that soft skills (communication, accountability, etc) are just as important as hard skills (coding).I’ve already convinced at least 3 developers to buy their own copy, and I’m about to suggest it to a few more, so I think I need to look up some kind of referral/commission program.This book is worth every penny and has me going back to it for reference all the time.

Great reading, learn a lot from it.

I received a copy of the original edition of this book over 20 years ago and immediately used it in my introductory software engineering classes. Hunt and Thomas are skilled practitioners who can both identify key practices of the profession and write about these cogently. The current edition is an updated version, one that brings the material up-to-date without sacrificing any of the key insights from the original. Highly recommended for developers at all levels.

I’m listening to this audio book as a way to get a hold of the material while doing other things. Rather than being a direct reading, it’s more of a dramatization of the book, which wasn’t really what I was looking for. The reader is bright, enthusiastic and cheery.As for the book itself, it’s a fairly encouraging look at software engineering from two veterans. Worth your attention.

While, admittedly, I haven’t finished the book – so far – this book has contained wisdom a reader might have come across at school, from senior developers, or from books such as Robert C. Martin’s ‘Clean Code’.However, while some of the wisdom and knowledge might cross over in a Venn diagram with ‘Clean Code’; there’s some great advice here that’s worth putting into practice. I don’t necessarily agree with all of it. To each his own. But, I’ve found much that makes this book worth owning.

I really enjoyed reading The Pragmatic Programmer. My team read it for an at work book club. I think the book has solid advice and fundamental principles for good software engineering. It has a good mix of content relevant to the different parts of being a good software engineer around both code and processes.

Book came as expected

I’ve been working in IT for 30 years, numerous roles. I was already aware of or practicing many of the concepts covered, but still learned a lot. Someone new to the field or earlier in their careers could benefit greatly from the book, and from what I have seen, a lot of folks who are well established in their careers should read it.