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Disruption, brand bullies and the rise and fall of BlackBerry

Vancouver Public Library recommendations offer insights on current business trends
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Big names in business such as Warren Buffett and Bill Gates make reading part of their daily routine – how about you? Whether you’re looking for your next big idea or a new way of thinking, reading can help you succeed. Get started with these award-winning Canadian business books, recommended by the reading and information experts at Vancouver Public Library. Find the books for free at vpl.ca.

Field Guide to Lies

A Field Guide to Lies: Critical Thinking in the Information Age by Daniel J. Levitin

With phrases like “alternative facts” and “post-truth” popping up in the news, reliable ways to separate fact from fiction are needed more than ever before. Bestselling author Daniel J. Levitin offers decision-makers original ideas and critical-thinking tools in his award-winning book.

Plutocrats

Plutocrats: The Rise of the New Global Super-Rich and the Fall of Everyone Else by Chrystia Freeland.

Three decades ago, the average chief executive made 42 times as much as the average worker. Today, it’s 380 times as much. Drawing on interviews and meetings with the financial super-elite, Chrystia Freeland shows how this group has changed over time and how the gap between the 1% and the 99% has grown wider.

Losing the Signal

Losing the Signal: The Spectacular Rise and Fall of BlackBerry by Jacquie McNish and Sean Silcoff

BlackBerry’s domination of the smartphone market was once a force to be reckoned with. But its success was short-lived owing to the rapid speed of innovation. For businesses looking to expand, this book offers insight on BlackBerry’s collapse – including early-stage financing, challenges of rapid growth, and the need for complex levels of corporate governance.

No Logo

No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies by Naomi Klein

How far can a brand influence consumer culture? In this award-winning manifesto, Naomi Klein takes a close look at anti-corporate activism and explores a shift in the global paradigm. Originally published in 2001, Klein’s bold critiques still resonate today with savvy business leaders.

Tell Everyone

Tell Everyone: Why We Share and Why It Matters by Alfred Hermida

University Prof. Alfred Hermida was writing about the disruptive effects of social media years before controversy plagued the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He examines how the public’s ability to create and share news is reconfiguring politics and business, and shares insight on how to navigate the new information landscape.

Shutting Down the National Dream: A.V. Roe and the Tragedy of the Avro Arrow by Greg Stewart

Greg Stewart revisits a pivotal moment in Canada’s economic history – the rise and fall of A.V. Roe Canada and the failed attempt to develop a national aviation industry in the ’40s and ’50s. Stewart provides in-depth coverage of the Avro Arrow jet fighter project that was cancelled before it could take flight – a move that ultimately finished the overextended company.