An eye-opening look at the new computer revolution and the coming transformation of our economy, society, and culture.

A hundred years ago, companies stopped producing their own power with steam engines and generators and plugged into the newly built electric grid. The cheap power pumped out by electric utilities not only changed how businesses operated but also brought the modern world into existence. Today a similar revolution is under way. Companies are dismantling their private computer systems and tapping into rich services delivered over the Internet. This time it's computing that's turning into a utility. The shift is already remaking the computer industry, bringing new competitors like Google to the fore and threatening traditional stalwarts like Microsoft and Dell. But the effects will reach much further. Cheap computing will ultimately change society as profoundly as cheap electricity did. In this lucid and compelling book, Nicholas Carr weaves together history, economics, and technology to explain why computing is changing—and what it means for all of us.

About the Author
Nicholas Carr is the author of Does IT Matter? The former executive editor of the Harvard Business Review, he has written for the New York Times, the Financial Times, Wired, and other publications. He lives outside Boston, Massachusetts.

Riding the Indian Tiger: Understanding India-- The World's Fastest Growing Market
by William Nobrega

From the Publisher

A guide to India's fast-emerging economy.

In 2008, India will likely overtake China as the world's fastest growing economy and become one of the largest economies globally. Direct foreign investment has increased dramatically in recent years and the pace of activity continues to quicken as large private equity funds and big corporations look for new revenue growth. The middle class is expected to grow from 90 million individuals today to 351 million individuals by 2010, and the retail market is expected to grow from $300 billion today to $637 billion by 2015. Riding the Indian Tiger gives individuals and organizations a detailed picture of the economic opportunities India has to offer.

William Nobrega (Miami, FL) is founder and President of The Conrad Group, a consulting firm specializing in emerging market strategic planning and mergers and acquisitions, and a former member of the U.S. Army Special Forces. Ashish Sinha (India) is COO of RocSearch, a knowledge services firm providing research and analytic solutions. He is also a former investment banker and outsourcing specialist.

Do the Right Thing: How Dedicated Employees Create Loyal Customers and Large Profits
by James Parker

People matter most.

You know that. But most companies would rather slash costs, cut headcount, replace well-paid employees with lower-paid employees or outsourced workers, and reduce customer service. No wonder so many fail–while others focused on doing the right thing remain profitable and growth oriented for decades. James F. Parker shows why “doing the right thing” isn’t just naïve “feel-goodism:” it’s the most powerful rule for business success. Parker’s stories won’t just convince you: They’ll move you. Naïve? No way. In this book, Southwest Airlines’ former CEO proves why doing what’s right is the #1 rule of business success. James F. Parker tells how after 9/11, Southwest made three pivotal decisions: no layoffs, no pay cuts, and no-hassle refunds for any customer wanting them. The result: Southwest remained profitable and its revenue passenger miles for 4Q01 held steady while the rest of its industry nearly collapsed...and Southwest’s market cap soon exceeded all its major competitors combined. These pivotal decisions grew naturally from Southwest’s culture of mutual respect and trust. Parker offers deeply personal insights into that culture, revealing how those same principles are used by other people and organizations, showing you that it’s really not that hard to Do The Right Thing!

• Why doing what’s right is the surest way to optimize and sustain value
• Putting people first...honestly, for real
• Finding great leaders at every level of the organization
• Hiring for attitude, training for skills
• Achieving unprecedented levels of teamwork (and fun!)

“The book is a fun read filled with memorable stories that get at the heart of what it takes to lead in a way that simultaneously satisfies employees, customers, and shareholders. Jim Parker plays the role of eloquent detective and ferrets out the interweaving parts that distributed leadership, culture, values, and teamwork play as the underlying layers of a company’s success. This is a book about heroesat all levels and the environment needed to create those heroes. A must-read for today’s leaders.”

--Professor Deborah Ancona, Seley Distinguished Professor of Management and Faculty Director of the MIT Leadership Center,
Sloan School of Management