BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Reading and the words we read are among the greatest gifts given to mankind (and the printing press!) Here are a several books that not only make for excellent presents but also offer valuable insights (and a few laughs) not only for this Christmas and New Year but for the rest of your lives.
‘Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment’, co-authored by Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony, and Cass R. Sunstein
This book throws light on the overlooked impact of inconsistency in decision-making. the book explores the pervasive influence of ‘noise’: “Imagine that two doctors in the same city give different diagnoses to identical patients — or that two judges in the same courthouse give markedly different sentences to people who have committed the same crime. Or that, when a company is handling customer complaints, the resolution depends on who happens to answer the phone. “
“Now imagine the same doctor, the same judge, the same interviewer, or the same customer service agent makes different decisions depending on whether it is morning or afternoon, or Monday rather than Wednesday.”
These are examples of Noise: worth a read.
‘Obliquity’ by John Kay
This book challenges the conventional wisdom surrounding goal setting. Kay argues that indirect approaches often yield greater success, especially during challenging times. Discover how the most successful individuals and companies achieve their objectives through oblique, unconventional paths.
‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear
As the New Year approaches, resolutions come to the forefront. This book addresses the perennial struggle with habits and personal development. Clear contends that lasting change is not about lofty goals but about building effective systems.
Learn how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the small behaviours that lead to remarkable results.
And when you purchase the book, you get access to his website and will receive regular snippets of advice every week and there have been some really good ideas to spur you on.
‘The Money Doctor’ by John Lowe
Again this is a must-read for anyone in Ireland, will be updated for 2024 and will continue to enhance our financial management skills. Written in plain English with case histories and actionable advice, Lowe’s book is a comprehensive guide. There are additional resources on the free website www.moneydoctor.ie it’s a wealth of information tailored to diverse financial needs.
‘Financial Jokes for Financial Folks’Why couldn’t they sell the Tower of Pisa? There was a ‘lien’ on it. This financial jokes book is full of all original accounting and finance jokes and could be the perfect gift for anyone who works in finance who loves telling cheesy, corny jokes, or jokes that make people roll their eyes! “If you know anybody that has a problem with telling too many bad jokes then give them this book and make it worse!” If you have a Prime account with Amazon its free as a kindle book.
‘A Christmas Omnibus’ by John B Keane
Finally, a book by the late, great writer to rest your weary brains Be enthralled by Canon Coddle who “routs scoundrels” who are trying to take the scouts collection box on Christmas Eve from the wall of the Church and Masterman, a seasoned traveller who finds salvation at Christmas time. In the words of John B himself: “The Spirit of Christmas has survived Stalins’, Hitlers’ and the Mussolinis’ and those who have perpetrated injustices since the birth of Christ. It has survived human greed and human jealousy and every human failing one cares to mention.”
I wish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year.
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