Traveling & Reading

I want to write quickly about 2 great books I just finished reading. The first is a book called Design Is How It Works: How The Smartest Companies Turn Products Into Icons. The author, Jay Greene, looks at how well known companies like Porsche, Nike, Lego, OXO, REI, and Virgin Atlantic amongst others (companies that provide both products and services) create their products, continue to innovate, and use different strategies to engage their users. Unlike most of the management books out on the market today, it doesn't just look at one person or one process, but it looks at similarities between companies that have succeeded, and at times failed, and then succeeded again and why. There is a certain part of his theory which I am thinking of expanding on and will try and present at an upcoming professional conference. We'll see if that happens.

The second book I read, and absolutely loved, is Salman Rushdie's The Moor's Last Sigh. This is the first book I've read by him, and after reading the first page 5 or 6 times, I wasn't sure I would be reading any more. But I got into it and was incredibly impressed. His ability to interweave and stretch plot lines, the depth of his references to cultures and literature across the globe, the dark humor, and the time he spends building characters only to utterly destroy the images he created chapters earlier was enthralling. My only regret is not keeping a pencil and notepad next to me to write down and look up all of the SAT words that I vaguely remember but can't define.

I've been traveling a bit for work and I have plenty of interesting stories to come about that, but no time now. So I'll just leave you with a teaser of where I've been.

The World in 6 Glasses

I just finished reading a book by Tom Standage called A History of the World in 6 Glasses. It talks about the varying affects beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks (i.e. coca-cola) have had on civilizations from pre-historical times and how these drinks had been so integral to the development of the society in social, economic, and political ways. Its worthwhile noting that it would seem the reason these drinks rose in popularity is the effect they have on humans. Alcohol and caffeine, whose effects were misunderstood for millennia, were mystical magical ingredients that drew in the priestly or ruling classes and eventually trickled down to the masses as they became cheaper and easier to distribute.

Interesting things I learned:

• Coca-cola's influence spread during WWII when the followed the troops overseas setting up bottling plants so every American troop could have a cold drink. After the war, they had operations on every continent (cept Antarctica) and the drink became synonymous with America and democracy.
• Beer and bread are very similar. One is baked and one is drank. Both became more prevalent with the move away from hunter gatherer to an agrarian lifestyle and the beginnings of communal civilization.
• The Greeks and Romans diluted wine with water because drinking pure wine could kill a man.
  
• Women were not allowed in industrial revolution era British coffee houses. But they were allowed in tea houses. Tea was so expensive, upper class ladies would not send servants to get it. They would go themselves with a small box with a lock on the front which would stop anyone in the household from stealing.

I enjoy reading these types of historical books. Too much of history is looked at through the lens of people and dates and not enough about needs and causes. So many wars have been fought over resources. From basic needs like water access to luxury goods. like tea or gold. I find it interesting, and maybe a little more accessible when the lens shifts to a theme I know.
With that in mind, I would also recommend a book called Salt by Mark Kurlansky. You guessed it, a history of the world in terms of salt. Fascinating stuff.