Giving Back: Connecting You, Business, and Community by Bert Berkley and Peter Economy (John Wiley & Sons, 2008).  I like this book. A lot. Giving Back is a book about how businesspeople can give back to their communities, and it uses the case studies of a number of highly successful businesspeople -- each of whom is making a major difference in their communities, and in the world around them -- to illustrate our points. The key premise of Giving Back is that you don't have to be a Warren Buffett or a Bill Gates to change the world. My coauthor Bert Berkley and I interviewed some amazing people when we were researching this book, including Gary Hirshberg at Stonyfield Farm, Linda Mason at Bright Horizons, Matt Flannery at Kiva.org, S. Truett Cathy at Chick-fil-A, Oz Nelson at UPS, and many others. This book is so inspiring that it motivated me to create my Free Book Project!

The Complete MBA For Dummies 2nd Edition by Kathleen Allen Ph.D. and Peter Economy (John Wiley & Sons, 2008).  In this significantly revised and updated version of our original 2000 book, coauthor and USC professor Kathleen Allen and I have managed to do the impossible -- squeezing the entire contents of a two-year MBA (Masters of Business Administration) program into a mere 400 pages.  How did we do it?  We used very small print!  While we don't include a magnifying glass with each copy, we have made sure that The Complete MBA For Dummies is an incredibly comprehensive work, chock full of the very latest business thoughts and techniques.  And, not only have we covered the most important MBA topics -- accounting, finance, marketing, management, economics, strategic planning, and all the rest -- we have done so in a fun and unintimidating way.  Want to save $40,000?  Then skip going to business school and instead buy this book!

Supervision: Managing to Achieve Results by Bob Nelson, Peter Economy, Kerry Sommerville, and Laura Town (John Wiley & Sons, 2007).  As the description on Amazon.com so eloquently puts it: "Gaining the right managerial skills will help launch a career in a field that is in high demand and short supply. With this book, readers will acquire the knowledge and tools to manage employees as well as to deal with the increasingly complex changes that occur in the business world. One of the important areas covered is how to handle office politics and ethical questions. Mastering this section will open up new doors to upper management positions." This book is all that -- and more. 

Balanced Scorecard Strategy For Dummies by Charles Hannabarger, Rick Buchman, and Peter Economy (John Wiley & Sons, 2007).  I'm starting to lose track, but I think this is my 10th or 11th ...For Dummies book, including 2nd editions. As the back of the book so succinctly puts it, "Find success by focusing on four critical areas to bring your business into balance. Set and achieve goals consistently by using and applying balanced scorecards that work. This hands-on guide shows you how to pay attention to more than just your bottom line, revealing how to balance goals you set for your customer needs, company growth and education, finances, and productivity." Hmmm...I don't think I could have said it any better than that.

Ivan "Ironman" Stewart's Ultimate Off-Road Adventure Guide by Ivan Stewart with Peter Economy (Motorbooks, 2007).  Ivan "Ironman" Stewart is the winningest off-road racer ever, with 84 career victories and 10 driver's championships, including 17 Baja 500 wins, eight Mint 400s, four Parker 400s, three Baja 1000s, and four SCORE World Championships. In this book, Ivan and I describe exactly what you need to know to make your own off-road adventures -- safely and easily. Included are such topics as getting prepared for your off-road adventure, off-road do's and don'ts, the Off-Road Adventurer's Code, driving tips for a variety of off-road conditions including mud, snow, rocks, hills, water hazards, and more, and Ivan's personal guide to the very best off-road adventure destinations. Ivan is an amazing guy, and this book was a blast to write! Some of the craziest things happen out in the middle of nowhere and Ivan tells a bunch of his best (and funniest) stories for the first time anywhere in print. Be sure to click on the video below to check out Ivan's interview on the Haunted Saloon!

The SAIC Solution: How We Built an $8 Billion Employee-Owned Technology Company by Dr. J. Robert Beyster and Peter Economy (John Wiley & Sons, 2007).  Can an employee-owned company actually succeed? Here’s how one thrived and made significant national achievements. In 1969, Dr. J. Robert Beyster founded the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) with a unique vision of an employee-owned organization run according to key principles that encourage entrepreneurship and accountability. Today, SAIC has grown from a handful of staff to over 43,000 employees–most of whom hold company equity–and more than $7 billion in annual revenue, steadily rising stock price, and top rankings in government and business. In this book, Dr. Beyster and I tell the story of SAIC, and offers valuable lessons on how to build a company in which loyalty to values goes hand in hand with success.

Entrepreneurs at the Crossroads: Success Stories from the Middle East and North Africa (Beyster Institute, 2006).  This year I had the honor to work on an important book for the Beyster Institute at the Rady School, UC San Diego. In preparation for writing this book, I interviewed 11 entrepreneurs in the Middle East and North Africa, and then created stories describing their often challenging -- but, ultimately, very rewarding -- paths to success. Their stories are remarkable. Not only did these men and women have have to deal with all of the "normal" issues that confound most entrepreneurs -- such as lack of financing or finding good people to help build the business -- but they had to persevere in the face of extraordinary challenges including civil war, stifling bureaucracy, and capital markets stuck in the Middle Ages. It is our sincere hope that this book will inspire many people in the Middle East and North Africa to start their own businesses and build safe and secure futures for themselves, their families and communities, and their nations.

Writing Children's Books For Dummies by Lisa Rojany Buccieri and Peter Economy (John Wiley & Sons, 2005).  If you're a parent -- or even if you're not -- chances are that you've thought about writing a children's book. You may have even taken time to jot down a story or two. Now what? Fortunately, the answer to that question -- and many more -- is readily available in Writing Children's Books For Dummies. In this book, Lisa Rojany Buccieri and I cover the ABCs of writing a children's book and getting it published. From understanding genres, to choosing a story idea, to sketching out a plot, to getting your book illustrated, to pitching it to a publisher, to selling and promoting it. Chock-full of interviews with successful children's book authors and industry insiders, this is the best and most up-to-date book on the topic, bar none. 

The Management Bible by Bob Nelson and Peter Economy (John Wiley & Sons, 2005).  Everything you'd ever want to know about the art and science of management -- from A to Z -- and much more. This book contains the very latest and most progressive management thinking and techniques, questions and answers, and interviews with management thought leaders, and it presents them in an easy-to-use format that you'll be able to apply on the job immediately. As the press release says, "...this is the ultimate resource for managers at any level, in any industry ." We're not going to argue with that.

Building Your Own Home For Dummies by Kevin Daum, Janice Brewster, and Peter Economy (John Wiley & Sons, 2005). Have you ever caught yourself dreaming about building a log home up in the mountains, or thinking how nice it would be to move into a custom home that is designed to your exact desires and specifications? In Building Your Own Home For Dummies, Kevin Daum, Janice Brewster, and I show you how you can turn these dreams into reality -- without going broke (or insane or worse) in the process. If you're planning to build a custom home -- or if you're even thinking about it -- then be sure that this book is the first thing you buy!

Home-Based Business For Dummies 2nd Edition by Paul & Sarah Edwards and Peter Economy (John Wiley & Sons, 2005). An update of the definitive book on starting your own home-based business by America's Self-Employment Experts (and home-based business owners) Paul & Sarah Edwards and yours truly (also a card-carrying home-based business kind of guy!). Without a doubt, the ultimate book on the topic of starting, maintaining, and growing your very own home-based business.  And, if that weren't already enough, we've done it in an extremely helpful and entertaining way!  One thing is for sure: if you're thinking about starting your own home-based business, you've come to the right place!

Менеджмент для "чайников" by Боб Нельсон и Питер Экономи (Dialektika). Мир менеджмента может показаться сложным, запутанным и даже пугающим. Но все страхи полностью развенчивают Боб Нельсон и Питер Экономи, авторы книги Менеджмент для "чайников". Они уверены: о сложных вещах можно и нужно говорить понятным и доступным языком, а главное — с юмором. В легкой и непринужденной форме эта книга раскроет перед вами секреты эффективного управления людьми. Авторы уверены, что успех любой компании и ее сотрудников начинается именно с менеджера. Читатель узнает как правильно делегировать полномочия, устанавливать цели, поощрять и дисциплинировать сотрудников, а также набирать новых. Авторы не забыли также коснуться сложных вопросов этики и офисной политики, формирования команд, оценки и мониторинга работы персонала.

Библия менеджмента by Боб Нельсон и Питер Экономи  (Dialektika). В книге "Библия менеджмента" в простой и доступной форме раскрываются все практические вопросы управления (менеджмента), с которыми сталкивается каждый менеджер, а также предлагаются ценные советы и рекомендации по повышению своей эффективности. В современном стремительно развивающемся мире бизнеса менеджеры ежедневно сталкиваются с проблемами, которые ставят их в тупик. Обычной профессиональной подготовки оказывается недостаточно, чтобы ответить на все вопросы и преодолеть многочисленные трудности. Поэтому и была написана "Библия менеджмента". Книга "Библия менеджмента" будет прекрасным подспорьем менеджеру любого звена, который хочет стать незаменимым и в чем-то даже легендарным руководителем в своей компании.

Lessons from the Edge: Survival Skills for Starting and Growing a Company by Jana Matthews and Jeff Dennis with Peter Economy (Oxford University Press, 2003).  This book can be summed up in one word: WOW!  Lessons from the Edge is an incredibly inspiring book, overflowing with amazing stories of entrepreneurs who first found great success, then experienced great failure, then (in most cases) bounced back again.  I personally interviewed more than 100 entrepreneurs from around the globe for this book, and I was blown away by their heartfelt stories of business disaster, perseverance, and success.  From business partners who went insane, to employees who embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars, to the 9/11 tragedy, and much, much more, the lessons contained in this book from the School of Hard Knocks are infinitely more valuable than any business school class.

Why Aren't You Your Own Boss?: Leaping over the Obstacles that Stand Between You and Your Dream by Paul & Sarah Edwards and Peter Economy (Prima, 2003).  Every year, something like 7 million American adults decide to start their own businesses.  However, out of that group of 7 million people, only about one in ten actually follows through and gets their business off the ground.  Why so few, when clearly so many have the desire to become their own bosses?  In this book, we address the key reasons that often keep people from making the jump into self-employment, providing numerous examples of individuals who have found ways to get past these barriers and start their own successful businesses.  Don't dream it -- be it!

Managing For Dummies, 2nd Edition by Bob Nelson and Peter Economy (John Wiley & Sons, 2003).  What can you say about a book that has sold more than 400,000 copies worldwide, and that has been translated into more than 17 different languages (including Lithuanian, Bulgarian, and Dutch)?  Uff da! The second edition of this business best seller has been extensively updated -- adding major new material on ethics (good timing, eh?), managing virtual employees, balancing work and personal time, and getting the most out of technology.  Beat the rush -- buy one now!

Raising Capital For Dummies by Joseph Bartlett and Peter Economy (John Wiley & Sons, 2002).  Only a couple of years ago, anyone with a half-baked business plan and a snappy Web site address could attract tens of millions of dollars of venture capital at the drop of the hat.  No more.  The capital markets have dried up for businesses of all shapes and sizes, and its harder than ever to find the cash to start, run, and grow a business.  Venture capital expert Joe Bartlett and I wrote this book to provide readers with the very best and the most current advice and tips on finding the cash they need -- often in places they may not have thought to look.  From doing a Rolodex round (borrowing money from friends and family) to angel investors to venture capital to the SBA -- and much, much more -- it's all here.

Strategic Tools for Social Entrepreneurs: Enhancing the Performance of Your Enterprising Nonprofit by Greg Dees, Jed Emerson and Peter Economy (John Wiley & Sons, 2002).  Strategic Tools for Social Entrepreneurs is a toolkit for nonprofit organizations on developing real-world strategies for value creation, income generation, and growth. Chapters contain "Action Steps" that put concepts to work immediately; icons identifying key concepts, buzzwords, and pearls of wisdom; and end-of-chapter concept checks. With contributions from some of today's best and brightest social entrepreneurs, including James L. Heskett, Jerry Kitzi, Shirley Brice Heath, Fay Twersky, Melissa Taylor, Kay Sprinkel Grace, and Steve Roling -- and profiles of successful enterprising nonprofits -- the book is easily the most comprehensive work of its kind.

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