First impressions are everything. They dictate whether something stands out, how we engage with it, whether we buy it, and how strongly we feel. In Judge This, the reader travels through a day in the life of renowned designer Chip Kidd as he takes in first impressions of all kinds. We follow this visual journey with Kidd as he encounters and engages with everyday design, breaking down the good, the bad, the absurd and the brilliant as only a designer can. From the design of the paper you read in the morning to the subway ticket machine to the books you browse to the smartphone you use to the packaging for the chocolate bar you buy as an afternoon treat, Kidd will reveal the hidden secrets behind each of the design choices, with a healthy dose of humour, expertise and judgment

Thinkers50 Management Thinker of 2015 Whitney Johnson wants you to consider this simple, yet powerful, idea: disruptive companies and ideas upend markets by doing something truly different--they see a need, an empty space waiting to be filled, and they dare to create something for which a market may not yet exist. As president and cofounder of Rose Park Advisors' Disruptive Innovation Fund with Clayton Christensen, Johnson used the theory of disruptive innovation to invest in publicly traded stocks and private early-stage companies. In Disrupt Yourself, she helps you understand how the frameworks of disruptive innovation can apply to your particular path, whether you are: a self-starter ready to make a disruptive pivot in your business a high-potential individual charting your career trajectory a manager looking to instill innovative thinking amongst your team a leader facing industry changes that make for an uncertain future We are living in an era of accelerating disruption; no one is immune. Johnson makes the compelling case that managing the S-curve waves of learning and mastery is a requisite skill for the future. If you want to be successful in unexpected ways, follow your own disruptive path. Dare to innovate. Do something astonishing. Disrupt yourself.

Humans have a natural instinct to help others. Imagine walking up to a stranger on the subway and asking them for their seat. What about asking a random person on the street if you could borrow their phone? If the idea makes you squeamish, you're not alone--social psychologists have found that doing these very things makes most of us almost unbearably uncomfortable. But here's the funny thing: even though we hate to ask for help, most people are wired to be helpful. And that's a good thing, because every day in the modern, uber-collaborative workplace, we all need to know when and how to call in the cavalry. However, asking people for help isn't intuitive; in fact, a lot of our instincts are wrong. As a result, we do a poor job of calling in the reinforcements we need, leaving confused or even offended colleagues in our wake. This pragmatic book explains how to get it right. With humor, insight, and engaging storytelling, Heidi Grant, PhD, describes how to elicit helpful behavior from your friends, family, and colleagues--in a way that leaves them feeling genuinely happy to lend a hand. Whether you're a first-time manager or a seasoned leader, getting people to pitch in is what leadership is. Fortunately, people have a natural instinct to help other human beings; you just need to know how to channel this urge into what it is you specifically need them to do. It's not manipulation. It's just management.

"This valuable guide made an immediately favorable impression on me--I recommend it." --Letitia Baldridge Business communications expert Mary Mitchell gives business people and job seekers everything they need to make the right first impression, whether in person--at job interviews, sales calls, or social gatherings--or via letter, fax, or e-mail. Based on Mitchell's popular corporate seminars which have been attended by employees of Arthur Young, Ritz Carlton Hotels, Merck, and other top firms, The First Five Minutes. Gives practical tips on cultural customs, body language, and cross-dressing customs. * Uses realistic scenarios and sample dialogues to show readers what to do and what not to do in every type of first-meeting business situation. * Explains and simplifies the new and changing rules of conduct in today's global business environment. MARY MITCHELL (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is President of Uncommon Courtesies, a firm specializing in teaching business people better communication and relationships through improved social skills. She writes a syndicated column called "Ms. Demeanor" for King features, is the Prodigy online modern manners expert, and is the author of The Idiot's Guide to Etiquette. JOHN CORR (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a writer with the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The scientific story of first impressions—and why the snap character judgments we make from faces are irresistible but usually incorrect We make up our minds about others after seeing their faces for a fraction of a second—and these snap judgments predict all kinds of important decisions. For example, politicians who simply look more competent are more likely to win elections. Yet the character judgments we make from faces are as inaccurate as they are irresistible; in most situations, we would guess more accurately if we ignored faces. So why do we put so much stock in these widely shared impressions? What is their purpose if they are completely unreliable? In this book, Alexander Todorov, one of the world's leading researchers on the subject, answers these questions as he tells the story of the modern science of first impressions. Drawing on psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, computer science, and other fields, this accessible and richly illustrated book describes cutting-edge research and puts it in the context of the history of efforts to read personality from faces. Todorov describes how we have evolved the ability to read basic social signals and momentary emotional states from faces, using a network of brain regions dedicated to the processing of faces. Yet contrary to the nineteenth-century pseudoscience of physiognomy and even some of today's psychologists, faces don't provide us a map to the personalities of others. Rather, the impressions we draw from faces reveal a map of our own biases and stereotypes. A fascinating scientific account of first impressions, Face Value explains why we pay so much attention to faces, why they lead us astray, and what our judgments actually tell us.

Author and former literary agent Nathan Bransford shares his secrets for creating killer plots, fleshing out your first ideas, crafting compelling characters, and staying sane in the process. Read the guide that New York Times bestselling author Ransom Riggs called "The best how-to-write-a-novel book I've read."

It's not just who you are—it's what you do. Are you at the top of your game—or still trying to get there? Take your cues from the short, powerful 9 Things Successful People Do Differently, where the strategies and goals of the world’s most successful people are on display—backed by research that shows exactly what has the biggest impact on performance. Here’s a hint: accomplished people reach their goals because of what they do, not just who they are. Readers have called this “a gem of a book.” Get ready to accomplish your goals at last.

India is booming! This practical, easy-to-understand guide covers all the basics of setting up and growing your business in India, from choosing a location and selecting your Indian team to understanding the legal system, evaluating business partners, and settling disputes. You also get handy tips in financing, marketing, and manufacturing, as well as doing business from abroad. Develop a strong business plan Train and manage your Indian team Cut through bureaucratic red tape Build lucrative relationships Overcome communication challenges

"'Connect Instantly' is about breaking though the ice with anyone and setting the stage for friendships and relationships where there doesn't appear to be anything in common. The first 60 seconds makes or breaks you and is the inspection you must always pass. You'll learn what people are really judging and evaluating you on when you first meet them, and what makes them feel comfortable in the way they do with old friends. Create a bulletproof first impression and make the friends you want."--Page 4 of cover.