Reviews by Beth Wallace and Alexandra Johnson

Rewire Your Brain 2.0: Five Healthy Factors to a Better LifeBy John B Arden (Jossey-Bass, 2023), ebook and audiobook. Run time: 8 hrs 50 mins

Lifestyle factors such as a balanced diet, regular exercise and quality sleep are known to be conducive to physical wellbeing. Perhaps less well known is the impact these and other practices have on brain health.

In Rewire Your Brain 2.0, psychologist John Arden explores the latest research from neuroscience, psychology, biology and genetics to demonstrate how our minds, bodies and lifestyles interact.

He highlights the practices encoded in the mnemonic SEEDS – social, exercise, education, diet and sleep – explaining how healthy and unhealthy choices in each category affect peoples’ emotional stability, cognitive function and resilience. It is alarming to note the recent escalation of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), among other disorders, brought on by the western lifestyle of an unhealthy diet, little-to-no exercise and obesity. Hand in hand with this shift comes the spread of diseases such as type-2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s.

Case studies of the author’s clients are illuminating. They illustrate, for example, how changing certain habits or behaviours can rewire the brain to overcome obstacles, such as a fear of public speaking, mild depression or anxiety, poor memory, negative thought patterns or low energy.

One of the book’s key messages is that we are not stuck with the brain we are born with. The emerging science of epigenetics tells us that genes can be turned on and off with self-care and positive change. To that end, Arden suggests easy-to-execute exercises that can help you regain your health and, in turn, transform how to think and feel for the better.

Be Your Own Leadership Coach: Self-Coaching Strategies to Lead Your WBy Karen Stein (Major Street Publishing, 2023), ebook

Coaches can have a profound effect on leaders, supporting them to unlock their potential and maximise performance. Yet not all leaders, or aspiring leaders, have access to a coach; even when they do, coaches aren’t typically available on call to help you deal with challenging situations as they arise.

This book therefore aims to equip leaders with the skills, behaviours, emotions and thoughts they need to self-coach. Author and executive coach Karen Stein presents 12 practices that leaders can add to their virtual backpack. Seven practices focus on leading oneself, with some outlining how to manage your time and energy, for example, or setting meaningful goals. The remaining five practices are geared towards leading others, by building skills such as communication, listening and delegation.

Drawing on evidence-based positive psychology, as well as her leadership and coaching experience, Stein encourages readers to become true leaders, rather than just ‘doing’ leadership. In large part, this stems from building self-awareness; learning to pay attention to the impact they are having, both on themselves and others, and using this knowledge to make better choices. Her advice is simple, and includes step-by-step instructions for implementing new habits.

Emphasis is placed throughout the book on learning to lead your way, grounded by your personal values and purpose – an approach that empowers leaders to focus on what they actually want to achieve. This cultivates motivation, effectiveness and satisfaction, and ultimately fosters a professional life that is more meaningful, enjoyable and sustainable.

The Problem of 12: When a Few Financial Institutions Control EverythingBy John Coates (Columbia Global Reports, 2023), ebook

Two types of financial institutions that emerged in the second half of the 20th century – index funds and private equity funds – have massively increased in scale and influence over the past few decades in the US. John Coates, professor of law and economics at Harvard Law School, argues that they are changing the nature of capitalism, by giving enormous economic and political power to a handful of players.

In The Problem of 12, he reveals that the big three index funds (Vanguard, State Street and BlackRock) control more than 20% of the votes of the Standard and Poor’s (S&P) 500 – a much greater share of US public companies than any three single investors have ever previously held.

Meanwhile, their private equity counterparts, including Apollo, Blackstone, Carlyle and KKR, hold assets totalling US$2.7 trillion. This is concerning, given that private equity funds are exempt from all but ‘light touch’ regulation.

Coates offers fascinating insights into the rise of both kinds of funds: the factors that contributed to their growth, how they have evolved over time and examples of their political strength.

Despite the book’s title, Coates suggests these funds are not problems to be solved, but rather that they need to be managed. He calls for greater disclosure and public consultation in order to reduce the risks these institutions pose, without losing the economic benefits they create.

---

Also recommended

How to Build a Business Others Will Want to Buy

By Kobi Simmat (Wiley, 2023), ebook

Kobi Simmat offers a five-step process that starts with an idea and ends with a profitable and sustainable brand. He shares templates, tips and actionable insights to create systems for success, develop a scalable sales pipeline and recurring streams of revenue, attract partnerships, and more.

Excel for Finance and Accounting: Learn How to Optimize Excel Formulas and Functions for Financial Analysis

By Suraj Kumar Lohani (BPB Publications, 2023), ebook

This ebook describes basic to advanced Excel functions to perform data manipulation, financial modelling and scenario analysis. It includes practical tips to create professional charts, reports and tables, and explains how to automate repetitive tasks.

The Power of Saying No: The New Science of How to Say No That Puts You in Charge of Your Life

By Vanessa Patrick (Sourcebooks, 2023), ebook and audiobook. Run time: 8 hrs 57 mins

Do you struggle to say no and find yourself overwhelmed with work? Vanessa Patrick provides strategies of empowered refusal and ways of saying no that don’t invite pushback. Find out how to deal with difficult askers, and manage your energy and ambition.

The Manager’s Handbook: Five Simple Steps to Build a Team, Stay Focused, Make Better Decisions, and Crush Your Competition

By David Dodson (Wiley, 2023), ebook and audiobook. Run time: 8 hrs 2 mins

Get things done and improve your ability to lead people with this practical guide to people management, including tips and tactics for hiring, onboarding, performance feedback, and improving the performance of underachievers.

---

Listen

The Anxious Achiever: Turn Your Biggest Fears Into Your Leadership Superpower

By Morra Aarons-Mele (Harvard Business Review Press, 2023), audiobook. Run time: 8 hrs 59 mins

With personal stories, research insights and practical advice, this audiobook describes how to resist perfectionism, manage social anxiety, and turn stress into a source of strength and leadership.

---

Watch

How to Take the BS Out of Business Speak

By Bob Wiltfong, TED Talks, 2022. Run time: 18 mins

Comedian and journalist Bob Wiltfong looks into the world of corporate jargon, revealing some of the origins of business speak and arguing that people just need to speak clearly to connect with, and understand each other.

---

CA Library

A wealth of information in a single location.

Did you know the CA Library offers services and on-demand resources to members at no charge?

The titles featured here are available to download directly from the library catalogue, along with a comprehensive collection of technical and soft-skill ebooks, audiobooks, articles and online resources.

Members can also access the online database which includes The Australian Financial Review and The Harvard Business Review.

The CA Library’s resources can help you meet your non-verifiable continuing professional development (CPD) hours.

Need help finding information? To take advantage of the free research service, simply get in touch with the library team with your query. 

EMAIL: [email protected]
VISIT: library.charteredaccountantsanz.com

---