ReWork by Jason Fried
The authors of ReWork run a small, software development company based in Chicago. Their meager staff of 16 is global, however. The book is about focusing on core competency and focusing on what you do best. They believe in targeted products with limited functionality -- the kitchen sink approach leads to escalating costs with little pay-off. This philosophy is applied to all other aspects of business too -- from hiring people of certain skill sets and ability, to marketing and PR functions.
The authors also caution against over-expansion, particularly in the manner of increasing capacity to serve a single customer. Loss of that customer could result in rapid downsizing, and an anything that jeopardizing serving other existing customers attracted by your product and service could prove disastrous. Knowing when to let a customer go, in their opinion, is as important as attracting a new customer.
ReWork contains sound advice for small companies that can succeed with a tight focus. Avoiding the growth of a corporate bureaucracy can help keep small (and perhaps mid-sized) companies more nimble and adaptable. By design, it prevents growth into large companies, however. It is sound advice for the many businesses that will never rise above small business, however. This is not an MBA-level business analysis, it's short and easily comprehended by those who might desire some business advice but lack a formal business background (but have salable business ideas or skills).
Distance Cycling by John Hughes and Dan Kehlenbach
Distance Cycling is a beginner's guide for cyclists who want to move beyond neighborhood rides to the realm of centuries, doubles, tours and brevets. With complete training outlines for each type of endurance goal, the authors do a complete, if sometimes repetitive, job. Anecdotal sidebars from from accomplished mix things up a bit and help keep the book interesting.
Distance Cycling is more of a reference book to have on the shelf than a cover-to-cover read. I think it might have worked a little better with some reorganization. Beginning with the goal of a century ride (as the book does) probably will captivate and satisfy the majority of readers. While it's nice to know a little about the longer rides, beginning distance cyclists (the target of this book) likely won't look so far so soon. Important information on equipment and injury prevention is relegated to the last few chapters, when a rider struggling to ramp up his workout pace has already looked glassy-eyed at the chapters on double-centuries, tours and brevets.
As far as the advice goes, it's solid enough. I remember when I took up distance cycling; I had to work out much of nutrition, hydration, clothing, and training on my own. Eventually, I more or less fell in line with the authors' advice in this book. But then, after doing it for years, it now seems rather unnecessary. I can (and have) ramped up to a century with just a few weeks of training. I don't even recall the last time I thought about nutrition -- maybe because my body already stores more than an ample supply of calories (oops!) I've never had the opportunity to go beyond a 200k distance event...I've always wanted to try touring, and it seems to me that, just like in those early days of training for my first century, it would be successful if I paid attention to detail. Like the details found in this book.