Summer Reading List - continued

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my number one recommended summer reading book – Groundswell, by Josh Bernoff and Charlene Li, should be the first book you read this summer if you are interested in the collaboration space.  It’s about as current as it gets.  However, if you are interested in a really good foundation for understanding knowledge management, here are some other great books you should consider for your summer book bag.

Working Knowledge by Tom Davenport and Larry Prusak.  First published in 1998, it’s now a classic but very much worth reading.  It's even available in paperpack.  A friend of mine teaches a KM class and this is one of his textbooks.

If Only We Knew What We Know by Carla O’Dell and C. Jackson Grayson, Jr.  Also a 1998 book, but a very well-written classic.  Carla and Jack write about some of the first companies to embrace KM and describe case studies that are still interesting and relevant.  (At my check today, this book is available for less than $3.00 in the Amazon marketplace.)

Cultivating Communities of Practice by Etienne Wenger, Richard McDermott, and William Snyder.  I got interviewed a couple of times while Etienne, Richard, and Bill were writing this book so I’m not even the least bit objective about the book!  If your organization has an interest in developing, sustaining, or measuring communities, this book is a must read.

The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell.  Though not specifically about knowledge management, there are so many useful insights for KM in this book that if you haven’t read it, you need to.  (This book is also available in paperback form and it's such a quick read that you really could take this on your summer vacation and it wouldn't feel like you were reading a "work book"!)

The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman.  This book by Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times journalist Tom Friedman probably puts for the best reasons for ensuring that your organization is prepared for the global economy than any other on the market.  Though I don’t think Mr. Friedman thought he was writing a book about knowledge management, this book is all about knowledge management and defines successful enterprises as those that are best prepared with the infrastructure, education, and governance to make the most of the increasingly global economy.  This book has been updated and expanded since its original printing so even if you've already read it, you might want to pick up the 3.0 version.  (It's available for the Amazon Kindle if that helps anyone.)

Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything by Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams.  This interesting book presents a series of examples that show how smart companies can leverage collaboration for innovation, growth, and success.  (This book is also available for the Kindle.)