One of the more regular questions I’m getting this spring is “What are you reading?” After my response, it becomes clear that the questioner is not looking for entertainment, but rather seeks insight useful for dealing with the novel coronavirus crisis. Initially, I recoil from responding since the crisis…
Former President Harry S. Truman said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” I cited this in an earlier blog post to argue that reading broadly and deeply is fundamental to making a good difference in the world. One should aim for a ‘T-shaped’ mind, in…
From the 61 books I have read so far this year, I have culled ten, warranting your careful consideration for holiday gifts or your own reading ambitions in 2019. For years, I have encouraged business people to devote more time to reading a diverse range of books and periodicals (see…
[Note: this post offers commentary of some of the notable books listed in my just-previous post. The comments here are an enlarged version of my article, “Crash Course,” that originally appeared in The Weekly Standard, November 18, 2018. This enlargement covers more books and extends my comments. I prepared…
This year, 2018, marks the tenth anniversary of the epicenter of the financial crisis of 2008. The crisis is not something to celebrate, only remember soberly. Memories are short. The crisis was devastating. Moreover, crises will recur: we cannot prevent, only mitigate. Therefore, we should take this opportunity to reflect…
My annual exhortation to students, friends, and family to read more started out as a bit of advice and has turned into a longer project than I had imagined (see 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016). Each December, people nudge me with “Where’s this year’s list?” So…
Recently, the Darden teaching faculty gathered for a session in another of our series on teaching excellence—this one was led by colleagues Greg Fairchild and Jeanne Liedtka. They presented on the topic of “experiential learning,” which was both relevant and timely in view of the pressures from stakeholders of…
Recently, the Darden teaching faculty gathered for one of our periodic seminars on case discussion leadership. Colleagues Jim Freeland and Mike Lenox focused our thinking on how to deal with slumps in student energy. At about this time in the calendar year, many instructors experience a flatness among formerly energetic…
A week ago, Darden’s teaching faculty gathered for a seminar on “Engaging the Students.” Students come to Darden (and most schools) with the expectation of engaging with the faculty. Such an expectation is possibly higher at Darden because “community” is a key pillar of our culture. We aim to…
“Well begun is half done,” says the English proverb. The opening day of a course can create a first impression about a teacher and course that can help (or hinder) the rest of the sessions. To what should the new or seasoned instructor pay attention as one kicks off the…
