Social Communication Skills The Pragmatic Checklist: Fill & Download for Free

David is mostly correct, in that it is more likely to be labeled as “Social/Pragmatic communication Disorder” which is new to the DSM but has been a diagnosis under Speech-Language Pathology (SLPs) for decades. Part one of the diagnosis for autism is that you have a social communication disorder. Previously anyone with autism was most like being treated for either a Pragmatic Communication Disorder or the more complex Nonverbal Language Disorder by an SLP. Many psychologists would assume that if someone had a social or pragmatic communication disorder… it was autism. Social Communication Disorder was added to the DSM so that Psychologists/Psychiatrists would not diagnose autism for a pragmatic language disorder. In the past nonverbal “idiosyncracies” like lack of eye contact, misunderstanding jokes/sarcasm or monotone speech would be characterized as “stereotypical behaviors” by psychologists. These were the people who we often hear are “cured of autism” via therapy.However, Part two of the definition is more than just “need for routines and special interests”. So you could still have autism. My son has HFA and finds strict routines frustrating. He also has a “normal” special interest in Pokeman and video games. He did have problems with changes in routine but that is minimal now at 17. About the only “stereotypical” things he does now (publicly anyway) is pacing and putting odd things like metal and plastic in his mouth to chew (once had to rescue baby Jesus from the Nativity scene out of his mouth). He also has some leftover sensory issues, like a high pain tolerance, sensitivity to certain fabrics, heavy bass, and bright/flashing lights, and ambivalence to temperature. However, he does not have the excessive adverse reactions (meltdowns) to sensory input that most people associate with autism.Individuals who have marked deficits in social communication, but whose symptoms do not otherwise meet criteria for autism spectrum disorder, should be evaluated for social (pragmatic) communication disorder. This is the reason why a “good diagnosis” for autism is multidisciplinary and involves a team of medical professionals that may include audiologists, SLPs, psychologists, neurologists, and developmental pediatricians to ensure that it is, in fact, a “Spectrum disorder” and not just a behavioral, neurological, developmental or communication disorder.Social Communication Disorder [1][1][1][1]is an umbrella term for part 1 of the ASD diagnosis.Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as manifested by the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive; see text):Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, ranging, for example, from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or effect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions.Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, ranging, for example, from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities in eye contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use of gestures; to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication.Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understand relationships, ranging, for example, from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in making friends; to absence of interest in peers.It is characterized by difficulties with the use of verbal and nonverbal language for social purposes. They may have trouble reading facial cues and body language. They will often appear inappropriate or “dense” in social interactions because they only get what the person says and not what they do. They also tend to approach language “literally”. As a result, they will miss sarcasm or nonverbal communication (which is 90% of communication!)They miss the social patterns that other kids pick up automatically, but this is the one area where therapy is most effective. When people say someone “doesn’t seem autistic” it is usually because they have learned social communication skills in therapy.Nonverbal Communication (NVLD) Disorder[2][2][2][2]: This is a more complex (specialized) social communication diagnosis which is not yet in the ICD-10, though used a lot in SLP therapy. A deficit across several of the following areas:Social/Pragmatic Communication: Most kids with non-verbal learning disorders have a pragmatic language deficit and will meet the Pragmatic Communication disorder definition.Higher-Order Comprehension: Deficits/extreme difficulty in summarizing and comprehending written or oral language. Unable to identify the main idea in something, the details that support the main idea, and the relationships among them. This affects kids’ ability to generalize, summarize or comprehend what they read, see or experience. You will notice they have a hard time telling stories, finding the moral of a story or movie, generalizing stories and taking notes “in their own words”Visual and spatial awareness: Profound difficulties in visual imagery and evaluating visual-spatial information. This will usually appear as a lack of coordination and poor drawing skills as they don’t accurately “see” complex or 3-dimensional objects.Math Concepts: These kids will usually excel at “math facts” but struggle with word problems and learning “new math” concepts. They will struggle to solve more advanced mathematical problems (particularly geometry proofs and “solve for the missing information first” problems) that are based on recognizing concepts and patterns. Even with a problem they’ve seen before if it’s approached differently or modified slightly, they have trouble recognizing it.Executive Functions: Deficits in the ability to organize thoughts, plan and carry out actions, and figure out how to solve problems. They have weaknesses in organizing, planning, and even self-discipline. For instance, they struggle with breaking down a project into smaller pieces or conceiving steps that need to be taken to get something done. These kids usually need someone else to mentor them through projects with checklists. This is a very common deficit across most behavioral disorders and Traumatic frontal lobe brain injuries and is usually associated with (and misdiagnosed as) ADD and intellectual disorders in children. It is actually the reason why most people with autism and ADD “need” routines… they don’t know how to accomplish things unless broken down into smaller steps.Diagnostic Criteria for 299.00 Autism Spectrum Disorder[3][3][3][3]Meet the definition of a social communication Disorder ANDRestricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, as manifested by at least two of the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive; see text):Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech (e.g., simple motor stereotypes, lining up toys or flipping objects, echolalia, idiosyncratic phrases).Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, or ritualized patterns of verbal or nonverbal behavior (e.g., extreme distress at small changes, difficulties with transitions, rigid thinking patterns, greeting rituals, need to take same route or eat same food every day).Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus (e.g., strong attachment to or preoccupation with unusual objects, excessively circumscribed or perseverative interests).Hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment (e.g. apparent indifference to pain/temperature, adverse response to specific sounds or textures, excessive smelling or touching of objects, visual fascination with lights or movement).These symptoms must be present in the early developmental period (but may not become fully manifest until social demands exceed limited capacities, or may be masked by learned strategies in later life).These disturbances are not better explained by intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder) or global developmental delay. Intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder frequently co-occur; to make comorbid diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, social communication should be below that expected for general developmental level.Here[4][4][4][4] is a nice Powerpoint presentation about understanding the differences in diagnosis and treatment between NVLD, HFA, and AS. The distinction is usually only made by SLPs as most psychologists just are not trained in diagnosing between the types of communication disorders, only recognizing if there is one.Footnotes[1] Social Communication Disorder[1] Social Communication Disorder[1] Social Communication Disorder[1] Social Communication Disorder[2] Nonverbal Learning Disability[2] Nonverbal Learning Disability[2] Nonverbal Learning Disability[2] Nonverbal Learning Disability[3] https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/hcp-dsm.html.[3] https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/hcp-dsm.html.[3] https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/hcp-dsm.html.[3] https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/hcp-dsm.html.[4] https://www.asha.org/Events/convention/handouts/2009/1573_Veale_Tina/[4] https://www.asha.org/Events/convention/handouts/2009/1573_Veale_Tina/[4] https://www.asha.org/Events/convention/handouts/2009/1573_Veale_Tina/[4] https://www.asha.org/Events/convention/handouts/2009/1573_Veale_Tina/

Speech Therapist/Speech Language Pathologist are the professionals trained for the assessment and treatment of all kinds of communication disorders. For example:1.Voice Disorder: Feminine Voice In males (Puberphonia), Sudden Loss of Voice, Soft Voice, Hoarse Voice,Breathy Voice, Voice Breaks, Dysphonia due to vocal cord paralysis etc.. Watch before and after voice therapy video to know more click on 1. SLP Sanjay Speech and Hearing Therapy Specialist 2. SLP Sanjay Kumar . For more information click: Voice Disorders2.Professionals Voice Care3.Stammering/Stuttering4.Delayed speech in children: Children's speech and language development follows a typical pattern. For example at first birth day the normal children speak at least one meaningful word, at the age of 2 years they should able to combined two words and at the age of 3years expected to speak in sentences .The deviation in such pattern is considered as delayed speech and language.Mostly it is associated with Autism, hearing impairment, mental retardation, inadequate speech and language stimulation at home, cleft lip and palate, ADHD. Early professional help (Speech therapy) can be very much effective for developing the communication skills and achieving academic goal among such children.How is delayed speech and language diagnosed?Speech language pathologist administers some speech and language test on the child .Also take an interview of the parents related to speech language development and case history of the problem and speech mechanism examination of the child. Based on collected information, comparing with the normative for that age group, they will diagnose the problem.What treatments are available for delayed speech and language?Based on diagnostic report the speech language pathologist make a individual therapy plan .Therapy session can be about 45 minutes and 2-4 times in a week based on the severity of the problem. Usually Parents will be asked to observe the speech therapy session so that they can learn and continue the home training program.Here is a checklist (Click on : SLP Sanjay Speech and Hearing Therapy Specialist ) that you can follow to determine if your child's speech and language skills are developing on schedule. Anything that is checked "no "need for the consultation to a Speech Language Pathologist.5.Mispronunciation/Misarticulation: Beginning in the childhood, the person with deviant articulation or phonology (e.g. saying dod for dog, lam for ram , teater for teacher etc.) may experience unfavorable comments, teasing ,ostracism, exclusion, labeling and frustration.Such experience may result in a low sense of personal worth with the accompanying attitudes of feeling different, incompetent, stupid, socially inept, or disliked. As these unfavorable attitudes continue to develop, they may affect academic performance and behavior. The person with atypical articulation may begin to 'play the part' of an atypical person. Grades my begin to drop, and disruptive behavior may become commonplace.How is misarticulation diagnosed?Speech language pathologist/speech therapist will administer an articulation test with a list of pictures/words which is scientifically designed to test the all speech sounds and they will do the video/Audio recording same time. After that they will do the appropriate analysis and diagnose the problem.What treatments are available for misarticulation?The speech language pathologist will teach the place and manner of articulation for the affected/misarticulated speech sounds .They will also work on auditory processing for those sounds. By early intervention we can make the person absolutely normal.6.Speech language Disorders After Stroke: Aphasia is a language disorder that results from damage to the parts of the brain that contain language. Aphasia causes problems with any or all of the following: speaking, listening, reading, and writing.Some people with aphasia have trouble using words and sentences (expressive aphasia). Some have problems understanding others (receptive aphasia). Others with aphasia struggle with both using words and understanding (global aphasia).Damage to the left side of the brain causes aphasia for most right-handers and about half of left-handers. Individuals who experience damage to the right side of the brain may have additional difficulties beyond speech and language.Individuals with aphasia may also have other problems, such as dysarthria, apraxia, or swallowing problems.How is aphasia diagnosed?The speech-language pathologist (SLP) works collaboratively with the person's family and other professionals (doctors, nurses, neuropsychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers) to address all of the person's needs. For example, a person who has had a stroke often has physical problems, such as weakness on one side of the body, that require treatment from a physical or occupational therapist.The SLP evaluates the individual and determines the type and severity of aphasia. The evaluation is done by assessing the following areas of communicationSpeechFluency, vocal quality, and loudnessHow clearly the person speaksStrength and coordination of the speech muscles (tongue, lips)UnderstandingUnderstanding and use of vocabulary (semantics) and grammar (syntax)Understanding and answering both yes-no (e.g., Is your name Bob?) and Wh-questions (e.g., What do you do with a hammer?)Understanding extended speech-the person listens to a short story or factual passage and answers fact-based (the answers are in the passage) and inferential (the patient must arrive at a conclusion based on information gathered from the reading) questions about the materialAbility to follow directions that increase in both length and complexAbility to tell an extended story (language sample) both verbally and in written formExpressingCan the person tell the steps needed to complete a task or can he or she tell a story, centering on a topic and chaining a sequence of events together?Can he or she describe the "plot" in an action picture?Is his or her narrative coherent or is it difficult to follow?Can the person recall the words he or she needs to express ideas?Is the person expressing himself or herself in complete sentences, telegraphic sentences or phrases, or single words?Social CommunicationSocial communication skills (pragmatic language)Ability to interpret or explain jokes, sarcastic comments, absurdities in stories or pictures (e.g., What is strange about a person using an umbrella on a sunny day?)Ability to initiate conversation, take turns during a discussion, and express thoughts clearly using a variety of words and sentencesAbility to clarify or restate when his or her conversational partner does not understandReading and WritingReading and writing of letters, words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphsOtherSwallowing (as needed)Ability to use an augmentative or alternative communication aid (as needed) This information is gathered through both structured observations and formal testsWhat treatments are available for people with aphasia?There are many types of treatment available for individuals with aphasia. The type of treatment depends on the needs and goals of the person with aphasia. There are specialized programs using computers or other published materials. There are also less formal approaches available. For many, a combination of formal and informal tasks is most appropriate. Speech language pathologists are trained for such treatment.RegardsSLP Sanjay kumar,http://B.Sc. (Hons.) Speech and Hearing, AIIMS New. Delhihttp://M.Sc. Speech Language Pathology, AIISH MysoreChief Consultant Speech Language Pathologist & AudiologistSanjay Speech Hearing and Rehabilitation Center(A venture of an AIIMS Delhi Alumnus)# 363 SSA Road, Near Sumangali Seva Aashram, Cholanayakanahalli,R.T.Nagar Post, Bangalore-560032Ph: 08042041980, Web: www.speechtherapyindia.inFB: https://www.facebook.com/SanjaySpeechHearingAndRehabilitationCenter/You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/user/sanjay1774/featured

User-9902358067329070481 has a decent reading list on this: http://sivers.org/bookHere's the excerpt if you don't want to jump to the site.The Personal MBA - by Josh KaufmanISBN: 1591843529 READ: 2011-02-16 RATING: 10/10Wow. A masterpiece. This is now the one “START HERE” book I'll be recommending to everybody interested in business. An amazing overview of everything you need to know. Covers all the basics, minus buzz-words and fluff. Look at my notes for an example, but read the whole book. One of the most inspiring things I've read in years. Want proof? I asked the author to be my coach/mentor afterwards. It's that good.The War of Art - by Steven PressfieldISBN: 0446691437 READ: 2012-01-05 RATING: 9/10Have you experienced a vision of the person you might become, the work you could accomplish, the realized being you were meant to be? Are you a writer who doesn’t write, a painter who doesn’t paint, an entrepreneur who never starts a venture? Then you know what “Resistance” is. This book is about that. Read it.Thinking, Fast and Slow - by Daniel KahnemanISBN: 0374275637 READ: 2011-12-08 RATING: 9/10If you liked “Predictably Irrational” or “Stumbling on Happiness” or any of those pop-psychology books, well, this is the Godfather of all of their work. Huge thorough book gives a great overview of much of his work. Read the other quotes on Amazon about it.The Lean Startup - by Eric RiesISBN: 0307887898 READ: 2011-10-23 RATING: 9/10EVERY entrepreneur should read this book! Its methodology is the one I recommend the most. The stuff I preach is like a cute casual intro to the real deal: the Lean Startup methodology. (As an aside: this book is the one that pushed my book out of the #1 slot on Amazon's Entrepreneur charts. Quite an honor.)Power of Full Engagement - by Jim Loehr and Tony SchwartzISBN: 0743226755 READ: 2011-09-03 RATING: 9/10The authors worked with the best athletes and executives for years, and found that the best ones knew how to push themselves, then recuperate, push, recuperate. Take this same approach to your emotional, mental, physical, and even spiritual life, and it's a powerful metaphor. Think of sprints, not marathons. Be fully in whatever you're in, then give time to recuperate. But push futher each time, past your comfort zone, like a good exercise plan.What Got You Here Won't Get You There - by Marshall GoldsmithISBN: 1401301304 READ: 2011-08-22 RATING: 9/10Aimed at already-successful people. The personality traits that brought you to success (personal discipline, saying yes to everything, over-confidence) are the same traits that hold you back from going further! (Where you need to listen to lead, and don't let over-confidence make you over-commit.) Stinging counter-intuitive insights that hit very close to home for me. Great specific suggestions for how to improve.Switch - by Chip Heath and Dan HeathISBN: 0385528752 READ: 2010-05-10 RATING: 9/10Great great great great GREAT psychology book about real ways to make change last - both personal and organizational. So many powerful insights, based on fact not theory. Inspiring counterintuitive stories of huge organizational change against all odds. Highly recommended for everyone.The Investor's Manifesto - by William J. BernsteinISBN: 0470505141 READ: 2009-11-12 RATING: 9/10Absolutely my favorite author and advisor on the subject of investing. Anyone with any money to invest (or already invested) please read this book. Such clear thinking, using only facts, and using numbers not guesses. Modern portfolio theory: use passive indexes of the entire market, no speculation, no stock picking, and avoid the entire fee-sucking financial industry.How We Decide - by Jonah LehrerISBN: 0618620117 READ: 2009-11-10 RATING: 9/10Brilliant book with one clear message: our emotional brain is faster and usually smarter than our logical brain. Our emotions are trained by years of logic and experience, retaining it all for real wisdom. Many decisions are better made by going with the gut feeling. Gets a little too technical with deep brain/neuro/cortex talk, but brings it back to usable points.Influence - by Robert CialdiniISBN: 006124189X READ: 2009-08-15 RATING: 9/10Classic book on the psychology of persuasion. I read it 15 years ago, thought about it ever since, and re-read it now. How to get a 700% improvement in volunteers. How to sell more by doubling your prices. How to make people feel they made a choice, when really you made it for them.The Time Paradox - by Philip Zimbardo and John BoydISBN: 1416541993 READ: 2009-04-03 RATING: 9/10See my in-depth article about this book at sivers.org/timePersonal Development for Smart People - by Steve PavlinaISBN: 1401922759 READ: 2008-12-27 RATING: 9/10A surprisingly great broad and unflourished look at all different aspects of self-improvement. Really great insights from someone who's read them all.Predictably Irrational - by Dan ArielyISBN: 006135323X READ: 2008-08-11 RATING: 9/10My favorite type of book: pointing out and understanding all of the counter-intuitive things people do.The 4-Hour Work Week - by Tim FerrissISBN: 0307353133 READ: 2008-05-15 RATING: 9/10Brilliant reversal of all of the “how to manage all your crap” books. This one tells you how to say “no” to the crap, set expectations on your terms, and be just as effective in a fraction of the time. This is perfect for musicians with other responsibilities (day jobs) that need more free time to actually make music!The Wisdom of Crowds - by James SurowieckiISBN: 0385721706 READ: 2008-04-16 RATING: 9/10Mind-blowing examples of how groups of diverse people acting independently are smarter than any one person in the group. Has huge implications for management, markets, decision-making, and more.The Paradox of Choice - Why More is Less - by Barry SchwartzISBN: 0060005688 READ: 2007-07-11 RATING: 9/10Faced with many options or decisions in your life? This will change the way you look at them. We feel worse when we have too many options.Made to Stick - by Chip Heath and Dan HeathISBN: 1400064287 READ: 2007-03-12 RATING: 9/10Actually analyzing what makes certain ideas or stories more memorable than others! Fascinating. Apply this wisdom to your songs, bio/story, communication with fans, etc.The Innovator's Solution - by Clayton ChristensenISBN: 1578518520 READ: 2006-09-21 RATING: 9/10Required reading for business-owners and investors. Shows how technology improves faster than people's ability to use it, so when someone says a technology is “not good enough”, add “yet” and prepare for disruption.Small is the New Big - by Seth GodinISBN: 1591841267 READ: 2006-09-08 RATING: 9/10My favorite author, by far. I’m a massive fan and disciple. A collection of his short insightful posts from his blog, all thought-provoking and inspiring for anybody marketing anything, even music. (Seth was a CD Baby client and fan.)The Art of Profitability - by Adrian SlywotzkyISBN: 0446692271 READ: 2005-12-02 RATING: 9/1025 different models of profitability presented in examples you can relate to your own business, making you realize profit-sources you’d never thought of before.E-Myth Revisited - by Michael GerberISBN: 0887307280 READ: 2004-02-26 RATING: 9/10Everything needs to be a system. Think of your business as a franchise prototype. You should be able to hand the “how-to” manual to just anyone, to do it as good as you.The Passionate Programmer - by Chad FowlerISBN: 1934356344 READ: 2012-01-15 RATING: 8/10Wonderful book about the art, craft, and passion of being a great computer programmer. Loved the analogies to being a musician: sight-reading, being the worst member of the band, understanding new styles of music, practicing just for improvement, etc.Willpower - by Roy Baumeister and John TierneyISBN: 1594203075 READ: 2011-09-09 RATING: 8/10You have a finite amount of willpower that becomes depleted as you use it. Two traits that consistently predict “positive outcomes” in life: intelligence and self-control. Most major problems, personal and social, center on failure of self-control. When people were asked about their failings, a lack of self-control was at the top of the list. So let's talk about self-control....Poke the Box - by Seth GodinISBN: 1936719002 READ: 2011-03-15 RATING: 8/10Awesome short manifesto about getting into the habit of starting things. Inspiring as hell. Go go go!Hackers & Painters - by Paul GrahamISBN: 1449389554 READ: 2010-08-20 RATING: 8/10A collection of essays from one of the best. Loosely about intelligence, entrepreneurship, programming, and questioning norms. Many brilliant ideas and insights.Confessions of a Public Speaker - by Scott BerkunISBN: 0596801998 READ: 2010-06-28 RATING: 8/10Best book on public speaking. A must-read if you do this at all. Great concrete advice and personal tales.The Talent Code - by Daniel CoyleISBN: 055380684X READ: 2009-08-22 RATING: 8/10A great book showing that deep practice - (struggling in certain targeted ways - operating at the edges of your ability, where you make mistakes - experiences where you're forced to slow down, make errors, and correct them) - is what really makes you improve at anything.Ignore Everybody - by Hugh MacLeodISBN: 159184259X READ: 2009-06-28 RATING: 8/10Brilliant succinct wisdom on creativity from an artist. Seth Godin says, "Hugh harangues and encourages and pushes and won't sit still until you, like him, are unwilling to settle." I highly recommend this to all musicians, artists, and entrepreneurs. Even those that prefer not to read much. :-)What Would Google Do? - by Jeff JarvisISBN: 0061709719 READ: 2009-03-05 RATING: 8/10Great think-piece about lessons learned from Google's approach to things, and how they might approach different industries like airlines, real estate, education, etc.CrowdSourcing - by Jeff HoweISBN: 0307396207 READ: 2008-08-27 RATING: 8/10Great look at a different way of getting a project done: not outsourcing it to a person, but developing a system where thousands of people can contribute a little bit.Meatball Sundae - by Seth GodinISBN: 1591841747 READ: 2007-12-30 RATING: 8/10Instead of asking how to use the new internet tools to support your existing business, ask how you can change your business to take best advantage of the new tools.Execution - by Larry Bossidy and Ram CharanISBN: 0609610570 READ: 2007-02-12 RATING: 8/10Great in-depth look at the dirty discipline of getting things done in a large organization.Getting Things Done - by David AllenISBN: 0142000280 READ: 2005-04-30 RATING: 8/10Classic book with near-cult following. How to manage every last itty bitty tiny thing in your life. Keep your inbox empty.The 48 Laws of Power - by Robert Greene and Joost ElffersISBN: 0140280197 READ: 2003-05-06 RATING: 8/10Warning: some think this book is pure evil. But power exists, so it can only help to understand it better, even if you choose not to wield it.The Power of Habit - by Charles DuhiggISBN: 1400069289 READ: 2012-03-01 RATING: 7/10Great dissection and analysis of what creates habits, and the power of changing just one of three steps in the habit loop.You Are Not So Smart - by David McRaneyISBN: 1592406599 READ: 2011-11-15 RATING: 7/10Great summary of 46 cognitive biases. Much of it covered in other books like Predictably Irrational, but if you haven't read those, this is a great starting book. Otherwise, just a good reminder, and worth reading.Practicing Mind - by Thomas SternerISBN: 0977657205 READ: 2011-05-27 RATING: 7/10Great simple philosophy: Life itself is one long practice session. Everything in life worth achieving requires practice. Practice is not just for artistic or athletic skill, but practicing patience, practicing communication, practicing anything you do in life. The process/practice itself is the real goal, not the outcome.Mindset - by Carol DweckISBN: 0345472322 READ: 2010-11-27 RATING: 7/10Crucial distinction: People in a “fixed” mindset believe that you *are* great or flawed. People in a “growth” mindset believe your greatness (or flaws) are because of your actions. The fixed mindset is very harmful in every area of life (work, art, relationships, business, etc.) We get our initial mindset from our environment. When parents say, “You are great,” instead of ”You did great work,” they accidently create the “fixed” mindset.Start Small, Stay Small - by Rob Walling and Mike TaberISBN: 0615373968 READ: 2010-11-16 RATING: 7/10Great how-to guide about being a micropreneur: an entrepreneur running many small but profitable businesses.Making a Good Brain Great - by Daniel G. AmenISBN: 1400082099 READ: 2010-07-28 RATING: 7/10About the care of the physical brain - the goo in your skull - from a doctor who scans brains and has linked specific behavior to brain chemistry.I Will Teach You To Be Rich - by Ramit SethiISBN: 0761147489 READ: 2010-03-23 RATING: 7/10An amazing book about consumer finance and a healthy approach to managing your money. If you are age 18-35, this is a must-read! My notes are scarce, so get the book. Even if over 35, you might find some good tips on lowering your fees on various services, and a good reminder of good savings practices.Business Stripped Bare - by Richard BransonISBN: 1905264429 READ: 2010-02-17 RATING: 7/10A real and specific description of the inner workings of the Virgin companies. Every entrepreneur, investor, and manager should appreciate this detailed account of practices, philosophies and stories from the core.Talent Is Overrated - by Geoff ColvinISBN: 1591842247 READ: 2009-11-16 RATING: 7/10Talent is not innate - it comes from thousands of hours of deliberate practice: focused improving of your shortcomings. That's it. If you can get past the first 20% of the book that just asks questions, the next 60% is quite good.Never Eat Alone - by Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl RazISBN: 0385512058 READ: 2009-07-26 RATING: 7/10A good book that's mostly about networking, but also some general business smarts. Definitely read if you need more work being social.Reality Check - by Guy KawasakiISBN: 1591842239 READ: 2009-03-08 RATING: 7/10Great collection of essays about entrepreneurship from his blog at blog.guykawasaki.comYou, Inc - The Art of Selling Yourself - by Harry BeckwithISBN: 0446578215 READ: 2008-07-26 RATING: 7/10One of my favorite authors, and a massive inspiration for my e-book. This is his newest, but read anything he’s done. It’s all top-notch insights on making life easier by being more considerate, whether you call that marketing or just life.The Ultimate Sales Machine - by Chet HolmesISBN: 1591842158 READ: 2008-06-12 RATING: 7/10After reading E-Myth Revisited, this is the best book I’ve seen on how to turn it into real results, step-by-step. Not ambiguous. Very “do it like this”.The Art of Learning - by Josh WaitzkinISBN: 0743277457 READ: 2008-05-30 RATING: 7/10Chess master becomes Tai Chi master, realizes his real genius is learning, and shares his insights and stories.Here Comes Everybody - by Clay ShirkyISBN: 1594201536 READ: 2008-04-06 RATING: 7/10Like Wikinomics and Crowdsourcing, required reading if interested in harnessing the collective power of people online.Maximum Achievement - by Brian TracyISBN: 0684803313 READ: 2006-11-12 RATING: 7/10A classic self-help book. Exactly what you'd expect. But very good.Linchpin - by Seth GodinISBN: 1591843162 READ: 2010-12-11 RATING: 6/10For someone who has a job at a company, I would call this essential reading with my highest recommendation. Since I haven't had a job since 1992, I couldn't apply many of his great points to my life. Still I loved his reminder of the value of the brilliant workers instead of systemized workers. The opposite of E-Myth (another book reviewed here).Cognitive Surplus - by Clay ShirkyISBN: 1594202532 READ: 2010-12-10 RATING: 6/10I always love Clay Shirky's insights into the internet culture. This is about how all the spare time people are using to add to Wikipedia, create YouTube videos or LOLCats, is previously time they were passively watching TV. Perhaps passive watching was a temporary habit that lasted 80 years, and now we're going back to a more participatory culture?Art and Fear - by David Bayles and Ted OrlandISBN: 0961454733 READ: 2010-11-23 RATING: 6/10For artists and musicians only: beautiful insights into the creative process.Nudge - by Richard Thaler and Cass SunsteinISBN: 014311526X READ: 2010-08-15 RATING: 6/10Introducing the idea of Libertarian Paternalism: influencing people's behavior for their own benefit, without forbidding any options or significantly changing their economic incentives.Being Logical: A Guide to Good Thinking - by D.Q. McInernyISBN: 0812971159 READ: 2010-03-15 RATING: 6/10World getting too fuzzy an unreasonable? Watching too much TV? A good book on logic is a great antidote. I'd never read one before, so I don't know how to compare it to others, but I really loved the clear thinking and deep insights here.Pomodoro Technique Illustrated - by Staffan NötebergISBN: 1934356506 READ: 2010-01-11 RATING: 6/10Pretty cool technique of working in 25-minute chunks. Better to start with a simple article about it, then read the book after if you love it. I do, so far.Pragmatic Thinking and Learning - by Andy HuntISBN: 1934356050 READ: 2009-11-03 RATING: 6/10A great curated collection of facts about how to learn effectively and think clearly. Since it's written by a programmer, it makes many computer analogies that fellow programmers will appreciate. Non-programmers might feel a little left out.Why Smart People Make Big Money Mistakes - Gilovich and BelskyISBN: 0684859386 READ: 2009-10-19 RATING: 6/10My favorite genre of book lately: clear examples of bugs in our brain: where our intuition is wrong. But this one focuses just on money issues. Loss aversion. Sunk cost fallacy. Confirmation bias. Anchoring. Etc. I love this stuff.Outliers: The Story of Success - by Malcolm GladwellISBN: 0316017922 READ: 2009-04-23 RATING: 6/10Deep study of why some people are so much more successful. Often due to circumstances and early opportunities, but really comes down to the fact that it takes about 10,000 hours of hard work to master something.Lucky Or Smart? - by Bo PeabodyISBN: 1439210101 READ: 2009-04-23 RATING: 6/10Tiny book by an incredibly successful serial entrepreneur telling his tales and lessons learned.The Power of Less - by Leo BabutaISBN: 1401309704 READ: 2009-01-21 RATING: 6/10Identify the essential. Eliminate the rest. Set limitations. Become incredibly effective. Written by someone who's been successfully living this way for years.Tribes - by Seth GodinISBN: 1591842336 READ: 2008-11-17 RATING: 6/10Inspiring look at what it takes to organize and mobilize groups of people.How to Talk to Anyone - by Leil LowndesISBN: 007141858X READ: 2008-09-12 RATING: 6/10Wonderful considerate book about conversational people skills.Brain Rules - by John MedinaISBN: 0979777704 READ: 2008-08-26 RATING: 6/10New scientific insights into why our brains work this way, and how to use what we now know to learn or work better.Cut to the Chase - by Stuart LevineISBN: 0385516207 READ: 2008-07-26 RATING: 6/10Tips on more effective communication.The Magic of Thinking Big - by David SchwartzISBN: 0671646788 READ: 2008-07-26 RATING: 6/10A classic self-help book. Exactly what you'd expect. But very good.How to Get Rich - by Felix DennisISBN: 1591842050 READ: 2008-06-18 RATING: 6/10Shockingly honest thoughts from a filthy rich bastard.The Culting of Brands - by Douglas AtkinISBN: 1591840961 READ: 2008-02-08 RATING: 6/10Unique fascinating dissection of cults and why they work. Then how to apply those lessons to marketing your business.Don't Make Me Think - by Steve KrugISBN: 0321344758 READ: 2007-08-08 RATING: 6/10The classic book of web usability. Required reading for anyone who makes websites.Know-How - by Ram Charan with Geri WilliganISBN: 0307341518 READ: 2007-02-12 RATING: 6/10Acquired expertise in big business. Subtitle: 8 Skills That Separate People Who Perform from Those Who Don't.The Art of Project Management - Scott BerkunISBN: 0596007868 READ: 2006-11-19 RATING: 6/10The best book on how to oversee projects to completion.Little Bets - by Peter SimsISBN: 1439170428 READ: 2011-05-10 RATING: 5/10Examples of the fact that much success or creativity comes from trying many things, failing fast, getting feedback, trying more things, and deliberate practice. Stories from Pixar, Chris Rock, Silicon Valley, Frank Gehry.Focus - by Leo BabautaISBN: 1434103072 READ: 2011-01-17 RATING: 5/10Nice short reminder of the importance of solitude and focus. Single-tasking. Only doing your most important things, and let the rest go.The Upside of Irrationality - by Dan ArielyISBN: 0061995037 READ: 2010-07-05 RATING: 5/10First read his amazing book “Predictably Irrational.” But if you read and loved it, then this is a continuation with some more examples - mostly organizational. He also catharticly details his own painful injuries in every chapter.The Profit Zone - by Adrian SlywotzkyISBN: 0812933044 READ: 2009-10-14 RATING: 5/10Dryer but deeper prequel to the great “Art of Profitability” book, also recommended here. Start with that one. Only read this if that one fascinated you.Overachievement - by John EliotISBN: 1591841313 READ: 2009-07-04 RATING: 5/10Performance coach, with a bent towards sports, surgery, and executive performance, gives his thoughts on being a top performer. The key is the "Trusting Mindset": like a squirrel runs across a telephone wire. Just doing it, without thought, because you've trained yourself plenty until that point.The Culture Code - by Clotaire RapailleISBN: 0767920570 READ: 2008-11-01 RATING: 5/10Weird look at how different cultures (mostly Europe versus U.S. in this book) see things differently. Example: British luxury is about detachment whereas U.S. luxury is about rank.Richard Branson - Losing My VirginityISBN: 0812932293 READ: 2008-06-01 RATING: 5/10Autobiography of his life from childhood through 2004. Interesting how he was always over-leveraged and how that drove him forward. Amazing how he negotiated Necker Island from £3 million down to £180k.The Checklist Manifesto - by Atul GawandeISBN: 0312430000 READ: 2011-12-25 RATING: 4/10Like Malcom Gladwell, a book that could and should have been an article, but puffed up with 200 pages of supporting stories, mostly great detailed tales of his surgeon experiences where a checklist would have come in handy. Here's the book in one sentence: You should make checklists for any complex procedures or decisions.Hiring Smart - by Pierre MornellISBN: 1580085148 READ: 2011-08-07 RATING: 4/10Good advice on hiring. No big surprises, but some useful tips.Discover Your Inner Economist - by Tyler CowenISBN: 0452289637 READ: 2009-10-19 RATING: 4/10The book title is misleading. It ends up being mostly the author's recommendations for the transactions of life. When to give to charity, what restaurants to choose, what insurance to buy, etc. He makes a rational case for these, that is often very interesting, but still feels like just his opinion.Causing a Scene - by Charlie ToddISBN: 006170363X READ: 2009-08-18 RATING: 4/10Fun tales from the guy that invented Improv Everywhere. Not really educational as much as just fun, and I'm a huge fan of their “missions”.Enough - by John BogleISBN: 0470398515 READ: 2009-04-23 RATING: 4/10Legendary investor, now 80, looks back with long-view wisdom on investing, living, and giving.How to be a Billionaire - by Martin FridsonISBN: 0471416177 READ: 2009-04-23 RATING: 4/10Biographical look at billionaires from the last 200 years, and lessons learned from how they did it. Some lessons aren't really applicable to the rest of us, like changing government laws to protect your monopoly. But some are.Management of the Absurd - by Richard FarsonISBN: 0684830442 READ: 2009-04-14 RATING: 4/10Counter-intuitive lessons about management. Highly recommended for managers and leaders, but also teachers and parents.The Obsolete Employee - by Michael RusserISBN: 0966248465 READ: 2007-10-01 RATING: 4/10How to run a company without employees, but with a loose network of work-from-home freelance agents. Very instructive, but also good perspective like how until the industrial revolution, there were no employees: everyone was freelance.Secrets of the Millionaire Mind - by T. Harv EckerISBN: 0060763280 READ: 2007-06-12 RATING: 4/10If you suspect that your mindset is holding you back from making more money, read this. Identifies and dissolves the mental baggage we've built up that believes money is evil and those who have it are greedy.One Simple Idea - by Stephen KeyISBN: 0071756159 READ: 2011-04-29 RATING: 3/10Good introduction into the world of licensing your ideas to companies that manufacture products.Hire With Your Head - by Lou AdlerISBN: 0470128356 READ: 2010-12-15 RATING: 3/10Great advice on hiring, but insanely repetitive. Maybe this was an editing mistake - that the exact same points are made over and over and over and over - often with the exact same words, sentences, even paragraphs. But those key points are great.What the Dog Saw - by Malcolm GladwellISBN: 0316075841 READ: 2009-12-05 RATING: 3/10A pretty-good collection of his articles from the past few years. While most are somewhat interesting, it felt a little like surfing the net or TV. Lots of “huh”, but no lasting insights. More entertainment than education.The Great Formula - by Mark JoynerISBN: 0471778230 READ: 2009-06-06 RATING: 3/10Create an irresistable offer. Present it to people who need it. Sell them more afterwards. Lots of examples of this.Program or Be Programmed - by Douglas Rushkoff and Leland PurvisISBN: 1935928155 READ: 2011-07-20 RATING: 2/10Maybe I'm just too immersed in this, but everything said here seems to be the most conventional wisdom - nothing I haven't heard. Shame, because I thought it was going to be about teaching the lay-person the importance of programming.The Four Filters Invention of Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger - by Bud LabitanISBN: 0615241298 READ: 2011-01-21 RATING: 2/10Another overview of the investment approach of Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger.Confessions of a Serial Entrepreneur - by Stuart SkormanISBN: 0787987328 READ: 2010-12-24 RATING: 2/10Personal tales, almost an autobiography, of someone who created a wide range of businesses, both successful and not. Some insights along the way, but not many surprising ones. I'd recommend “How to Get Rich” by Felix Dennis instead, also reviewed on this website.Life Without Lawyers - by Philip K. HowardISBN: 0393065669 READ: 2010-04-24 RATING: 2/10I really liked his TED talk (search ted.com), and this book elaborates on the idea. Makes a good point, but should just be a long article - not a whole book.The Productive Programmer - by Neal FordISBN: 0596519788 READ: 2009-11-01 RATING: 2/10I thought it was going to be more general or philosophical tips, but seemed to be more about IDE-specific tips instead. Then it crashed my Kindle (and stillFounders at Work - by Jessica LivingstonISBN: 1430210788 READ: 2008-02-12 RATING: 2/10Long in-depth interviews with company founders, telling their tales of how they started. Lots of stories with a few usable gems.Conspiracy of the Rich - Robert KiyosakiISBN: 0446559806 READ: 2009-11-24 RATING: 0/10Yet another Rich Dad book shat out for the usual audience of those who don't read. Often so bad it hurts, but with the occasional useful sentence. He always seems to go out of his way to avoid giving any usable info - only generalities. Does he care? Is he trying to write great books? Are these things just machine-generated or something?The Think Big Manifesto - by Michael Port and Mina SamuelsISBN: 0470432373 READ: 2009-05-12 RATING: 0/10One of the few books I've actively disliked. Ever read the introduction to a book? Where they say “what you hold in your hands here is something that could change the world”, and blah blah blah? I kept reading, wondering when the introduction was going to be over. Over halfway through the book, I realized this was it: just broad general encouraging unuseful nothings for the entire book.