The Holy Grail of Macro Economics: Lessons from Japan’s Great Recession by Richard C. Coo; John Wiley & Sons (Asia) Pte. Ltd, 2008; ISBN 978-0-470-82387-3.

This is the book for those who want or need to understand what is happening with our economy, and, more importantly, what we are going to experience over the next decade as the economy struggles to rebound. The author analyzes the Great Depression of the early 20th Century and the Japanese financial catastrophe of the 1990’s. He describes the behaviors of markets during these trying times (e.g., the liquidity trap) and the lessons learned from these events.

Critical: What We Can Do About The Health-Care Crisis by U.S. Senator Tom Daschle; Thomas Dunne Books, 2008; ISBN-13: 978-0-312-38301-5, ISBN-10: 0-312-38301-0.

There is little about health care reform espoused by our former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle with which I agree, but he has been nominated by President-Elect Obama to be our next Secretary of Health and Human Services. As such, and because health care reform will be a top priority for the Obama Administration, it helps to understand how Daschle addresses the question: “Why have we failed to solve a problem that is such a high priority for so many citizens?”

Code Red: An Economist Explains How To Revive The Healthcare System Without Destroying It by David Dranove; Princeton University Press, 2008; ISBN-13: 978-0-691-12941-9.

The sub-title is what attracted me to this book. The author provides a direct, no-nonsense appraisal of our current system and he critically examines the proposals that are promoted as cures to what ails it. Lastly, he puts himself on the line by proffering his own arguably pragmatic and sensible prescription for health care reform.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Anthology To Improve Health And Health Care: Volume X by Stephen L. Isaacs and James R. Knickman, Editors; John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2006; ISBN 0-7879-8895-2.

The RWJ Foundation is the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health care. This anthology provides a critical analysis of the Foundation’s activities and how it tackles health care issues. Read all about the RWJ’s efforts to improve health care coverage expansion, quality, disease management and many other important health care access and delivery improvement strategies.

Outliers; The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell; Little, Brown and Company, 2008; ISBN 978-0-316-01792-3.

If you read The Tipping Point or Blink, the author’s two previous books, after you read Outliers; The Story of Success you will graduate cum laude with advanced knowledge about how the world works and how to be successful in it. Gladwell’s theories are useful tools for running businesses more effectively, being successful with your customers, and how to alter human behavior. You do not have to read his previous books to get value from reading Outliers alone.

Here Comes Everybody; The Power of Organizing Without Organizations by Clay Shirky; The Penguin Press, 2008; ISBN 978-1-59420-153-0.

If you are interested in learning how to better influence groups of human beings, read how this author explains the power of effectively using the Internet. Don’t be fooled, though. This is more than just a technology book. Shirky tells stories to help the reader understand how and why business, society, and our very lives are being transformed by a world of Internet-enabled social tools. If you don’t believe me, just ask any of the political strategists who unleashed the power of the Internet to organize and raise gazillion’s of dollars for candidate Obama’s successful campaign for the U.S. presidency.

PR 2.0; New Media, New Tools, New Audiences by Deirdre Breakenridge; Pearson Education, Inc., 2008; ISBN-13: 978-0-321-51007-5; ISBN-10: 0-321-51007-0.

Give your organization’s public relations effort a shot in the arm. The author gives you new and powerful web-based tools and strategies to engage your key audiences in meaningful two-way conversations. This should be required reading for all PR staff in healthcare organizations.

The Thirteen American Arguments; Enduring Debates That Define And Inspire Our Country by Howard Fineman;  Random House, 2008; ISBN 978-1-4000-6544-8.

With each of my must-read book lists, I “leave the reservation” with at least one selection. This would be it for this edition. The author, a political journalist, forays into 400 years of American history and captures the essential issues that both define us and cause much debate. Some of the queries examined include: Who is a person? Who is an American? What role does and should faith play in government? How much power should the president have? Does America have a moral obligation to change the world — or must we change it to survive in it? Give it read, but only if you want your thinking to be challenged.