Catagory: Non Fiction

Amazon and Walmart, with more than a trillion dollars in annual revenues combined, are the two largest
companies in the world. They have not only redefined the retail industry—Walmart in the 1980s/1990s and
Amazon since 2000—but have also been the benchmark for best practices in business (in terms of the use of
IT, supply chain, data analytics and customer orientation).
In the coming years, Amazon will probably dethrone Walmart as the world’s largest company, a position
that Walmart has occupied for more than two decades. By examining these two companies and their
business models in depth, Nirmalya Kumar elucidates the more general phenomenon of incumbents competing with disruptors (e.g., Volkswagen vs Tesla, Marriott vs Airbnb) as well as the move to omnichannel retail, where physical stores must coexist with online retailers.
Clash is a lucid, well-researched and eminently readable discourse on the future of retailing, the economics of e-commerce delivery models and whether its two largest players will collide head-on or coexist in
strategic complementarity.

Companies today operate in an era characterised by volatility, crisis, lack of trust and intense scrutiny. People have a growing expectation that the private sector not only markets a particular product or service but also takes an active role in making broader contributions to society. The spotlight has never shone more fiercely on what companies say—and do.

Yet, a significant number of companies grapple with the challenge of proactively earning and safeguarding their multifaceted reputations. The stakes are higher than ever, as the trajectory of a company’s growth is intricately linked to its ability to strategically enhance its standing in the eyes of stakeholders – including investors, customers, employees, regulators and activists.

Reputations of Value examines the profound impact of corporate reputations on any company’s ability to advance its business agenda over time. The book features insights from subject matter experts around the world. It serves as a guide for those wanting to better understand how companies can operate on a stronger, more resilient, and authentic basis in the face of a dynamic and unpredictable landscape.

In more than a decade as a psychotherapist to some of Asia’s most powerful couples and businesspeople, expat New Yorker Allison Heiliczer has seen it all.

In Rethink The Couch: Into the Bedrooms and Boardrooms of Asia with an Expat Therapist, Heiliczer brings readers into her therapy room and engagements with such clients: the Singaporean maneater with a portfolio comparing the endowments-physical and financial-of her expat lovers; the wealthy Chinese litigator in thrall to a feng shui master; the entrepreneur trying to treat his own ADHD; the Indonesian-Chinese businessman who faced a reckoning when his multiple unzipperings were exposed, and many others.

But, this is no exposé. Part East-meets-West expat journey, part self-help deliberation, this collection of personal narratives explores the influence cultural backgrounds have on work and relationships and sheds light on stigmas that still surround divorce, therapy, mental health, and more today in Asia. Asia may lag the West in this regard – for now – but there is a quiet revolution afoot and Heiliczer is at the vanguard.

From toxic offices and complex relationships, boardroom power and bedroom failure, doomed marriages and ill-advised affairs, workaholism, loneliness, lies; these are struggles more common than many of us care to admit. Heiliczer lays them all bare through the prism of culture and is expert in understanding what makes those embroiled in them tick.

Unveil the obscured world of air pollution as you embark on a compelling journey with Ian. In this gripping book, each chapter uncovers a new layer of the crisis, leaving readers enlightened and impassioned.

From the very first chapter, the stark reality of polluted cities takes hold. Join Ian as he delves into the causes and solutions of air pollution in urban areas. Mobile and stationary sources, agricultural areas, and the menacing forces of wildfires and sandstorms converge, forming a suffocating cloud. As the curtain lifts on these sources of pollution, it becomes glaringly clear that the impacts on daily life have long been overlooked.

Venture further into the pages of this captivating narrative to unearth the profound repercussions of polluted air. Witness the connection between air pollution and disease, as empirical evidence reveals decreased life expectancy and increased hospitalizations. Discover how pollution engulfs workplaces, stifling productivity across sectors from agriculture to manufacturing and the service industry. The altered consumption patterns and diminished satisfaction of individuals trapped indoors during hazy days become vividly apparent. Through masterful storytelling, the author illuminates hidden threads linking air pollution to diverse facets of society. From the enthralling dynamics of the real estate market under smoggy skies to the clandestine practices of nighttime emissions, each chapter paints a vivid portrait of a world grappling with the consequences of pollution. Engage with this thought-provoking exploration, urging readers to confront the urgent need for change in the face of a crisis that permeates every aspect of life.

Embark on this essential journey and empower yourself to champion change. Ian as he navigates the fog of pollution, unmasking its perils and inspiring a collective determination to build a brighter future.