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Book Reviews Book Reviews Click on book to buy or visit www.galtbooks.com It's what you know Substance lacking in haunted tale Application not aptitude It's what you know The Knowledge Web: From Electronic Agents To Stonehenge And Back - And Other Journeys Through Knowledge By James Burke Touchstone In The Knowledge Web, James Burke, the bestselling author and host of television's Connections series, takes us on a fascinating tour through the interlocking threads of knowledge running through Western history. Displaying mesmerizing flights of fancy, he shows how seemingly unrelated ideas and innovations bounce off one another, spinning a vast, interactive web on which everything is connected to everything else: Carmen leads to the theory of relativity, champagne bottling links to wallpaper design, Joan of Arc connects through vaudeville to Buffalo Bill. Illustrating his open, connective theme in the form of a journey across a web, Burke breaks down complex concepts, offering information in a manner accessible to anybody -- high school graduates and Ph.D. holders alike. The journey touches almost two hundred interlinked points in the history of knowledge, ultimately ending where it begins. At once amusing and instructing, The Knowledge Web heightens our awareness of our interdependence -- with one another and with the past. Only by understanding the interrelated nature of the modern world can we hope to identify complex patterns of change and direct the process of innovation to the common good. Substance lacking in haunted tale Anil's Ghost By Michael Ondaatje Reviewed by Rachel Stafford In his fourth novel Anil's Ghost, Michael Ondaatje gives us another work rich in emotion, imagery and language. Set in Sri Lanka the story follows Anil Tissera, a native Sri Lankan and forensic anthropologist who returns to her homeland during a civil war to investigate possible war crimes. The descriptions of Sri Lanka and the rampant political violence are breathtaking, heart wrenching and very real and drew me into the novel. However, once there, I found it hard to get involved in the story. The character development and background were lacking; I was much more interested in Ondaatje's Sri Lanka than I was in the people involved. I would recommend Anil's Ghost for Ondaatje's gift of prose and knowledge of Sri Lanka but not necessarily for the action. Application not aptitude Unleashing the Killer App Larry Downs and Chunka Mui Published by Harvard Business School Press Reviewed by Cynthia Queano When the Industrial Revolution occurred, pushing from an agrarian society to that of manufacturing, it changed not only the way European society conducted business, but also how the people lived. Today we face another phenomenon: the Digital Revolution. Unleashing the Killer App deals with the issue of disruptive technology. At first glance, the title of this publication would remind an old-fashioned businessperson to think back to comic book days where the Legion of Justice would often meet and formulate a plan to eradicate all evil from mankind. Upon further consideration, the title reflects the culture of todays most successful technological firms where Hawaiian shirts replace silk ties and Birkenstocks are in place of spit polished loafers. In other words, do not judge this book by its 'cheesy' title. There are three parts to the book. The first is largely academic. Successful companies and outcomes are analyzed and a new economic model is formed. The make-up and the repercussions of digital strategy are explained. The authors successfully tie in the changes of today's business world to emerging technologies. The second part is where one might consider the meat of the book is. Twelve steps are given in order to design your very own killer app. Some of the authors' ideas for instance: cannibalize your markets, treat your assets as liabilities, destroy your value chain, would seem fairly radical, but upon further explanation, it is where the companies of tomorrow will be headed. The last part of the book gives advice on how to now put this strategy into place. The first two parts are tied in and examples are given as to how large corporations have handled the radical changes needed not only for survival but also as the title suggests, for market dominance. Unleashing the Killer App is not just for those businesses still considering whether to invest in a website or not, that is, if they have survived until now. Companies who already have existing websites and use some of the newest technologies might want to reconsider how they are using these to make the most out of their investment. This book is very well thought out and the authors' experiences with numerous companies of varying industries certainly shine through. Unleashing your own killer app might make the difference between using technology to smooth out your processes or use it to make money. © Copyright 2001. Galt Western Personnel Ltd. Unless otherwise specified, you may reprint this article, quote from it, use it in research or projects, duplicate it or distribute it. Credit of authorship and source MUST be given to galtglobalreview.com. Ownership of Copyright remains with Galt Western Personnel Ltd.     Return to Top      Business News / Business Roundup - Australia / Canada / Europe / United States / Careers / Classified / Information Technology / New Technology / Education News / World Facts / Book Reviews / Archives/Research