September books: Data Is Everybody’s Business, Defending Animals, Feminist Designer, and more

Data Is Everybody’s Business: The Fundamentals of Data Monetization by Barbara H. Wixom, Cynthia M. Beath and Leslie Owens

Most organizations view data monetization—converting data into money—too narrowly: as merely selling data sets. But data monetization is a core business activity for both commercial and noncommercial organizations, and, within organizations, it’s critical to have wide-ranging support for this pursuit. In Data Is Everybody’s Business, the authors offer a clear and engaging way for people across the entire organization to understand data monetization and make it happen. The authors identify three viable ways to convert data into money—improving work with data, wrapping products with data, and selling information offerings—and explain when to pursue each and how to succeed.

“Data Is Everybody’s Business provides clear, practical tips for any organization to harness the power of data to transform for the future.” —Jeff Harmening, Chairman and CEO, General Mills

You might also like The Technology Fallacy: How People Are the Real Key to Digital Transformation by Gerald C. Kane, Anh Nguyen Phillips, Jonathan R. Copulsky and Garth R. Andrus

Defending Animals: Finding Hope on the Front Lines of Animal Protection by Kendra Coulter

Beloved dogs and cats. Magnificent horses and mountain gorillas. Curious chickens. What do we actually do to protect animals from harm—and is it enough? This engaging book provides a unique and eye-opening exploration of the world of animal protection as people defend diverse animals from injustice and cruelty. From the streets of major US cities to remote farms and tropical forests, Defending Animals is a gritty and moving portrait of the real work of animal protection that takes place in communities, courtrooms, and boardrooms.

“Defending Animals is a compelling exploration of animal protection, challenging readers to build a more compassionate and equitable world.” —Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder, Jane Goodall Institute; UN Messenger of Peace

You might also like Tenacious Beasts: Wildlife Recoveries That Change How We Think about Animals by Christopher J. Preston

Feminist Designer: On the Personal and the Political in Design edited by Alison Place

Feminist Designer brings together a constellation of voices and perspectives to examine the intersection of design and feminist theory. For decades, the feminist refrain within design has hinged on the representation and inclusion of women in the field. This collection, edited by Alison Place, however, is a call to move beyond this narrow application. Feminist design is not just about who does design—it is about how we do design and why. Feminist frameworks for design activism are now more relevant than ever, as they emphasize collaborative processes that aim to disrupt and dismantle power hierarchies while centering feminist ways of knowing and doing.

“This book is a pivotal point in the way we will study, conceive, and practice design.” —Robin Landa, Kean University

You might also like Decolonizing Design: A Cultural Justice Guidebook by Elizabeth (Dori) Tunstall

Democracy in a Hotter Time: Climate Change and Democratic Transformation edited by David W. Orr

Democracy in a Hotter Time calls for reforming democratic institutions as a prerequisite for avoiding climate chaos and adapting governance to how Earth works as a physical system. To survive in the “long emergency” ahead, we must reform and strengthen democratic institutions, making them assets rather than liabilities. Edited by David W. Orr, this vital collection of essays proposes a new political order that will not only help humanity survive but also enable us to thrive in the transition to a post–fossil fuel world.

“This collection will get your mind racing towards the rescue of our climate and our politics.” —Jamie Raskin, U.S. House of Representatives (MD-08)

You might also like The Phoenix Complex: A Philosophy of Nature by Michael Marder

Diversity Dividend: The Transformational Power of Small Changes to Debias Your Company, Attract Diverse Talent, Manage Everyone Better—and Make More Money by Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio

Every leader endeavors to invest in and manage their key asset—talent—to be as high-performing as possible. Like a winning stock, successful diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) actions pay back over time. That dividend is paid both to the company—through not only higher performance but also talent acquisition, training, and other savings—and to society in general. In Diversity Dividend, Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio offers a fresh, detailed look at how to realize gender and racial equity along the company-employee pathway—from attracting and interviewing applicants to onboarding, promoting, and sustaining hires—and how to remove systemic barriers at the organizational level that prevent women and underrepresented groups from advancing.

“Cecchi -Dimeglio’s book uses proven research and showcases real-life examples to design effective interventions that work, making it a must-read for anyone striving to improve gender and racial diversity.” —Iris Bohnet, Harvard University, author of What Works: Gender Equality by Design

You might also like Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work by Ruchika Tulshyan

The Myth That Made Us: How False Beliefs about Racism and Meritocracy Broke Our Economy (and How to Fix It) by Jeff Fuhrer

The Myth That Made Us exposes how false narratives—of a supposedly post-racist nation, of the self-made man, of the primacy of profit- and shareholder value-maximizing for businesses, and of minimal government interference—have been used to excuse gross inequities and to shape and sustain the US economic system that delivers them. Jeff Fuhrer argues that systemic racism continues to produce vastly disparate outcomes and that our brand of capitalism favors doing little to reduce disparities. Evidence from other developed capitalist economies shows it doesn’t have to be that way. We broke this (mean-spirited) economy. We can fix it.

“In the important book, Jeff Fuhrer takes on dogmas he believes have stalled progress and points the way towards new transformative policies.” —Larry Summers, University Professor and President Emeritus at Harvard University; former Secretary of the Treasury for President Clinton; Director of the National Economic Council for President Obama

You might also like On Disinformation: How to Fight for Truth and Protect Democracy by Lee McIntyre

Sexus Botanicus: The Love Lives of Plants by Joanne Anton

Why do some plants flower while others do not? What happens during pollination? How can the Haleakalā silversword reproduce all alone? In Sexus Botanicus, artist and writer Joanne Anton sheds light on the fertilization process of plants and relates their origins and their spectacular diversity. While sexuality has long been a source of interest for us humans, we sometimes forget to consider its primordial role in evolution. Without sexuality and the genetic union it enables, life would not assume the biodiversity it displays.

You might also like Sexus Animalis: There Is Nothing Unnatural in Nature by Emmanuelle Pouydebat