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OCTOBER'S FC READERS' CHOICE AWARD

Bestseller lists? Forget them. We want to highlight the books that really matter, and we want your help. Here's how to play Book Club, Fast Company style:

  1. Purchase and read the FC Readers' Choice Award picked by you, our readers.
  2. Discuss the book with other readers in our online discussions or start your own face to face discussion group.
  3. Vote for next month's book. We'll give you 5 choices that align with our mission: to help you work smarter and lead better. Browse the excerpts and vote for your favorite.

* OCTOBER'S FC READERS' CHOICE AWARD

Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value
by Bill George

Buy Book

In the wake of continuing corporate scandals there have been few, if any, CEOs that have stepped forward as models of "doing things right" -- except the former chairman and CEO of Medtronic, Bill George. George has become the unofficial spokesperson for responsible leadership -- in business, the media, and academia.

In Authentic Leadership Bill George makes the case that we do need new leaders, not just new laws, to bring us out of the current corporate crisis. He persuasively demonstrates that authentic leaders of mission-driven companies will create far greater shareholder value than financially oriented companies. During George's twelve-year leadership at Medtronic, the company's market capitalization soared from $1.1 billion to $460 billion, averaging 350er year.

George candidly recounts many of the toughest challenges he encountered -- from ethical dilemmas and battles with the FDA to his own development as a leader. He shows how to develop the five essential dimensions of authentic leaders - purpose, values, heart, relationships, and self-discipline. Authentic Leadership offers inspiring lessons to all who want to lead with heart and with compassion for those they serve.

Bill George helps readers answer vital questions such as: What should I do when my personal values conflict with company business values? How do I make trade-offs between the needs of my customers, my employees, and my company's shareholders? Do I really want to devote my talents to business? Authentic Leadership provides a tested guide for character-based leaders and all those who have a stake in the integrity and success of our corporations.

* VOTE FOR DECEMBER'S BOOK OF THE MONTH

1
book cover Gray Matters : The Workplace Survival Guide
by Bob Rosner, Allan Halcrow, John Lavin
2
book cover The Map of Innovation : Creating Something Out of Nothing
By Kevin O'Connor
3
book cover Take Back Your Time: Fighting Overwork and Time Poverty in America
By John De Graaf
4
book cover There Must Be a Pony in Here Somewhere: The AOL Time Warner Debacle and the Quest for a Digital Future
By Kara Swisher, Lisa Dickey
5
book cover Why Not? How to Use Everyday Ingenuity to Solve Problems Big and Small
By Barry J. Nalebuff, Ian Ayres