Plug for used books
I recently rediscovered that Amazon lists used books on the same page as new ones. I don't know how this ever slipped off my radar, but buying a used book is a really smart thing to do:
- Usually 50%-95% cheaper than a new copy
- Saves resources by recycling a book rather than making you a new one
- Encourages people who are done with books to pass them on to others who really value that book rather than just letting it sit around unused or gifting it to somebody who doesn't really care about it (but will take it because it's free). In other words, your books will generally get better utilization if you find a buyer for them instead of just giving them away
So I haven't bothered to sell my old books yet (not worth the time to package/ship them) but I will try to buy used whenever possible.
Airplane reading
I just finished the magnificant book Hard Landing; it's a gripping history of the North American airline business through 1996. The book tells stories about individual CEOs in an engaging way (lots of author interviews) and gives a non-technical account of the evolution of airline strategy over time. Having read it once quickly to see where all of the characters end up I'll probably re-read parts of the book selectively to make sure I understand what went on.
Other highlights:
- Flashbacks/nostalgia for extremely powerful companies that have disappeared from public consciousness (Braniff, Pan Am, Eastern, People Express, etc.)
- Portraits of leading CEOs with lots of anecdotes about how intense/driven some of them are (apparently when TI/Braniff asked for injunctions from regulators to keep his airline from starting up Herb Kelleher clenched his teeth so hard he cracked 4 molars)
- Characterizations of the politics and organizational dynamics at the top of these companies
- Insight into the regulatory process that is so critical to the airline business
- Marketing insights including price discrimination, product placement on travel agent screens/systems, customer segmentation, rebates, etc.
The book was written in 1996; it seemed pretty recent to me until I realized that in 1996 most people hadn't heard of the internet and the revolutionary development of the online reservations business hadn't taken off. Having said that anybody who has a passing interest in the history of the airline business should pick up the book.