Richard Smith has been described as the "Indiana Jones" of International Finance and you don't have to delve far into the book to find out why. His business which is heavily involved in trading the soverign debt of emerging nations makes for a white knuckle ride through the underbelly of the global market economy. This book is a must read for anyone who has ever wondered how this $1.7 trillion dollar industry works and for those who are struggling to keep businesses running during the current economic crisis. This book was reviewed by Keith on radio 2GB. Unfortunately podcasts of... Full review »

Posted by: Webeditor at 10:53 AM Comment

Tags: business, economics

Friday December 4th 2009 2009 has been another turbulent year, with Australia's involvement with the world's superpowers creating as many problems as opportunities. Among the topics to be reviewed this morning are: • How is Barack Obama doing? • Global Economy: Breakdown or breakthrough? • Global Environment: Winning battles but losing the war? • 21st Century: "The Asian Century"? Course No. 94HM381 1 session 10 am - 12.30 pm Cost: $39 (No Concession) Morning Tea included WEA House, 72 Bathurst St, Sydney 2000 Tel: (02) 9264 2781 Fax: (02) 9267 6988 Internet: www.weasydney.nsw.edu.au A non-profit organisation established 1913... Full article »

Posted by: Amanda Foxon-Hill at 3:41 PM Comment

Tags: Australasia, business, economics

Storm Cunningham has made his name as the real estate agent for the revitalize era. As CEO of the resolution fund, Storm has turned around the fortunes of many a decaying suburb. When the manufacturing industries of Youngstown moved overseas the area was left vacuous and soulless until its community based "revitalization via shrinkage" program, initiated in 2004 and due to be completed in 2010.  It is  initiatives like this, focusing on re-working "brown" land and revitalizing industrial suburbs that have earned Storm his reputation as champion of the restoration economy.The book walks us through some of the projects... Full review »

Posted by: Webeditor at 10:20 PM 1 comment

Tags: business, economics, media, reviews

Wondering what rapper 50 cent is doing gracing the pages of this website? Well, as co-author of what is quickly becoming a business best seller, this book just couldn't be missed.                        Curtis James Jackson III is an American Rapper who has caused much controversy over his anti-social ways, his explicit album lyrics (Get Rich or Die Trying was his 2003 album shown above) and his public feuds. His drug dealing mother was shot when he was in his early teens leaving him to be brought  up by his grandparents.  Curtis... Full review »

Posted by: Amanda Foxon-Hill at 10:08 PM Comment

Tags: America, business, media, reviews

Scientists are usually reluctant to state anything as fact preferring instead to prequalify everything with the term "theory" (relativity, big bang, string, quantum entanglement....). However, while some theories prove to validate, others often sit on the lab bench for centuries waiting for that missing link. The one commonality is that they remain theories which means that they can and often are proved wrong. So why is it that climate change is a done deal? Should we really believe that pretty much every scientist worth their weight in petri dishes agrees that climate change is fact? Professor Ian Plimer thinks not.... Full review »

Posted by: Webeditor at 9:56 PM Comment

Tags: business, environment, law, science

While Australia has the lowest recorded annual rainfall of any inhabited continent it tops the list on a per capita calculation, our problem has always been more about management. This book chronicals the history of Australia from the first fleet to present day, outlining how the search for and management of water shaped this great continent. In the early days Sydney and its surrounds was sustained by fresh water running into Sydney Cove but with the population rapidly increasing this supply became inadequate and the "Tank Stream" was created. By tapping into an underground water source Sydney was able to... Full review »

Posted by: Webeditor at 10:34 PM Comment

Tags: Australasia, business, environment

Cityboy is a brilliantly gritty account of life in London's financial heartland - The Square Mile. Author Geraint Anderson breaks the city's code of silence to uncover its dark and sorded secrets. With insider trading, drug taking, gambling and recklessness abound it is a wonder that any trading gets done. However, Geraint is proof that the dog-eat-dog culture of looking out for number one does yield results - he retired at only 35 years old after amassing a fortune. The book, which was originally an anonymous column in a city newspaper looks set to go to film in the near... Full review »

Posted by: Webeditor at 11:40 PM Comment

Tags: business, economics, Keith Suter, media, reviews

Throughout history we have seen great business and political leaders soar to the top of their field before falling on their own sword due to a number of seemingly obvious bad decisions. Herbert Hoover became president of the USA after WW1 after gaining popularity as a great businessman and successful secretary of state. However the great depression put him off his stride and a series of bad economic decisions saw his downfall. Next take An Wang, the Chinese American inventor behind (among other things) the technology that made magnetic core memory possible. Wang empire grew from strength to strength throughout... Full review »

Posted by: Webeditor at 11:15 PM Comment

Tags: America, business, economics

If you want to push your particular issue up the political agenda, then it is necessary to add "security" to your noun eg "water security", "climate security" and "education security". I think that there should be a national campaign to emphasize "food, fibre and fuel security". On Friday September 11 2009 I spoke in Brisbane at the Queensland AGFORCE 2009 State Conference. This was an appropriate anniversary on which to be speaking about new approaches to "security"!                  People now expect more "safety" from their governments. There has been a revolution of "rising... Full article »

Posted by: Webeditor at 6:52 PM Comment

Tags: business, economics, environment

In June Keith interviewed Dr Ian Pollard For the Australian Institute of Company Directors about his new book "Investing In Life". The interview is available to listed to via podcast by clicking here. Dr Pollard tells Keith that he was inspired to write this book after seeing a gap in the market for books that look at the business case for investing in ones self. He cites that there are many books out there teaching us how to develop our Emotional Intelligence, or negotiation skills and our networking ability but nothing that gives a holistic perspective on the returns that... Full review »

Posted by: Webeditor at 2:29 PM Comment

Tags: business, economics, law, media, reviews

Whether you are looking to tackle a mamouth load of ironing this weekend or climb mount Everest, a little motivational pep talk is always welcome. We found this video doing the rounds on You Tube and wanted to share it with you. Some words of wisdom to see us on our way!... Full article »

Tags: business, health, media

The recent controversy over the Australian mining executive, Stern Hu, held in China has been a reminder of the importance of mining to the Australian economy. But mining's contribution is not just financial. In May 2008 I spoke at the dinner of the National Mining Congress of the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC). Here are some of my remarks: Mining Companies Make the World a More Peaceful Place First, mining is part of the overall improvement in international trade - and trade that bring countries together reduces the risk of international war. This has been called the "MacDonald's... Full article »

Tags: Australasia, business, economics, environment

Every year, the Association For Service Management International (AFSMI) hosts a special night for CEO's and Senior Executives from all walks of Australian industry. This is an opportunity to not only hear from Keith, but also to catch up with other leading executives from the Technical Service Industry. This year our focus will be on the economy, developments in society and technology, and how this is shaping the business landscape. The presentation will be given by Dr Keith Suter, a renowned social commentator. As Foreign Affairs Editor on Channel 7's 'Sunrise' program, Keith Suter is the resident expert on international... Full article »

Posted by: Webeditor at 11:22 PM Comment

Tags: business, Keith Suter, technology

                The Australian Business Foundation have just launched their latest research project investigating Australian businesses and their engagement with China. This project is a reality check on actual experiences of doing business with China. It looks beyond the China hype to the strategies and approaches Australian businesses are using on the ground in China. The book explains that there is no right equation for businesses engaging with China. It is constantly changing and the right answer is different for every organisation. Rapid economic growth and development have ensured China will continue to play a... Full article »

Posted by: Webeditor at 10:52 PM Comment

Tags: Asia, Australasia, business, economics, media

Life is made up of many disasters that we should have seen coming. From slipping over on wet bathroom tiles and falling out of a tree to the Chernobyl disaster and the devastating flooding of New Orleans. However, why, when it seems so obvious that a problem is looming do we allow them to happen? This book pinpoints three of the key reasons for the occurrence of these predictable surprises. The first, cognitive failure where the authorities fail to understand the consequences of their inaction. Secondly is organizational failure where the stakeholders may very well understand the size of the... Full review »

Posted by: Webeditor at 12:09 AM Comment

Tags: business, health, media, reviews

We have all heard about how China is set to take over the world with its vast population, its cheap manufacturing and its thirst for progress but what is going on behind the statistics? Who, if anyone is influencing China? What does being part of the global economy mean to China? How is China coping with its growing wealth and power? Mark Leonard gets under the skin of the balance sheet and peels back the communist government veneer to uncover China's intellectual heart. Leonards vast foreign policy experience and connections within China have enabled him to access some of the... Full review »

Posted by: Webeditor at 1:07 AM Comment

Tags: Asia, business, economics, Keith Suter, media

In these turbulent financial times many have pondered on the true costs of capitalism. In his newly released book, Barbera takes a look at the human element of the global financial market delving into behavioral economics and uncovering the psychology that drives the cycle of boom and bust. The book talks about the three stages of the market cycle as defined by American Economist Minsky . 1) Hedge Finance - this typifies the early part of the cycle with the memory of recession fresh in investors minds. 2) The Speculative Finance phase which occurs after a few years of good... Full review »

Posted by: Webeditor at 11:51 PM Comment

Tags: business, economics, media, reviews

Regardless to whether you are selling a car, a tin of beans or a country branding is everything. Simon Anholt's short yet surprisingly comprehensive book looks at the extent that countries such as the USA and Great Britain have penetrated our subconscious and shaped our decision-making. Find out why British Airways had the upper hand over Russia's Aeroflot long before there was a plane to take off in. Discover how our trust of America stems from the playground and why China is struggling to make a small car that we can believe in. A well-written book that will change the... Full review »

Posted by: Webeditor at 11:54 PM Comment

Tags: business, media, reviews

President Obama is being criticized by the discredited neo-conservatives - who took the US into war in Iraq in 2003 - for not doing enough in Iran. But he has the right policy. Obama knows that the Iranians have a long memory of US intervention in Iran - even if most Americans have long forgotten that history. The overthrow of the Iranian government just over 50 years ago was the first secret operation by the Central Intelligence Agency outside of the Cold War. It was one of the CIA's most successful operations and became one of the standards against which... Full article »

Posted by: Webeditor at 9:46 PM Comment

Tags: America, Asia, business, Middle East

How is it that some companies manage to steam on ahead of the pack while others can only muster up a crawl? Steven Spear investigates in this amazingly insightful book. He uses Toyota as one example of a "Rabbit" - a once humble manufacture of small, cost effective vehicles turned world leader, to analyse what one needs to stay ahead of the curve in today's manufacturing environment. Toyota practice Kaizen, a Japanese philosophy of continual improvement. Rather than look for the "big hitters" Toyota try to improve systems and processes bit by bit, day by day. Responsibility for change lies... Full review »

Posted by: Webeditor at 11:32 PM 1 comment

Tags: business, media, reviews