In this book, General Stanley McChrystal and Anna Butrico present a new way to understand and manage risk. Instead of focusing on the probability of events, they emphasize the importance of managing the interface through which risks can be controlled. The authors identify ten dimensions of control—communication, narrative, structure, technology, diversity, bias, action, timing, adaptability, and leadership—that can be adjusted to maintain a healthy 'Risk Immune System.' Drawing on examples from military history, business, and other fields, the book provides practical exercises and insights to help individuals and organizations prepare for and respond to various types of risk.
The Star Wars books are part of an extensive media franchise created by George Lucas. They span multiple fictional eras, featuring characters such as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia, among others. The stories often involve galactic conflicts, the struggle between the Jedi and the Sith, and the adventures of various characters in a galaxy far, far away. The books can include novels, technical journals, and other types of literature that expand on the Star Wars universe.
A book exploring the concept of the game of life, blending philosophy, psychology, and spirituality to offer a unique perspective on human existence and self-discovery.
This book provides insights and strategies for improving gameplay in Monopoly, one of the world's most popular board games. It offers tips and tactics to enhance player performance and enjoyment.
This book provides insights and strategies for improving gameplay in Monopoly, one of the world's most popular board games. It offers tips and tactics to enhance player performance and enjoyment.
In this book, Niall Ferguson argues that Western civilization's rise to global dominance was driven by six powerful new concepts, or 'killer applications,' that emerged in the fifteenth century. These include competition, science, the rule of law, modern medicine, consumerism, and the work ethic. Ferguson explains how these factors allowed the West to surge past its Eastern rivals and dominate the world for the past five centuries. However, he also discusses how the Rest have now adopted these 'killer apps,' while the West has lost faith in itself. The book chronicles the rise and fall of empires and the clashes and fusions of civilizations, offering a bold and insightful recasting of world history.
The Harry Potter series, written by J.K. Rowling, follows the journey of Harry Potter, an orphan boy who discovers he is a wizard. The series spans seven novels, each corresponding to one year of Harry's life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry, along with his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, navigates the magical world, confronts various challenges, and ultimately faces off against the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, who murdered Harry's parents and seeks to dominate the wizarding world. The series explores themes of friendship, love, and the struggle between good and evil.
The Lord of the Rings, written by J.R.R. Tolkien, is an epic high fantasy novel set in Middle-earth. The story follows Frodo Baggins, a hobbit who inherits the One Ring from his uncle Bilbo. The Ring, forged by Sauron, holds the power to control all other Rings of Power and must be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom to prevent Sauron's return. Frodo is joined by a fellowship of other characters, including Gandalf the Grey, Samwise Gamgee, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir, as they embark on a dangerous quest across Middle-earth. The novel explores themes of good vs. evil, the corrupting influence of power, and the struggle between fate and free will[3][4][5].
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game. It's known for its rich world-building, immersive storytelling, and collaborative gameplay. Players create characters and embark on adventures, guided by a Dungeon Master who narrates the story and controls non-player characters. D&D's open-ended nature and its emphasis on creativity and imagination have made it a beloved game for decades. It has inspired countless other games and has had a significant impact on popular culture.
In 'Minecraft: The Island', Max Brooks crafts a story that teaches life lessons through the lens of Minecraft's game mechanics. The protagonist, an unnamed narrator, must navigate the challenges of the Minecraft world, learning patience, planning, and survival skills. The book is part of a series that includes 'The Mountain' and 'The Village', each focusing on different themes and adventures within the Minecraft universe.
Mitch and Blake look at two of the largest toy companies in the world, Hasbro and Lego, and discuss their divergent but ultimately very successful forays into the games business as licensors of intellectual property.
Your hosts discuss how both Hasbro and Lego tried to enter the games business directly as developers and publishers of digital games in the late 1990s, how they had very different experiences of success and failure, and how both decided to exit the business in the early 2000s only to return as licensors rather than publishers later in that decade. Mitch tells the story about why he went to Hasbro's private pre-Toy Fair meeting in Florida in the late 90s.
They then explore the licensing stategies of both companies in depth. They discuss the transformative partnership between Lego and Traveller's Tales, and the complexities of using IP licensed by Lego for toy sets, like Star Wars, as the narrative universes for Lego's video games. They discuss the rise of Wizards of the Coast inside Hasbro after the 1998 acquisition (culminating in the accession of Chris Cox, head of WoTC, to the CEO position of Hasbro), resulting in two defining license deals: Baldur's Gate 3 to Larian, and Monopoly Go to Scopely.
Mitch and Blake close the episode with a look at how a huge market for block-based sandbox play -- that should have been in Lego's wheelhouse -- was captured by new entrants like Minecraft and Roblox. They also speculate about Hasbro's challenges replicating their recent licensing success in the near future.
Gamecraft 
