Most Popular Books by D. Watkins

Reminiscent of the classic Random Family and The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace, but told by the man who lived it, The Cook Up is a riveting look inside the Baltimore drug trade portrayed in The Wire and an incredible story of redemption. The smartest kid on his block in East Baltimore, D. was certain he would escape the life of drugs, decadence, and violence that had surrounded him since birth. But when his brother Devin is shot-only days after D. receives notice that he''s been accepted into Georgetown University-the plans for his life are exploded, and he takes up the mantel of his brother''s crack empire. D. succeeds in cultivating the family business, but when he meets a woman unlike any he''s known before, his priorities are once more put into question. Equally terrifying and hilarious, inspiring and heartbreaking, D.''s story offers a rare glimpse into the mentality of a person who has escaped many hells.

From the row houses of Baltimore to the stoops of Brooklyn, the New York Times bestselling author of The Cook Up lays bare the voices of the most vulnerable and allows their stories to uncover the systematic injustice threaded within our society. Honest and eye-opening, the pages of We Speak for Ourselves “are abundant with wisdom and wit; integrity and love, not to mention enough laughs for a stand-up comedy routine” (Mitchell S. Jackson, author of Survival Math). Watkins introduces you to Down Bottom, the storied community of East Baltimore that holds a mirror to America’s poor black neighborhoods—“hoods” that could just as easily be in Chicago, Detroit, Oakland, or Atlanta. As Watkins sees it, the perspective of people who live in economically disadvantaged black communities is largely absent from the commentary of many top intellectuals who speak and write about race. Unapologetic and sharp-witted, D. Watkins is here to tell the truth as he has seen it. We Speak for Ourselves offers an in-depth analysis of inner-city hurdles and honors the stories therein. We sit in underfunded schools, walk the blocks burdened with police corruption, stand within an audience of Make America Great Again hats, journey from trap house to university lecture, and rally in neglected streets. And we listen. “Watkins has come to remind us, everyone deserves the opportunity to speak for themselves” (Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling author) and serves hope to fellow Americans who are too often ignored and calling on others to examine what it means to be a model activist in today’s world. We Speak for Ourselves is a must-read for all who are committed to social change.

A New York Times Best Seller! To many, the past 8 years under President Obama were meant to usher in a new post-racial American political era, dissolving the divisions of the past. However, when seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot by a wannabe cop in Florida; and then Ferguson, Missouri, happened; and then South Carolina hit the headlines; and then Baltimore blew up, it was hard to find any evidence of a new post-racial order. Suddenly the entire country seemed to be awakened to a stark fact: African American men are in danger in America. This has only become clearer as groups like Black Lives Matter continue to draw attention to this reality daily not only online but also in the streets of our nation’s embattled cities. Now one of our country’s quintessential urban war zones is brought powerfully to life by a rising young literary talent, D. Watkins. The author fought his way up on the eastside (the “beastside”) of Baltimore, Maryland—or “Bodymore, Murderland,” as his friends call it. He writes openly and unapologetically about what it took to survive life on the streets while the casualties piled up around him, including his own brother. Watkins pushed drugs to pay his way through school, staying one step ahead of murderous business rivals and equally predatory lawmen. When black residents of Baltimore finally decided they had had enough—after the brutal killing of twenty-five-year-old Freddie Gray while in police custody—Watkins was on the streets as the city erupted. He writes about his bleeding city with the razor-sharp insights of someone who bleeds along with it. Here are true dispatches from the other side of America. In this new paperback edition, the author has also added new material responding to the rising tide of racial resentment and hate embodied by political figures like Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, and the impact this has had on issues of race in America. This book is essential reading for anyone trying to make sense of the chaos of our current political moment.

A New York Times bestselling and award-winning author presents a complex story about his coming-of-age journey as a Black boy, from the societal roots of trauma to finding joy. "If I had two wishes, it would be that D. Watkins spend an entire book writing through the terrifying wonder of Black boyness in America, and for every human to read and share this book. I am shaken. Black Boy Smile changed my relationship to writing and me."―Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy and winner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal At nine years old, D. Watkins has three concerns in life: picking his dad’s Lotto numbers, keeping his Nikes free of creases, and being a man. Directly in his periphery is east Baltimore, a poverty-stricken city battling the height of the crack epidemic just hours from the nation’s capital. Watkins, like many boys around him, is thrust out of childhood and into a world where manhood means surviving by slinging crack on street corners and finding oneself on the right side of pistols. For thirty years, Watkins is forced to safeguard every moment of joy he experiences or risk losing himself entirely. Now, for the first time, Watkins harnesses these moments to tell the story of how he matured into the D. Watkins we know today—beloved author, college professor, editor-at-large of Salon.com, and devoted husband and father. Black Boy Smile lays bare Watkins’s relationship with his father and his brotherhood with the boys around him. He shares candid recollections of early assaults on his body and mind and reveals how he coped using stoic silence disguised as manhood. His harrowing pursuit of redemption, written in his signature street style, pinpoints how generational hardship, left raw and unnurtured, breeds toxic masculinity. Watkins discovers a love for books, is admitted to two graduate programs, meets with his future wife, an attorney—and finds true freedom in fatherhood. Equally moving and liberating, Black Boy Smile is D. Watkins’s love letter to Black boys in concrete cities, a daring testimony that brings to life the contradictions, fears, and hopes of boys hurdling headfirst into adulthood. Black Boy Smile is a story proving that when we acknowledge the fallacies of our past, we can uncover the path toward self-discovery. Black Boy Smile is the story of a Black boy who healed.

This Harvard Business Review collection features the best in leadership transitions from celebrated author and advisor Michael D. Watkins. Watkins, who has worked for decades guiding senior leaders into new roles to help them and their organizations succeed, is the author of the international bestseller The First 90 Days. With more than 400,000 copies sold worldwide and published in more than 25 languages, the book has become the standard reference for leaders in transition. In addition to the full digital edition (ebook) of The First 90 Days, this collection includes digital editions of Watkins’ other popular works: Your Next Move, which guides professionals through the most common career transitions; Shaping the Game, on how to lead effective negotiations; and his 2012 Harvard Business Review article, “How Managers Become Leaders.” Watkins, whose ideas have guided some of the world’s best leaders through successful transitions, is the chairman of leadership development consultancy Genesis Advisers. Drawing on the perfect combination of research and hands-on experience, he has spent the last two decades working with leaders—both corporate and public—as they transition to new roles, negotiate the future of their organizations, and craft their legacy as leaders. He was previously a professor at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, Harvard Business School, INSEAD in France, and IMD in Switzerland.

''Simon Says'' by William D Watkins is a book that will delight both children and parents alike. This picture book of a mother and son''s day at the inner city petting farm will evoke memories of warm summer days for years to come. The delicately drawn illustrations will hold your child''s interest for hours and is sure to be a firm favourite on the reading list.William Watkins was inspired to write, "Simon Says," after a family day out at an inner-city petting farm when William noticed another family going around with a crying child. The mother of the child seemed convinced that the child was afraid of the larger animals. ''Simon Says, '' shows what William imagined was actually going on. William also hopes that this book will introduce young children to all sorts of farm animals

International bestselling author of The First 90 Days Michael D. Watkins presents an actionable new framework to help aspiring leaders learn to think strategically—a set of skills more necessary than ever in a world of constant change. Pattern recognition. Systems perspective. Mental agility. Structured problem-solving. Visioning. Political savvy. For every good leader who has mastered of one of these disciplines is a great leader who knows and has mastered all of them. Michael D. Watkins, an expert on leadership transitions and organizational success, returns to the page with a new how-to guide for the modern leader. Here, he presents the six disciplines that separate the great from the good. Developed over the course of his storied career, Watkins’ approach to strategic thinking—"a set of mental disciplines leaders use to recognize potential threats and opportunities, establish priorities, and mobilize themselves and their organizations to envision and enact promising paths forward”—is the model followed by some of today’s most successful first-time CEOs and new business leaders. The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking is a comprehensive and practical guide to strategic thinking, offering a wealth of insights and tools for leaders at all levels.

Your next professional move can make or break your career. Are you ready? In business, especially today, you are only as successful as your next career transition. Do well, and you''ll be on the fast track to even more challenging roles. Fail, and you could irreparably harm your career--and your organization. In his international bestseller The First 90 Days, transition guru Michael D. Watkins outlined a set of basic principles for getting up to speed quickly in new professional roles. Since that book was published Watkins has worked with thousands of leaders, helping them to accelerate their transitions. These leaders posed challenging questions on how to apply the basic principles in real-life situations. The truth that emerged: the First 90 Days framework can be applied in every transition, but the way you apply it is entirely different when you have been promoted to a higher level than it is when you are joining a new organization or taking a role in a different country. Master Your Next Move answers a distinct need, focusing on the most common types of transitions leaders face and the unique challenges posed by each. Based on years of research, and now with a new introduction, this indispensable book explores eight crucial transitions virtually everyone encounters during their career, including promotion, leading former peers, onboarding into a new company, making an international move, and turning around a business in crisis. With real-world examples and many practical models and tools, Master Your Next Move is your guide to surviving and thriving as you make your next move . . . and every one after that.

Those looking for a compendium of the major world views, written from a Christian perspective, need look no further. Comprehensive and readable, well organized and up to date, ''Worlds Apart'' stands alone. After introducing the meaning and function of a world view, the authors explore the seven major world views of our day -- theism, atheism, pantheism, pantheism, deism, finite godism, and polytheism. They delineate the varieties within each view, analyze the beliefs of its major representatives, and outline and evaluate its basic tenets. The authors present the seven world views in such a way that one can compare and contrast these views. "It is our hope," they write, "that [readers] will carefully consider all the options and then decide, even if it means discarding the world view [they] now have." In this revised edition the authors have updated the text and bibliography, rewritten several sections, and included suggested readings for each world view. Like the original edition, published in 1984, this volume contains a glossary of terms and an index of subjects and names.

All new marriages face numerous obstacles and hardships. Imagine grieving the death of both of your spouse’s parents, adopting your five-year-old sister-in-law, and seeing your first child born with a disability, all within the first five years. This book is the story of how putting your faith in God can lead you through the unimaginable, finding joy in a unique journey creating dreams.

Stay on top of your leadership game. Leadership isn''t something you''re born with or gifted as a reward for an abundance of charisma; true leadership stems from core skills that can be learned. Get more of the leadership ideas you want, from the authors you trust, with HBR''s 10 Must Reads on Leadership (Vol. 2). We’ve combed through hundreds of Harvard Business Review articles and selected the most important ones to help you maximize your own and your organization''s performance. With insights from leading experts including Michael D. Watkins, Herminia Ibarra, and Michael E. Porter, this book will inspire you to: Identify areas for personal growth Build trust with and among your employees Develop a more dynamic and sophisticated communication style Try out different leadership styles and behaviors to find the right approach for you--and your organization Transform yourself from a problem solver to an agenda setter Harness the power of connections Become an adaptive and strategic leader This collection of articles includes "Leadership Is a Conversation," by Boris Groysberg and Michael Slind; "How Managers Become Leaders: The Seven Seismic Shifts of Perspective and Responsibility," by Michael D. Watkins; "Strategic Leadership: The Essential Skills," by Paul J.H. Schoemaker, Steve Krupp, and Samantha Howland; "The Authenticity Paradox," by Herminia Ibarra; "''Both/And'' Leadership," by Wendy K. Smith, Marianne W. Lewis, and Michael L. Tushman; "Are You a Collaborative Leader?" by Herminia Ibarra and Morten T. Hansen; "Cross-Silo Leadership," by Tiziana Casciaro, Amy C. Edmondson, and Sujin Jang; "How CEOs Manage Time," by Michael E. Porter and Nitin Nohria; "The Best Leaders Are Great Teachers," by Sydney Finkelstein; "Nimble Leadership," by Deborah Ancona, Elaine Backman, and Kate Isaacs; and "The Focused Leader," by Daniel Goleman.

"A memoir of survival and hope"--Jacket.

This Harvard Business Review collection, featuring the work of celebrated author and advisor Michael D. Watkins on leadership transitions, includes the international bestseller The First 90 Days, Updated and Expanded as well as the 2012 Harvard Business Review article, “How Managers Become Leaders.”

Learn to lead others, while managing yourself. Becoming a manager for the first time means mastering a new set of business and personal skills. HBR''s 10 Must Reads for New Managers Collection offers the ideas and strategies to help get you there. Included in this set are HBR''s 10 Must Reads for New Managers, HBR''s 10 Must Reads on Managing People, HBR''s 10 Must Reads on Managing Yourself, and HBR''s 10 Must Reads on Managing Across Cultures. This unique compilation offers insights from world-class experts on the topics most important to your success as a new manager, including assessing your team and enhancing its performance; developing your emotional intelligence and persuasion skills; navigating relationships with your employees, bosses, and peers; dealing with conflict; giving effective feedback; managing diverse teams; and fortifying your own physical and mental energy. The collection includes forty articles selected by HBR’s editors from renowned thought leaders including W. Chan Kim, Renee Mauborgne, and Daniel Goleman and features the indispensable article "Managing Oneself," by Peter F. Drucker. It''s time to develop the mindset and presence to successfully manage others for the first time. HBR''s 10 Must Reads for New Managers Collection will help you do just that. HBR''s 10 Must Reads series is the definitive collection of ideas and best practices for aspiring and experienced leaders alike. These books offer essential reading selected from the pages of Harvard Business Review on topics critical to the success of every manager. Each book is packed with advice and inspiration from leading experts such as Clayton Christensen, Rosabeth Moss Kanter, John Kotter, Michael Porter, Theodore Levitt, and Rita Gunther McGrath.

Are you a good boss--or a great one? Get more of the management ideas you want, from the authors you trust, with HBR''s 10 Must Reads on Managing People (Vol. 2). We''ve combed through hundreds of Harvard Business Review articles and selected the most important ones to help you master the innumerable challenges of being a manager. With insights from leading experts including Marcus Buckingham, Michael D. Watkins, and Linda Hill, this book will inspire you to: Draw out your employees'' signature strengths Support a culture of honesty and civility Cultivate better communication and deeper trust among global teams Give feedback that will help your people excel Hire, reward, and tolerate only fully formed adults Motivate your employees through small wins Foster collaboration and break down silos across your company This collection of articles includes "Are You a Good Boss--or a Great One?," by Linda A. Hill and Kent Lineback; "Let Your Workers Rebel," by Francesca Gino; "The Feedback Fallacy," by Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall; "The Power of Small Wins," by Teresa M. Amabile and Steven J. Kramer; "The Price of Incivility," by Christine Porath and Christine Pearson; "What Most People Get Wrong About Men and Women," by Catherine H. Tinsley and Robin J. Ely; "How Netflix Reinvented HR," by Patty McCord; "Leading the Team You Inherit," by Michael D. Watkins; "The Overcommitted Organization," by Mark Mortensen and Heidi K. Gardner; "Global Teams That Work," by Tsedal Neeley; "Creating the Best Workplace on Earth," by Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones.

Watkins puts Christians on the road to developing life-changing habits that enrich their love for God and their experience of God''s love for them by encouraging them to embrace the spiritual disciplines--including simplicity, prayer, study, confession, and service--and make them part of everyday life.

I have taken quite a while to get this cookbook out. I started it, along with another one, while we were living in Florida. That was in 2007. I wanted to write this book to continue sharing my recipes and photos of the food I make with you and hope that you will enjoy the food when you try it.

My Son Wants A Pitbull is the story of how a boy finds an extraordinary Pitbull puppy that curbs all the neighbors negative thoughts about the breed. Jake, is a little boy that comes across the puppy and then teams up with a neighborhood friend in conjuction to hide the puppy from his parents. His parents do find out about the puppy and attempt to persuade the child that Pits are dangerous and to try another less threatening breed of dog. However, the puppy has already captured the heart of Jake and once the puppy is accepted into the household, he begins working on the hearts of others as well by shedding light on a problem that the neighborhood has had for quite some time. This is a great book that I know all ages can enjoy and it shows the more gentler side of what some people stereotype as a dangerous breed of animal.

This book is a biography of my late Aunt Alice, who, like millions of other people, developed Alzheimer''s disease. I was responsible for her the last few years of her life after she could no longer live alone. She had quite a sense of humor and could also be difficult. I "inherited" my aunt in 1996 and so much has changed since then. I''ve included many helpful websites and also provide a comparison of costs in the different kinds of facilities that care for Alzheimer''s patients. I also describe the increase in costs from 1996 to the present for each of these kinds of facilities. Barbara Larsen, the author who endorsed my book, has written a book about early-stage Alzheimer''s and she provides her readers with detailed activities to decelerate Alzheimer''s disease in the early stages. At the end of the book, I discuss the causes of Alzheimer''s and how the theory seems to be changing as to the cause. Anyone who has ever had a loved one with dementia and/or Alzheimer''s disease will benefit from and enjoy reading this book. Ruth D. Watkins-Leech grew up in the town of Butte, Montana, and attended Longfellow Grade School for eight years and graduated from Butte High School. She was on the journalism staff in high school and had her own column, titled Ruthie''s Rumors. Right out of high school, Ruth worked as a dental assistant for several years. She went back to college in her late twenties and received an Associate in Science degree in Respiratory Therapy. She interned at Stanford Hospital and then worked for several years at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, California. In her fifties, she traveled extensively with her late husband and wrote travel articles for a magazine titled Lifestyles. Ruth is now retired but enjoys teaching Tai Chi at Gold Country Community Center in Grass Valley, California. She also teaches at an assisted living facility and a convalescent hospital in Grass Valley. All of her compensation is donated to the Gold Country Community Center and to the Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Cancer Center. Ruth is a breast cancer survivor. This is her first book. Enjoy

Become an extraordinary leader. If you read nothing else on leadership, read this book. We''ve chosen a new selection of current and classic Harvard Business Review articles that will help you develop an authentic, adaptable style, bring out the best in your people, and springboard your organization into the future. This book will inspire you to: Navigate through uncertainty and change Lead with emotional intelligence Capitalize on AI and other new technologies Unleash collaboration and creativity across silos Cultivate the skills and mindset you need to succeed at the top Create a culture in which everyone thrives This collection of articles includes "Begin with Trust," by Frances X. Frei and Anne Morriss; "How Managers Become Leaders," by Michael D. Watkins; "The Authenticity Paradox," by Herminia Ibarra; "Cross-Silo Leadership," by Amy C. Edmondson, Sujin Jang, and Tiziana Casciaro; "Why Inclusive Leaders Are Good for Organizations, and How to Become One," by Juliet Bourke and Andrea Titus; "Primal Leadership: The Hidden Driver of Great Performance," by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, and Annie McKee; "''Both/And'' Leadership," by Wendy K. Smith, Marianne W. Lewis, and Michael L. Tushman; "Rid Your Organization of Obstacles That Infuriate Everyone," by Robert I. Sutton and Huggy Rao; "Are You Leading Through the Crisis . . . or Managing the Response?;" by Eric J. McNulty and Leonard Marcus; "The Leader''s Guide to Corporate Culture," by Boris Groysberg, Jeremiah Lee, Jesse Price, and J. Yo-Jud Cheng; "Keeping Sight of Your Company''s Long-Term Vision," by Ron Ashkenas and Peter D. Moore; and "How to Lead in the Stakeholder Era," by Hubert Joly. HBR''s 10 Must Reads are definitive collections of classic ideas, practical advice, and essential thinking from the pages of Harvard Business Review. Exploring topics like disruptive innovation, emotional intelligence, and new technology in our ever-evolving world, these books empower any leader to make bold decisions and inspire others. This Updated and Expanded edition features new, breakthrough articles, additional short-form pieces, and a detailed discussion guide to give you and your team the tools you need for sustained success.

The Harvard Business Review Leadership Library offers the most important leadership ideas from authors such as Michael D. Watkins, Clayton M. Christensen, Michael E. Porter, and John P. Kotter, to name just a few. This must-have digital collection includes The First 90 Days (Updated and Expanded), Blue Ocean Strategy (Expanded Edition), The Innovator’s Dilemma, Leading Change (With a New Preface by the Author), On Competition, Playing to Win, Remember Who You Are, HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Leadership, HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Strategy, HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Managing Yourself, HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Managing People, and HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Emotional Intelligence.

Nylah Thompson''s life is incomplete as she yearns to get married and start a family but her fiance Drew has other plans. Stressed and unhappy, Nylah discovers that she''s living a lie. Unable to deal with the drama and betrayal she struggles to leave her past behind but it refuses to let her go. Deception takes you through a maze of confusion as Nylah struggles to figure out whats real and whats fake. Faced with life changing decisions her survival hangs in the hands of her worst enemies.

When morality is seen in terms that are no longer black or white but only gray, tolerance erodes our society, according to William D. Watkins, founding editor of the "Liberty, Life and Family Journal". "The New Absolutes" compellingly demonstrates the falsehood of the forces of relativism and offers practical steps people can take to protect themselves, their families, and their communities from destruction.

The Leadership Transitions and Team Building Collection includes two important books: The First 90 Days, Updated and Expanded, by Michael D. Watkins, and The Alliance, by Reid Hoffman, Ben Casnocha, and Chris Yeh. Transitions are a critical time for leaders. In fact, most agree that moving into a new role is the biggest challenge a manager will face. While transitions offer a chance to start fresh and make needed changes in an organization, they also place leaders in a position of acute vulnerability. Missteps made during the crucial first three months in a new role can jeopardize or even derail your success. In The First 90 Days, Watkins offers proven strategies for conquering the challenges of transitions—no matter where you are in your career. The Alliance, coauthored by the founder of LinkedIn, introduces a new, realistic loyalty pact between employer and employee. The employer-employee relationship is broken, and managers face a seemingly impossible dilemma: the old model of guaranteed long-term employment no longer works in a business environment defined by continuous change, but neither does a system in which every employee acts like a free agent. The solution? Stop thinking of employees as either family or as free agents. Think of them instead as allies. This bold but practical guide for managers and executives will give you the tools you need to recruit, manage, and retain the kind of employees who will make your company thrive in today’s world of constant innovation and fast-paced change.

Celebrate the greatest television show of all time with this definitive tribute to The Wire. Twenty years after its debut, HBO’s The Wire is widely regarded as one of the greatest TV shows of all time. This deluxe volume explores the creation and legacy of creator David Simon’s landmark series through exclusive interviews with Simon and his cast and crew, including Idris Elba, Wendell Pierce, Sonja Sohn, Andre Royo, Jamie Hector, George Pelecanos, Ed Burns, and many more. The book also features commentary and essays from notable writers including New York Times bestselling author D. Watkins (The Beast Side: Living and Dying While Black in America). Illustrated with striking visuals from the show, including concept art and candid behind-the-scenes images, The Wire: The Complete Visual History, is the essential companion to a stone-cold television classic. HUNDREDS OF NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN PHOTOS: Discover an exclusive treasure trove of incredible photography and production art that tells the story of The Wire like never before. INTERVIEWS WITH CAST AND CREATORS: The visual story of The Wire is narrated by all-new interviews with creator David Simon and key cast and crew members, including Idris Elba, Wendell Pierce, Sonja Sohn, Felicia Pearson, Ed Burns, and more. EXCLUSIVE ESSAYS: Discover unique commentary on all five seasons of the show from leading commentators including Melanie McFarland, Eric Deggans, Siddhant Adlakha, and more. THE ULTIMATE TRIBUTE: Comprehensive and unmatched in its depth, this prestige volume is the ultimate retrospective of the greatest television show of all time.

Alex and Alexa went to visit their aunts farm. When they get there, it rains for days. Once the rain goes away, they are excited about going out for a walk to explore the big farm. On their walk they discover some pretty strange but funny situations. When they get tired and hungry they head back to the house to tell their aunt all about what the encountered.

Virtual Reality Excursions with Programs in C provides the history, theory, principles and an account of the milestones in the development of virtual reality technology. The book is organized into five chapters. The first chapter explores the applications in the vast field of virtual reality. The second chapter presents a brief history of the field and its founders. Chapter 3 discusses human perception and how it works. Some interesting notes and much of the hot debate in the field are covered in Chapter 4. The fifth chapter describes many of the complexities involved in implementing virtual environments on real equipment. Computer scientists and programmers will find the book interesting.