News from aipm

The better angels of our nature : a history of violence and humanity / Steven Pinker.

"The better angels of our nature” is a phrase from Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address and was a plea to the American population to avoid what became the American Civil War. At a time when true accountability can hide behind claims of ‘fake news’ and AI algorithms are narrowing the information we receive to only those perspectives that are similar to our own, Steven Pinker is one of several contemporary authors who are using factual data supported by an engaging narrative to demonstrate that the world is a better place than many of us perceive it to be. For police officers, this book is worthy of your attention because, perhaps more than other occupations, our work-based experience can lead to a very distorted view about the goodness of the majority and how much better the world is today than it was.

Review by Bob Fauser, AIPM Visiting Fellow, 2018.

Books by David Rock

"Having read Quiet Leadership I was struck by both the simplicity with which David Rock tells a story and the significance of the story that he tells. Quiet Leadership gives the reader an opportunity to understand how to get the best out of those for whom we are responsible and also ourselves. The book challenges us to move from the role of problem solver to the role of a leader who challenges others by allowing us to understand our own default behaviours and through this identify and understand the default behaviours of others. Whilst we may think it is easier to just give the answer to the problem, that answer is based on our criteria and is really only suitable for us. This book will open up a new world of thinking about problems, both our own and those of others, in an entirely new light. This is a must read for everyone who wishes to exercise leadership effectively."

Review by Rod Smith, Director Operations, AIPM. Read more here.