Editor’s Note: Because I read a lot of books and articles on philanthropy, I assumed this would be another dull but earnest attempt to improve the world of charitable giving, but Dan Palotta makes a pretty compelling case for the need to move towards a free-market system (e.g. investment in marketing, tolerance for risk, competitive pay) in order to win the war against poverty and disease. Dan will be coming to Cleveland on April 10th to the Cleveland Social Venture Partners' (CSVP) second annual bigBANG! event. Go to http://bigbang.csvp.org/ for more information.

Editor’s Note: I’m not Lennon’s biggest fan but I love the thought “nothing’s going change my world”.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”

Editor’s comment: The soft side of business is the most difficult for most people, including me. And yet, the two most successful companies I’ve been involved in demonstrated exactly what Lenioni describes in his book , The Advantage. He writes like a consultant, which is annoying at times, and yet the book’s point is crystal clear and should be read by every organizational leader, no matter what type of business they are involved in.

Editor’s note: Okay, it’s soupy, but I selected it because I played and sang it to my wife, Alice, some 37 years ago at our wedding. Through a lot of thick and a lot of thin, she’s still my best friend.

“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.”

Editor’s Note: The Bond by the “Three Doctors,” is a continuation of their first book, The Pact. In The Pact, Sampson Davis, George Jenkins and Rameck Hunt tell how they became friends in high school and promised to graduate from college to become doctors. The Bond, co-written by our friend Margaret Bernstein of the Plain Dealer, goes even further into their friendship and ways that they have set out to mentor other children who are growing up in similar homes. Their story resonates as our foundation’s vision is that all low-income and/or first-generation students will have a caring and committed mentor to help get them get to and through college.

Editor’s Note: After a difficult day with a delusional friend I took a run and this song came on my iPhone. As I listened to the words, I came to realize it was not my job to make him tell the truth; rather, I only need to know my own truth.

"What we see depends mainly on what we look for."

Editor’s Note: If you aren’t an anxious person and/or don’t believe in psychiatry – don’t read this book. But for those of us who suffer anxiety issues, as I do, and believe in paying attention to our mental health similar to working out for our physical health, this is a good summary of reminders. I noticed it on sale at the book store so just picked it up for curiosity and lo and behold, most of the chapters are things I’ve worked on for years and two chapters (5 and 12) gave me new things to practice. This little book will be a holiday gift for my anxious family members and friends. Enjoy.