Book Review: Unsettled Disruption

Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Portland Book Review.

Juana-Catalina Rodriguez

How do companies successfully adapt to disruption in the market that threatens their existence? Conversely, how do new entrants execute disruptive innovation to serve unattended customers? In Unsettled Disruption, Juana-Catalina Rodriguez provides a methodical guide for entrepreneurs and business leaders to understand the mechanics of disruption, and how best to adapt to changes in value chain, business model, technology, and business purpose.

Disruption happens when new entrants move from the niche and obscure to the center. Rodriguez, a Stanford consultant, illustrates how established companies respond to market challenges by seeing clearly the evolution of the user and adapting a broader perspective. The author shares examples from technology disruptors such as Canva and Warby Parker, while also understanding how well-known brands like Microsoft and Lego demonstrated self-innovation.

The book is written for the busy and time-crunched executive, intrapreneur, or startup founder who would appreciate how information is presented in the book: through short case studies, takeaways, and numbered lists. Rodriguez discusses disruption trends in digestible chunks. She craftily writes for readers who want to get the point right away. Thus, the case studies are brief and straightforward. Rodriguez supports her claims with an extensive list of notes highlighting the journey of how different companies anticipate market needs and confront deadly disruption.

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Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto

In "Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto," renowned Marxian scholar and philosopher Kohei Saito offers a compelling argument against the relentless pursuit of economic growth that permeates contemporary capitalism. Saito’s thesis focuses on the concept of degrowth—a radical reduction in production and consumption that aligns with sustainable ecological limits rather than constant expansion. Pictured above is Kohei Saito Saito makes a significant and timely contribution to the ongoing conversation about sustainable living. Slow Down adopts an interdisciplinary approach, drawing insights from environmental science, economics, and social theory to present a clear and urgent depiction of the current ecological crisis. Saito critiques the widely accepted belief that economic growth equates to progress and questions the sustainability of existing global consumption patterns. He advocates for a fundamental reshaping of our economic systems to prioritize human well-being and ecologica...

Enlighten Me

Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Los Angeles Book Review . Author Minh Lê Standing up for oneself seems like doing the right thing. Binh did just that in the face of a racist school bully who was poking fun at his Asian heritage. But physically assaulting another student goes against school policy, and it was Binh who got in trouble. Binh shares a silent retreat with his family and younger siblings. Along with other children, he learns about stories from the previous lives of the Buddha. The stories are interesting, but for Binh, it is difficult to sit still and clear his mind when he misses his Gameboy. While he struggles with silence, he learns important lessons about friendship, community, and being present. In the graphic novel "Enlighten Me," award-winning author Minh Lê and bestselling illustrator Chan Chau tell the story of a boy who gains a better understanding of himself as he works on quieting the mind and reflecting on dharma. Lê and Ch...

Minding the Wealth Gap

As a Black investor and startup founder, Cliff Goins IV brings firsthand experience and sharp insight to one of America’s most urgent issues: the racial wealth gap. Having navigated the worlds of finance and entrepreneurship, Goins has seen up close the systemic disparities in wealth creation, access to capital, and asset management. From unequal opportunities in homeownership and education to persistent challenges in business funding and employment, the historical gaps are perpetuated in present-day practices. In "Minding the Wealth Gap," Goins skillfully blends data, lived experience, and the insights of experts to illuminate the deep-rooted economic disparities facing Black Americans. More importantly, he highlights the power of collective uplift. Through the voices of nine dynamic “gap closers,” Goins shows how real change happens when Black investors and leaders open doors for others. Each success “play” or strategy underscores the ripple effect of support. Selena Cu...

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