Four books that might interest you
Technological upheavals, global power shifts and the limits to growth are presenting the economy and society with new, complex challenges. Well-founded analyses, critical perspectives and concrete approaches for sustainable action are in demand. We present four current books that shed light on the key developments of our time - from exponential growth and digital power structures to customer-centric thinking and sustainable transformation. They offer guidance for anyone who not only wants to understand change, but also actively shape it.
In collaboration with GetAbstract, we present four books from the marketing and communications sector. This time: «The Exponential Society», «Digital Colonialism», «Become a Growth Architect», «The Transformation Formula».
The exponential society
From the end of growth to the stabilization of the world.
Emanuel Deutschmann
Publisher: Suhrkamp
Publication year: 2025
Pages: 442
ISBN: 9783518432235
Higher, faster, further: it goes without saying that this will not work forever on a planet with finite resources. Nevertheless, humanity has turned a blind eye for far too long and now seems to be heading almost unchecked towards disaster. But all is not yet lost. Emanuel Deutschmann is confident that there is a way out. He not only analyzes the current exponential developments with clear-sightedness, but also shows ways to break them and find new stability. Most of these are well known - it is only the implementation that is lacking. Deutschmann's book is therefore less of a concrete guide and more of an urgently needed call.
getAbstract rating: 9
Qualities:
- Analytical
- Eye opener
- Inspiring
Digital colonialism
How tech companies and major powers are dividing up the world.
Sven Hilbig and Ingo Dachwitz
Publisher: C. H. Beck
Publication year: 2025
Pages: 351
ISBN: 9783406823022
For decades, we have been told about digitalization as a story of pure progress - as a succession of ingenious inventions, clean technologies and constant simplifications. However, this is only one side of the coin. What is ignored is who makes this progress possible and what costs it causes elsewhere. The authors describe a world in which purchasing power, private provision and comfortable living conditions in the global North are based on the exploitation of people and nature in the global South. Anyone who no longer wants to turn a blind eye to this will find this a necessary, sobering read.
getAbstract rating: 9
Qualities:
- Eye opener
- Opinionated
- Explosive
Become a growth architect
Measure customer needs, generate growth.
Yann Wermuth and Beat Walther
Publisher: Versus
Publication year: 2026
Pages: 159
ISBN: 9783039093649
This book is a sharp reckoning with the technological megalomania in many companies, which annoys customers and burns through budgets. In line with the motto „Stop selling products - start doing jobs!“, Yann Wermuth and Beat Walther provide a counter-proposal to the widespread innovation processes in companies: namely a system that replaces gut feeling and technology orientation with data-supported determination of customer needs. At times redundant, the book is a plea for radical relevance to the customer - and thus for successful growth.
getAbstract rating: 8
Qualities:
- Realizable
- Practical examples
- For experts
The transformation formula
How people and organizations grow successfully.
Tim Komkowski, Benedikt Viedenz, Nicole Davila, Thomas Niggemeier and Jiju Antony
Publisher: Wiley-VCH
Publication year: 2026
Pages: 240
ISBN: 9783527512478
According to the authors of this book, transformation is no longer a project with an end date for companies, but a strategic long-term requirement. Based on this insight and on a study of over 500 experts, they have developed a model that understands transformation as an organizational capability with seven components. Even if the arguments in the individual chapters are similar and the text could be tighter, a coherent overall picture emerges that brings together topics such as agility, governance and culture.
getAbstract rating: 7
Qualities:
- Analytical
- Systematic
