I was able to explore some of the area's unused railroads this weekend, and while contemplating what Massachusetts could do with a more robust rail system I listened to books for my #AcademicRunPlaylist!

First was "Riding the Roller Coaster" by Charles Hyde. This is an excellent history of the Chrysler corporation from its genesis to its merger with Daimler in the early 2000s, tracing its rapid change in fortune over the decades and how different management decisions and macro forces impacted the company. What stands out most was how each period of success led to organizational ossification and belief by the CEO that because of their earlier effectiveness that they were certainly the right person to continue on leading the company. I would've liked a bit more in the weeds analysis of particularly critical strategic decisions, but there is still a decent amount of market information incorporated here. Highly recommend https://wsupress.wayne.edu/9780814352205/

Next was "Black Folk" by Blair LM Kelley. Weaving together personal and family experiences, representative case studies, and broader sociological trends, Kelley has put together a powerful, moving book about the emergence of the Black working class in the US. Kelley works through different occupations in the late 19th and the early 20th centuries, with particularly notable chapters on washerwomen and railroad porters that touch on a whole host of issues beyond labor. Whether you're interested in labor history or US history more broadly, this is an essential book. Highly recommend https://wwnorton.com/books/9781631496554

Last was "Platform Capitalism" by Nick Srnicek. This is a quick read, with Srnicek getting right to the point around what's unique about modern digital platforms and how to understand their business models and societal impact. Some of the hypotheses he advances are compelling, but the use of outdated and overly simplistic analytical frameworks severely constrains the analysis. In addition, the intervening years have significantly undercut many of the analyses here, and the choice to mostly ignore antitrust policy as a response to the issues surfaced in the book is strange. Overall, it's a good book to pick up if you're interested in these topics and only want to spend a few hours reading https://www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?book_slug=platform-capitalism--9781509504862