Most cliches find their origin in truth, and "less is more" is one that rings true whether we are discussing a new marketing piece swimming with text and graphics or an ice cream sundae swimming in, well, just never add a dollop of strawberry sauce over the chocolate, caramel and those multi-colored jimmies. Dan Ward succinctly shows us that increased complexity does not inherently equal increased goodness and instructs us on how to walk that fine line while still innovating.

Who knows the most about a product? The creator or the user? Take, for example, surfboards. There is a whole population of surfers whose everyday focus is to maximize their experience in taking a wave. The best experience is found using the best board. Thus, the experts are the users. Von Hippel shows us that across many industries, information technology especially, users are the best minds to influence change and advancement. User innovation benefits all and in his manifesto, Von Hippel shows us why. This manifesto has been adapted from the first chapter of Democratizing Innovation.

This masterly list of not-always-obvious tips reminds us that every relationship is a sales relationship. Tom Peters' thoughts on selling will sharpen your innate sales sense—for the expert or novice alike.