Ninety Percent of Everything: Inside Shipping, the Invisible Industry That Puts Clothes on Your Back, Gas in Your Car, and Food on Your Plate by Rose George
From pirates to high seas danger, this book takes its readers into the darkest corners of one of the largest unseen industries in the world: Shipping and logistics. This is an insider’s look into shipping as one of the most surprisingly venturesome occupations in the United States. Although the author George spends most of the book exploring the maritime aspects of shipping, her investigation of what really goes into a supply chain and the often grim dangers involved in the reality of logistics makes it well worth reading.
The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger by Marc Levinson
There are few topics more important today for shipping and logistics teams than shipping containers. Their relevance in the industry has never been more keenly felt than when there have been bottlenecks and decade highs of shortages of containers. This book delves into the hair-raising level of detail involved in moving a simple “box” to bring 19 trillion dollars worth of goods around the world every year.
Cowboy of the Road by Marcel Pontbriand
This autobiography weaves the true story of one of the original Ice Road Truckers. The author began braving frozen Canadian lakes at the age of just fourteen. In his work he recounts facing down wolves, while trying to survive brutal blizzard conditions. The work is also an homage to the American West. It’s a tribute to the country’s transformation from horses to trucking, paying respects to the long and colorful history of the shipping and logistics industry.
The Dutch East India Company: A Captivating Guide to the First True Multinational Corporation by Captivating History
The original shipping and logistics company: The Dutch East India Company is the wealthiest company to ever exist at 7.9 trillion dollars. They were the first company to solve the logistics riddles involved in transporting spices and tea from the East into the West. Their work ushered in a wave of cultural trends, globalization, and vast wealth that changed the course of history forever. Read about their exploits and their ventures to better understand the origin and impact of shipping and logistics.
Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen by Rita McGrath
Who wouldn’t have wanted a heads up on how COVID-19 would impact the shipping industry? The heart of Shipping and Logistics is the capacity to improvise a clever, strategic approach to deliver faster and better and then do it faster and better than that tomorrow. Industry expertise helps seasoned pros in the industry make effective decisions, but it’s the ability to make predictive analysis that separates the top performing logistics companies. Read Seeing Around Corners for tips on adaptive, strategic thought that can up your game and help you see what’s coming next in the industry.