Born Entrepreneurs, Born Leaders

How Your Genes Affect Your Work Life

By: Scott Shane

Narrated by: Walter Dixon

Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

It's no secret that your genes have a subtle, but powerful impact on your job and career. But did you know that your DNA accounts for one third of the difference between you and your co-workers in many aspects of work life, from job satisfaction to income level? That's the revelation of this fascinating book - one that will change the way you think. Despite extensive evidence highlighting the influence of genetics in the business world, this critical connection has been glossed over by corporate leaders and management gurus.

Now, for the first time, author Scott Shane explains why genes matter, and how an understanding of their relationship to behavior is of vital importance to employers, employees, and policy makers. This eye-opening resource begins with an incisive look at the basic function of genes and their effects on organizational behavior, providing a real-world analysis of how genes influence numerous aspects of our professional lives, from the jobs we choose, to how effectively we make decisions and manage people.

Born Entrepreneurs, Born Leaders also delves into role that genetics plays in creativity and innovation, and focuses on how genes affect our tendency to start companies. Armed with these insights, you'll not only learn how to leverage your innate skills and personality, but you'll discover how to succeed by acting in ways contrary to your "nature."

Packed with scientifically grounded insights, this phenomenal book also examines the potential use of genetic information in creating job assignments and designing incentive and training plans. Ultimately, Born Entrepreneurs, Born Leaders shows how a heightened awareness of your own - and your colleagues' - genetic predispositions can make you a better employee or employer.

©2010 Oxford University Press (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Scott Shane takes a close look at recent scientific research to assess the role that genes play in careers and career choices. His aim is to illuminate the role of heredity at work. The strength of his account is that it calmly brings an uncomfortable subject to the fore, laying out the research data in admirably plain English and describing in detail how scientists match specific genes to specific traits." (The Wall Street Journal)

Good listen but could have been edited

The overall principle of the book is an interesting one. However, the first half of the book could have been edited down to one chapter; maybe even a few paragraphs. The real meat of the book is only in the last few chapters, as the first half of the book address too much of the science of DNA and not the author's theories. The author should also get his hands on a thesaurus to find another word for "More-over". The narrator is good but has a distinct "William Shatner" quality about his presentation.