Judy was CTO of Cisco for 3 years, and has headed 7 startups. She is also the sister of the fiancee of my wife’s cousin…:-) She gave an amazing party tonight at the California Academy of Science to celebrate her book: Closing the Innovation Gap: Reigniting the Spark of Creativity in a Global Economy

Among the many luminaries present was Vint Cerf, Chief Google Evangelist, who was Judy’s advisor.

Cool book.

“He’s in the hospital. He had an aneurysm and internal bleeding,” said my cousin, calling yesterday from Las Vegas.

Jerry’s heart stopped twice before the surgery even began. They revived him both times. But an hour or so into the procedure, he left and did not return.

Jerry and I had an unusual relationship for brothers 2.5 years apart in age. My wife Dalia says we were more like twins, in our no-jealousy unconditional acceptance of each other.

We were close, despite infrequent contact — emails from time to time, a phone call every month or so.

Everyone who knew Jerry loved him. He was a man of his word, and his belief in people knew no bounds.

The book of Jerry’s life was not exactly what he thought it would be, but it was a good one, full of love, trust, caring, and giving.

I miss him.

This afternoon (6 PST/ 9 EST) or evening, my free 30-minute webinar on “Coach: Why You Must Have a 48-Page Book — and Why It’s Easy!” will take place. You can register for it by clicking here — and if you can’t be there when it happens, you can listen to the recording at any time afterwards.

I’m excited about this product, and every coach I’ve spoken to loves it! Did you know you can get a 48-page perfect-bound book with a color cover for only $1.10, in quantity 500? And in quantity 100, it’s only $1.62? That’s cheaper than many color brochures! And far less likely to get tossed!

Michael Crichton, a Harvard-trained medical doctor who applied his love and knowledge of science to write some of the most iconic sci-fi tales of his generation, died Tuesday of cancer. He was 66 and was battling the illness privately, according to his family.

More at WIRED News

“I cannot live without books,” said Thomas Jefferson. Many thoughtful people feel the same way. Books have become very inexpensive and widely available. There are many more published today than at any previous time in history.

For those of us who are “knowledge professionals,” books are indispensable. They are a peculiar encapsulation of knowledge that conveys a typically complex message in a way we can swallow, albeit sometimes with effort.

And they confer upon their authors social and professional status. That is why so many professionals write them, and so many more want to.

“The best way to become acquainted with a subject is to write a book about it,” said Disraeli. I’ve found that to be true; the book project becomes a powerful organizing force for the writer.

In his introduction to “The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire,” Edward Gibbon confessed: “Unprovided with original learning, unformed in the habits of thinking, unskilled in the arts of composition, I resolved to write a book.” If all authors were that honest, it would be a lot easier to tell the wheat from the chaff.

Nevertheless, the value of a book to its author is undeniable. Properly undertaken, with an eye for time and effort, a book is still one of the best investments a 21st-century professional can make in his or her brand.

EB White, of “Charlotte’s Web” and “The Elements of Style,” said, “Even now, this late in the day, a blank sheet of paper holds the greatest excitement there is for me — more promising than a silver cloud, and prettier than a red wagon.”

Read more at the blog of Dr. Mike Kaspari, “Getting Things Done in Academia: Advice for graduate students on creativity, scholarship, communication, and time management.”

Thanks to Guy Kawasaki for the Tweet!