What was the best business book of 2013? + MORE Nov 28th

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Dubai’s win as the first Middle Eastern city to host the World Expo scheduled for 2020 is slated to be a big boon for business, but analysts say billions of dollars spent on construction for the exhibition and speculation by investors could also lead to rising debt and an economic bubble.
The announcement Thursday that Dubai had been chosen was somewhat of a redemption for the emirate, which grabbed the world’s attention in 2009 with its high-profile financial crisis that forced multi-billion dollar bailouts.
The debt squeeze was the result of heavy borrowing to fuel the city’s frenetic building boom that left it bristling with futuristic skyscrapers, including the world’s tallest building— the Burj Khalifa— and numerous manmade islands in the shape of palm trees and a map of the world.
As the global economy began to recover, so did Dubai’s internationally connected economy, which relies heavily on transportation logistics, tourism and trade…

Much has been written about crowd and group behavior in the investment industry, but one aspect that has received little attention is emotional contagion. As the term suggests, people can infect each other behaviorally. And in the field of investment, this can cost everyone a lot of money.

MONTREAL – Canadian National Railway Co. (TSX:CNR) says it’s investing $10 million in a special program to enhance its ability to detect equipment defects, such as hot wheels and bearings in its rolling stock.
The Montreal-based company, one of North America’s largest railway operators, said it’s part of CN’s efforts to improve the safety of its system.
The Canadian railway sector has come under increased scrutiny this year following a string of high-profile derailments in several provinces.
CN wasn’t involved in the worst incident — a deadly disaster last summer that devastated the Quebec community of Lac-Megantic — but its reputation has been tarnished by a number of other mishaps.
The fiery derailment of a CN freight train transporting propane and crude oil in late October forced residents of Gainford, Alta., from their homes for up to four days until firefighters could control the blaze.
Canadian National has argued that its safety record is good despite the recent spate of accidents and adds that the investment in safety announced Thursday will keep it ahead of the industry…

Canada’s economy likely grew faster than the central bank expected in the third quarter, according to forecasts, driven largely by consumer spending and a rebound in business investment. But net exports could pose a drag.

We’re still a few days away from December, but “best of” season—the annual compiling of cultural lists and rankings—is already well under way. Last weekend, the Globe and Mail put out its list of the best books of the year. Today, the New York Times published its “100 Notable books of 2013” online. Both lists featured a handful of works you could call, broadly, business books.
From the New York Times:
The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America. By George Packer.
Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. By Sheryl Sandberg with Nell Scovell.
The Billionaire’s Apprentice: The Rise of the Indian-American Elite and the Fall of the Galleon Hedge Fund. By Anita Raghava
After the Music Stopped: The Financial Crisis, the Response, and the Work Ahead. By Alan S. Blinder.
From the Globe and Mail:
David & Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits and the Art of Battling Giants. By Malcolm Gladwell
Smarter Than You Think: How Technology is Changing our Minds for the Better. By Clive Thompson
The Unwinding…