Michael Wade has a new book out

I read the kindle version over the weekend and I believe the paper version is now available. Here’s my amazon review:

Michael is an established business writer via his blog, sub-stack and leadership books but I believe this is his first novel.

It is excellent. There are no explicit spoilers in my review, simply to say it is highly enjoyable, intriguing and well-written. Characters are wonderfully drawn, the plot has pace and I love the language in which it was written. Highly recommended. Five star.

Story Telling

o Storytelling often works where formal methods fail: it holds attention, supports memory, and motivates.

o Storytelling is rarely taught despite its effectiveness.

o Stories evolve through telling. As a speaker I have noticed that this iterative approach improves a story until it reaches a ‘steady state’ where it is at its most effective, and further embellishment lessens its power. When I write, I iterate until the scene is ‘just right’.

o Slides can kill engagement: PowerPoint easily creates barriers, drains energy, and makes speakers script-readers rather than communicators.

o Unplugged often works better: voice, pause, drama, props, and stories create more powerful engagement than decks with 87 slides. Of course, it demands practice, rehearsal, and the management of discomfort and fear, which is why many avoid such an ‘unplugged’ approach.

o Stories transfer ideas intact: they enable understanding to travel from one consciousness to another without loss of potency.

o Storytelling is universal: whether you are a teacher, speaker, or brand manager, it is THE medium through which ideas land.

Go tell a story.

Michael Wade

has a new book. I’m 50% through it and thoroughly enjoying it. Marvellous language and a smart plot. Get your copy instantly here.

Sleep

What is the cheapest form of torture? Exactly.

o Sleep deprivation impairs cognitive function. o Chronic sleep loss increases the risk of serious health issues. o Even one night of poor sleep reduces focus, memory, and decision-making. o Sleep is essential maintenance. Your brain processes information, consolidates memories, and repairs itself. Skimp on sleep, and everything else suffers.

Most adults need 7-9 hours; if you need an alarm to wake up, you are sleep deprived.

How to improve the quality of your sleep. o Have a consistent schedule (same bedtime and wake time, even weekends) o Ensure the room is dark and cool o Consider no screens 30 minutes before bed o No caffeine after 2pm o Exercise, but not right before bed

Go sleep. Long and deep.

AI over the last six months.

It’s ‘the year of the agent’ where AI systems move beyond simple Q&A to autonomous task execution and multi-agent collaboration. This is my area of experimenting.

Several AI-discovered drug candidates are reaching mid-to-late-stage clinical trials in 2026, marking a shift from computational breakthroughs to tangible medical results. This is of course very exciting.

University of Florida researchers announced a photonic computing chip that performs AI computations using light instead of electricity, promising drastically lower energy consumption; this would be fabulous.

Companies are addressing generative AI’s value-réalisation problem, shifting from individual tools to enterprise-level implementation. This is where I believe the massive job losses will be.

The overall theme: AI is transitioning from experimental technology to production deployment, with infrastructure and practical implementation challenges becoming the primary focus.

How to Beat ChatGPT or How not to Lose your Job to AI.