Booklife Review

Marouf debuts with a fresh approach to redefining knowledge, developed through her “Knowledge Mindfulness” model—in her own words, “the new paradigm today’s leaders need.” On a planned sabbatical during the COVID-19 pandemic, Marouf made the shift from viewing knowledge as an “intangible asset” to a living, breathing system,composed of the “collective human wisdom of interconnected groups of countless diverse individuals.” That awakening gave birth to the Knowledge Mindfulness framework, which, she posits, is more suitable for the post-pandemic world we’re all figuring out.

The material is fairly academic, and lay readers may need to take careful notes for full understanding, but the concept is clear and strong, with practical applications. Marouf stresses the need to harness the tacit knowledge (“all the things that exist in our head through the action of our rational mind “) of today’s employees—a challenging undertaking, given its highly personal, individualized nature. But it’s a whole new world out there, and leaders must acclimate to survive, Marouf advises: business, and society, no longer make progress in a linear fashion, necessitating a smoother integration of new technology alongside higher—and faster—adaptability to truly overcome contemporary challenges. The Knowledge Mindfulness paradigm merges that elusive internal knowledge with more traditional models—placing a greater emphasis on reasoning and intuition to better access “the river of knowledge that flows through our lives.”

Marouf accomplishes these lofty goals through careful, detailed, original advice: discard dated mindsets (hint: tap into your unconscious and stay humble, along with other tidbits); master her three core “supercompetencies” of create, connect, and capitalize; and follow several guidelines for knowledge transformation, including holistic thinking and a drive for objectivity. She includes helpful graphs to illustrate the more complex ideas and urges readers to view this as an ongoing process—one that, though it may seem abstract, is really “a practical way to reclaim your freedom and choose to grow beyond the challenges you face.”

Takeaway: A smart guide with a fresh perspective on knowledge management.

Comparable Titles: Adam Grant’s Think Again, Carla O’Dell and Cindy Hubert’s The New Edge in Knowledge.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A