The Vine is a remarkable set of gatherings that explore the interesting space where capitalism and community overlap. That’s the formal writ, anyway. As with all truly worthy conferences, it’s a place to bring together all kinds of smart people to talk about what’s on their minds, wherever that ends up taking them.

Greg Fuson, the Vine’s Cultivator (and founder) has a new blog post up that delves into some of his favorite books of 2009, which includes David Eggers’s incredible post-Katrina novel Zeitoun, the mind-expanding graphic novel Asterios Polyp, and Wired to Care. Given the intellectual heft and craft of the other entrants, we’re honored our little book about empathy made the list.

Greg’s thoughts:

“Patnaik, an advisor to some of the world’s most admired companies, tells the story of how organizations prosper when they tap into a power each of us already has: empathy, the ability to reach outside of ourselves and connect with other people. Empathic people (and companies) see new opportunities faster than their competitors. They have the courage to take a risk on something new. And they have the gut-level certitude to stick with an idea that doesn’t take off right away.”