It’s been a long time since I posted anything, but it’s been a REALLY long time since I posted any book recommendations. That used to be the whole premise of this blog back in the day, so I thought what better way to get back to posting regularly, then share some awesome books I recently came across. These aren’t necessarily new books, they are just new to me. Hope you might find a few good ones you haven’t heard of!
Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday This is easily the best book I read in the last year. I already mentioned it here, but it bears repeating that this book will seriously kick your ass. If you don’t think you have an ego problem then you probably need it more than the rest of us. It has been an excellent tool for self-examination and will forever be a book I re-read regularly.
What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith This sounds like a cheesy self-help book, but it’s actually worth the read. If you’re in a leadership role, your subordinates are unlikely to point out your personality and management flaws, so you’re commonly stuck trying to figure it out yourself. This is a near impossible task. This book unpacks all the most common personality defects that executives tend to have so you can become more self-aware. There are examples of how the traits may come out in the workplace, so it makes self-examination very easy. I know on several occasions I thought a certain trait wasn’t an issue for me until I read his examples of how it might come out. Very helpful book.
The Virgin Way: Everything I Know About Leadership by Richard Branson I’ve been on a biography kick lately, but this is the only one I’ll recommend for now. Richard Branson has a great perspective on business, and more than anything else it reminded me of the importance of having fun. I can get so focused on work that fun seems like a complete waste of time, but this book reminded me of the joy it can bring and how much more productive and enjoyable work can be when everyone is enjoying themselves and having a good time.
Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss This is a fascinating book about negotiation tactics, written by the top FBI negotiator. Most business owners and managers will find themselves in many negotiations, and I for one didn’t learn a thing about how to do them in school. I’ve read a couple books on negotiation before, but this was by far the best, he also drove the point home with crazy Die Hard like stories from his career in the FBI. He also dumped all over the other books I had read, and I’ll believe and FBI guy over an academic any day.
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing This is simply the story of Ernest Shackleton’s voyage to the Antarctica. I don’t think I really learned anything particular from this book (aside from how pathetically mentally weak I am compared to these guys), but damn was it a good read. It kicked off a 5 adventure book frenzy for me of trying to recapture what it was like to read this book, unfortunately, none of the others came even close (what’s up with that Amazon recommendations?!?). This is just a stunning book about discipline, grit, and the ability to endure. It’s unbelievably inspiring and fascinating.
So there you have it, my top book recommendations from the past few months. I’m always looking for recommendations myself, so if you got any add them in the comments!
