One goal that I keep retaining in my list of goals every year is to read 20-24 good books. This translates to at least 2 books a month. I love reading and listening to audibles as it sharpens my mind and gives me an opportunity to continually learn from others and be inspired. So, in 2021, despite developing a passion for podcasts in 2020 (which I still have), I managed to read 26 books. Chief, on the other hand, read 35 books! I asked him how he managed to beat me, and he gave me 3 reasons: (1) during our weekly hikes, while I am savouring my favourite podcasts, he is busy listening to audiobooks, (2) he spends more time in the car than me (which means listening to more audiobooks while driving), and (3) he reads a chapter or 2 in bed (while I am busy watching an episode of a series I enjoy on my iPad😊). Oh well, given that I get to have a taste of everything I enjoy, I accept that defeat!
I have listed my reads in 8 categories:
a. BOOKS BY MY 2021 MENTOR
One of my goals in 2021 was to select one or two mentors whose feet I would sit under and learn. I narrowed down to Robin Sharma and Carla Harris but ended up focusing on Robin Sharma. Thankfully, mentors don’t have to be in the same country as you or people you know personally. We have access to them, dead or alive, through their books. And so, in 2021, I embarked to read as many books by Robin Sharma as I could find, and I wrote detailed notes/summaries of each. In total, I read 8 books and I have 3 or 4 more to go. I only bought the 1st and 8th book. I got the others for free and you can too as outlined in my blogpost An Invaluable Resource Worth Checking Out – Part 1.
1. The 5AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life by Robin Sharma
This was my 1st book of 2021 and I shed some more light around it in my blogpost: A Book Worth Reading and Listening to in 2021. This book gave me back my mornings – something I have come to completely cherish!
2. The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma
I really enjoy Robin Sharma’s writing style and the way he passes across different messages through stories. This book tells the extraordinary story of Julian Mantle, a lawyer forced to confront the spiritual crisis of his out-of-balance life, and the subsequent wisdom that he gains on a life-changing odyssey that enables him to create a life of passion, purpose, and peace. It is an inspiring tale that provides a step-by-step approach to living with greater courage, balance, abundance, and joy.
3. The Greatness Guide by Robin Sharma
4. The Greatness Guide 2 by Robin Sharma
Each of these books shares ~100 lessons to help one release their potential and awaken their best self.
5. Leadership Wisdom by Robin Sharma
This book shares 8 practical lessons that leaders, managers, and entrepreneurs can immediately apply to send morale and productivity soaring while creating far more fulfilling inner lives along the way.
6. Who Will Cry When You Die by Robin Sharma
“When you were born, you cried while the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way that when you die, the world cries while you rejoice”. This book shares 101 simple solutions to life’s most complex problems, ranging from a little-known method for beating stress and worry to a powerful way to enjoy the journey while you create a legacy that lasts. Other lessons include “Honor Your Past,” “Start Your Day Well,” “See Troubles as Blessings” and “Discover Your Calling.”
7. Daily Inspiration by Robin Sharma
This is a daily prescription of uplifting, practical wisdom for personal and professional success.
8. The Everyday Hero Manifesto: Activate Your Positivity, Maximize Your Productivity, Serve The World by Robin Sharma
In this latest book, which he released in 2021, Robin outlines:
– Habits used by the world’s creative and successful people to realize their visionary ambitions
– Techniques to turn fear into fuel, problems into power and past troubles into triumphs
– A blueprint to battle-proof yourself against distraction and procrastination so that you produce magic that dominates your domain
– Insights on adopting world-class routines that will lead you to achieve fitness and become the most disciplined person you know
– Wisdom to operate with far more simplicity, beauty, and peace.
b. BOOKS BY STRONG WOMEN
9. You Got Anything Stronger? Stories by Gabrielle Union
After reading her book We’re Going to Need More Wine in 2018, I couldn’t help but read this one. She talks about several things but the key thing I could completely relate with, was her endometriosis/adenomyosis struggle with regards to conception and, the horrible side effects of “lucrin” (which induces menopause for several months) as part of the IVF treatment. I have walked this journey more than once and completely empathize with all the endo warriors out there! I have shared my story with a few. Hopefully, one day, I will gather the courage to share with many more.
10. My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future by Indra Nooyi (former CEO of PepsiCo)
After watching her interview on whether women can have it all and her coping mechanisms several years ago, I fell in love with Indra because I love how real she is given the challenges that we hardworking, go-getter female individuals face every day while striving to excel not only at work but also at parenthood, marriage etc. In this rich memoir brimming with grace, grit, and good humour, Indra offers a first-hand view of her legendary career and the sacrifices it so often demanded. She takes us through the events that shaped her, from her childhood and early education in 1960s India, to the Yale School of Management, to her rise as a corporate consultant and strategist who soon ascended into the most senior executive ranks. She lays bare the difficulties that came with managing her demanding job with a growing family, and what she learned along the way. She makes a clear, actionable, urgent call for business and government to prioritize the care ecosystem, paid leave and work flexibility, and a convincing argument for how improving company and community support for young family builders will unleash the economy’s full potential.
c. BOOKS ON MARRIAGE
I always make sure I have a book or 2 on marriage in my reading list and have shared several resources over the years in the Marriage Devotions section of my blogpost. Whether one has been married for a year, decade or 50+ years, there is always something one can learn/be reminded of. This year I got 5 books, each for $1 and you can too, as outlined in my blogpost Free Marriage Resources Worth Checking Out. Below are the 2 I have read so far:
11. 100 Ways to Love Your Husband: The Simple, Powerful Path to a Loving Marriage by Lisa Jacobson
Couples with great marriages know one simple truth: the best marriages are made up of many everyday decisions that say, “I love you” rather than those that say, “I love me.” When we put the other person first, even in little ways, we find true fulfilment. This book offers wives practical, hands-on advice to start applying immediately. Maybe you are just entering into marriage and want to start off on the right foot. Maybe you have made some mistakes along the way and are struggling to connect. Or maybe you want your marriage to go from good to great. Wherever you currently are in your relationship, learn how to love your husband well.
There’s also a version for husbands titled 100 Ways to Love Your Wife: The Simple, Powerful Path to a Loving Marriage by Matt Jacobson. Grab a copy for each of you!
12. Reconnected: Moving from Roommates to Soulmates in Marriage (Focus on the Family) by Greg Smalley & Erin Smalley
Over time, the business of life creeps in and even the most deeply committed couples can feel like they’re living parallel lives rather than enjoying life together. Their once happily-ever-after can quickly turn into an endless grind of work, chores, errands, and carpool. And the pull of social media becomes more compelling than engaging with one’s spouse. This book offers practical ways to rekindle the passionate, intimate, heart-to-heart spark of connection between husbands and wives.
d. BOOKS ON PARENTING
13. Raising Future Parents Plus: Online Class by Stanley Mukolwe
I started watching this course with Chief several years ago but only finally finished it in 2021. I would highly recommend it! It is extremely affordable given the amount of content it covers. You can also buy the book which will give you practical ways of loving your child as you prepare him/her to be a future parent. Remember, you are not just raising a child, you are raising a future parent! Before you know it, your children will be parents. Now is the time to prepare them.
14. On Becoming Toddlerwise: From First Steps to Potty Training by Gary Ezzo, Robert Bucknam
I first read this book in 2020 and re-read in 2021 when I thought of potty training our little one. Whereas it offers great suggestions, our little one did not seem to be ready and completely refused potty training. We therefore decided to give her some more time until she is ready. Nonetheless, this is a tool chest of workable strategies and ideas that multiplies your child’s learning opportunities (in many other areas) in a loving and nurturing way.
e. BOOKS FROM MY WORK BOOK CLUB
At work, we have several books that we are encouraged to read and discuss. And this year, we covered these two, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed.
15. No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Reed Hastings, Erin Meyer
This book outlines how the Hastings, the cofounder of Netflix, set new standards, valuing people over process, emphasizing innovation over efficiency, and giving employees context, not controls. At Netflix, there are no vacation or expense policies. At Netflix, adequate performance gets a generous severance, and hard work is irrelevant. At Netflix, you don’t try to please your boss, you give candid feedback instead. At Netflix, employees don’t need approval, and the company pays top of market. When Hastings and his team first devised these unorthodox principles, the implications were unknown and untested. But in just a short period, their methods led to unparalleled speed and boldness, as Netflix quickly became one of the most loved brands in the world.
The organisation I work for, borrows heavily from some (not all) of these principles like unlimited leave days (and I can tell you for sure, no one abuses this), 360-degree feedback etc.
16. Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends and Colleagues by David L. Bradford, Carole Robin
This book shows readers how to take their relationships from shallow to exceptional by cultivating authenticity, vulnerability, and honesty, while being willing to ask for and offer help, share a commitment to growth, and deal productively with conflict. The ability to create strong relationships with others is crucial to living a full life and becoming more effective at work. Yet many of us find ourselves struggling to build solid personal and professional connections or unable to handle challenges that inevitably arise when we grow closer to others. When we find ourselves in an exceptional relationship—the kind of relationship in which we feel fully understood and supported for who we are—it can seem like magic. But the truth is that the process of building and sustaining these relationships can be described, learned, and applied.
f. BOOKS FROM MY JOZI GALS BOOK CLUB
17. Think Like a Monk: The Secret of How to Harness the Power of Positivity and Be Happy Now by Jay Shetty
In this book, Shetty draws on his time as a monk in the Vedic tradition to show us how we can clear the roadblocks to our potential and power. Drawing on ancient wisdom and his own rich experiences in the ashram, Think Like a Monk reveals how to overcome negative thoughts and habits, and access the calm and purpose that lie within all of us. The lessons monks learn are profound but often abstract. Shetty transforms them into advice and exercises we can all apply to reduce stress, improve focus, improve relationships, identify our hidden abilities, increase self-discipline, and give the gifts we find in ourselves to the world. Shetty proves that everyone can and should think like a monk.
After reading this book, my Jozi gals decided to switch things up and focus on African Authors for the next reads. They were mostly novels and to be honest, I rarely read for entertainment (I prefer to watch series’ for that😊). And therefore, I did not end up finishing all the chapters of some of these books. I however gave them a shot and was pleasantly surprised I enjoyed what I read!
18. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
This book is about two half-sisters who are born into different villages in Ghana, in the 18th century, each unaware of the other. One marries an Englishman and leads a life of comfort in the palatial rooms of the Cape Coast Castle. The other is captured in a raid on her village, imprisoned in the very same castle, and sold into slavery.
19. Love in Colour: Mythical Tales from Around the World, Retold by Bolu Babalola
In this collection, Babalola retells the most beautiful love stories from history and mythology with incredible new detail and vivacity. Focusing on the magical folktales of West Africa, Babalola also reimagines Greek myths, ancient legends from the Middle East, and stories from long-erased places.
20. The Hairdresser of Harare by Tendai Huchu
This was my absolute favourite of all the African reads! It reminded me of the compositions we used to write in school, full of colour. I also loved that the chapters were short. Written with delightful humour and a penetrating eye, this is a novel that you will find hard to put down.
21. The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives by Lola Shoneyin
This is a perceptive, entertaining, and eye-opening novel of polygamy in modern-day Nigeria. The struggles, rivalries, intricate family politics, and the interplay of personalities and relationships within the complex private world of a polygamous union come to life set against a contemporary African background.
g. BOOKS ON MONEY
22. The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey
I don’t agree with everything he shares but this book has some valid points about how to:
– Design a sure-fire plan for paying off all debt—meaning cars, houses, everything
– Recognize the 10 most dangerous money myths
– Secure a big, fat nest egg for emergencies and retirement
23. Smart Money Smart Kids: Raising the Next Generation to Win with Money by Dave Ramsey, Rachel Cruze
I remember growing up, my mum always reminded my siblings and I that what was theirs was theirs and not ours and that all she could ever give us was education! And trust me, I never forgot that! It inspired me to work extremely hard. The last thing I would want after working this hard, is for our offspring to squander our hard earned sweat when we are gone. I am therefore determined to equip them accordingly.
In this book, Dave and his daughter team up to share some personal family stories and practical strategies to raise money-smart kids and teens in this debt-crazed world including money lessons such as:
– Where money comes from
– The value of hard work
– How to save, spend, and give
– Debt, and how to avoid it
– Paying cash for college
– Living responsibly
This book really got me thinking about how many parents pay really high fees for their children while they are battling in retirement.
h. OTHERS
24. One Word That Will Change Your Life – Expanded Edition by Jon Gordon, Dan Britton, and Jimmy Page
I talked about this in my blogpost Have You Set Your Goals? 2nd Book Worth Reading in 2021.
25. The Minimalist Way: Minimalism Strategies to Declutter Your Life and Make Room for Joy by Erica Layne
This book outlines the principles of minimalism and shows you how to define the practice to fit your life. It teaches how to apply minimalism to one’s spending, food, clothing, family, leisure time, work, and more. It also provides solutions that helps one spend time and energy wisely, including checklists, activities, and troubleshooting tips.
26. Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson
This book is a classic! It is one of the 1st books I read many years ago and I decided to re-read it. It uses a simple parable to reveal profound truths about dealing with change so that you can enjoy less stress and more success in your work and in your life. It shows that when it comes to living in a rapidly changing world, what matters most is your attitude.
And there you have it…my 2021 books! As I put together my list of 2022 books, feel free to share with me some of your favourite reads (now that you have an idea of what I enjoy). I am not sure Chief will be able to share his top reads in early January (as he usually does) as he is currently studying for his CFA Level 3. That being said, he plans on doing so when he gets the chance (for those who prefer his taste of books😊).
Until next time,
To another year of being inspired, challenged, and sharpened by books!
If you enjoyed this post, kindly rate it by clicking on the 5 stars below:
Are you planning on reading any books in 2022? For more book recommendations, feel free to check out my previous blogposts on some of the great books I have read over the last couple of years:
– Have You Set Your Goals? 2nd Book Worth Reading in 2021
– A Book Worth Reading and Listening to in 2021
– My 4 Favourite Books in 2017
– 22 Great Books I Read in 2016
– 5 Invaluable Nourishments For Your Time – Series 1
– 5 Invaluable Nourishments for Your Health – Series 1
– Are you Investing in Your Marriage?
– 19 Invaluable Nourishment(s) For Your Marriage
Or Chief’s previous blogposts on some of his favourite reads:
–Chief’s 5 Favourite Books in 2020
– Chief’s 5 Favourite Books in 2019
– Chief’s 7 Favourite Books in 2016 – 2018
– Chief’s 1o Favourite Books in 2015
You may also like:
– An Invaluable Resource Worth Checking Out – Part 1
– A Podcast Worth Listening To
– Reflection of My 2020 Goals
– How I Lost Inches In 6 Weeks – Part 1
– Reflection of My 2019 Goals
– Did You Achieve Your 2018 Goals? – Reflection of My 2018 Goals
– What Do You Do in The 1st 30 Minutes After Waking Up?
– Are You Counting Your Blessings?
– Have You Written Down Your 2018 Goals? – Reflection of My 2017 Goals
– Is Failing to Plan in Detail, Planning to Fail?
– Climbing Kilimanjaro (Part 2 of 2: The Tips)
– Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro – (Part 1 of 2: The Experience)
– Why Writing Down Your Goals is Important – Reflection of Our 2016 Goals
– An Invaluable Habit I Have Acquired That Takes Only a Few Minutes A Day – Series 1
– 3 Reasons Why Saving a Large Chunk of Cash in Your Bank Account is Not a Great Idea
– Really? Must We Give and Tithe? – Series 1
– Why I am training myself to eat my frog everyday!!!
– Dee’s 2015 In Review
Or my following posts on marriage:
– Free Marriage Resources Worth Checking Out
– Are You Letting Your Guard Down in Your Marriage? – Series 1 (Boundaries)
– When Was The Last Time You Sent Your Loved One a Silly/Loving Audio/Video of Yourself?
– Are You Spoiling Your Wife Rotten? – Series 9 (Financial Leadership & Inclusivity)
– Are You Spoiling Your Wife Rotten? – Series 8 (Support & Listening Ear)
– Are You Spoiling Your Wife Rotten? – Series 7 (Caring & Praying)
– Are You Spoiling Your Wife Rotten? – Series 6 (Cuddles & Massages)
– Are You Spoiling Your Wife Rotten? – Series 5 (Sorting All Things Cars/Manly & Pocket Money)
– Are You Spoiling Your Wife Rotten? – Series 4 (Calls, Texts & Quality Time)
– Are You Spoiling Your Wife Rotten? – Series 3 (Special Days & Gifts)
– Are You Spoiling Your Wife Rotten? – Series 2 (Praises & Affection)
– Are You Spoiling Your Wife Rotten? – Series 1 (Dates & Getaways)
– Am I Spoiling My Husband Rotten?
– 7 Steps to Restoring Broken Relationships
– Are You Struggling to Forgive Him or Her?
– Are You Choosing To Be Happy As Opposed To Be Right All The Time In Your Marriage?
– The Important Daily 10 Second Kiss in Marriage
– Invaluable Benefits of Knowing, Understanding & Communicating Your Spouse’s Love Language
– Recreational Companionship – The 2nd Most Important Need For a Man
– Take Time to Touch (If Only for a Minute) Once a Day
– 19 Invaluable Nourishment(s) For Your Marriage
For more invaluable insights on my journey of marriage and life, do pop into the “Devotions/Life Insights” section on my blog every now and then.
You can also pop into the “DeeLicious Gourmet by Dee” section for a glimpse of some of the yummy but healthy dishes I have prepared while “cooking up a storm” in my kitchen (together with the recipes):
– Breakfasts
– Starters
– Main Courses
– Salads
– Eggless, Wheat-Free Desserts
– Snacks
Photo credits: Shizphotography
Thank you!
Dee
So, here’s my favourite 5 plus the usual bonus book.
DeeMuchiri 