When was the last time you read a book that developed you? What I love about books is you don’t have to wait for your company to pay for your training in an area you’d like to sharpen. You don’t have to feel disadvantaged if you didn’t have access to elite education or the best role models in life. Books give you access to great mentors all over the world (even those no longer alive). You can learn anything you’d like. Since 2014, I’ve been setting myself the target of reading 2 books a month and honestly, this has been one of the greatest investments in my life. Below is a summary of the 22 great books I read/listened to in 2016 (2 of which I was reading for the 2nd time) that had excellent insights on business, success, leadership, communication, time management, marriage, spiritual growth, nutrition/health and investing. These could serve as a great reading list for you in 2017!
SUCCESS
1. The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, Your Life, Your Success by Darren Hardy
The Compound Effect is the principle of reaping huge rewards from a series of small, smart choices. The book describes how small attitude and behavior adjustments, when applied with consistency, can result in significant life changes. It is a distillation of the fundamental principles that have guided the most phenomenal achievements in business, relationships, and beyond.
2. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
Why do some people achieve so much more than others? Can they lie so far out of the ordinary? Malcolm looks at everyone from rock stars to professional athletes, software billionaires to scientific geniuses, to show that the story of success is far more surprising, and far more fascinating, than we could ever have imagined. He reveals that it’s as much about where we’re from and what we do, as who we are – and that no one, not even a genius, ever makes it alone. Outliers will change the way you think about your own life story, and about what makes us all unique.
3. The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World by Marti Olsen Laney
Some people – at least 1 out of 4 – prefer to avoid the limelight, tend to listen more than they speak, feel alone in large groups, and require lots of private time to restore their energy. The Introvert Advantage dispels common myths about introverts-they’re not necessarily shy, aloof, or antisocial-and explains how they are hardwired from birth to focus inward, so outside stimulation such as chitchat, phone calls, parties, or office meetings can easily become “too much.” Most importantly, it thoroughly refutes many introverts’ belief that something is wrong with them. Instead, it helps them recognize their inner strengths-their analytical skills, ability to think outside the box, and strong powers of concentration. It provides tools to improve relationships with partners, kids, colleagues, and friends, while offering dozens of tips, including 8 ways to showcase their abilities at work and strategies for socializing. In short, The Introvert Advantage shows introverts how to take advantage of their special qualities not only to survive in an extrovert-oriented world, but to thrive.
4. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
This book provides a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach that has revolutionized the way people solve personal and professional problems and go on to lead extraordinary lives. Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, service, and human dignity―principles that give us the security to adapt to change, and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates. The 7 Habits are so famous and have been integrated into everyday thinking by millions of people for one reason: They work. Covey offers life-changing advice on everything from leadership, time management, and teamwork to success, love, and taking control of your life.
BUSINESS
5. How to Win at the Sport of Business: If I Can Do It, You Can Do It by Mark Cuban
In this book, Mark shares his wealth of experience and business savvy. He provides a catalogue of insider knowledge on what it takes to become a thriving entrepreneur. He tells his own rags-to-riches story of how he went from selling powdered milk and sleeping on friends’ couches to owning his own company and becoming a multi-billion dollar success story. His unconventional yet highly effective ideas on how to build a successful business offer entrepreneurs at any stage of their careers a huge edge over their competitors.
6. Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel, Blake Masters
What valuable company is nobody building? The next Bill Gates will not build an operating system. The next Larry Page or Sergey Brin won’t make a search engine. If you are copying these guys, you aren’t learning from them. It’s easier to copy a model than to make something new: doing what we already know how to do takes the world from 1 to n, adding more of something familiar. Every new creation goes from 0 to 1. This book is about how to get there.
7. If You’re Not First, You’re Last: Sales Strategies to Dominate Your Market and Beat Your Competition by Grant Cardone
During economic contractions, it becomes much more difficult to sell your products, maintain your customer base, and gain market share. Mistakes become more costly, and failure becomes a real possibility for all those who are not able to make the transition. But imagine being able to sell your products when others cannot, being able to take market share from both your competitors, and knowing the precise formulas that would allow you to expand your sales while others make excuses. If You’re Not First, You’re Last is about how to sell your products and services—despite the economy—and provides the reader with ways to capitalize regardless of their product, service, or idea. Grant shares his proven strategies that will allow you to not just continue to sell, but create new products, increase margins, gain market share and much more.
LEADERSHIP
8. The Virgin Way: Everything I Know about Leadership by Richard Branson
While building the Virgin Group over 40 years, Richard Branson has never shied away from seemingly outlandish challenges that others considered sheer lunacy. He has taken on giants like British Airways and won, and monsters like Coca-Cola and lost. Branson gives an inside look at his strikingly different swashbuckling style of leadership. Learn how fun, family, passion, and the dying art of listening are key components to what his extended family of employees around the world has always dubbed the “Virgin Way.” This unique perspective comes from a man who dropped out of school at 16, suffers from dyslexia, and has never worked for anyone but himself. He may be famous for thinking outside the box but Branson asserts that “you’ll never have to think outside the box if you refuse to let anyone build one around you.” This is a unique book on leadership from someone who readily admits he has never read a book on leadership in his life. So expect the unexpected.
COMMUNICATION
9. Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal by Oren Klaff
Whether you’re selling ideas to investors, pitching a client for new business, or even negotiating for a higher salary, Pitch Anything will transform the way you position your ideas. One truly great pitch can improve your career, make you a lot of money – and even change your life. Success is dependent on the method you use, not how hard you try.
10. Talk Like TED: The 9 Public Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds by Carmine Gallo
Ideas are the currency of the 21st century. In order to succeed, you need to be able to sell your ideas persuasively. This ability is the single greatest skill that will help you accomplish your dreams. Gallo provides a step-by-step method that makes it possible for anyone to create, design, and deliver a TED-style presentation that is engaging, persuasive, and memorable. This book will give you the tools to communicate the ideas that matter most to you, the skill to win over hearts and minds, and the confidence to deliver the talk of your life.
TIME MANAGEMENT
11. Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy
There just isn’t enough time for everything on our “To Do” list—and there never will be. Successful people don’t try to do everything. They learn to focus on the most important tasks and make sure they get done. There’s an old saying: if you eat a live frog first thing each morning, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that it’s probably the worst thing you’ll do all day. Using “eat that frog” as a metaphor for tackling the most challenging task of your day, the one you are most likely to procrastinate on, but also the one that might have the greatest positive impact on your life, Eat That Frog! shows you how to zero in on these critical tasks and organize your day. You’ll not only get more done faster, but get the right things done thereby enabling you to spend more ‘face time’ with the people you care about, doing the things that give you the greatest amount of joy in life.
12. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss
Forget the old concept of retirement and the rest of the deferred-life plan–there is no need to wait and every reason not to, especially in unpredictable economic times. Whether your dream is escaping the rat race, experiencing high-end world travel, or earning a monthly five-figure income with zero management, The 4-Hour Workweek is the blueprint for living more and working less. It includes dozens of practical tips and case studies from readers, who have doubled their income, overcome common sticking points, and reinvented themselves. Also included are templates for eliminating email and negotiating with bosses and clients, how to apply lifestyle principles in unpredictable economic times, and the latest tools, tricks, and shortcuts for living like a diplomat or millionaire without being either.
MARRIAGE
13. Sheet Music: Uncovering the Secrets of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage by Kevin Leman
With his characteristic warmth and humour, Dr. Leman offers a practical guide to sex according to God’s plan. This frank and practical book is a perfect resource for married and engaged couples. Dr. Leman addresses a wide spectrum of people, from those with no sexual experiences to those with past sexual problems or even abuse. Using frank descriptions, this book has a warm and friendly tone that will help couples overcome awkwardness in discussing an issue important to all married couples.
14. Sexperiment: 7 Days to Lasting Intimacy with Your Spouse by Ed Young, Lisa Young
The predominant message in our culture is that it’s okay to have sex whenever, wherever, and however we want. Sex has become just sex. But while society has taken sex too far, the church hasn’t taken it far enough. God wants couples to make love in marriage – with passion, with purpose, and with pleasure. Marriages aren’t experiencing all the benefits that come from a healthy sex life. Couples are facing a barrage of influences that keep them from connecting with each other regularly – the kids, the career, the house, the errands, etc. Sexperiment shows people that sex in marriage is more than just sex, and it’s more than a chore. The Youngs believe it’s time to get back to understanding the context of sex in marriage and that it’s time for couples to break the barriers keeping them from a healthy sexual relationship. Couples ought to experience the benefits of having sex regularly, intentionally, and creatively. Sexperiment will allow couples to discover that the intersection of God and sex can lead to a life punctuated by exclamation marks!
15. His Needs, Her Needs by Willard F. Harley
Willard identifies the 10 most vital needs of men and women and shows husbands and wives how to satisfy those needs in their spouses. He provides guidance for becoming irresistible to your spouse and for loving more creatively and sensitively, thereby eliminating the problems that often lead to extramarital affairs.
16. How to Improve Your Marriage Without Talking About It by Patricia Love, Steven Stosny
Have you ever had this conversation with your spouse? Wife: “Honey, we need to talk about us.” Husband: “Do we have to?” Drs. Patricia and Steven have studied this all-too-familiar dynamic between men and women and have reached a truly shocking conclusion. Even with the best of intentions, talking about your relationship doesn’t bring you together, and it will eventually drive you apart. The reason for this is that underneath most couples’ fights, there is a biological difference at work. A woman’s vulnerability to fear and anxiety makes her draw closer, while a man’s subtle sensitivity to shame makes him pull away in response. This is why so many married couples fall into the archetypal roles of nagging wife/stonewalling husband, and why improving a marriage can’t happen through words. How to Improve Your Marriage Without Talking About It teaches couples how to get closer in ways that don’t require “trying to turn a man into a woman.” Rich in stories of couples who have turned their marriages around, and full of practical advice about the behaviors that make and break marriages, this essential guide will help couples find love beyond words.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH
17. Experiencing God: How to Live the Full Adventure of Knowing and Doing the Will of God by Henry T. Blackaby, Richard Blackaby, Claude King
Experiencing God is based on 7 Scriptural realities that teach us how to develop a true relationship with the Creator. By understanding how God is working through us even as we try to fathom His ways, we can begin to clearly know and do His will and discover our lives greatly and gracefully changed.
18. A Woman After God’s Own Heart: Making His Desire Your Own by Elizabeth George
Elizabeth shares practical, scriptural insights on how you can pursue God’s priorities when it comes to:
– your husband–foster a deep commitment to serving and honoring him
– your children–pray faithfully for them and teach them God’s Word
– your home–create a nurturing atmosphere and a tapestry of beauty
– your walk with the Lord–grow through love of Scripture and in spiritual maturity
– your ministry–learn to reach out and be a blessing to others
19. The Power of Praying Through the Bible by Stormie Omartian
Stormie journeys with readers from Genesis to Revelation and reveals how God designed prayer so that they can:
– communicate with Him
– embrace the promises of Scripture
– release burdens to God’s care
– walk with Jesus daily
– listen to the Spirit’s leading
Stormie brings home the truths and the wonder of God’s promises. This gathering of devotions from The Power of a Praying Woman Bible shares Stormie’s heart and the foundation of God’s Word to provide a source of spiritual encouragement and strength for every reader.
HEALTH/NUTRITION
20. Whole: Rethinking the Science of Nutrition by T. Colin Campbell and Howard Jacobson
In The China Study, Colin (alongside his son, Thomas) revolutionized the way we think about our food with the evidence that a whole food, plant-based diet is the healthiest way to eat – eat a diet based on whole, plant-based foods and dramatically reduce your risk of a broad spectrum of diseases, including heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Now, in Whole, he explains the science behind that evidence, the ways our current scientific paradigm ignores the fascinating complexity of the human body, and why, if we have such overwhelming evidence that everything we think we know about nutrition is wrong, our eating habits haven’t changed. Whole is an eye-opening, paradigm-changing journey through cutting-edge thinking on nutrition, a scientific tour de force with powerful implications for our health and for our world.
INVESTING
21. The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success by William N. Thorndike
What is the hallmark of exceptional CEO performance? Quite simply, it is the returns for the shareholders of that company over the long term. Thorndike brings to bear the analytical wisdom of a successful career in investing, closely evaluating the performance of companies and their leaders. You will meet 8 individualistic CEOs whose firms’ average returns outperformed the S&P 500 by a factor of 20 i.e. an investment of $10,000 with each of these CEOs, on average, would have been worth over $1.5 million 25 years later. In The Outsiders, you’ll learn the traits and methods striking for their consistency and relentless rationality that helped these unique leaders achieve such exceptional performance. Humble, unassuming, and often frugal, these “outsiders” shunned Wall Street and the press, and shied away from the hottest new management trends. Instead, they shared specific traits that put them and the companies they led on winning trajectories: a laser-sharp focus on per share value as opposed to earnings or sales growth; an exceptional talent for allocating capital and human resources; and the belief that cash flow, not reported earnings, determines a company’s long-term value. Drawing on years of research and experience, Thorndike tells eye-opening stories, extracting lessons and revealing a compelling alternative model for anyone interested in leading a company or investing in one and reaping extraordinary returns.
22. The Most Important Thing: Uncommon Sense for the Thoughtful Investor by Howard Marks
Marks is renowned for his insightful assessments of market opportunity and risk. After 4 decades spent ascending to the top of the investment management profession, he is today sought out by the world’s leading value investors, and his client memos brim with insightful commentary and a time-tested, fundamental philosophy. Informed by a lifetime of experience and study, The Most Important Thing explains the keys to successful investment and the pitfalls that can destroy capital or ruin a career. Using passages from his memos to illustrate his ideas, Marks teaches by example, detailing the development of an investment philosophy that fully acknowledges the complexities of investing and the perils of the financial world. Brilliantly applying insight to today’s volatile markets, expounds on such concepts as “second-level thinking”, the price/value relationship, patient opportunism, and defensive investing. Frankly and honestly assessing his own decisions – and occasional missteps – he provides valuable lessons for critical thinking, risk assessment, and investment strategy. Encouraging investors to be “contrarian”, Marks wisely judges market cycles and achieves returns through aggressive yet measured action. Successful investing requires thoughtful attention to many separate aspects, and each of Marks’s subjects proves to be the most important thing.
And there you have it! Those are the 22 books that equipped me with invaluable insights in 2016. Do you reckon any of them might help you or someone you know? Why don’t you grab a copy or recommend a few? Do not shy away from investing in yourself or others. Reduce the amount of time you spend on social media/watching series’/TV shows/movies and read more books. I highly recommend listening to audio books which you can buy on Audible. Try out their free 30 day trial where you get 1 free audio book of your choice to try out – you can always cancel the trial before the 30 days are up if you don’t like it. I like audio books because I get to listen to them on my phone when I’m driving to and fro work, when I’m doing a walk/run as a work out, in the plane when I’m traveling for work (instead of watching movies), when on holiday and on road trips with Chief. That way I’m able cover more books amidst my busy schedule. If you prefer reading, you can purchase hard or kindle (soft) copies of all these books on Amazon. You can also check out your local bookshop. Strive to learn something new in 2017!
Until next time,
Happy Investing in Yourself!
Dee
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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):
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Photo credits: Shizphotography
Thank you!
Dee
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