I have always been a reader, and I love sharing books that cause me to think or that I especially enjoy. As a result, several months ago I started a book discussion group with several friends, and it has been delightful to talk about favorite books with others. If you are not in some kind of book group, I strongly recommend starting one. Instead of an article in this month’s email newsletter, I decided to share what I have been reading lately. I always have at least three books going — a business book, a spiritual book, and a “fun” book. Here are some of my current favorites:
BUSINESS:
“Lead with LUV–A Different Way to Create Real Success” by Ken Blanchard and Colleen Barrett
This book by two of my special friends is about how it pays to put people first. Ken Blanchard, the author of the bestselling business book of all time, “The One Minute Manager,” interviews Colleen Barrett, the CEO Emeritus of Southwest Airlines, about her philosophy of loving people to success. In a “conversation” together, they reveal why leading with love is so powerful, how to make it work, and how it can make your organization even more successful. The book particularly resonated with me because this belief is foundational to all my work, and even for those who disagree, no one can argue with the success of Southwest. Ken told me that of all his many books, he thinks this book is his finest work!
“SWITCH — How to Change Things When Change is Hard” by Chip and Dan Heath
This “how-to,” delightful combination of research and stories ties perfectly into the model I use in all my work called the Human-Business model. The authors believe that our minds are ruled by two different systems–the rational mind (the Rider) and the emotional mind (the Elephant). Their premise is that the Rider can control the Elephant up to a point, but when the Elephant wants to go a different direction, guess who wins? Case in point: your rational mind wants to diet, but your emotional mind wants that Big Mac. They show us how we can help these two systems work together both in our personal and our work lives to effect lasting change.
“A Whole New Mind — Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future”–Daniel Pink
This book dovetails perfectly with the other two books above and again is foundational to my message. Pink says that the age of “left-brain” dominance is over, and the future belongs to a different kind of person with a different kind of mind. He describes the six fundamentally human abilities that are essential for success and how to master them: Design, Storytelling, Symphony, Empathy, Play and Meaning. Each “sense” is fully described in a chapter with research and real life stories as well as an additional “Portfolio” of ideas to illustrate how we can each develop these abilities more fully in our own lives.
FUN:
“Cutting for Stone” by Abraham Verghese, a well-respected physician and professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine
I could not put this beautifully written book down! It is set in Ethiopia during a revolutionary period in the 1950’s. It is the story of twin brothers raised in a hospital in Addis Ababa who share a preternatural connection and a fascination with medicine. The book is a saga of love and betrayal, compassion and wisdom, illuminating both the magic and the tragedy of our lives. I guarantee you will never forget it!
SPIRITUAL:
“Jesus Calling–Enjoying Peace in His Presence” by Sarah Young
This book was given to me as a gift from a friend, and it is the best devotional I have ever found. It feels as if Jesus is actually speaking to you each day of the year, and somehow, the words are exactly what I need to hear that day!
Please share with me what you are reading. For more updated information on my life and work, please join me on Facebook, Linked-In, Plaxo, and Twitter. (See sidebar of this blog.)
