How do you decide what you want to read next? Is it spontaneous? Or do you keep a running list?
I think I am a blend of the two. I keep a list of books I am excited to read, but I also like to pick up whatever I am in the mood for. The list serves as a place to go back to for ideas and when I am in a brain fog with ideas.
The past few years, I have posted my list of “want to reads” on the blog. Although we are already 4 months into the year, today I thought would share my 2018 reading list with you.
Which books make the list?
Choosing the books I add to my reading lists is more of an art than a science. Sure, recommendations play a part. Most often, I mentally note books I hear mentioned more than once in podcast interviews. The next element I consider is subject. Like most people, I have a unique blend of interests. In my case it’s creativity, entrepreneurship, business strategy, self-development, education, compelling life stories and new concepts I’m curious about. Combine any of these topics with a well-designed cover and I’m intrigued.
The selections for my 2018 reading list are eclectic. Some I have been wanting to read forever, like “E-Myth Revisited”, “War of Art” and “The Power of Now.” A few just came out and piqued my interest right away, like “Educated” and “How to Break Up with Your Phone”. You might also notice that two of the books, “Open” and “Shoe Dog” were on my 2017 reading list. I just never got to them because I went down that revolutionary history rabbit hole last year, remember?
Since we are four months into the year, I can happily report that I have already read 7 of these. I feel accomplished already 🙂 Similar concept to writing your to do list after you’ve done the tasks for the satisfaction of checking them off.
2018 Reading List
- The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber – “E-Myth Revisited” has been mentioned and recommended on countless podcast interviews I’ve listened to. For several years now, I have made a mental note to pick it up, but I never did. I think something about the title and the cover turned me off from it. What the heck is an E-Myth? Basically it has to do with the struggle that many small businesses face transitioning from a small one person business as they grow to meet demand. The author addresses common pitfalls and changes that need to be made to scale a business while keeping its core essence in tact. This subject may not appeal to all, but if you are running a small business or interested in business, I think it is essential reading.
- Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover – When I start seeing a book pop up everywhere I turn, I know it might be worth looking into. This is the case with “Educated”, which I knew to be a memoir about a young woman who broke out of a survivalist Mormon family in the mountains of Idaho. I was intrigued when I read the description read it via Audible in 3 days. I just finished it and the best way to describe this book is RIVETING. The fact that the author came out this extremely isolated upbringing with her PhD and able to tell the tale on the other side is nothing short of amazing.
- How to Break Up with Your Phone by Catherine Price – This cover and title grabbed me right away. As a person who is highly annoyed that I check my phone way more than necessary, I want to get more ideas on how to set boundaries around my phone. I see so much value in our phones as a tool, but at the same time, it is also a crutch. Hopefully I will come away with more autonomy from this little device after reading this book. Will keep you posted.
- Make Your Bed by William McRaven – This is my wild card pick. From what I understand, “Make Your Bed” is a kick in your pants inspirational read. Something to motivate you into understanding that the little things in life add up to the big things. Details and discipline matter. Along with millions of other people, I saw and loved THIS YouTube video featuring Admiral McRaven so decided I will give his book a try in 2018.
- Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferriss – This is the first book I read this year. “Tribe of Mentors” is a perfect read at night book. Don’t let the size of this book scare you away. It is big, but each section is only 3-5 pages. In this book, Ferris asks the same 10-11 questions to dozens of gifted people in all realms of life -business, technology, entertainment, sports, you name it. One of my favorite questions he asks is, “How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?” Seeing the answers from so many different people to this and the other questions he asks is fascinating.
- The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer – “Untethered Soul” was recommended to me by a friend at the gym. He listened to it on Audible, and I decided to do the same. Not going to lie, this one is deep. Not difficult to understand, just a paradigm shift for the way most of live. Singer does a very good job of explaining how our thoughts run our lives. They tell us stories about our experiences and then we react emotionally based on these narratives. Such good stuff in this book. I would love to read it again as a book club to really dive in and discuss these concepts.
- Open by Andre Agassi – This is one that was on my 2017 list, which got a bit derailed when I got bitten by the American History bug. I “read” this one via Audible also. Despite not knowing a thing about tennis, I loved this book. I could not stop listening to the story of Andre Agassi told by Andre himself. His story captivated me from the very beginning. It got to the point where I would run out of things to do while listening, and I would just lay down on my bed and listen.
- The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle – I have never read any of Eckhard Tolle’s work, so I think this will be the year I change that. Can’t think of a better place to start than “The Power of Now”. What I hope to gain is an understanding about the pointlessness of regretting past decisions or worrying about future events.
- Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson – I’ve had really good luck reading 3 back-to-back phenomenal memoirs recently (“Shoe Dog”, “Open” and “Educated”). I am throwing one biography into the mix in 2018 – Steve Jobs’ biography by Walter Isaacson. Like the rest of the world, Jobs has always intrigued me. I know very little about him though, and I would like to change that. Who is this guy and what made him tick? Walter Isaacson is a renowned biographer, so I figured his account of Jobs’ life would be a good one to read.
- The War of Art by Steven Pressfield – I have heard about this book for so long, I feel like I know the content already 🙂 So many creatives and entrepreneurs I admire mention the lessons that they have learned from this book. Things like the struggle to overcome self-doubt, procrastination and overthinking. It has been a long time coming, but I need this book as part of my library.
- The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron – Road Back to you is my first foray into learning about the Enneagram. I became intrigued after one of my favorite podcasts did a “deep dive” into the Enneagram on THIS episode. I am a big believer that the way you respond to the world has to do with the lens you see the world through. The Enneagram is a phenomenal way to understand your lens better. This book is a great primer for learning about all of the Enneagram types. Now I need to take a better test, because I can’t figure out if I am a Type 1 or Type 5!
- Shoe Dog by Phil Knight – Similar to the Agassi memoir, I had heard enough buzz about this Phil Knight memoir that I knew I needed to read it. You probably don’t spend too much time thinking about how a huge company like Nike comes to be. I certainly didn’t. It feels like companies like these have always been around. Listening to Phil Knight tell the story of how he created Nike from nothing was fascinating. I would highly recommend this to anyone who owns their own business or to anyone considering starting their own business one day.
Have you read any of the books on my 2018 reading list? How do pick what to read next?
