I make it a habit to always be working through a book or two. Reading is one of the best ways to continually grow and learn, and it happens to be very accessible in
In fact, I actually listened to all of these books while commuting to work. It’s a good way to redeem the time while in the car.
Audible (an Amazon company) is a great option for those wanting to listen to books. It’s a subscription service that lets you download several titles per month for around $15. You can also purchase additional titles if you wish. They offer a free trial that is worth exploring (Try Audible and get 2 FREE audiobooks).
I do occasionally purchase audiobooks, but I have found that I can access many through my local library’s digital collection. In my case, the Lincoln City Libraries (which serves most of the county) has a decent selection of both ebooks and audiobooks that you can check out, download, and have for 3 weeks at a time.
Be sure to check out your library and see if they have a digital collection that you can access. And now for my list!
Non-fiction books I read – the best ones first.
Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen
by Donald Miller
If you are a business owner or work in marketing or communications in some way, please read this book!
Donald Miller, an accomplished storyteller
The Gig Economy: The Complete Guide to Getting Better Work, Taking More Time Off, and Financing the Life You Want
I had heard of this book, but I thought the “gig” had to do with
This book will challenge how you think about work. You might reconsider your involvement in the standard employment model. The “gig” lifestyle is not for everyone…but is an intriguing one and worth understanding.
Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days
by Chris Guillebeau
Similar to the Gig Economy, this book is all about an alternative work-life model. In this case, as the title implies, that alternative model includes starting a “side hustle” (aka, side business) in addition to your traditional full-time job. In many cases, those who have done this reach the point where their side hustle becomes their primary source of income, often greater than their previous line of employment.
Side hustles are usually built from exploring personal passions or by solving a pain point and sharing that solution with others. They often require less time and effort than traditional employment and in some cases can be very passive sources of income. It can often take trying several ideas before you find one that produces steady income with little effort, but it can be done and this book gives you a 27-day plan to make it happen in your life.
I highly recommend this book!
The Vanishing American Adult: Our Coming-of-Age Crisis–and How to Rebuild a Culture of Self-Reliance
by Ben Sasse
Ben Sasse happens to be one of the Senators from my state. He seems to be one of the more principled and consistent politicians I’ve seen and he is extremely articulate in expressing his view points. This book has little to do with politics and more to do with addressing negative trends that have emerged in our upcoming generations. This book is based primarily on Sasse’s experience in higher education, including as president of a small college here in Nebraska, as well as his
The Vanishing American Adult is more about parenting than anything else. Sasse gives a lot of good recommendations for parents to consider in order to counter some of the negative trends affecting upcoming generations. It’s a worthwhile read for parents, but even if you are not a parent, any student of modern American culture will still enjoy the book.
Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff
Chip Gaines
After reading Magnolia last year and learning more about the story of Chip and Joanna, I thought I would read Chip’s book as well. If you are a fan of Fixer Upper and the Gaines’ family, you’ll enjoy this book. If you aren’t a fan or haven’t heard of them, there’s probably no point in reading the book.
How to Win Friends and Influence People
by Dale Carnegie
I’ve heard about this classic for years and finally decided to read it. This book can teach you a lot about improving your interactions with others whether for purposes of work (management, leadership, or sales) or life in general (family, meeting new people, building relationships, etc.). I can’t imagine reading this book and not coming away with at least one new insight you can apply to your life to improve your interactions with people.
ReWork
by Jason Fried and David Hansson
ReWork was written by the people behind 37 Signals. You may not have heard of them, but there is a good chance you have heard of one of their products…a project management platform called Basecamp. Eventually, they changed their name to Basecamp and offer several other online tools for businesses.
This book is about how, in many ways, Basecamp breaks the rules…they have reworked work. They strive to keep things simple, maintain a flat org chart, and not get sucked into the typical corporate world. I recommend this book for anyone in a leadership position in their organization.
Rebel Talent: Why It Pays to Break the Rules at Work and in Life
by Francesca Gino
Of the books on this list, this is the one I enjoyed the least. There are some interesting stories of people who demonstrated “rebel talent”, but I did not find the overall message of the book very helpful and practical. Interesting, yes, but not practical.
