5 Books You Haven’t Read….but you should.
We all have that stack of books, maybe on the nightstand by the bed, or the shelf in the living room, that mysteriously grows instead of shrinks. Or maybe it’s The List (mine is in my Amazon account) – you know, the one titled Stuff To Read – and it, too, mysteriously grows when you’re not looking.
I am here to contribute to that mysterious growth and in no way help you get through your backlog!
In all seriousness, you’ll find any number of books-you-should-read lists and what I’ve noticed is that they start to sound the same when you’re thinking about productivity or self-betterment. I feel like I hear Atomic Habits every week at this point. It’s my stop trying to make fetch happen moment (no offense James Clear).
I’m here to dish up five books that are probably not in your reading stack or list. And no, this is not an affiliation list; I will not be compensated for you purchasing these; I genuinely found them to be helpful throughout my life.
1. Soul Coaching, by Denise Linn
This is a self-paced series of exercises, presented as a 28-day program, that gets us back to a life of integration: with ourselves and our purpose in life in accordance with whatever higher space you embrace. It’s thoroughly holistic and brings us to a place of sacred synchronicity that we may not have tapped into in a long time. It’s structured in levels, so you can tailor your commitment according to your busy schedule and the exercises range from decluttering a single drawer to full-out crafting your life’s mission statement. Denise connects each exercise to its deeper meaning and encourages you to embrace the truth of your life for the health of your soul. This book quite literally saved my life in my youth and helped me find renewed purpose when I was feeling hopeless.
Read this book to: rebalance your life, learn about the flow created from intention and the effect of the external environment on your internal state of being.
Find it here on Amazon or here at Hayhouse
2. The Proactive Professional, by Chrissy Scivicque
My biggest turnoff when it comes to betterment resources is feel-good fluff. I need concrete, realistic guidance in my pursuit of productivity. I am a forever fan and devotee of Chrissy Scivicque, a bestselling author, in-demand presenter, and international corporate trainer who believes your career can be a nourishing experience. She has a bevy of resources through her site, Eat Your Career, and she’s authored three books that are all absolute bangers. I want to showcase this one: The Proactive Professional.
This book gives you well-structured, immediately applicable guidance on how to stop playing catch up and start getting ahead, which is the very crux of our exquisite pursuit of productivity. My favorite thing about this book is that the guidance offered doesn’t stop at the workplace. It’s sensible and ubiquitous enough that I’ve applied to my personal life with excellent results. It’s also timeless; the practices outlined here outlive all of the productivity fads or tips-du-jour. If you read only one book on productivity in your precious spare time, make it this one.
Read this book to: learn timeless practices for being ahead and in charge of your life.
Find it here at Amazon
3. The Neverending Story, by Michael Ende
Yes, Virginia, you can have a fiction book in your betterment resources! At the heart of The Neverending Story is the message that words matter: how we say them, who we say them to, and what they mean. Storytelling is an art. It has been since we scribbled on cave walls and in today’s world, we have entire professions dedicated to translating data into actionable narrative. This is one of those times where I obnoxiously crinkle my nose and inform you that the book is better than the movie (though I still have a soft spot for the first movie). Here, a young boy finds his imagination contributes to the wellbeing of an entire world – all of our imaginations do – and the stories he tells come to life and influence the very fabric of this world’s reality. There are severe consequences for misusing his ability to weave stories and in the end, we learn the importance of communicating honestly and effectively. Rediscover this classic and embrace your inner Bastian.
Read this book to: remember the power of what we tell ourselves, and others.
Find it here at Amazon
4. Ask Iwata, edited by Hobonichi
There are many books on leadership, but none come as pure as Ask Iwata. Satoru Iwata was the global president and CEO of Nintendo, a man of intelligence, integrity, and boundless creativity and love for games. He passed away in 2015, and the gaming – and leadership – world hasn’t been the same since. He famously cut his own salary during hard times and played a key role in the creation and development of some of the most well-known games and platforms. This book explores first-hand accounts of memorable conversations, lessons learned, and interactions with Iwata. We see his thought process behind making games, leading employees and teams, and staying true to himself in the corporate world. This is a fascinating look into how being your authentic self can inspire those around you. I was in tears by the end and I feel his loss all the more sharply as a fan and a customer.
Read this book to: remember that amazing leaders are out there, and learn intimate history behind some of your favorite games.
Find it here at Amazon
5. The Way of Integrity, by Martha Beck
I’m a sucker for a good literary journey and this book took me for an amazing ride. Beck uses Dante’s journey through the afterlife à la The Divine Comedy to present a framework for discovering the path to authenticity. This is a rich and highly engaging read, and it provides some hard-hitting, critical challenges. I found myself pausing throughout the read, needing to reflect and check in with myself to see if I could truly rise to the challenges of living a completely authentic life. This book will leave you raw, will have you questioning the soundness of the barriers you put up against the outside world, and will have you wondering if you’re capable of change – real, grave, unequivocal change.
Read this book to: shake up everything you know about integrity, embrace a love of classic literature as metaphor, and reflect on whether you’ve ever been completely honest with yourself.
Find it here at Amazon