I read a lot of blogs, but I’ve been trying to read more books. Here’s a list of what I’ve been reading since 2009.

Currently: No Bullshit Social Media

Jason Falls & Erik Deckers

The all-business, no-hype guide to social media marketing - I actually won a copy of this by sharing my thoughts on “Social Business vs. Bullshit” on Geoff Livingston’s blog. I’m not particularly keen on marketing (I believe products truly worth owning market themselves), but given the title, I’m pretty excited for this one.

Thanks, Geoff!

WE are Smarter Than ME

Barry Libert & Jon Spector

How to unleash the power of crowds in your business – My boss, Regi Adams, actually got this one for me for Christmas. A very quick read, WE is the result of a truly collaborative effort in which thousands of industry professionals came together specifically to discuss the wisdom of crowds. Content is neatly organized and broken up with simple takeaways.

Available on Amazon.

Uncertainty

Jonathan Fields

Turning fear & doubt into fuel for brilliance - I have never devoured a book so fast as I did this one. It spoke to me from start to finish. Valeria Maltoni sent it to me out of the blue and wow, what an inspiring read.

Uncertainty is a balanced approach at introducing stability in all areas of your life so you can treat uncertainty like the rocket fuel it truly is.

Available on Amazon.

180

Rob White

Climbing the two ladders of inner strength & outer freedom - I was introduced to Rob by JK Allen over on Hustler’s Notebook, where JK and Rob shared a series of conversations. I found their discussions – in which they both included me – to be reflective and powerful. This book is an easy read, too. It’s meant to be read just 2 pages per day for 180 days. In that time, I can see no reason why a reader wouldn’t realize a complete 180° in his or her life.

Available on Amazon.

Chief Culture Officer

Grant McCracken

Creating a living, breathing corporation – McCracken suggests the creation of a new C-suite executive tasked with observing and understanding the cultures in which the business operates. The Chief Culture Officer should be able to advise the C-suite on matters of culture so as to position the organization to better capitalize on market trends. This position requires humility. Hipster glasses do not a CCO make.

Available on Amazon.

WRX vs. EVO

Huw Evans

The Complete History – Two things about which I am deeply passionate – Mitsubishis and rally racing. This book has both. A must for any Mitsubishi/Subaru/rally fan, WRX vs. EVO documents the history of both these platforms. Evans begins with an introduction to the two manufacturers just prior to the arrival of the Impreza and Lancer, and then follows them through multiple generations and countless rally events, before providing comprehensive appendices of specifications, special models, and rally results.

Available on Amazon.

A Whole New Mind

Daniel H. Pink

Right-brainers ruling the future – If a computer can do your job faster, or someone in China can do it for less money, your ass is on the line. There is still a need for logical, number-crunching people in business today, but as the world continues to shrink, digitally, those individuals able to bridge the gap between logical needs and emotional wants are becoming ever more valuable to the enterprise. A whole new mind paints the big picture and offers actionable advice to help you get into your right mind.

Available on Amazon.

How

Dov Seidman

How we do anything means everything in business & life – An inspiring read. How suggests what is possible when trust enables risk – innovation and growth follow. It’s no longer enough to build a better mousetrap. Filled with anecdotes about factories with no managers (and no defects, either), automotive technicians firing associates who don’t live up to their sterling levels of customer service, and more, this book really stands out.

Available on Amazon.

Built to Last

Jim Collins, Jerry I. Porras

Successful habits of visionary companies – This book goes back a few  years (written prior to the bank and auto bailouts), but it’s still got some really good ideas. I guess that’s the point. Built to Last is a little bit succession planning and a lot of clock-building. It’s an excellent collection of anecdotes, comparing situations within some of the largest corporations on the planet, and a proponent of big, hairy, audacious goals. What does your organization stand for, that it would continue to stand for, even if it were illegal to do so?

Available on Amazon.

What Should I Do with My Life?

Po Bronson

This book is excellent. Bronson shares such a variety of stories in this book, you’re bound to identify with more than a couple of them. An adventure in what could be the most often asked question in the history of the modern world, What Should I Do with My Life illustrates how people get stuck in ruts, decide to radically change their lives (or not), and handle the results. One thing is clear, we have the power to make our lives better.

Available on Amazon.

Herd

Mark Earls

As much as the media would have us believe we are all unique snowflakes, we are very much social animals; we crave human contact. Ever see one of those roadside memorials with the flowers and candles? What makes something go “viral?” Herd offers an explanation of how these things come to be based on an understanding of our inherently social nature.

It’s more fun to be different when we have others to be different with.

Available on Amazon.