My Top 25 Books for 2017

Every year I start with a resolution to read some great books that will help me in my career. Admittedly this is not hard for me as one of my favorite ways to spend time is in my leather chair by the fireplace with some low key instrumental music playing in the background as I relax and read. The time I have invested furthering my education in this manner over the years has been extremely valuable for me. I am a true believer that being a “lifelong learner” is critical to success and am fortunate that early in my career I had mentors that reminded me that “leaders are readers” and encouraged me to advance my education with the reading of great books. Without fail when meeting people I always ask what books they are reading or would recommend because I love learning from others and seeing what interests them.

The following list are my favorites from 2017. The ones with an astrict next to them are ones that were especially interesting or important to me. This year I also had the privilege of releasing my second book, Love Your Work: How to Pivot to Your Best Career so as you might expect it is on my list. If you are looking for something good to read I highly recommend these and would love to hear if you have a book or two that you think I should add to my list for 2018! Thanks in advance for the recommendation!

1. Simple Rules: How to Thrive in a Complex World – Donald Sull*
2. Building a Story Brand – Donald Miller
3. Barking Up the Wrong Tree – Eric Barker*
4. Thriving in the Gig Economy – Marion McGovern
5. Built for Growth – Chris Kuenne*
6. The Principle Path – Andy Stanley
7. Transformation: Change in the Marketplace – Ed Silvoso
8. Money Problems, Marriage Solutions – Chuck Bentley*
9. Total Leadership – Stewart Friedman
10. Paris 191: Six Months that Change the World – Margaret MacMillan
11. Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Culture in Crist – J. D. Vance*
12. Deep Work – Cal Newport
13. Different: Escaping the Competitive Herd – Youngme Moon*
14. Thank You for Being Late: An optimist guide to thriving in the Digital Age – Thomas Friedman
15. Six Billion Shoppers – Porter Erisman
16. The Bait of Satan – John Bevere
17. Principles – Ray Dailo
18. One Mission: How Leaders Build Teams of Teams – Chris Fussell
19. What to do When Machines do Everything – Malcolm Frank
20. The Upstarts – Brad Stone*
21. Shoe Dog – Phil Knight*
22. Option B – Sheryl Sandberg
23. Unshakeable – Tony Robins
24. Negotiating the Impossible – Deepak Malhotra*
25. Love Your Work – Robert Dickie III