What I’m Reading

Mark Twain once said, “Those who do not read are no better off than those who cannot read.” That’s powerful (and convicting). Reading is one of the most profound mind-expanding activities I can think of. Yet so few people do it – it seems to be a dying art.

Ask the most successful people out there and they will tell you that the drive for new ideas is worth every second they invest in reading.

I tend to juggle several books (in different genres) at the same time. Here’s what I’m reading right now.

Influencer (co-authored by several people). This is a re-read for me, and a must for any manager. Talk about affecting change in the people around you – this book is THE authoritative work on the subject.

How to Write a Sentence by Stanley Fish. I saw this reviewed in a Wall Street Journal article and picked it up to see if I can’t brush up on my sentence writing skills. So far, so good. If nothing else, you’ll come away with a deeper appreciation of a well-crafted sentence.

Failing Forward by John Maxwell. I’ll read anything by John Maxwell, but this book centers around one of my favorite topics: learning from failures. I am of the very strong opinion that many people do not succeed because they are not willing to fail.

The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey. I like to have something on my nightstand that strengthens my faith. This is the third time I’ve read this book. It strips away all the junk that religion loads onto our image of Christ, and shows him in accurate historical context. Philip Yancey is an amazingly talented writer.

So, what is on your reading list these days????