10 Books You Should Read This Summer

HER FATHER was an Olympic athlete, and her mother a physical education instructor. And unlike her siblings, Grace Kelly preferred reading to physical activity. Although her father was well-read, her proclivity to read didn’t always sit well with her father. He wanted her to be more athletic.

At school, she was encouraged to read widely. And she did. And we should too.

For me, reading some fiction is like taking a walk. It provides a diversion that gives your mind a chance to think through what you’ve been reading and learning. Especially for leaders, reading outside the normal leadership fare helps to provide you with context for your leadership. Reading fiction, histories, and biographies builds empathy and provide insights into human nature.

While I like just about everything from David Baldacci, like his latest Dream Town, I also like to go back and read classics from authors like John Steinbeck.

Wally Bock recommends that we take this time to read something we’ve always wanted to read, something to read for fun, and something we’ve never read about or that really stretches our brain. He even provides a helpful, downloadable sheet to help organize our list.

With a few extra hours of daylight, the summer is an ideal time to relax and read. Listed below are ten books released this year that will entertain, make you think, and improve your leadership. Pick at least three and take some time to make yourself better this summer.

The Crux: How Leaders Become Strategists
by Richard P. Rumelt

The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team
by Patrick M. Lencioni

Team Emotional Intelligence 2.0: The Four Essential Skills of High Performing Teams
by Jean Greaves and Evan Watkins

Smart Growth: How to Grow Your People to Grow Your Company
by Whitney Johnson

The President's Man: The Memoirs of Nixon's Trusted Aide
by Dwight Chapin

Watergate: A New History
by Garrett M. Graff

12 Notes: On Life and Creativity
by Quincy Jones

Emotion By Design: Creative Leadership Lessons from a Life at Nike
by Greg Hoffman

The Power of One More: The Ultimate Guide to Happiness and Success by Ed Mylett

Don't Trust Your Gut: Using Data to Get What You Really Want in Life
by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

And I can’t leave out Build. If you’re looking for business or career wisdom, this is the book to turn to now.
Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making by Tony Fadell

* * *
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter for additional leadership and personal development ideas.

 

Posted by Michael McKinney at 06:22 AM
Permalink | Comments (0) | This post is about Books