I think it’s close enough to the end of the year to share with you some of my favorite books that I read this year.
Leadership & Professionalism
- Springboard: Launching Your Personal Search for Success: This was probably my favorite book that I read this year. It is full of practical application and activities to do as you read through the material.
- Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress Free Productivity: This book has great practical tips, but it could have been more concise. I feel like there were parts of it that were more drawn out than they needed to be just to make it long enough to be a book. Still worth a read if you are feeling buried by the amount of work you have to get down.
- You Don’t Need A Title To Be A Leader (see related blog post)
- Bossypants: (Again) Tiny Fey is hilarious, but she does manage to squeeze in some interesting insight as to what it’s like to be a female executive.
- 59 Seconds: Think A Little Change A Lot
- Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead: This should be required reading for any female entering the workplace.
Health, Fitness, Wellness Related
- Essentials of Public Health 2nd Edition: Warning – this is a textbook. Yes, I read textbooks even when they aren’t required reading.
- Foundations of Physical Activity and Public Health: Yes, this is also a textbook.
- Fit by Nature
Parenting & Well-Being
- Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World
- Buddhism for Mothers: A Calm Approach to Caring for Yourself and Your Children
- Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child (again)
- Have the Guts to Do It Right: Raising Grateful Children in an Age of Indulgence
Intercultural Competence
- The Distance Between Us: This is Reyna Grande’s experience with immigration. It’s amazing the parallels that this book has to Angela’s Ashes. I’m looking forward to hearing this author speak in a few months.
While its not related to the blog, I’d love to read more about your reactions to the parenting and well being books!
All of the books I listed I would recommend. Especially the sleep book. It reinforces the need for children of all ages – from birth to early adulthood – to get adequate sleep. It stresses the impact on mood, concentration, memory, development, growth, learning, etc. The Buddhism for Mothers has helped me become more calm and appreciate the moments without getting too wrapped up in what I “have to do” or “should be doing”. Really all of them listed are great.