Tag: book list

Here are the 24 books on my 2024 reading list.

Some people are Sneakerheads. Others are Deadheads. I am a Bookhead. I collect books. I organize them. And I display them. As a result, I always have unread books in my home. So at the start of 2023, I collected 12 physical books from my personal library as my reading list for the year. It was interesting to look at the mini-library and know that I was expected to plow through the stack over the course of the year.

Having a stack of 12 books also gave me a defined list to choose from each month. It allowed me to decide if I was going to take on something big and meaty or smaller and lighter each month. Then I also decided to read 12 audiobooks that were random and unplanned. Or what I call Nick Cannon-style.

Like disciples, eggs, and donuts, my books come in twelves.

But then something interesting happened. I blew past my 2023 reading goal and had my best reading year ever. In fact, I finished 41 books last year. You can read the list and a short review of each of the books here. 

So I am back with a new stack of 24 books in ’24. (Which is wicked symmetrical.) This time I went a step further and predetermined both the Let’s Get Physical books and the Big Audio Dynamite books. Here are the lists, and why I chose each title.

My 12 Let’s Get Physical Books

The Innovators Dilemma by Clayton M Christensen:  

Because I enjoy a good dilemma. Which sounds like a contraction of Dali Lama.

Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield 

Because I loved The War of Art. And it’s short.

The Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini: 

Because it’s legendary like kites themselves.

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. 

Because everyone loves it.

Arete’ by Brian Johnson.

Because I want to activate my heroic potential. And my new ATM card.

The Body by Bill Bryson 

Bryson is informative and hilarious. Or Infolarious.

The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel.

I was a psychology major in college. And I think money is important. I want to know why I think that. So I’m going to lie on a couch and read this.

The Creative Act by Rick Rubin 

Because I want to learn all I can about creativity. And a like a good Rubin.

My Father’s Business by Cal Turner Jr. 

I want to know how to start a discount store so people can discount on me, like Discount Dracula.

Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara.

A lot of reasonable people have recommended this to me.

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

This book is referenced everywhere. And power seems like a good thing to know about. Plus, I want to know if Ty and Jude made the list.

The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith 

This book is the foundation of economics. Plus I dig authors named Adam.

My 12 Big Audio Dynamite Books

This week I discovered that Spotify Premium allows you to listen to audiobooks. This is a total game-changer. Because I love audiobooks, but the library app I use to listen to them limits my time with each title. And I often have long wait times to listen to popular titles. So I am expecting 2024 to be my best year of audiobooks ever, both in terms of quantity and quality. Here are the books in my audio library.

Good Inside by Becky Kennedy

I spend a lot of good time outside. And I would like to do the same inside.

Life On The Mississippi by Rinker Buck

I’m fascinated by river travel. Plus I want to take a canoe from Milwaukee to New Orleans. It would be a good way to earn my beignets.

Vibrate Higher Daily by Lalah Delia

I’m into good vibrations. Like The Beach Boys.

Soundtracks by Jon Acuff

This came highly recommended. Plus, I like the cover art.

The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt

Because nobody in their righteous mind wouldn’t want to read this.

The Woman In Me by Brittany Spears

Because I like a good success story. And a good train wreck. This offers both.

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

I want to know nearly everything. This book seems like a good start.

Think Faster. Talk Smarter. by Matt Abrahams

I don’t do either of these things very goodly. But I would like to.

Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

I like everything I’ve read by Grant. And I’m a big fan of his tomb.

The Obstacle Is The Way by Ryan Holiday

This title is so silly I have to hear the story behind it. Plus, I get a lot of great book recommendations from Ryan Holiday, whose name I always say like Madonna would. I expect all of his books to be good too.

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

You had me at the title…

Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

I want to be useful. I would also like to have as many useful tools for life as I have dwarfs.

Key Takeaway

Reading is an important part of your self-improvement plan. Your self-directed education adds to your world knowledge, increases creativity, and enhances both your vocabulary and writing skills. Create a reading habit that works for you. Start small. And once you recognize how much it helps you will naturally find ways to read more.

*If you know someone who could benefit from this list, please share it with them.

+For more of the best life lessons I have learned check out my book, What Does Your Fortune Cookie Say? from Ripples Media.

The best way for you to read more is to think smaller.

Reading is great for you. It is like exercise for your brain. At the beginning of the year, people often make a commitment to read more. The percentage of people who want to read more is even higher among people who are inclined to read a blog post about reading more. And while I am no mind reader, I’m guessing you are among them.

We are now in the first week of April. And a check of my book log (which resembles a book a lot more than a log) reveals that I have completed 11 new books in 2023. At this pace, I will complete 40 new books this year. (Which means I am at least moderately proficient in both reading and math.)

At the beginning of the year, I set out to read 24 books. My literary diet is made up of 12 physical books and 12 audiobooks in 12 months. Or one of each every month. And I have done a good job of keeping pace.

But Wait. There’s More!

I have discovered a fun new way to pack at least one extra book into each month. In addition to my full-sized book each month of between 200 and 350 pages I am also adding a great shorter book. These short books range between 80 and 150 pages. While I use the term ‘short book’, the books are usually of average height. So I should probably call them thin books. But I won’t.

I have found there are a lot of great shorter books. They are quick reads packed with a lot of wisdom. And because of their length, they offer more enjoyment than work. I think of them as my monthly dessert books. Yet without the calories. Or chocolate sauce.

If you want to start reading, or read more and faster, look into adding great short books to your bookshelf, or audio queue.

Here are a few short books in my collection:

Key Takeaway

Short books are enjoyable to read. They make you feel productive. Fill a shelf at home with them and you will find yourself revisiting them frequently.

*If you know someone who could benefit from this message, please share it with them.

+For more of the best life lessons I have learned check out my 290-page book, What Does Your Fortune Cookie Say? from Ripples Media.

6 Tips to help you read more books this year.

Every year I set a goal of reading 12 books. The number is based on reading a book each month. It has nothing to do with eggs, donuts, or disciples.

Typically I read far more than my goal. Because I read at least 12 to 15 physical books and listen to 15 or more audiobooks each year while driving, mowing my lawn, or trying to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop.

I want to be purposeful with my reading. So on New Year’s Eve, I identified and gathered the 12 books I want to read this year. The books all share valuable lessons that I want to learn. Which is why I consider them my coursework for the year.

Here’s my initial reading list for 2023.

But Wait, There’s More!

To help me reach my reading goal I didn’t just pick out the books. I took 5 more steps:

  1. To help cue my reading goal I displayed my collection of books prominently on the shelf right behind my desk in my home office. So there is always something there to remind me of my reading list for the year. (It’s what Naked Eyes would do.)

2. I brought one book to my office at The Weaponry so I can read during lunch. (And so I can put a book on my head and work on my posture while working at work. Which is 3 works in 1.)

3. I placed one book on my nightstand. When I have a few minutes before bed I can read a few pages as my day’s intellectual dessert. (Note: I read in a chair in my bedroom. I never read in bed. It’s against my Ja rules.)

4. I placed one of the books in my car so that I can read while I am waiting to pick up my kids from school, practice, or jail.

5. I keep one book in my work bag. Because that thing goes with me everywhere. That way I will always have a book with me when I am stuck somewhere, when I am waiting for someone, or when I need a little paper to start a fire to save my life.

Key Takeaway

To meet your reading goal for this year don’t just say you want to read more. Find the books you want to read and create your 2023 reading list. Display the books where you are reminded of your goal, and where you can easily pick up the book when you have a few minutes to spare. Having a book at the ready when boredom strikes will prevent you from wasting your spare moments by twiddling on your little digital buddy. Because you don’t need more time on your phone this year. But you could always use more knowledge and inspiration.

*If you know someone who could benefit from this message, please share it with them.

+For more of the best life lessons I have learned check out my book, What Does Your Fortune Cookie Say? from Ripples Media.