I’m always on the search for new ideas, perspectives, or ways of thinking. In 2017 I read over 30 books with the goal of repeating this result in 2018. Today, I’m sharing a window into my personal library.

My goal in doing so is to inspire you with content you may be interested in and to save you the time of having to find it on your own.

Below you’ll find 3 books, including the title, author, and a link to Amazon to purchase. I’ve also included a short summary (in 3 sentences or less), highlights to give you a feel for the content (in <250 words), and finally my recommendation. I personally own these titles and read them in January 2018.

Book #1 Smarter, Faster, Better: The Transformation Power of Real Productivity by Charles Duhigg

• Summary (in 3 sentences or less):

All about ways to become more productive. Includes chapters on motivating self and others, leading teams, improving focus, setting goals, managing others, making decisions, innovating, and absorbing data. Duhigg has done is homework and offers a compelling read, weaving in studies and stories that show how his ideas apply in real-life situations.

• Highlights (in <250 words):

A chapter that stood out was about improving focus, specifically the power of developing strong ‘mental models’ to best diagnose and handle problems. Duhigg tells the story Air France Flight 447 which crashed into the Atlantic ocean back in 2009, killing more than 200. It’s a real page-turner as he recounts the moment-to-moment details. It reminds me of how fragile our minds can be, especially under stress.

Duhigg explains the concept of ‘cognitive tunneling’ which severely impacted the decisions made by the pilots and ultimately led to a series of tragic missteps. He then contrasts the outcome of the Air France 447 with a Qantas Airways Flight 32 just a year later — Qantas 32 was deemed one of the most damaged planes to ever land safely in history.

As unsettling as it is to read the details of Air France 447, the story of Qantas 32 (and Captain Richard Champion de Crespigny) is equally uplifting and promising. Duhigg argues that the difference in outcomes is explained by ‘mental models.’ Crespigny was constantly imagining, envisioning, and telling stories about what he was experiencing. With a clear picture of what he expected to see, Crespigny was able to better diagnose the problems and take decisive action, even ignoring the instructions from the on-board computer at one point.

• Recommendation: Worth reading? Yes!

Book #2 HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Change Management by Harvard Business Review

• Summary (in 3 sentences or less):

All about managing change, specifically in a business context. Harvard Business Review offers a collection of relevant articles, including helpful summaries of key ideas which can make this a quick read if you’re pressed for time.

• Highlights (in <250 words):
  • Persuasion promotes understanding
  • Understanding promotes acceptance
  • Acceptance promotes action

• Recommendation: Readers will find some articles more helpful than others. Best for managers or business owners.

Book #3 The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

• Summary (in 3 sentences or less):

More than 2 million copies sold. A book often recommended by top-performers (see Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferriss). A story about discovering your ultimate purpose along life’s path.

• Highlights (in <250 words):
  • “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it.”
  • “Every blessing ignored becomes a curse.”
  • “There is only one way to learn. It is through action.”
  • “People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams because they feel they don’t deserve them or that they’ll be unable to achieve them.”
  • “The darkest hour of the night comes just before the dawn.”
  • “Every search begins with beginners luck. And every search ends with the victor being severely tested.”
  • “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too.”

• Recommendation: Absolutely worth the read. There are messages and lessons for everyone. Short and compelling enough to read in 1 day.

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I welcome your own ideas, observations, or questions. Leave me a comment!