Many of us have a little more time on our hands and I’ve been asked by a number of people if I can recommend some books. Well, where do I start?! I LOVE books. My idea of heaven is to curl up with a great book; I love the feel of them (no kindle here), I love the smell of a new book. I love that what we read often stays with us for years to come and impacts on our lives.
More recently, I’ve discovered audio books, (for non fiction only) whilst I am running or travelling in the car between appointments. Being a visual person, I tend to go out and buy the book if the audio has had an impact on me. I’ll then go through and highlight the passages that resonated and revisit them from time to time.
So my favourites?
Non-fiction, top of the list would always be Brene Brown. US researcher and expert on vulnerability and leadership. ‘Daring Greatly’ had a huge impact on me when I read it (that was before my audio days!) and I refer back to passages for inspiration on a regular basis. I’ve since listened (and subsequently bought) all of Brene’s books – she reads them with her Texan warmth and humour, creating an intimacy that only enhances the content.
I regularly recommend or buy Playing Big by Tara Mohr for my clients – some great insight into stepping up in life and business.
And for practical, roll your sleeves up and ‘just do it’, Darren Hardy’s The Compound Effect, Mel Robbin’s The 5 Second Rule and The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson will inspire you to stop procrastinating and TAKE ACTION!
But perhaps the book that moves me, that inspires me, that I’ve sent to clients and read to my son Oscar, since an early age, actually sits quite firmly in the fiction category. The wise words of Dr Seuss, in ‘The Places You’ll Go’ are relevant to everybody, big or small, old or young, whatever path lies ahead. In the current climate we’re experiencing, in his words there’ll be, ‘the Bang-ups and Hang-ups’ but by making the right choices, we will succeed, ’98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed’.
