Let’s start with nonfiction.
You might read nonfiction to learn about something new. Or maybe you want to dig deeper into an area you already know about. Perhaps you want to grab some tips and techniques to help you achieve more.
But you definitely read nonfiction books to get smarter. New knowledge, deeper knowledge. Maybe even radical knowledge.
Of course, there’s more to it than that. Reading a book is a way to do some deep thinking.
If you spend some hours going through a couple hundred pages on a single topic, you will be changed by the experience. Whether you liked or agreed with the author or not.
Sometimes we just get a tidbit or two out of the book and that makes it worth it.
Sometimes the book gives us a whole new perspective on something. That’s magical.
Whatever you get out of a book, it’s a bargain. Someone has put lots of time and energy and thought into crafting a complete idea or set of ideas for you to consider.
All you need to do is spend a few bucks (or go to your local library) and spend a bit of time reading.
I thought I’d share some of the books on my reading list for the summer and ask you do to do the same.
These are books I haven’t read yet, but I’ll tell you why I picked them and purchased them. They are part of the stockpile accumulated for the next couple of months.
They represent an interesting mix and I look forward to reading them all.
Please let me know what you are thinking of reading this summer for nonfiction (we’ll do fiction next time).
Here goes.
First up is The Inevitable by Kevin Kelly.
Kevin Kelly is a super smart dude and a provocative thinker. I haven’t read his work before, but I heard a talk he did on the concept of his last book, What Technology Wants, and found it riveting and insightful.
The subtitle of this book is Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future. So, it’s a book about big concepts and trends shaping our future by a renowned futurist.
I like thinking about the future and all the wonderful possibilities ahead of us. It’s also very useful to think in terms of the really big picture and in really big timeframes. I like to get out of the day to day and wonder about this stuff. It’s refreshing and invigorating.
Life is full of possibilities. Delving into this sort of book is a way to relish in that for a bit.
Plus, it’s a great way to learn what–and how–a really smart person thinks. That’s always amazing.
The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future
Next up is Get Momentum by Jason Womack and Jodi Womack.
This is a book that’s all about mastering the day to day so that you can work toward your own personal big picture.
Just as much as I like to think big, I am continually amazed by how small, specific, practical steps can lead to profound changes in our lives. The Womacks are masterful at helping us to meet this sort of challenge.
I read Jason’s last book, Your Best Just Got Better: Work Smarter, Think Bigger, Make More, and found it to be an invaluable guide to prioritizing and productivity.
I expect more great ideas, tips, and techniques from this book. It’s subtitle is How to Start When You’re Stuck, which I think is an interesting angle. So many times it’s not the work that’s the problem as much as it is figuring out how to approach it. And then starting and following through.
I expect to learn a lot about building and maintaining momentum to get stuff done.
Get Momentum: How to Start When You’re Stuck
Finally, I’ve got what I hope is another great book on communications and human behavior lined up: Impossible to Ignore by Carmen Simon, PhD.
The subtitle is Creating Memorable Content to Influence Decisions. Isn’t that what many of us are trying to do much of the time, day in and day out?
All knowledge work is work among humans, who can be fickle. Communication is fraught with challenges. Everyone is overloaded.
Figuring out how to be a better communicator is always a worthwhile endeavor. I like the angle on this book too. It promises to focus on being memorable.
It’s not enough to have someone’s attention in the moment (as hard as that is to achieve). We also need them to remember what we told them. And we want them to act on that information.
Well, they can’t take action if they can’t remember. This is what I hope will turn out to be a good book on influence.
Impossible to Ignore: Creating Memorable Content to Influence Decisions
What’s on Your List?
So what nonfiction books are on your nightstand, desk, or Amazon wish list?
What do you look forward to reading this summer?
Please let me know. In the comments. Or send me an email.
I’d really love to hear what is on your summer reading list!
