Inspired by Ryan Holiday I decided to publish a list post article to feature a few of the best books I read in 2017, and a short list of books I want to read this year.
Non-fiction books I read in 2017
- Create or Hate (Dan Norris) – It’s the first book I read this year, that I remember I started it after a few days in 2017. I am glad it was like this because it was the right book at the right time. It put me in the doer’s mindset, made me think about the things I want to accomplish in 2017, and make a plan. The core ideas of the book are still staying in my head and help me eliminate all sort of excuses, and get things done. Each chapter caught me so intensely, that made me finish the book after 48h.
- Contagious, Why Things Catch On (Jonah Berger) – As Goodreads says, the book “combines groundbreaking research with powerful stories” about What makes things popular?, Why do people talk about certain products and ideas more than others? and What makes online content go viral?. As a marketing communication specialist, I enjoyed each page of the book.
- Living Beyond Self Doubt (Som Bathla) – It’s an action book which made me question myself upon my life experience, from childhood to present, analyze my past experiences, understand why I am thinking in a certain way right now and conquer all my inner doubts.
- Thanks for The Feedback (Douglas Stone) – This is one of that books that I think everyone should read. I know it may sound like a cliche or over-recommendation, but it’s just the pure truth. It goes into an in-depth incursion into the world of feedback and its types: professional, personal, positive, negative, friendly, business with concrete examples from everyday or professional situations. I have a sticky note posted on almost every page because on almost every little one you can find a different and new insight, things you didn’t know, experiences you have to reinterpret again, situations from the future where you would want to be more careful when offering or receiving feedback. And I could go on like this writing more and more, but I will just stop here. I have thought and I will come back with a review article for this book, once I get the chance to transcribe every my notes and quotes from the book. Also, I don’t want to go further, without sending a big thank you, to my dear Andra Zaharia for recommending me the book.
- Trust Me, I’m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator (Ryan Holiday) – One of the best analysis of how online media works today. Though I don’t personally agree with some parts, pieces of advice, events from the book, I must admit it’s eye-opening and provided me some great insights from the media industry. Also, another great reading from Ryan Holiday is “Perennial Seller – The Art Of Making and Marketing Work that Lasts“, which I am currently reading, among other books mentioned below.
- The Startup Owner’s Manual (Steve Blank) – Though this book is very focused on entrepreneurship and customer discovery, it also made me have a deeper understanding of the research and users, customers from the marketing perspective. Both business and marketing are all about the users, if one doesn’t fit with the users’ needs and values, it will not work out. So, this is also part of my recommendations for a marketing specialist looking out to learn more about how a business works.
- When Breath Becomes Air (Paul Kalanithi) – The memoir of Paul Kalanithi, a talented neurosurgeon who shares his journey from student to doctor and patient. It’s an impactful book, and a painful reading, which caught me crying. because some of my family members faced cancer. Since it was a special reading, I dedicated an entire article to the book, entitled “Paul Kalanithi – The Beautiful Mind of a Neurosurgeon”.
- What Would Google Do? (Jeff Jarvis) – I wanted to read this book since two years ago, when I first heard about it, but couldn’t find it available online when I searched for it. My surprise was that the last time when I was in Bucharest I found it in the bookstore I always love to go when I visit the city. (I always end up going home with tons of books, and Ryanair doesn’t seem to like that, that’s why I decided to go by train next time. Still, I hope that trip is a far away one because my bank account is suffering, and my storage space complains.) Now, going back to the book, I liked it a lot because I really learned more about How Google Works, from its beginnings until around 2011 (when the book was published) from a search and SEO perspective, the power of online communities, the online market, and how some businesses survive and others die. Also, I could have a detailed overview of the crisis communication that Dell had, and how this transformed itself from the worst to first in the era of customer control.
- Elon Musk: The Life, Lessons & Rules For Success: 15 Rules for Success, 60 Greatest Quotes & 40 Little Known Facts – I downloaded this ebook from the curiosity of finding more about Elon Musk (while I still wait for his biography by Ashlee Vance to arrive from Okian). Though I can’t say the book had a big impact on me, the life and history of Elon Musk did. I was surprised to find a lot of similarities: from how he was bullied during school, to his intense work to achieve something in its life, and also the passion for reading. This one made the waiting harder, and now I can’t wait to get the other book and devour it.
Fiction books
- Happy People Read and Drink Coffee (Agnès Martin-Lugand) – Diane’s journey and life experience made me think about how much I appreciate my life, how many time I spend with my family.
Currently Reading
The last year of the month caught me in some deep and intense readings. The two books below are the highlights of the categories mentioned above.
- Origins (Dan Brown) – I always was Dan Brown’s fan, especially after I read half of The Digital Fortress. I bought that book last year as a gift for a coworker, and I end up reading half of it, before giving it to him. After some time, I managed to buy myself that book, and get the new one, Origins as Christmas gift from a sweet and kind, Facebook Santa. 🙂 I started reading it, two days ago, when I received the book, and after a few pages all I can say is that I like how the combination of technology with mystery unfolds.
- Social Intelligence (Daniel Goleman) – Daniel Goleman is the world’s top emotional intelligence expert, and I first discovered him at my introductory courses, while I was a first-year student. I think this book is not an easy reading, as I started taking notes, from the first pages. Also, I read a few pages, and then leave me some time to chew on that things.
And because I like to make lists, a lot of lists. 😀 Here are a few of the books I want to read in 2018:
- The Everything Store – Brad Stone
- Tools of Titans & Tribe of Mentors – Tim Ferris
- Steal Like An Artist – Austin Kleon
- The Art of Possibility – Zander, Rosamund Stone
- Lean Startup & Startup Way – Eric Ries
- Elon Musk: Inventing the future – Ashlee Vance
- Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most – Douglas Stone
- Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking
- The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business
- The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work – Alain de Botton
- Total Recall – Arnold Schwarzenegger
- To Sell is Human – Daniel H. Pink
Citesti mult si… bine. Felicitari!