Over the course of the past 18 to 24 months, most people’s lives have been changed. Some people have been totally upended, while others have been blessed to have come through the pandemic with just a few scratches. But either way, most of us have had the chance to look at our lives…and decide if we want to re-imagine them. This was not the time to put our head in the sand and “just wait it out.” It was the time to invest in ourselves.
One of the best ways to invest in yourself is by reading (or listening) to books.
I have talked quite a bit about game-changing books on this blog. Here is a list of 29 that I think everyone should check out. So what books have had my attention in 2021? Here are 10 of my favorite books from 2021.
Get Different
When Mike Michaelowicz writes a book, I line up to read it. I am almost never disappointed. This time Mike talks about why using “best practices” is a terrible way to stand out in a crowded marketplace. You can get your copy here.
The High 5 Habit
Mel Robbins has a way of speaking directly to my soul. Her latest book High 5 Habit highlights a concept so simple that it feels silly. But listen to this book and you will realize it’s not. I say “listen to this book” because Mel has a great delivery. She is very real…and I loved it.
Peak Mind
I have been a slow adopter of meditation. I still struggle to practice every day. In her book Peak Mind, author Amishi P. Jha shows the science and studies to help you understand why it’s a must. If we want to succeed in today’s world (and certainly tomorrow’s), we are going to need a Peak Mind.
Premonition
In a word…wow. As I mentioned at the beginning, we have all lived through a crazy time for the last 18 to 24 months. Premonition by Michael Lewis tells the story of the pandemic from behind the scenes. It opened my eyes to some of the challenges we have with public health, but also why some of the solutions can work…and not work. Really liked this one.
Cumulative Advantage
Why do some people succeed and others struggle? For some, they have an early advantage that they lean into. It’s their Cumulative Advantage. In this book, Mark talks about what that is, and how to create it even if you don’t begin with the headstart of privilege.
Promised Land
Let’s not get political here. I just wanted to learn some “behind the scenes” from the man in the White House. This one was interesting (and yes, political) and too long (and this is Part 1). But it does give insight into Obama’s vision for the country, and where he felt he did well…and where he failed. I thought it was totally worth my time. Find Promised Land here.
12 Months To $1 Million
Have you ever wanted to start a business selling items on Amazon? In the book 12 Months to $1 Million, you can learn how from someone who has done it more than once. Ryan Daniel Moran talks about how to find the perfect niche, create the right product, and then how to scale it up with new products. I have recommended this one to several people looking to start a business.
Soundtracks
We all have a voice playing on repeat in our heads…it’s our own. In his latest book Soundtracks, Jon Acuff talks about why that voice can really be our worst enemy if we allow it. And he gives real tactics to take your own voice back over (in a good way). This was probably one of my favorite books of the year…totally recommend this one.
Greenlights
I was a fan of Matthew McConaughey before this book. But the book Greenlights takes it up a notch for sure. McConaughey gives you incredible detail into his life and insights that I found powerful. I found this book to be fun, insightful, and surprising. And for me, the audiobook was the way to go for this. McConaughey narrates it himself and his gift as a performer shines through in the audio.
Think Like A Monk
The final book on my list is Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty. Shetty tells the story of how he became a monk, and why he left. His insights into training the mind were great. I really enjoyed him explaining why we all need to have more “T.I.M.E.” in our morning if we want to have a more productive day.
So that is my list of 10 of my favorite books from 2021…so far. I have a few more I hope to finish (including the new Will Smith memoir) soon. If you want to keep learning and growing, how about one more book to consider? You can get the ebook version of my book “The Give First Economy” here. I would love for you to it check out…and share it with your team! Oh…and feel free to sign up for our weekly VIP newsletter here.
