Today, I take a look back at my favorite reads of 2022, only one of which actually came out in 2022.
These are the books that have really stood out to me and have made a lasting impact on me. Several of those books I’m sharing today have been on my shelf for a while, books that I’ve wanted to read for some time.
All of them have informed my thinking on note-taking, knowledge management and retention, and learning. I was knee deep in these works as I was building my Note-Making Mastery Cohort that debuted in June.
For a full list of the books I feature, as well as a brief summary of each, simply scroll down.
By the way, if you’d like to receive a new book summary every week, jump on over to my Community page and sign up for free. You get access to the Community, the chance to interact with other readers, and a new book summary each and every week.
Finally, if you’re rather hear about the books I feature in today’s episode, just hit the play button below.
In this chapter, he shares three tips for reading with purpose, something I find a lot of people struggle with.
1. Follow Leaders in Relevant Categories
Did you know Amazon adds a new book about every five minutes? Wow! I didn’t.
With over 30 million titles, it can be hard to narrow your reading list, to say the least.
According to Gallo, successful leaders know they can’t read everything, so they try to read everything other successful leaders do.
Make it a habit to ask other successful people to share the books they’ve found particularly valuable.
(By the way, I started the Read to Lead Podcast as a tool to make non-fiction book discovery easier).
Think too about what categories of books are relevant to you.
As an example, for me, that’s leadership, business, entrepreneurship, speaking and communication, mindset, and a few others.
Billionaire David Rubenstein says,
“Leaders need to expand their knowledge every day—to exercise their most unique muscle; their brain. Nothing focuses the mind like a well-written book.”
So, identify the most relevant categories, identify leaders and entrepreneurs you admire, and read their books, blogs, interviews, and articles (and consider listening to their podcasts).
2. Take Notes
Surprise! Being an “active” reader, Gallo says, is a critical part of the process.
I won’t go into a lot of detail here as Note-Making Mastery covers this concept at length.
But realize when you take notes, it’s like having a conversation with the author. Not to mention it gives your brain more channels through which to encode the information.
Put another way, you’ll remember and retain more of what you read when you take notes.
3. Share and Talk About Your Favorite Books
One obvious way to do this is through a book club at your place of work, either in person or online if everyone is working from home.
In fact, I used to facilitate my very own Read to Lead Book Club online (something I’m toying with bringing back in some form, by the way).
Effective leaders read more books than others in the organization, and they share their newfound knowledge with everyone else.
The single best way to learn to lead is through the power of reading. And here’s the best part: Never in the history of the printed word has the average person had such easy access to the accumulated wisdom of those who built the world in which we live.
You can take those authors with you on your journey. They make great companions.
For more posts like this one, and to join in on conversations around this topic with other professionals and creatives, check out the Read to Lead Communityhere.
What is the single best tool an entrepreneur needs to build, boost, and grow their business? Win an Olympic Gold Medal? Sure! That’d be great. But apart from that?
Beyond technology, software, social media networks, even advertising and marketing campaigns, Honorée says the biggest and best tool you’ll ever have in your belt is a book with your name on the cover. What’s a book do for you? Let us count the ways…
Authority and Credibility–Nothing establishes your authority faster or better, making it easier to attract investors, clients, and customers.
Brand recognition–Nothing makes your name and your brand easier to recognize, giving you greater reach with no additional overhead.
The ultimate business card–We’re hard-wired to hold on to books, to keep and care for them, and to share them with others. When’s the last time someone did that with your business card?
You Must Write a Book introduces you to these concepts and digs further–revealing not only the benefits of how a book can help you to build and grow your business and your brand but how you can put your ideas on the page.
I hope you’ll click the play button below to learn more about Honorée and her work. For a summary, just keep scrolling.
I first met today’s guest at a podcast conference several years ago. She had a booth at the event to promote her company’s services, which happens to be helping leaders and entrepreneurs write, publish, and sell their books.
I suggested I take a look at some of her non-fiction authors to see if any would make a good fit for Read to Lead but, then, I never followed up.
Fast-forward a couple of years and I would run into her again at that same conference. This time, I not only followed up, but I suggested we start with her. As in her latest book about…writing, publishing, selling books.
You can write a book, Julie says. Anyone can, in fact. But if you want to write a book that people will want or even need to read, it’s not as simple as sitting down to write. In fact, that’s one of the biggest mistakes unsuccessful authors make.
Julie shows you that writing a successful nonfiction book starts long before you write your first chapter. To write a book that boosts your brand, generates a profit, and makes you an influencer in your industry, you need the ‘no boring books’ way.
I hope you’ll click the play button below to learn more about Julie and her work. For a summary, just keep scrolling.
Today is a truly special (to me) episode. It’s an episode I never anticipated; an episode of the podcast where I’m not the host, but the guest.
Of course, to be a guest on the Read to Lead podcast means to have written a book.
I must admit that I’m still getting used to the moniker but, at age 55, I can officially call myself an honest-to-goodness published author. (#nevertooold)
That this moment has finally arrived is as rewarding to me as just about anything I can imagine. And it would not be possible without you, the faithful Read to Lead listenership.
Without your faithfulness to this program, I likely never would have had the opportunity. So thank you.
Thank you for allowing me to visit your earbuds every Tuesday (or whenever you choose to listen). It means the world to me. Now, don’t let me down. Go pre-order the book right now. 🙂
I hope you’ll click the play button below to learn more about Jeff (that’s me) and his work. For a summary, just keep scrolling.
