What I've Been Reading
Today I received a message from a long time friend, asking me if I had read anything recently that I would recommend. After my response to him, I thought I would share it here on my blog too. Here are a few books that I have recently read that I thought I would pass along.(I’ve included links to each book on Amazon. Simply click the image of the book)
DEEP WORK: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
by: Cal Newport
There is no doubt that there is more fighting for our attention than ever before. Distractions abound, even when we want to stay focused. I loved some of the ideas that Cal Newport shares in this book about how to get into 'deep work' instead of staying at a shallow level of focus. I've passed this book along to a few friends and I'm planning on having our team at Life Center Rainier read this together this year.
Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box
by: The Arbinger Institute
I know that many people have read this book and many have recommended it. I finally got around to reading it recently and LOVED it. It is written as a parable, so it is easy to get drawn into the story. I think this book is not only helpful for leaders, but also for couples and employees who want to better understand healthy interaction and communication.
The Sabbath
by: Abraham Joshua Heschel
I had two friends (Jason and Scott), both recommend this book to me within a few days of each other. That got my attention. Both are pastors and men that have been an incredible encouragement to me throughout the years. If you are a ministry leader, I would encourage you to read this at some point. It is written through a Jewish perspective on what Sabbath is, but some of the ideas and concepts were incredibly helpful and insightful for me.
Kill the Spider: Getting Rid of What’s Really Holding You Back
by: Carlos Whittaker
If you have ever wrestled through issues in your life and wondered "How on earth will I ever overcome ___________?!", I would recommend you checking out this book by Carlos Whittaker. He talks through a painful season of his life where he experienced change, transformation and incredible freedom that come from Jesus and the Weapons that he has made available. I loved his humor, his writing style and his transparency. His metaphor on KILLING SPIDERS vs. cleaning up webs is excellent!
Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World’s Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself
by: Rich Roll
So my wife, Amber, and I recently made the mistake of watching 'What the Health' and 'Forks over Knives' on Netflix. The result: we are eating a (mostly) plant based diet. Rich Roll was interviewed on one of the documentaries and he shared his story and the fact that he was a cyclist and a runner - two activities that I love. I decided to read his book 'Finding Ultra', where he talks about the reality of where he found himself at 40 years of age and his pursuit of health and becoming an ultra triathlete. If you are into health and/or want to engage in an inspiring story (which includes Rich and a friend doing 5 full ironman triathlons in successive days on the 5 main islands of Hawaii) you may enjoy this one!
The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph
by: Ryan Holiday
This book was one of my favorite reads of this past year. I could have guessed it would be, since I really liked his other book called Ego is the Enemy (I wrote about it here). I love how Ryan thinks and writes. In leadership and life it is often easy to see challenges. In this book he unpacks the idea that the challenges that we face often are the path we need to move through.
What about you? What books would you recommend?Leave a comment below with some of the books you have recently read and found insightful, helpful or encouraging.