Several years ago, I had the privilege of meeting and listening to Charlie “Tremendous” Jones who is known for saying…
“You are the same today that you are going to be in five years from now except for two things the people with whom you associate and the books you read.”
Frankly, I’ve spent more of my life reading than meeting new people, but I’m learning to do both with more intentionality. In 2010, both of these disciplines are going to be integrated into my life even more. I’ll share more on that in the weeks ahead. Today, I’d like to share with you some of the best books I read in 2010. Later this week, I’ll share a list of amazing people that I met this past year.
The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World by Chris Guillebeau
Although it may not reach the magnitudes in the same way, this book is on par with The 4-Hour Workweek in my opinion. Chris is an adventurous soul who inspires me to live an adventurous life as well. If you want to hear about practical ways to get out of the 9 to 5 world and start experiencing life in a new way, buy this book and become a non-conformist.
The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy Ferris
Although I haven’t gotten all the way through this ginormous volume quite yet, this book is living up to the hype. The amazing amount of research and self-experimentation that went into this book is unbelievable. This year, I lost 20 pounds through Tim’s method outlined here. (Full disclosure: I gained it all back, because I started eating lots of things in the color of white again.) If you want to lose weight, gain muscle, increase strength, or have better sex, this book is for you.
Smarter, Faster, Cheaper: Non-Boring, Fluff-Free Strategies for Marketing and Promoting Your Business by David Siteman Garland
This year, I came across TheRisetotheTop.com and David’s wonderful video interviews (which inspired me to start doing my own). In this quick read, he outlines his methods for building a successful online blog and how to monetize it in order to make a living. I will be re-reading this book on our holiday road trip, because I want to push through my own limiting beliefs to embrace more of his techniques.
Do More Great Work: Stop the Busywork. Start the Work That Matters.
by Michael Bungay Stanier
Since I love to feel productive, busywork is my friend. I can find all sorts of things to organize and fiddle with until the entire day has passed by. Although much of this was already common sense to me, I was challenged to get off automatic and start intentionally planning my work and working my plan.
NLP: The New Technology of Achievement
Edited by Steve Andreas and Charles Faulkner
After years of hearing several friends talk about the power of NLP, I finally dove in. I bought three books on the subject, and this one was the best by far. Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) began as a model of how we communicate to ourselves and others which was developed by Richard Bandler and John Grinder, and it is now used by therapists, coaches, and speakers around the globe. I’m learning to communicate with myself and others in new ways because of this book, but (be warned) this is not a pop-culture book…a bit more in depth.
How to Become a Famous Writer Before You’re Dead: Your Words in Print and Your Name in Lights by Ariel Gore
Similar to Bird by Bird, this book is written for those who love to write and truly want to see our work impact the lives of others. Ariel’s self-disclosing style makes this book like a walk through her mind, and that is a gift to all writers. The interviews with other authors combined with her real-life experiences make this an incredible resource that I’ll re-visit in 2011.
Downtown Chic: Designing Your Dream Home
by Robert Novogratz, Cortney Novogratz, and Elizabeth Novogratz
After watching 9 By Design on Bravo, I fell in love with the style of the Novogratz family who operates Sixx Design, and I just had to pick up their book when it came out this year. I’m a wanna-be-interior-designer who loves re-arranging and re-decorating on a regular basis. All the work featured in this book comes from their design work with clients who primarily included the wealthy (as you can imagine). I love the book, and I can’t wait for the next season of the show to come out…on a new network. (Maybe, they’ll let 8TRACKstudios re-design their website.)
Forgive Me Father For I Have Sinned
by Phil Aguilar
In the early ’90′s, I attended Set Free Church in Anaheim, California, on one occasion, and I was intrigued by vision and work of Phil Aguilar. In recent years, I heard about his troubles with the law via the local news, but I was unaware of his vindication (since the news doesn’t tend to cover things of that sort). I came across his book somehow, and I immediately ordered a copy. This labor of love is his life story – from his hooligan youth to transformation as a Baptist preacher to the beginning of his urban ministry. It also chronicles his arrest in 2008 on charges of attempted murder and street terrorism. His story of vindication and transformation is inspiring, and you’ll be glad you “met him” through his book.
Gracenomics: Unleash the Power of Second Chance Living
by Mike Foster
This is small, power-packed book that will challenge you to give (and receive) grace more freely in our current “vulture culture.” Challenging me to move away from criticism, gossip, and slander, Mike inspired me with his personal stories, pop-culture examples, and anecdotal evidence that grace is the most successful path in life. Buy it…you really need to…trust me.
Lost + Found: Finding Myself by Getting Lost in an Affair
by David Trotter
So, is it a bad thing that I list my own book as one of the best I read in 2010? I think NOT! This is a raw memoir that chronicles the experiences of my affair, meltdown, and recovery. It’s not for the faint at heart, but people who have the courage to read it are deeply impacted. Check out the reviews on Amazon, and you’ll get a feel for what people are experiencing.
As you can see, I have interests in entrepreneurship, life design, interior design, relationships, and spirituality. How about you? What were some of your favorite books that you read in 2010?
