Please share your insights by commenting below this post.
One of the best ways to become a better leader is to read voraciously and widely.
Why? Because leaders are readers. Not only does reading widely help you learn new skills and qualities of leadership, reading and learning keep you HUMBLE. When you think you’ve somehow ‘arrived’ in your respective domain of vocation or station in life… think again! That’s hubris. “Hubris born of success” is first mark of decline in an organization or team (see Jim Collins’ ‘How the Mighty Fall‘).
There are no ‘experts’, there are only expert learners. It doesn’t matter whether you are 10 years old or 100 years old, there is always something new to learn. Learning keeps your brain active. Healthy curiosity and learning are life giving.
On January 1, 2022 when I set a goal to read 13 books in one year. In the spirit of learning, below is the list of books I’ve read so far. Please note, perhaps you, like me have learning challenges (dyslexia, ADHD, etc)? That’s okay! I read very slowly. Sometimes I must re-read entire books. In a future post, I’ll share some tricks I use in my reading journey.
2. Carpe Diem Redeemed: Seizing the Day, Discerning the Times – Os Guinness
5. Art and the Bible – Francis Schaeffer
6. Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling – Andy Crouch
7. The Stress Effect: Why Smart Leaders Make Dumb Decisions–And What to Do About It – Henry L. Thompson
8. The Lord of the Rings (Part 2) Tale of the Two Towers – JRR Tolkien
9. QBQ! The Question Behind the Question: Practicing Personal Accountability at Work and in Life – John G. Miller (note: I read this once per year)
10. Hinge Moments: Making the Most of Life’s Transitions – Michael Lindsey
11. The Dust of Death: The Sixties Counterculture and How It Changed America Forever – Os Guinness
Currently reading: Dominion – How the Christian Revolution Remade the World – Tom Holland
In addition, I read my Bible almost every day. I use a devotional reading plan and I read a Proverb daily (there are 31 Proverbs). I also read Psalms and Ecclesiastes often. I have an ESV Reader’s Bible that contains no verses, no references, and no chapters – enabling me to read huge sections of scripture without feeling like I’m chasing rabbit trails. It is a joy!
What books are you reading?
Please share your insights by commenting below this post.
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brilliant, thank you
Hey Michael. Thanks. I hope you are doing well man!