I’ve never been one to share what I’m reading on social media, yet friends and acquaintances still frequently ask me what I’m reading.
I read between one and three books at any given time. I also walk every evening in my neighborhood and prefer audiobooks over podcasts. Accordingly, my reading is refreshed regularly.
What I’m Reading
I’m reading two books. Before I mention the first one, I’ll point out that I have 25 books in my Financial Sharpening the Saw Series – more than two dozen books I recommend to clients in my executive coaching. One of those books is included because I’m a fan of the Mobley Matrix, which is dated. The framework is excellent for financial instruction and can be a launchpad for simple driver-based financial modeling. Accordingly, I’m rereading the out-of-print book Beyond IBM by Lou Mobley and my friend Kate McKeown. When the authors released it, it might have been the most pragmatic how-to book for aspiring entrepreneurs.
I’m also reading Always Thinking Big about Houston furniture store king Jim McIngvale. I admire and appreciate the work of W. Edwards Deming, and if a student of his is looking for practical applications of Deming’s methods, I’d start with the book about McIngvale. The furniture store king kept attending Deming four-day seminars, and his staff ultimately told him, “Let’s start implementing,” and he did by first eliminating sales rep commissions. This is a fun read.
What I’m Listening To
I’m a fan of narrative non-fiction. I told a CEO yesterday about the titles that launched and elevated this genre years ago. One such title coming to mind is A Night to Remember.
While it’s not Ghost in the Wires or American Kingpin, I’ve been intrigued by the story of bootlegger George Remus in the book The Ghosts of Eden Park. It’s not great, but I look forward to pressing play to see how the story unfolds.
What I’ve Wrapped Up
I’m not quick to give five-star ratings, especially for business books. Even though the book count is low, Richard Rumelt could be the best-ever writer on strategy. I thought The Crux: How Leaders Become Strategists was so good that I’ll be doing another fast read in a few weeks to nail down my favorite takeaways.
Your turn. I’m always interested in what you are reading. Drop me a line on LinkedIn.
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