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.
Last Updated: October 4, 2024
Next Update: October 15, 2024
What I’m Reading
John Byrne is easily the most underrated business writer of the 1990s. He authored one of my favorite business books, The Whiz Kids. If you grab a copy, it’s out of print, so plan on buying a used book widely available from numerous booksellers.
No love was lost between ‘Chainsaw’ Al Dunlap and Byrne, who wrote several scathing articles about this CEO’s business tactics. Currently, I’m reading Dunlap’s rise and fall in Chainsaw: The Notorious Career of Al Dunlap in the Era of Profit-at-Any-Price.
Regarding the distaste Dunlap had toward the author:
If John Byrne were on fire, I wouldn’t piss on him.
Al Dunlap speaking to a reporter referring to John Byrne.
What I’m Listening To
Suppose I were a publicist or a speech writer for any Patrick Lencioni culture machine consultant. In that case, I’d provide them about a dozen meaningful quotes and stories from The Score Takes Care of Itself: My Philosophy of Leadership, the excellent football practices of Bill Walsh (three Super Bowl titles), which he states apply to business.
At times, the book meanders with too many uninteresting details. The lack of a story arc doesn’t help, either. But the stories—many are insightful and relatable. You don’t need to be a football fan or a CEO to gain precious wisdom from the audio version.
Your turn. I’m always interested in what you are reading. Drop me a line on LinkedIn.
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