According to my GoodReads profile, in 2016 I read 77 books and a lot of them were non-fiction. Here are the five that I’m still thinking about and that I would definitely recommend you pick up in 2017:
The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna
I asked for this book as a gift for the holidays and then stayed up late two nights in a row to read it. The book is an expansion of a Medium essay and it’s incredibly inspiring and challenging. The basic premise is to ask yourself what it is that you feel like you must do with your life, and then to find a way to actually do that work.
Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
This was one of my favorite books of 2016 because I love reading about process. In this book, the authors describe the start of their company and what they learned along the way. They are known for the popular Basecamp product line, so it was fascinating to get a peek behind the scenes to how everything began.
Smarter, Faster, Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
There were stories and examples in this book that helped me better understand myself and the world around me — I’m not sure you can ask more from a book. This is one that I’m sure I’ll read again.
The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users by Guy Kawasaki and Peg Fitzpatrick
I read this as research for a book I’m writing, and also because I was curious about how I could improve my own social media practices. My greatest takeaway is that most of us on social media — even the so-called experts — don’t know what we’re doing.
Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach
I read this book at the beginning of 2016 and I’m still thinking about it. One of the most helpful components of this book is the examples that Brach provides. I’ll definitely be reading more of her this year, along with some of Pema Chodron’s work.
I’m looking forward to many more great books in 2017 and already have a large stack for my to-read pile!
To think on:
- Which books do you remember from 2016?
- What books do you want to read in 2017?