At Fish, I’m known as the resident reader. At the moment, there’s a stack of at least 5 books that I’ve lent out to the office, and I take pride in being the go-to anytime someone needs a book recommendation. From mysteries to memoirs, I don’t discriminate when it comes to good books, and I rarely let a day go by where I don’t polish off a few chapters. One of my new years resolutions for 2017 was to read a book a week for the entire year, and as a result I’ve broadened my horizons a bit on the type of novels I dive into. There are only so many murder-mysteries you can read before you’re ready for something a bit more light-hearted.
As a result, I’ve found myself diving into the world of non-fiction more than ever before, and have stumbled upon some great selections that, in my opinion, are necessities for anyone trying to thrive in their career. No matter how smart you are, there’s always more that can be learned, and books are a great way to get a fresh perspective and learn the tricks of the trade from some of today’s brightest business leaders. Here are a couple exceptional choices I highly recommend for anyone looking to expand their skill set and broaden the way they approach their career and life in general.
- ‘You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life,’ by Jen Sincero. As the title implies, the overall theme of this book is that we all have a vast amount of potential just waiting to be tapped into, but often we’re our own biggest obstacle in achieving our goals. While the concept toes the line of being a self-help book (the one genre I’ve never been able to get on board with), the consistent humor used throughout prevents any of the advice from getting overly preachy. It’s never too late in the game to realize your own internal badass-ness.
- ‘Think Like a Freak’ by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. As Good Reads summed up, Levitt and Dubner offer a blueprint for an entirely new way to solve problems, whether your interest lies in minor lifehacks or major global reforms. As always, no topic is off-limits. They range from business to philanthropy to sports to politics, all with the goal of retraining your brain. Along the way, you’ll learn the secrets of a Japanese hot-dog-eating champion, the reason an Australian doctor swallowed a batch of dangerous bacteria, and why Nigerian e-mail scammers make a point of saying they’re from Nigeria. If you’re hunting for the secrets to thinking outside the box, look no further.
- ‘Age of Propaganda: The Everyday Use and Abuse of Persuasion’ by Anthony Pratkanis and Elliot Aronson. As a PR pro, I use the art of persuasion on a daily basis – mostly through attempting to persuade reporters to cover my client’s news. We’re living in a world where propaganda has invaded our reality, where ‘fake news’ has suddenly become a very real thing. This book offers an interesting take on the concept of propaganda, and explores its impact both in regards to how politicians use it as a clever deception and how ordinary people are susceptible to propaganda in more ways than they imagine, including through advertising and social activities.
- ‘The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F—‘ by Mark Manson. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been told that staying positive is the best way to overcome life’s hardships. Manson calls BS on that concept, saying “F**k positivity. Let’s be honest, shit is f**ked and we have to live with it.” We all have flaws, and he argues that acknowledging and accepting our flaws as opposed to trying to pretend they don’t exist is a better strategy than forcing yourself to embrace a false sense of positivity. While I still hold positivity in high regard, it’s a fascinating read and an interesting take on the importance of accepting ourselves for who we are, warts and all.
- ‘Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy,’ by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant. Written by Facebook’s renowned COO and Wharton’s top-rated professor, this book is a powerful, inspiring and practical book about building resilience and moving forward after life’s inevitable setbacks. The story depicts the devastation Sandberg suffered after her husband’s sudden death, and how she was able to find the strength to perservere and make the most of her new ‘option b’ life. It’s a great reminder that if she can make it through the tragedy life threw at her, than I can make it through a mildly stressful day at the office.
