This page details my progress in a fifty book reading challenge to be completed between April 2008 and April 2009. I didn’t fully set out to read so many books but was instead determined to keep up a habit of reading 15 minutes a day. The results the followed.

Favourite book for 2008

I enjoyed most of the books I read during the year. Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography was very interesting and the books of John C. Maxwell highly enlightening about leadership. A favourite and that which I would recommend to all is How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie with a title which puts sadly a lot of people off reading this classic.

However one book trumped all. Leadership and Self Deception by The Arbinger Institute. If you have any aspirations to leadership or management, this book is critical.

List of books read in 2008

#CoverDescriptionFinishedRating
1.3 Seconds: The Power of Thinking Twice by Les Parrott, III 3 Seconds: The Power of Thinking Twice by Les Parrott, III

2008
2.A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

2008
3.Acres of Diamonds by Russell H. Conwell Acres of Diamonds by Russell H. Conwell

2008
4.A Kick in the Attitude: An Energizing Approach to Recharge Your Team, Work, and Life by Sam Glenn A Kick in the Attitude: An Energizing Approach to Recharge Your Team, Work, and Life by Sam Glenn

2008
5.As a Man Thinketh by James Allen As a Man Thinketh by James Allen

2008
6.Becoming a Person of Influence by John C. Maxwell Becoming a Person of Influence by John C. Maxwell

2008
7.Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life by Gregg Levoy Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life by Gregg Levoy

2008
8.Cashflow Quadrant: Rich Dad's Guide to Financial Freedom by Robert T. Kiyosaki Cashflow Quadrant: Rich Dad's Guide to Financial Freedom by Robert T. Kiyosaki

2nd read.
2008
9.Dare to Dream . . . Then Do It: What Successful People Know and Do by John C. Maxwell Dare to Dream . . . Then Do It: What Successful People Know and Do by John C. Maxwell

2008
10.Easey Peasey People Skills For Life by Allan Pease Easey Peasey People Skills For Life by Allan Pease

2008
11.Find Your Great Work by Michael Bungay Stanier Find Your Great Work by Michael Bungay Stanier

2008
12.Get Them On Your Side by Samuel B. Bacharach Get Them On Your Side by Samuel B. Bacharach

Thankfully I don't live in environments a politically charged as this book attempts to assist with.
2008
13.Go And Be Successful: Directions for Those Who Want to Get There by Wes Beavis Go And Be Successful: Directions for Those Who Want to Get There by Wes Beavis

2008
14.How To Avoid Detours On The Road To Success by Bill Newman How To Avoid Detours On The Road To Success by Bill Newman

2008
15.How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Allow yourself to be put off by this title and you'll regret it. 4th read.
2008
16.Just Ask! by Bill McGrane III Just Ask! by Bill McGrane III

2008
17.Leap!: A Journey to Personal Power and Possibility by Jonathan Creaghan Leap!: A Journey to Personal Power and Possibility by Jonathan Creaghan

A parable where the protagonist travels through the lands that represent the typical barriers to success. This book was a complete surprise to me.
2008
18.Unknown Book 5884925 by Unknown Author 926 Unknown Book 5884925 by Unknown Author 926

As an Australian my knowledge of Lincoln is limited to what I could see on TV. A man of true character. This book also serves as an introduction to the machinations of the American Civil War.
2008
19.Listening Leaders: The Ten Golden Rules to Listen, Lead & Succeed by Lyman K. Steil Listening Leaders: The Ten Golden Rules to Listen, Lead & Succeed by Lyman K. Steil

From the writers of the excellent Listening Leaders newsletter, this book is a little 'newsletterly' in style but don't be put off by that. Persevering past the first couple of chapters is gold.

2nd read.
2008
20.Network of Champions: What's Right about America and How to Be a Part of It by Shad Helmstetter Network of Champions: What's Right about America and How to Be a Part of It by Shad Helmstetter

2008
21.One Flew into the Cuckoo's Egg: My Autobiography by Bill Oddie One Flew into the Cuckoo's Egg: My Autobiography by Bill Oddie

2008
22.Overcoming Time Poverty by Bill Quain Overcoming Time Poverty by Bill Quain

2008
23.Piano On The Beach by Jim Dornan Piano On The Beach by Jim Dornan

2008
24.Questions Are the Answers by Allan Pease Questions Are the Answers by Allan Pease

2008
25.Secrets Of Supplements: The Good, The Bad, The Totally Terrific by Gloria Askew Secrets Of Supplements: The Good, The Bad, The Totally Terrific by Gloria Askew

2008
26.Six Thinking Hats by Edward De Bono Six Thinking Hats by Edward De Bono

2008
27.Stand and Deliver or Step Aside by Roger Fritz Stand and Deliver or Step Aside by Roger Fritz

2008
28.Straight by Boy George Straight by Boy George

2008
29.Talk Language by Allan Pease Talk Language by Allan Pease

2008
30.The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork Workbook: Embrace Them and Empower Your Team by John C. Maxwell The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork Workbook: Embrace Them and Empower Your Team by John C. Maxwell

2008
31.The Answer to How Is Yes: Acting on What Matters by Peter Block The Answer to How Is Yes: Acting on What Matters by Peter Block

2008
32.The Ant And The Elephant by Vince Poscente The Ant And The Elephant by Vince Poscente

2008
33.The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin

2008
34.The Business School For People Who Like Helping People by Robert T. Kiyosaki The Business School For People Who Like Helping People by Robert T. Kiyosaki

2008
35.The Dream That Will Not Die by Charles Paul Conn The Dream That Will Not Die by Charles Paul Conn

2008
36.The Encore Effect by Mark Sanborn The Encore Effect by Mark Sanborn

2008
37.The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate by Gary Chapman The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate by Gary Chapman

2008
38.The 5 Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman The 5 Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman

2008
39.The Five Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman The Five Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman

2008
40.The Mind in the Making the Relation of Intelligence to Social Reform by James Harvey Robinson The Mind in the Making the Relation of Intelligence to Social Reform by James Harvey Robinson

2008
41.The One Minute Networker by Bryan Thayer The One Minute Networker by Bryan Thayer

2008
42.The Out-Of-Town Expert With a Briefcase by Doug Wead The Out-Of-Town Expert With a Briefcase by Doug Wead

2008
43.The Silent Killers Within by Dr Light Miller The Silent Killers Within by Dr Light Miller

2008
44.The Stoic Art of Living: Inner Resilience and Outer Results by Tom Morris The Stoic Art of Living: Inner Resilience and Outer Results by Tom Morris

2008
45.Trust & Betrayal in the Workplace: Building Effective Relationships in Your Organization by Dennis S. Reina Trust & Betrayal in the Workplace: Building Effective Relationships in Your Organization by Dennis S. Reina

2008
46.Winning with People by John C. Maxwell Winning with People by John C. Maxwell

2008
47.The Power Of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale The Power Of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale

Review on Quantum Gardener
2009-05-09
48.The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz

Review on Quantum Gardener, 2nd read
2009-12-02
49.The 360 Degree Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization by John C. Maxwell The 360 Degree Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization by John C. Maxwell

I first heard John Maxwell speak of the 360 degree leader on an audio CD and was intrigued by the power of the realisation there are people like me who need to lead in all directions. Up, down and across.

This book outlines a framework for leadership which the eager learning leader can use to home their skills and understand the particular quirks and responsibilities of leading from the middle.
2010-05-18
50.Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones for Success by John C. Maxwell Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones for Success by John C. Maxwell

The faster you fail, the quicker you learn, and the faster you stop failing. Embrace failure and you'll be successful quicker, 2nd read.
2010-07-05
51.The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson

Bit by bit. Step by step. The choices we make each day, however small move us forward or hold us back. One of my favourites. 3rd read
2010-07-19
52.Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box by Arbinger Institute Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box by Arbinger Institute

Review on Quantum Gardener
2011-03-29
53.Personality Plus by Florence Littauer Personality Plus by Florence Littauer

2011-09-21
Data from Goodreads

Note: You may have noted above the number of books in the list doesn't match the number of books I said that I read. This has occurred because I've read one or more books multiple times during the year, but they are only shown as of the most recent read. You may also have seen dates outside the nominated reading year. Again, a book read in subsequent years will have a later date shown.