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
| # | Cover | Description | Finished | Rating  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  |
3 Seconds: The Power of Thinking Twice by Les Parrott, III |
2008 |  |
| 2. |  |
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens |
2008 | |
| 3. |  |
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 |
2008 | |
| 5. |  |
As a Man Thinketh by James Allen |
2008 | |
| 6. |  |
Becoming a Person of Influence by John C. Maxwell |
2008 | |
| 7. |  |
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 2nd read. |
2008 | |
| 9. |  |
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 |
2008 | |
| 11. |  |
Find Your Great Work by Michael Bungay Stanier |
2008 | |
| 12. |  |
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 |
2008 | |
| 14. | |
How To Avoid Detours On The Road To Success by Bill Newman |
2008 | |
| 15. |  |
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 |
2008 | |
| 17. |  |
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 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 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 |
2008 | |
| 21. |  |
One Flew into the Cuckoo's Egg: My Autobiography by Bill Oddie |
2008 | |
| 22. |  |
Overcoming Time Poverty by Bill Quain |
2008 | |
| 23. |  |
Piano On The Beach by Jim Dornan |
2008 | |
| 24. |  |
Questions Are the Answers by Allan Pease |
2008 | |
| 25. |  |
Secrets Of Supplements: The Good, The Bad, The Totally Terrific by Gloria Askew |
2008 | |
| 26. |  |
Six Thinking Hats by Edward De Bono |
2008 | |
| 27. | |
Stand and Deliver or Step Aside by Roger Fritz |
2008 | |
| 28. |  |
Straight by Boy George |
2008 | |
| 29. |  |
Talk Language by Allan Pease |
2008 | |
| 30. | |
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 |
2008 | |
| 32. |  |
The Ant And The Elephant by Vince Poscente |
2008 | |
| 33. |  |
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin |
2008 | |
| 34. |  |
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 |
2008 | |
| 36. |  |
The Encore Effect by Mark Sanborn |
2008 | |
| 37. |  |
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 |
2008 | |
| 39. |  |
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 |
2008 | |
| 41. |  |
The One Minute Networker by Bryan Thayer |
2008 | |
| 42. | |
The Out-Of-Town Expert With a Briefcase by Doug Wead |
2008 | |
| 43. | |
The Silent Killers Within by Dr Light Miller |
2008 | |
| 44. |  |
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 |
2008 | |
| 46. |  |
Winning with People by John C. Maxwell |
2008 | |
| 47. |  |
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 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 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 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 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 Review on Quantum Gardener |
2011-03-29 | |
| 53. |  |
Personality Plus by Florence Littauer |
2011-09-21 | |
 | ||||
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.
