I'm trying to read more and this year I read 21 books - a new record! I enjoyed most of them, but the following 5 books are the ones that stood out for me. You'll find that most of them are non-fiction books, but there's a couple of fiction ones in there. I think this isn't a reflection on the type of books I prefer, I just went down a productivity/self-improvement rabbit hole this year. So, in no particular order...
Never Split The Difference
At first glance it appears to be a book purely focused on tactics and how to win in conversations, however the more I've reflected on it the more I've seen it as a book full of tools to help you communicate better. Life is full of negotiations of all different sizes and this books helps to take emotional intelligence to the next level and become a better communicator.
The Infinite Game
Finite games are defined as known players, fixed rules, and an agreed-upon objective. An infinite game is defined as known and unknown players, the rules are changeable, and the objective is not to win—the objective is to keep playing, keep perpetuating the game.
There is no such thing as winning business—it doesn’t exist. We can have wins inside a business like you can have battles, but there’s no such thing as “winning” business. The problem is too many business owners, too many leaders don’t know the game they’re playing. They talk about being number one, being the best, beating their competition. Based upon what agreed-upon metrics? Based upon what agreed upon timeframes? There’s no such thing.
I cannot stop thinking about this book and how I can apply an infinite mindset to my self-improvement. There's no winning and losing in life and this booked helped me realise that.
Project Hail Mary
One of the few fiction books on this list, but this is an incredible book that all science-fiction fans need to read. I was absolutely engrossed in the entire story and loved the setting, the pacing, the plot, everything.
You sleep. I watch.
The Great Mental Models: General Thinking Concepts
The old saying goes, "To the man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail." But anyone who has done any kind of project knows a hammer often isn't enough.
The more tools you have at your disposal, the more likely you'll use the right tool for the job — and get it done right.
This is the first book in The Great Mental Models series designed to upgrade your thinking with the best, most useful and powerful tools. This volume details nine of the most versatile, all-purpose mental models you can use right away to improve your decision making, productivity, and how clearly you see the world.
The author, Shane Parrish, has a great podcast called The Knowledge Project and this is how I found this book. Go check out the podcast as there's some fascinating episodes and guests.
The Canterbury Murders (Stanton & Barling #3)
I absolutely love this book series. This very delightful medieval mystery is the 3rd volume of the amazing "Stanton & Barling" series. In this book, Barling is on a pilgrimage to Canterbury accompanied by Stanton when they are called to investigate the murder of a stone mason working at the Cathedral.
