Good Books to Read: Part 1 is the first post in what will be a series. I will talk a little about each book and how it impacted me. That way you may decide if it is something you want to read or not, either way is okay by me.
This idea came from interaction on my last post Positive Thoughts : Positive Attitude : What has it Got to do with Business. Zach Spuckler from Spruckler Fitness said to me “I would love to hear more about the books that you read and what you get out of them!” He also shared what he is reading. So I decided to do a post and hope you will leave your book recommendations in the comments below.
My initial intention was one post but then I realized it would be very long as I have read many.
My next ideas was that I would do a series of good books to read on various topics – like money, business, personal development. But (and yes it is a big but) categorizing books is not all black and white. For example I have seen Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki in books stores in sections that vary from finance, personal development, business and new age! Probably because there are elements of all of that in the book.
Decision – I am just going to write in several posts without categories called Good Books to Read. I am sure I will miss out some of the books that impacted me earlier in my life as I no longer have some of them.
Before I dive in I just want to say I also have read some awesome novels however this series is about non-fiction and books that can create growth or change in a person.
Good Books to Read – Some Autobiographies
Richard Branson Losing my Virginity
I love the story of Sir Richard Branson and all that he personifies. His success is unquestionable and he embodies that fun and very alive – daring style.
The book was the first part of Sir Richard’s life and it ends in 1993 so clearly much has happened since. It is the story of the birth of Virgin Records and then various other businesses including the airline.
It tells of the brutal battle with British Airways and of the sell off of his first baby being the music and a few other businesses.
It is a book about business survival, determination and a will to succeed.
To answer Zach’s question “what did I get out of it” I love his ideas on team work and having a culture that can be fun. I have always aimed to have that sort of culture in our businesses.
Anita Roddick Body and Soul (sadly it is now the late Anita Roddick)
If you are unfamiliar with who Anita Roddick was she founded The Body Shop in 1976. The Body Shop grew to be an international company. It was founded with very little capital and is a rags to riches story.
As I write it just occurred to me that this second book here is another British person and also someone who was anything but conventional. She had a deep belief that business could and should be fun. A bit of a trend here 🙂
This book impacted me a lot when I read it many years ago. There were not very many women role models in businesses early in my business career so I was drawn to this woman’s success.
She was highly passionate and started the company out of a strong dislike for the cosmetic giants. That is obvious in this quote!
It is immoral to trade on fear. It is immoral constantly to make women feel dissatisfied with their bodies.
It is immoral to deceive a customer by making miracle claims for a product.
It is immoral to use a photograph of a glowing 16 year-old to sell a cream aimed at preventing wrinkles in a forty year old.”
– Anita Roddick
What I got from this book was that business can be fair and ethical.
Born to Win – John Bertrand as told to Patrick Robinson
Unless you are an Australian or a keen yachting fan in the USA you probably have never heard of John Bertrand. He was the skipper of the yacht that won the America’s Cup from the USA in 1983 which was the first time the United States had been defeated in the 132 years of the race.
John Bertrand of course became an overnight hero here in Australia. People here stayed up all night to watch the race. If we are old enough to remember it we will never forget it.
It is a book about life, love and the triumph of the human spirit. It is about total team commitment and hard work.
It is a book that in Australia was studied by many business people. Bertrand’s most famous quote after his win was “Dennis (Dennis Connor) had a team of champions ; we were a champion team”. And in that quote lies my biggest lesson from the book. It applies in sport and in business. A champion team will win every time!
I know nothing about sailing and I loved the book.
So there it is… my first three books in my series good books to read. These are all books I read years ago and are jam packed with lessons.
Good Books to Read : Part 1 became only 3 books. I see this could be a long series. 🙂
Have you read any of these books? What is one book that has impacted your life?
Make it a great day.
Sue Price
Skype: sueprice
PS
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Savvy Working Gal says
Body and Soul has been on my reading list for a long time. I think it is time I read it. The other two look interesting as well. Looking forward to the rest of this series.
Sue Price says
Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. I am sure you will love Body and Soul when your read it.
Take care
Sue
William Butler says
Hi Sue,
While I have not read any of these books at all, I do like how you’ve provided your takeaway from each of them. I did a similar post at the end of January in much the same fashion. There is so much we can learn from books, and if anyone is the slight bit interested in improving, books are always a great investment of one’s time. Book reading has been a daily habit of mine for years.
I’ve just finished the Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz, an excellent book, and I’m currently reading The Compassionate Samurai by the late Brian Klemmer, which, so far, is also a great read.
Have an enjoyable week!
Bill
Sue Price says
Hi Bill
I agree with you of course regarding books. The thing is these days too if people are not readers they can get many books as audio books. I cannot imagine not being a reader but I know some people are not. That first book you mentioned sounds interesting and I will keep a note of it.
A friend of mine was reading the book by Brian Klemmer. I saw him speak a few times and was shocked when he passed away. I imagine it is a good book.
Thanks for your comment Bill and you too have a good week.
Sue
Kumar Gauraw says
Hi Sue,
I don’t think I have read it yet but I do have a copy of “Born To Win” and I need to go back to it to see if I have read it because even if I did, it has been a long time.
And regarding the first one, that is in my pipeline to buy. I have heard a lot of great things about that book. Thank you for another push on this one 🙂
Yes, your list could have been a bit longer for sure. But then, it’s a great short list and you have shared a great deal about each book. So, I love it! Thank you for sharing!
Regards,
Kumar
Sue Price says
Hi Kumar
If you have not read Born To Win I am sure you will enjoy it when you do read it. Yes Losing my Virginity is excellent.
I will do more posts to follow this one. The next will not the preamble so I will get through more books. I have read so many great ones over time.
Thanks for your comment here Kumar and have a great week.
Sue
Zach says
Hey Sue,
So glad I coukd inspire you to write this arricle, ive got so, ething similar on the editorial calendar 😉
I just got an Amazon gift card so I will probably be checking out the born to win book, I too am not a sailor but it sounds fascinating!
Great info as always,
Zach
Sue Price says
Hi Zach
It is funny how a question like you asked me can spark a post series. I look forward to reading yours too.
For sure check out Born to Win as it is full of lessons.
Thanks for your comment Zach.
Sue
donna merrill says
Hi Sue,
Well it is great to know what books you read and I’m glad Zack inspired this by his question.
I’m familiar with the book that Anita Roddick wrote. And yes, there weren’t many books written by women back in the day that gave us the inspiration to start up our own businesses.
Born To Win sounds like a book I would love to read. Thanks for telling us about that one!
I like to read books that have a marketing edge or a personal development edge to it.
These days, where I spend most of my time online reading blogs, taking lessons, etc. it becomes pretty difficult to keep up with actual books. However, I’m making it a point to read a little bit at a time at night.
Thanks again Sue, for sharing
-Donna
Sue Price says
Hi Donna
I am sure you would enjoy Born to Win as it has leadership, management and team work lessons as well as all the ingredients we need to succeed in business.
I know what you mean about having the time to read books when you read a lot of blog posts. It is difficult to fit it all in. I try to do a little at least. Over the Christmas break I got through a few books.
Thanks Donna for your comment and have a good week.
Sue
Jeevan Jacob John says
I have read a few books over the years; it wasn’t a hobby for me until last year.
So, I can’t particularly name any books that had an effect on me – I learned a lot from each book I read (My favorite genres are mystery and detective, so books series like Nancy Drew and Hercule Poirot are my favorites :D).
I already have a lot of books on my reading list…can’t add more to it, at least not now. But, I will be looking forward to the next post 🙂
Anyways, thank you for sharing this, Sue!
Sue Price says
Hi Jeevan
I like mystery books too. I do not get to read much fiction these days but I have read a lot over time. I used to read when I went to bed and would fall asleep with the book on top of me often. I do not do that anymore. Now my reading is much more mindset and business related.
I know what you mean about having a long reading list. I too have one of those. I just keep adding to it.
Thanks for your comment here Jeevan. Have a good rest of your week.
Sue
Ashley says
Hey Sue
Awesome!
Books to read. Can’t beat that.
I am always trying to find ideas for new books, and there is no better way than through some recommendations.
Looks like some interesting ones in there. Richard Branson etc. Great to learn from successful people. Even Bertrand!
Much appreciated.
ashley
Sue Price says
Hi Ashley
I am like you and like to choose books that have been recommended. I am like that with movies and restaurants too 🙂
The Richard Branson one especially is a great read.
Thanks for your comment Ashley and have a great week.
Sue
Adrienne says
Hey Sue,
Well thanks to Zach for inspiring you to write a series upon which books you’ve enjoyed and why.
Gosh, I haven’t really had a chance to read for pleasure in a very long time. I think reading period should be for pleasure even if we want to learn something because I think in some small way they all teach us something.
Now I’m familiar with Richard Branson but not the other two. I’ve not read any of these books of course and it’s probably been a good five years or so since I’ve had the time. Like Donna, I mostly read blog posts these days but I do learn a lot. Do online courses count? LOL!!!
It’s still good to have some great books recommended Sue so I’ll look forward to seeing what else you’ll be sharing. Thank you.
~Adrienne
Sue Price says
Hi Adrienne
With the amount of blog posts you read it does not surprise me at all that you have no time to read books. I have always read a lot. I used to read fiction but now more along the lines I have written about here. I have read a lot of business books over the years and always have a few on the go at once 🙂
Yes online courses do count. 🙂 Well not a book technically but you are learning.
When I traveled for work a lot I read heaps or I felt I was wasting time. Now I have to make the time.
Thanks for your comment Adrienne. I hope you are having a better week than some you have had of recent times.
Take care of you my friend.
Sue
Barbara Charles says
Hi Sue,
Thanks so much for this list of good reading. I’ve not heard of or read any of these books. Sounds like good reading though especially since I’ll be on a plane tomorrow. Looks like I need to download to my nook so I can read on the plane. I’ll be interested in seeing if we get the same things out of these books, but I know that it will probably be individualized to each person’s needs.
Thanks for the list. I needed some good books to read.
I’ll let you know what I think.
Barbara
Sue Price says
Hi Barbara
Planes are such a good place to read. I just said in my reply to Adrienne I read heaps when I traveled a lot for work.
I am sure you are spot on when you say we may get different things out of different books. Funnily enough the Born to Win book which is about an Australian team was recommended by an American on a course I did many years ago. He apparently used to recommend it in the US as well. It has a ton of different take-aways in there.
You have an awesome trip and safe travels. Thanks for your comment Barbara
Sue
Sylviane Nuccio says
Hi Sue,
Sorry, it looks like I’d missed that post, but here I am.
What a great idea! I love books, especially the kind that you’re discussing here. the ones that makes you grow and mingle with success.
I can only imagine how this Australian sailor became a sensation over there beating the Americans after so many years 🙂
Thanks for the share.
Sue Price says
Hi Sylviane
I posted it last Sunday my time so it got a bit lost 🙂 You are here now.
I realized I have read so many books over the years that have helped me grow I should share some of them.
Yes Australians love sport and we love to win. And we especially love the beat the Americans. I think it is because we are so small in population it feels like a real achievement.
Thanks for visiting and commenting Sylviane.
Sue
Arleen says
Susan- I must say I haven’t had time in the last several years to read anything. There was a book I read, but I can’t remember the title. It was similar to the movie “The Bucket List”. This woman wanted a pair of red boots but came up with all kinds of excuses not to buy them. She made a list of things she wanted out of life and slowly checked them off. That is something I have been doing. The fun part is to think of things to add after to check one off. They have to be big things.
I haven’t read any that you suggested but I appreciate when someone has read something and you are able to get an unbiased point of view.
Sue Price says
Hi Arleen
I have always read a lot even as a child. Then when I started doing personal development I became aware of a whole new world of books. I think it is something we make a priority or we do not.
You book and idea of the bucket list sounds great. I have a few friends doing similar.
Thanks for your comment Arleen.
Sue
Viola Tam says
Hi Sue,
It is a great idea for this good book series. I will read your other suggestions.
I love what Anita said about the immoral aspects of business. You are so right about business can be fair and ethical. In fact, more and more businesses seem to realize that they can be even MORE profitable if they are fair and do more do!
Appreciate your sharing, Sue!!
PS: I love The Slight Edge: Secrets to a Successful Life, by Jeff Olson. It reveals the power of choice. Choose wisely, even small action can bring about amazing results.
Viola Tam – The Business Mum
Sue Price says
Hi Viola
Anita was very outspoken about what she saw as immoral. I was very sad when she died at a relatively young age. But she did live her life to the fullest while she was here.
I agree there are more and more businesses that are recognizing the need to be fair and do more. I think the age of social media and everything being so much more transparent has a lot to do with it.
I have been recommended The Slight Edge before Viola so thanks for reminding me. It is now on my “to read” list.
Thanks for your comment and you have a great week Viola.
Sue
Sudipto says
Hey Sue,
Nice post and Thanks for sharing these book with us. Truly speaking, I never heard about these three book which you mentioned above and the reason behind this is that I am very busy because right now, I am study in college and I not got much enough time to read these book. After reading this post, I really like all the three books you mentioned above and I will surely gonna read them.
Sue Price says
Hi Sudipto
I know what it is like when to be studying and no time to read anything else. I have been in that place several times in my life.
When you do get time these books are certainly worth reading.
Thanks for your comment.
Sue