2017 Book-a-Month Reviews

The Secret

I originally had read this book in college and I thought it would be a good classic to kick start my new reading success habit. Its a quick read, formatted with full color pages, quotes and doodles, sharing the Law of Attraction—what you focus on you attract. This books conveys the idea that focusing on what you want instead of what you don’t want has more power to manifest what you are truly wishing for. It’s not a new concept, as evident from the wide variety of individuals that Rhonda Byrne has collected. In the end, the concept is simple—the power of manifestation is desire, believe and receive.

Think & Grow Rich

Another classic I read in college and reread this year. As it was originally published in 1937, this book collects the research Napoleon Hill conducted while interviewing the successful leaders at his time. Unlike The Secret, Think & Grow Rich is more coy with the details of Law of Attractions and focuses on the daily actions and power of affirmations in order to change your mindset and your life. The concept is similar to The Secret but with more actionable steps—set desire, give in exchange, set timeframe, document, take action, affirmations—and less magic.

The Go-Giver

I read this book twice—in a row. I usually study books, taking notes as I read them. However, I got so pulled into this parable that I put down my pen and experienced the book the first time. Then I reread the book and took a plethora of notes.

The concept of the book, told in a modern-day parable, is based on transitioning from a go-getter to a go-giver. How focusing on giving and connecting to help another person can have a far great impact in your life than continuing the get-all-that-you-can mindset. I wish this was actually a true story, but after reading it, you may be reminded of personal experiences or stories of friends—or frenemies—who fit into the archetype of the characters in this parable.

May Cause Miracles

Gabrielle Bernstein has weekly and daily readings and affirmations to build up your mindset and work through common areas of concern that people have while working through their personal growth. Inspired by A Course In Miracles, this book focuses on using love as a healing force in your life. I was most inspired by the first few weeks of the book, but towards the end I was not as consistent with the daily actions and less impacted by the lessons. I feel its the type of book, while you’ll want to go through it all at once the first time, you’ll probably want to reference and redo weeks based on your current life circumstances.

The Big Leap

My favorite book of the year! This book supports you to identify and transcend your upper limit, grow beyond your excellence into your genius and learning how to say No in order to say Yes more. I took pages of notes while reading this book and picked up several mantra that I’ve added to my daily affirmations. The biggest impact this book had on my life was a simple concept: the problem I think I have isn’t the actual problem I have. Gay Hendricks illustrates it through interactions with his clients helping to dig deeper, under the surface problem to true root problem. I’ve used this statement to bring me out of the point of view I’m stuck in and forces me to examine the problem in another way, behind it and beneath it. It has been very beneficial in my life to uncover source problems and find lasting resolution.

Linchpin: Are You Indispensable

One of my all-time favorite books. My husband’s agency had shared the audio book with their team, so my first taste was listening to a random chapter in the car with him. I was hooked! I ordered the book on Amazon from my phone before we got out of the car. (Audio books just don’t do it for me, I remember more what I see compared to what I hear, and, well, I still love the feel and smell of printed books.)

If you are interested in making a difference, loving what you do and achieving as much as you can, no matter your profession or placement, then read this book. Seth Godin puts in words what remarkable and indispensable people intuitively do—so you can focus on it and become indispensable too! I don’t want to share too much, as you’ll glean more from his own words unfolding then any summary I could write. So go read it!

Purple Cow: Transform Your Business By Being Remarkable

The day I finished Linchpin, I picked up and finished Purple Cow. Its a quick read with the inspiring message that it’s okay—even mandatory—now to be different. As a company, as a product, as an entrepreneur, it should be our mission to stand out, not to fit in. Why create another boring brown cow product when there are so many of those on the market? Now, a purple cow isn’t for everyone, but its remarkable—people will literally talk about it—and that’s how your ideal customers will find out about it.

Linchpin is about you as the worker, manager, entrepreneur, personality. Purple Cow is about your product. I highly recommend reading both of them.

The Have It All Woman

I started this book, set it down and waited a few months before finishing it. I was recommended it by a friend but Susan Sly’s story just didn’t resonate with me at the time. As I got passed the first chapter or two I started warming up to her words. I appreciated her thoughts on financial freedom, making sure you pay yourself first when you own a business—something I am notorious for not doing which in the end leads to frustration and resentment. Her advice to focus on health and nutrition is spot on—having the energy and willpower to build your business and your dreams requires your body to be operating as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead

I really enjoyed Sheryl Sandberg’s candor in this book. She shares her observations in tech companies, personal experiences within her own career and family life. She references quite a few data-based studies, sighting the analytical evidence to back up her ideas. My favorite passages covered how she handles the usually taboo subject of pregnancy during interviews and how ‘normal’ family dynamics are shifting.

The day I finished this book I handed it to my sister who is just getting started in her career. I so wish this book had been around when I was starting out, I would have taken a lot of it to heart and acted on much of her advice.

Lean Forward Into Your Life

I found this book in the discount section of Barnes & Nobles—I love finding random gems! I picked it up based on the title being similar to Lean In, which I had just finished reading. It took me a while to get into the rhythm of this book. It includes poetry, prose, stories, parables, shared letters and life lessons. Some of it I couldn’t get into (AP English ruined poetry for me forever) and yet, other sections soaked deep within my soul. I highly recommend it, in fact I’ve already passed my copy on to a friend.

Tribes

Another great book by Seth Godin. Really, I’m a sucker for any of his written words. I had picked up this book a few years ago when I had the honor to attend one of his speaking events. I read it then and really enjoyed it. After reading Linchpin and Purple Cow, I felt inspired to continue with Godin and chose to read Tribes again.

The biggest take-away I got from this book was the concept that it’s not the leader that creates a tribe, it’s the first few followers. If you see someone randomly start dancing in the streets, he’s just some crazy guy. It’s the people who join him, the second and third dancers that follow him, that create a movement. They create validity where before there was just crazy.

You aren’t a leader until people follow.

French Aromatherapy

I was given this book by a dear friend. She had shared essential oils with me and knew I would totally geek out on all the information in this book. It covers the basics of essential oils, different aromatherapy schools, science and includes recipes as well. Its the perfect book for those curious about essential oils or just starting out with oils. I loved it so much I’ve already passed it on to two of my friends!