Ever read lists of suggested business or motivational books? Do they often sound like the same old "usual suspects" of well-known, best-selling books?
While we enjoy those books, here's a collection of smart reads you'll find a little more eclectic. They're inspiring, educational, finely crafted, and just hard to put down. We hope you'll enjoy them as much as we have.
10 terrific books for your bookshelf
 | The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity. by Julia Cameron. Tarcher-Putnam, 1992.
Do you ever read a book and think, "I want everyone I know to read this"? You'll feel that way about this remarkable book. Not just for artists (although many artistic people do cite it as one of their biggest influences), it's a great read for anyone who wants to be and do their best. You'll discover how to remove the "residue" that builds up inside of you so all your great qualities and abilities can be released. With great stories, amazing ideas and heartfelt passion for the reader, it's a must have. |
 | The Little Engine That Could. by Watty Piper. Platt & Munk, 1976.
How can you not love a book that inspires you when you're 4 and when you're 40? A charming, sweet story that offers the wonderful lesson of the amazing power found in those four little words: "I think I can." |
 | Development Projects Observed. by Albert O. Hirschman and Kermit Gordon. Brookings Institution Press, 1967.
A book that, on the face of it, is about how large-scale projects (dams, irrigation projects, etc.) are planned and implemented. Its most helpful idea, though, may be in the concept of the "hiding hand": While problems always crop up that planners didn't foresee, they're more than balanced by extra strengths of the project implementers that weren't counted on. It's a good lesson for us all: We always have more help on our side than we realize. |
 | Twenty Years at Hull House. by Jane Addams. Signet Classics, 1999.
Sure, the "nuts and bolts," the how-to-do-it elements, of success are important. But sometimes we just need an inspiring story of how one energetic, relentless person goes about their work. Generally considered the first true social worker, Addams wrote this book about the settlement house she founded in the early 1900s. It's an uplifting story about hard work, vision, devotion and results. Read this book and you'll be inspired to apply yourself even more consistently to your work, your life, and your favorite causes. |
 | Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want. by Barbara Sher. Ballantine, 2003.
Not getting around to working on your non-urgent goals? Pick up a copy of this imminently practical book and you'll get up and get moving today. Filled with smart strategies and insightful examples, it's a book that should be on every bookshelf. As the title says, it truly will help you to get what you really want. |
|
"Read first the best books."
-- Desiderius Erasmus |
 | Making a Living Without a Job: Winning Ways for Creating Work That You Love. by Barbara Winter. Bantam, 1993.
Wouldn't it be great if you could make money doing what you enjoy the most? This book will help you do just that. It features an interesting concept of "multiple profit centers," the idea of earning money from different interests, abilities, hobbies, etc. Even if you have a full-time job you enjoy, this fine book will give you strategies for energizing your life and work. |
 | How to Survive the Loss of a Love. by Melba Colgrove, et al. Prelude Press, 1993.
In our quest for happiness and success, we often forget the importance of courageously handling the curves life throws our way. Deceptively simple, blissfully short (it's all bullet points) this book will probably take you less than an hour to read -- but it will give you hope and strength if you're working through grief, the end of a relationship, or any significant loss. |
 | The 10 Dumbest Mistakes Smart People Make, and How to Avoid Them. by Dr. Arthur Freeman and Rose DeWolf. Harper Collins, 1992.
Jack Parr once said, "My life has been one long obstacle course -- with me as the biggest obstacle." He wasn't alone, of course. We often experience self-defeating behaviors (such as perfectionism, presuming the worst and mind-reading) that put the brakes on all the other great efforts we put into our lives. The workable strategies featured in this fine book will help you achieve peace of mind, enhanced self-esteem, and better relationships. |
 | The Gift of Asher Lev. by Chaim Potok. Fawcett Books, 1991.
The only fiction work on our list! A sequel to the equally compelling My Name is Asher Lev, it's the story of a Hasidic Jew who becomes a world-class painter. He struggles to reconcile his need to express himself honestly through his work with the expected standards of his beloved faith and his community. It's a thought-provoking look at how we're pulled in divergent directions by the things and people we love. And it's just a purely entertaining story. For best results, read My Name is Asher Lev first, then this one. |
(We'll be offering different suggested books on a regular basis -- please visit again soon!)
|
Ideas & Inspirations 