10 Favorite Books I Read in 2019 (And How Reading Develops Effective Leaders)
Not everyone gets recognized at their organization, makes their mark in the world, and leads their team to success. That usually takes an effective leader. And there’s no better way to accelerate your growth toward becoming a leader than by increasing the number of books you read.
Take it from some of our greatest leaders. Former President Harry S. Truman claimed, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” Margaret Fuller, a 19th century American journalist, editor, critic and women’s rights advocate said, “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.”
I’ve invested a significant amount of time and energy on my own career development over the years, and I’ve learned firsthand that building our leadership muscles takes lots of hard work. Just like building the physical muscles of the body, our minds need to be stimulated from a variety of sources in order to grow.
I sought out mentors, learned from my peers, took courses, attended conferences and joined leadership organizations… Yet year after year, the lowest cost and easiest way I experienced growth as a leader was reading books.
Here are some unique benefits of reading, beyond retaining the knowledge of the book:
Increases your vocabulary
Enhances your communication skills
Increases your creativity
Strengthens your problem-solving abilities
Helps manage stress and promote relaxation
I wrote another blog called 10 Leadership & Business Books You Can’t Afford to Ignore. These books remain some of my favorites. I encourage you to peruse the list if you haven’t already.
Because reading is so important to personal and professional growth, I’m sharing 10 of my favorite books I read in 2019. Some are business books, some are novels…and one is a unique, free verse poetry book on a thought-provoking topic.
10 Favorite Books I Read in 2019
1. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain
No matter how you identify on the introvert-extrovert spectrum, this is a highly engaging book. It expanded my thinking about types (i.e. a non-shy introvert or shy extrovert) and how everyone can lead successfully.
2. Leadership: In Turbulent Times, by Doris Kearns Goodwin
The author profiles, compares and contrasts four US presidents; Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson across three main sections: ambition and the recognition of leadership, adversity and growth (my favorite section) and how they led. Simply fascinating.
3. Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business, by Charles Duhigg
Filled with interesting stories to exemplify eight key productivity concepts, this book is super-charged with stories that grabbed my attention and were immediately used in my life.
4. The Captain Class: The Hidden Force that Creates the World’s Greatest Teams, by Sam Walker
This was an intellectually stimulating book that coupled research about the 16 best sports teams of all time, based on the author’s criteria. The author identified lessons that team captains play in a team’s success. Sports fans are likely to love this book.
5. Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time, by Keith Ferrazzi
While networking is one of my strongest skill sets, I must admit, the author takes networking to an artform in this book, and he explains how to do it very specifically. I gained at least 20 new networking tips.
6. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel H. Pink
This is a paradigm-shattering book and will likely turn what you believe about motivation on its head. It details the secrets to high performance and satisfaction. Read on.
7. The Rent Collector, by Camron Wright
I loved this book. It’s a story of Sang Ly, her husband Ki and infant son Nisay who lived in the largest municipal waste dump in Cambodia. The influential and mysterious character in the book is an older woman named Sopeap Sin that they call “the rent collector.” Sopeap and Sang Ly develop a moving friendship that affects each other’s lives in extraordinary ways.
8. Educated, by Tara Westover
This is an autobiography that made me think about what an education is and can offer. Tara is a woman who was born to survivalists in the Idaho mountains and never set foot in a classroom until the age of 17. She chronicles the unusual way she lived, was raised and worked, and how she ultimately went to Harvard and Cambridge to earn a PhD.
9. Beneath a Scarlet Sky, by Mark T. Sullivan
I couldn’t put this book down. It is based on a true story of Italian teenager Pino Lella and how he is catapulted into World War II first assisting Jews in crossing over the alps into safety and later driving for Hitler’s left hand in Italy, General Hans Leyer. Pino acts as a spy but no one, including his family, knows of his real intentions.
10. Long Way Down, by Jason Reynolds
This New York Times best-seller takes place in 60 potent seconds on a ride down an elevator–the amount of time it takes a kid to decide whether or not he’s going to murder the guy who killed his brother. Uniquely written in verse and spell-binding!
What are some of your must-read books? Do you believe reading can help you accelerate your leadership abilities? I’d love to hear from you!
By the way, I highly recommend the free app called Goodreads. It catalogs books you read and books you want to read. It also lets you read book reviews and see what your friends are reading. Search “Carol Sente” on Goodreads, and let’s make the coming year one where we set and achieve our reading goals. Happy reading!
