70 Books in a Year: My Top 5 Picks of 2023

Amidst a year of unexpected twists, my reading list became a source of stability. These 70 books covered a range of topics, from business strategy to personal growth. Here are my top 5 must-reads. Each one significantly enhanced my grasp of business, strategy, and innovation.

1. Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration

This book delves into Pixar's innovative culture, particularly their 'Braintrust' meetings, which foster open feedback and encourage risk-taking. It emphasizes seeing failure as a vital part of the creative process, highlighting the need for a work environment where trust and experimentation drive success.

2. Good Strategy. Bad Strategy

Highlighting the gap in strategic planning, this book contrasts effective strategies, marked by clear goals and actions, with common but unfocused plans. It advocates for straightforward, well-defined strategies for success.

3. 7 Powers - The Foundations of Business Strategy

The author outlines seven essential powers for business survival: Scale Economies, Network Economies, Counter-Positioning, Switching Costs, Branding, Cornered Resource, and Process Power. The interplay of these powers is critical in today's competitive market.

4. Only the Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company

Focusing on Intel's shift from memory to microprocessors, this book discusses the concept of an inflection point — a critical moment leading to growth or decline. It's especially relevant in the era of Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs), highlighting the need for agility and strategic reinvention.

5. Chip War: The Quest to Dominate the World's Most Critical Technology

Providing an in-depth look into the semiconductor industry's evolution, this book blends history, resource management, and political dynamics to explain the sector's growth and future trajectory. It underscores the industry's geopolitical significance.

Each book has been instrumental in enhancing my knowledge in business and strategy, teaching me the value of adaptability and strategic foresight. These insights will continue to influence my approach in the coming year, both professionally and personally.

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Here’s the list of 70 books I read in 2023:?

Business & Leadership

1. 7 Powers - The Foundations of Business Strategy - Hamilton Helmer

2. A-List Angels - Zach Greenburg

3. An Elegant Puzzel: Systems of Engineering Management - Will Larson

4. Backable - Suneel Gupta

5. Building a StoryBrand - Donald Miller

6. Change by Design - Tim Brown

7. Chip War - Chris Miller

8. Co-Active Leadership - Karen Kimsey-House

9. Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration - Ed Catmull

10. Good Strategy. Bad Strategy - Richard Rumelt

11. HBRs 10 Must Reads 2020 - Harvard Business Review

12. Launch Your Dream - Dale Partridge

13. Leadership is Language - L David Marquet

14. Out Think - G. Shawn Hunter

15. Pixar Storytelling - Dean Movshovitz

16. Rise: 3 Practical Steps for Advancing Your Career, Standing Out as a Leader, and Liking Your Life - Patty Azzarello

17. Stop Guessing: The 9 Behaviors of Great Problem Solvers - Nat Greene

18. The AI Revolution in Medicine - Peter Lee, Carey Goldberg, Isaac Kohane

19. The Charisma Myth - Olivia Cabane

20. The Challenge Culture - Nigel Travis

21. The Code - Margaret O Mara

22. The Great CEO Within - Mochary, Matt, Alex MacCaw, Misha Talavera

23. The Innovation Delusion - Lee Vinsel, Andrew L Russell

24. The Lean Product Playbook - Dan Olsen

25. The Lean Startup - Eric Ries

26. The Qualified Sales Leader, Proven Lessons From a Five-Time CRO - John McMahon

27. The Second In Command - Cameron Herold

28. The Tipping Point - Malcolm Gladwell

29. The Unspoken Truths for Career Success - Tessa White

30. Thinking in Systems - Donaella Meadows

31. Women with Money - Jean Chatzky

32. Wrong. Why experts* Keep Failing Us--and How to Know When Not to Trust Them - David H Freedman

Notable People/Orgs:

33. Amp it Up - Frank Slootman

34. Becoming Trader Joe - Joe Coulombe, Patty Civalleri

35. Crying in H Mart - Michelle Zauner

36. Enough - Cassidy Hutchinson

37. Know Thy Name - Chanel Miller

38. Happy at Any Cost: The Revolutionary Vision and Fatal Quest of Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh - Kirsten Grind

39. My First Time - Phil Growick

40. Only the Paranoid Survive - Andrew Grove

41. Paris - Paris Hilton

42. Shut Up and Listen! - Tilman Fertitta

43. Taste - Stanley Tucci

44. Tell Me Everything - Minka Kelly

45. The Education of an Accidental CEO - David Novak, John Boswell

46. The Worlds I See - Fei Fei Li

47. Unbroken - Laura Hilenbrand

48. Untamed - Glennon Doyle

49. Valley of Genius - Adam Fisher

Self-Help & Personal Development:

50. Clarity and connection - Yung Peublo

51. Grief and Renewal - Don Miguel Ruiz

52. How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior - Leonard Mlodinow

53. Inward - Yung Peublo

54. Subliminal - Leonard Mlodinow

55. The Drama of the Gifted Child - Alice Miller

56. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind - Joseph Murphy

57. The Way Forward - Yung Peublo

58. You are Enough - Rainie Howard

59. The Freedom Formula: How to Succeed in Business Without Sacrificing Your Family, Health, or Life - David Finkel

Health & Wellness:

60. Becoming Supernatural - Dr. Joe Dispenza

61. Breath - James Nestor

62. Empire of Pain - Patrick Radden Keefe

63. Rising Strong as a Spiritual Practice - Brene Brown

64. The Cancer Chronicles - George Johnson

65. The Cancer Code - Dr. Jason Fung

66. The Death of Cancer - Vincent T DeVita, MD Elizabeth DeVita-Raeburn

67. The Emperor of All Maladies - Siddhartha Mukherjee

Others:

68. Disorientation - Elaine Hsieh Chou

69. Rogues - Patrick Radden Keefe

70. The Princess Bride - William Goldman