The Reading Rainbow

I recently spoke with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation Black Leadership Group, and after the call, one of the members reached out to me with a simple yet powerful request: to suggest some books on leadership development and life. This request reminded me of the profound impact that reading can have on our personal and professional growth and the importance of being lifelong learners.

My Baba (the name we called our dad) was a learned man, a Black professional during a time when being a Black male professional was far from easy or convenient. The world was not kind to him, and sadly, many of us can say that things have not changed much in this regard. Despite these challenges, my Baba achieved great accomplishments, working internationally and eventually becoming a researcher in alternative energy at UC Berkeley. Those of you who know me understand how much Baba meant to me and the impact I feel every day from his absence. It is what happens when great trees fall. "They existed and existed so that we can exist," as Maya Angelou so eloquently said in her poem "When Great Trees Fall."

Baba would give my sister and me books at certain ages in our lives, the same books he read at those ages. I’ve carried on this tradition with my friends and colleagues who ask for recommendations because the books Baba gave me, along with those recommended by other respected individuals, have greatly shaped who I am today. In this spirit, I want to share my reading recommendations.

The book that is constantly at my bedside and always close to me, as I carry a small pocket version, is the Holy Bible. The life lessons spoken through Jesus' parables have been invaluable to my personal and professional life. It is the best book I can recommend to those who are open to or curious about the Word of God.

I encourage you to share books that have inspired you and helped you grow. Let’s light up the comment section with your book recommendations and tell us why these books had an impact on your life.

Go forth, my Muses, and be great. I am rooting for you, always.

Musically yours,

Amani D.

Amani's Book List:

• "I'm OK, You're OK" by Thomas A. Harris
• "The Greatest Salesman in the World " by Og Mandino
• "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran
• "Peak Performance: Inspirational Business Lessons from the World's Top Sports Organizations" by Kevin Roberts, Mike Pratt, and Clive Gilson
• "Quiet - The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking " by Susan Cain
• "Good to Great" by Jim Collins
• "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
• "The Creative Act: A Way of Being" by Rick Rubin
• "For the Culture" by Dr. Marcus Collins
• "The Beauty of Success: Start, Grow, and Accelerate Your Brand" by Kendra Bracken-Ferguson
• "Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life" by Dr. Arthur C. Brooks
• The Holy Bible