Reading Recap: My Top 20 Books from 2017

Those who know me, both in my personal and professional life, can all agree on one very specific and consistent characteristic… I am a big reader.

Actually, I am an OBSESSIVE reader.

 “Why do you want to read so many books?!” my husband is constantly asking me (in reality, I think he just doesn’t appreciate the pile of books always tumbling over on my side of the bed!) In truth, he already knows why, and I always reinforce the same answer for him…

I LOVE learning.

For me, learning translates into the consistent discovery, collection and mapping out of data points to find unique connections between non-relatable topics and/or being exposed to new perspectives that I can translate into my day-to-day life. On a less philosophical note, it also makes for great discussion material when meeting new people and finding common topics to bond over when you have passed beyond the “What do you do for work?” opening conversation starters (no more awkward silences at networking events!)

So, I thought it would be fun to share the list of top 20 books (both physical and digital) I read during 2017 while attaching a personal synopsis alongside what I learned via each one.

As you will see from my list below, I do not limit myself to any particular genre and I choose which books to read from all types of sources (colleague recommendations, I saw it mentioned in an interesting article I was reading, or randomly purchasing a local author at a food store while traveling on vacation). And yes, I even have my guilty pleasure of “non-learning” reading in there as well – we all need some down time to let our brains take a rest. ??

I love adding to my growing list of new reading material, so please leave your own suggestions (with your own personal synopsis of the content) in the comments section.

Wishing you all a healthy, happy, humorous and very prosperous 2018! 

1.      You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero

Do you suffer from Imposter Syndrome? Do you ever internalize anxiety that links back to feeling like you are a potential fraud (even though there is no external evidence to support that thought)? Do you ever think to yourself, “I have no idea what I am doing, but people around me think I do!” As an Executive Administrator whose day to day is always different, filled with varied tasks, tools and problems that require never used before approaches/solutions, I think we all have been pulled into this distorted view of ourselves. Last June, I was in that place and knew I needed to re-balance my personal perspective, so when I came across this book, it spoke volumes to me. Hilariously written with engaging stories and inspirational nuggets peppered throughout, this book reiterates the tried and true wisdom that we manifest our reality through our thoughts – so we need (and we MUST) keep them positive – hence the title and the mantra of the book. Highly recommend!

WHAT I LEARNED: Every single one of us are “Badasses” in our own way – we just have to start believing it.

2.      You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth by Jen Sincero

I liked Sincero’s first book so much, I bought her follow up about money – similar concept, same humorous writing style, but with the focus on not being so freaked out about aspiring to a wealth mindset. Again, who couldn’t use some shifted perspective on this topic?!

WHAT I LEARNED: The stories I internalize around monetary insecurity create major obstacles/stress in my life. I need to seriously work on re-framing my stories.

3.      Biocentrism: How Life and Consciousness are the Keys to Understanding the True Nature of the Universe by Robert Lanza and Bob Berman

A short abstract snippet from Amazon reads: “The whole of Western, natural philosophy is undergoing a sea change again, increasingly being forced upon us by the experimental findings of quantum theory, and at the same time, towards doubt and uncertainty in the physical explanations of the universe’s genesis and structure. Biocentrism completes this shift in worldview, turning the planet upside down again with the revolutionary view that life creates the universe instead of the other way around.” Sounds kind of heavy, right? Lanza actually writes about his Biology/Observer-based hypothesis, along with complicated scientific experiments that support his “renegade” theory in a very accessible way. I assure you, I do not understand science in a detailed way, and I was still able to understand and appreciate his perspective. I also enjoyed how much of newer scientific experimentation closely aligns (and sometimes reinforces) millennia of spiritual teachings and philosophy around universal energy and consciousness. If you like exploring “disruption ideas” or enjoy cross-sections of science/spirituality, this would be a good read for you.

WHAT I LEARNED: Sometimes long-held beliefs require a completely new shift in perspective to move humanity forward. 

4.      The CEO’s Secret Weapon: How Great Leaders and Their Assistants Maximize Productivity and Effectiveness by Jan Jones

I read this book at the beginning of the 2017, so I have been able to digest, ponder and utilize portions of its content throughout the year (bottom line: it is a very good read, ESPECIALLY for Executives). While I was working my way through each chapter, I found myself saying out loud “Yes, yes, yes!” on one page and then only a few pages later shaking my head vigorously stating an emphatic “No, no, no!” To me, this is the sign of a great book – one that makes you hone in on where your own personal philosophies intersect (or do not intersect) with the author’s, so you can find more clarity and conviction in how you communicate those which you are most passionate about. If you want to get pumped up about how amazing the career path of Executive Administration should/could/would be, alongside very practical lists on how Executives can start shifting their own views on the role and start empowering their “right hand” to amplify their (and their company’s) success, definitely add this to your 2018 reading list.

WHAT I LEARNED: The Executive Administration Function is an amazing career path with so much opportunity still available for new perspectives and challenging growth.

5.      The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World by Steven Johnson

This book is outside of my topic comfort range (science makes my brain hurt!), but after being lent a copy by a very smart scientific colleague, I decided to give it a try. Part true history, part mystery, part science and part cultural analysis, this book walks you through London’s devastating cholera epidemic of 1854. By overlapping the stories of two local data analysis sleuths who had very different ideas behind what could be causing the epidemic (and eventually how to stop it), you easily get sucked into a real-life-drama of working against the ticking time bomb of disease.  Beautifully written to keep you engaged while also helping you appreciate just how far we have come via the rigor of the scientific method, take a risk on reading this unique genre book (there is a reason it is on the New York Time's Best Sellers List) – you won’t regret it.

WHAT I LEARNED: Curiosity, tenacity, fearlessness and courage to go against popular belief systems (especially if done in a scientifically methodical manner), can change the world.

6.      The Song Rising (The Bone Season Series) by Samantha Shannon

Now onto my guilty reading pleasure – The Bone Season Series. If you were a fan of the Hunger Games, this series was supposed to be the next big dystopian follow-up by newcomer author, Samantha Shannon. The series follows a heroine by the name of Paige Mahoney through London of 2059, where she, along with a whole sub-set of the population are deemed outcasts due to their varying clairvoyant abilities. The Song Rising is the 3rd book in the series (so make sure to read the first 2 before getting to this one!) With lots of character builds (especially a strong female lead), crazy metaphysical concepts and a little inter-specie romance thrown in, this series is a good for easy in-flight or beach reading.

WHAT I LEARNED: Even when you don’t know what you are doing… take a chance and walk into the fear.

7.      The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate―Discoveries from a Secret World by Peter Wohlleben and Jane Billinghurst

After hearing the author of this book speaking on NPR, I knew I had to get a copy of this book. Peter Wohlleben was a disillusioned commercial Tree Logger who transitioned into the overseer of an ancient forest in Germany. While managing this untouched reserve, he was able to hyper-focus on the unique life-like traits of nature (particularly trees) that he spent time with every day. A mixture of scientific concepts and beautifully written anthropomorphism, this book shifts your perspective on the role and teachings of nature in our lives, even the seemingly simple trees in our own backyards.

WHAT I LEARNED: Everything is connected, and even the most silent in nature have something to say (you just have to be willing to slow down and listen).

8.      Reality-Based Leadership: Ditch the Drama, Restore Sanity to the Workplace, and Turn Excuses into Results by Cy Wakeman and Larry Winget

This is another one of those books that had me nodding my head yes on one page, then nodding no on the next. Overall, I thought this was a fantastic, albeit raw, look at how leadership mechanisms may need to shift in organizations to downplay “drama” and catapult it to high-performance success. Cy Wakeman makes no apologies when pitching her methodology of “Work with the Willing” and calling out the pitfalls of varying leadership styles (I had some very uncomfortable epiphanies while reading this particular section of the book). But self-awareness is the first step to change, right? Wakemen’s approach leans a little too far on the utilitarianism spectrum for me (I believe that we are humans and need to integrate “humaneness” into our work lives), but overall, I thought this was an excellent and actionable read on professional leadership.

WHAT I LEARNED: We all live in a life of personal “stories” (Leaders & Employees alike) and realizing that our personal stories are not the end-all-be-all, we are ultimately responsible for how sucked into drama we allow ourselves to become.

9.      The Great Leveler: Violence and the History of Inequality from the Stone Age to the Twenty-First Century by Walter Scheidel

NOTE: This book is not for the weak of heart! You can tell it was written by an accomplished academic researcher who is in love with detailed statistics as shown by the dozens of footnotes on every page of this 600 page book. (Disclosure: I am still in the middle of reading this tome because it can only be taken in short doses due to its informational density.) But, if you have the fortitude to work your way through the lengthy historical analysis of why wealth inequality occurs and more importantly, how it gets reset, you will have a whole new understanding (and appreciation) of today’s economic landscape. I usually choose one of these overwhelming books to read over an entire year – so approach with a “marathon” reading style in mind.

WHAT I LEARNED: My preconceived notions of why wealth inequality occurs was completely turned on its head (as proven through thousands of years of tax/wealth records) which made me question other assumptions such as “Can modern technology ever overcome the default behaviors of the human condition?”

10.  The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson

Don’t let the title fool you – this book is not about becoming apathetic or ignoring responsibilities, it is a no nonsense read about discerning where your care should actually get channeled. The title of this book kept popping up in multiple articles I was reading over a one month period when my sister (unprompted and unknowing of my interest in this book), sent me a physical copy in the mail – it was at that moment I knew I was supposed to read it. Since I am a person who likes to feel consistently productive, this unfortunately translates to me filling up every moment of my day with long “to-do” lists. Whether I am in the role of Mother/Wife or in my professional life as an Executive Administrator, I care deeply about the work I do and the people I am doing that work for. This mindset turns into a slippery slope of wanting to do everything for everyone in a timely fashion. This obviously does not support a balanced lifestyle, and eventually leads to burnout. This is likely why the Universe plopped this book in my lap – you cannot burn the midnight oil forever. For all the EA’s out there who also suffer from the “Yes Syndrome”, I highly recommend this book.

WHAT I LEARNED: I need to be more choosy with my care, my use of “No”, and my time.

11.  Don't Be Such a Scientist: Talking Substance in an Age of Style by Randy Olson

This was another book given to me by a scientific colleague and I am so happy he did – it was incredibly entertaining and enlightening! The author writes about his transformational journey from Marine Biology professor to Hollywood documentary film-maker while narrating on how the scientific community is missing the boat on true cultural impact because they focus too much on fact/credibility instead of “inspirational style”. As an internal Communications Manager at a small Biotech, who must bridge measurable scientific methodologies with non-measurable emotional human aspects of the workplace, this book opened my eyes on how to pay reverence to current culture of science while appropriately pushing the boundaries of emotional communications to achieve the “inspiration connection”.

WHAT I LEARNED: You better have super thick-skin if you want to make it through a Ph.D. program!

12.  Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

While the idea behind this book is inspiring, and there are a bunch of wisdom nuggets found throughout, I ironically felt the whole concept of “Essentialism” was lost due to the unnecessary wordiness of this book. The content could have been pulled into a cliff note sized pamphlet and still appropriately communicated the same necessary message. For those who are in need of material purging and/or reminders for creating boundaries that protect your sanity, this would be a good supplemental book to round out other (less time consuming) reads. 

WHAT I LEARNED: Being busy is not the same as being productive; doing less can fill you up more.

13.  The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

My sisters were always telling me I had to read this book, but I just never got around to it. Then I saw they were making a series of it on Hulu and I didn’t want to watch it without reading the original work. Hearkening back to the story lines of 1984 or A Brave New World, this book is a raw and uniquely written “fiction” novel that unforgivingly displays the terrifying aspects of what a tightly controlled society looks like and just how quickly it can happen. The final chapters will throw you for a loop (and this is where your biggest learning will take place). Highly recommend!

WHAT I LEARNED: How history plays out and how when it is later portrayed, can produce vastly different narratives.

14.   Invasive Plant Medicine: The Ecological Benefits and Healing Abilities of Invasives by Timothy Lee Scott and Stephen Harrod Buhner

I randomly came across this book at a Co-op food store in Vermont while on a solitary nature retreat – definitely not one of my go to reading topics! But it was written by local authors and for some reason the term “Invasives” caught my eye. An interesting mix of ecology, herbalism and environmental advocacy, I was sucked into the way the author presented some of the world’s most pressing environmental concerns and how nature may already have built in mechanisms to support overcoming them. I was completely intrigued by the term “Invasives” and how this label (which is absolutely not deserved) of certain plant species has driven years of legislation which has separated humans from reading and understanding “warning” signs from Mother Nature. If you are into gardening, environmentalism or nature in general, you will most likely appreciate this book.

WHAT I LEARNED: Incorrect labels, if used long enough, can inadvertently turn into our truth. Look beyond the label and learn from nature instead of trying to control it.

15.  The Crowdfunding Myth: Legally and Effectively Raising Money for your Business by Jillian Sidoti Esq.

I was introduced to the idea of investment crowdfunding via a platform I discovered in 2010 called WeFunder. Investment crowdfunding is not like standard crowdfunding on sites like Kickstarter or Indiegogo – investment crowdfunding is an opportunity for the average person to invest as little as $100 in a business, app or cause they are passionate about for a potential future (very high risk) return. I love the idea of investment crowdfunding because most high-risk start-ups could never secure even basic funding (which in theory creates a bottleneck to true innovation). Since investment crowdfunding is so new (only made legal in 2015), there are still a lot of questions surrounding its use. A high school colleague of mine (who is one of the only lawyers in the country that specializes in the nuanced details of investment crowdfunding for businesses), wrote this book to streamline questions/concerns surrounding this new investment mechanism. I see investment crowdfunding as a social movement with its best days yet to come, so I read this book to learn more about how it works and how that may play into its future potential. If you are into day-trading, personal finance, or just curious about what investment crowdfunding looks like – this book will be highly educational for you. (Disclosure: I am an investor in WeFunder)

WHAT I LEARNED: Markets will always find a way to support innovation and risky innovation is best brought forth by those who are most passionate about it.

16.  Armenian Golgotha: A Memoir of the Armenian Genocide, 1915-1918 by Grigoris Balakian and Peter Balakian

One of THE most important books I read all year. I live in a town with a high Armenian population and after the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in 2015, I felt I should become more educated on this topic. I inquired of an Armenian friend which books he thought would be best to read and Armenian Golgotha was high on his list. Another long reading commitment, but the emotional content made it absolutely engrossing and worth the investment of time. Armenian Golgotha is a first-person account of the Armenian priest and political advocate, Grigoris Balakian, who was one of the first in a group of Armenian intellectuals arrested (which is considered the starting point of the following Armenian genocide). The ensuing experiences are absolutely harrowing and will make you weep at times, but knowing the ugliness of history is the best way to avoid repeating it. The mixture of on-the-ground human despair with the higher-level insights of political happenings reinforces the precarious nature of resources, power and nation-states while celebrating the resilience of the human spirit. I HIGHLY recommend this book.

WHAT I LEARNED: History will always repeat itself unless we not only remember, but educate ourselves of the past (especially the most difficult portions).

17.  The Philosophy of the I Ching by Carol K. Anthony

The I-Ching (also known as The Book of Changes), is an ancient book of wisdom that has been used as a Chinese divination tool as far back as 1000 BC. I have always been intrigued by the concepts of universal energy (Chi or Ki) and its intersection with human behavior, so I taught myself how to use the I-Ching for gaining insights and clarity in reference to difficult situations. Since the original Chinese text utilizes language that was tied to agrarian lifestyles and ancient dynasties, the translation of symbolism is not always as clear as you would hope, so I elected to try and learn more about the philosophy behind each of the 64 symbols that make up the I-Ching. If you have ever been into Reiki, Tarot, Clairvoyance or any other type of spiritual communication connection to the universe, exploring this book may be for you!

WHAT I LEARNED: You never stop learning from the I-Ching.

18.  The Great Emergence: How Christianity Is Changing and Why by Phyllis Tickle

Studying spiritual philosophy across all the world religions is a passion of mine – I am consistently amazed at how the core tenets are the same, but how the theology manifests itself in very different ways across time and cultures. Just as you would witness pivot points within a growing business, world religions experience their own “change cycles” (albeit on a much longer timeline – from the theory in this book, every 500 years or so). Phyllis Tickle discusses this change cycle in reference to Christianity and how it is currently in the middle of a 500-year transition. A short and easy read (around 150 pages), I enjoyed the discussions on historical trends and cycles that continue to mold and move forward, not just Christianity, but every major religion throughout the world.

WHAT I LEARNED: The only thing that is constant is change (even with philosophies that deem themselves absolute).

19.  The Irreducible Primary by Rob Taylor

My father passed this book along to me because he knows how much I enjoy philosophical writings on universal connectedness and consciousness. This book is for hardcore spiritual philosophy buffs who have already whet their appetite on books such as Autobiography of a Yogi, Bhagavad Gita, The Power of Now and other writings that explore the illusion of our material world and the oneness of all energy as embodied by humans, nature and the originating “source”. A short book but VERY dense, each paragraph will leave you reflecting. The main message from this author is that only unconditional love will save humanity and to even get close to manifesting this unconditional loving state, we ALL must focus inward, rather than outward, to achieve. While I enjoyed this author’s wonderful insights and understand there is much truth to what he presents, it still felt too “theoretical” for my liking (I felt very similar when reading Eckhart Tolle’s “Power of Now” where it all sounds so wonderful, but doesn’t feel the least bit achievable in day-to-day life). I would suggest reading a more accessible and practical book like “Make Me One with Everything: Buddhist Meditations to Awaken from the Illusion of Separation” by Lama Surya Das to start.

WHAT I LEARNED: Focusing on change within is the only way to successfully impact change without. 

20.  [RE-READ] The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy - What the Cycles of History Tell Us About America's Next Rendezvous with Destiny by William Strauss and Neil Howe

This is a book which literally changed how I viewed life – from culture to politics to economics – once you read this book, you will not be able to go back to what you thought you knew. A book that was written in 1997, and which I originally read back in 2008, I decided to re-read it because it is just that incredible of how on point the predictions of this book have come to pass. Neil Howe is a historian, economist, and demographer who writes and speaks frequently on generational change in American history and long-term fiscal policy. Together with William Strauss, an American author, historian, playwright, theater director, and lecturer, they present a theory of 80 – 100 year cycles of “crisis” and “rebirth” through generational “Turnings”. The cycles play out in very similar ways over and over again, which allows for a predictable pattern of how and when the next “crisis” unfolds. The first half of this book is on the slower side because it discusses in more detail the concepts of cycles of time and generational archetypes (this book is where the term 'Millennial" was first coined). But if you can make it to the second half of the book, you will be left amazed (and most likely a bit terrified) of how eerily accurate this book’s predictions have played out from 1997 up until now. After you read this book you will have a better understanding not only of why things are playing out as they are today, but where we will most likely end up over the upcoming 20 years. I literally recommend this book to almost everyone I meet because it is THAT GOOD.

WHAT I LEARNED: This has happened before, and this too shall pass (but now I know where I fall in the timeline!)